LAST year’s National Basketball League (NBL) grand finalists and wooden spooners have the most Draft Central NBL Team of the Week nominees for Round 4. In the 10-player side, the Perth Wildcats, Melbourne United and Cairns Taipans all have two players in the team, with Sydney Kings, Adelaide 36ers, New Zealand Breakers and Illawarra Hawks having a player each in the side. South East Melbourne Phoenix and Brisbane Bullets did not manage a player in this week.

Cairns might be the most impressive of the lot with two players in the starting side after big performances from Cameron Oliver (19.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists. 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks) and Scott Machado (14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.0 steals). They fill out a spot at either end of the court with Team of the Week regular and Perth Wildcats’ star, Bryce Cotton (17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.5 steals) taking up the other guard spot, and New Zealand’s Scotty Hopson (17.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals) in the forward half.

Melbourne United’s Shawn Long takes control of the center position after a massive 24.0 points and 14.5 rebounds across two matches over the weekend, joined in the side by teammate, Melo Trimble who starts on the bench after recording the next highest points average over the weekend with 22.5, as well as 4.5 assists and rebounds. Also on the bench is Cotton’s teammate Nick Kay, who averaged a double-double across two games from Round 4. In the other guard spot, LaMelo Ball makes the side again after another eye-catching performance for Illawarra, while Eric Griffin had a similar impact up high with a weekend high average of three blocks. The final player in the side is Sydney Kings’ center Andrew Bogut, who continued his terrific form of late with another double-double for the undefeated Kings.

There were a handful of players who were unlucky to miss out on the side, with Adelaide’s Daniel Johnson, Brisbane’s Lamar Patterson, Melbourne’s Mitch McCarron, New Zealand’s Sek Henry and Sydney’s Casper Ware all coming into consideration for a spot.

STARTING FIVE:

G: Bryce Cotton (PW) – 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.5 steals, 0.0 blocks, 38.7 FG%
G: Scott Machado (CT) – 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.0 blocks, 44.4 FG%
C: Shawn Long (MU) – 24.0 points, 14.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.0 blocks, 52.8 FG%
F: Cameron Oliver (CT) – 19.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.5 blocks, 59.3 FG%
F: Scotty Hopson (NZ) 17.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.0 blocks, 52.0 FG%

BENCH:

G: LaMelo Ball (IH) – 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.0 blocks, 28.6 FG%
G: Melo Trimble (MU) – 22.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.0 steals, 0.0 blocks, 42.4 FG%
C: Andrew Bogut (SK) – 12 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 62.5 FG%
F: Nick Kay (PW) – 13.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.0 steals, 1.0 blocks, 50.0 FG%
F: Eric Griffin (AD) – 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.0 steals, 3.0 blocks, 43.5 FG%