THE second round of the 2022/23 National Basketball League (NBL) season wrapped up on Monday night, with a slightly different batch of standouts in comparison to the opening week.

Round 1 saw guard dominance, while it was the big men that caught the eye the following week. Power forwards were the ones causing the most damage over the course of the round, hitting the scoreboard as inside scoring became back in vogue. There was plenty of three-point shooting in the first week, which was a massive reason in why point guards were the most impactful players, but with improved perimeter defence across the competition, the four became the strongest position across the eight games.

Friday night saw a terrific battle between two power forwards that should be among the top performers for the season, as New Zealand Breakers skipper Jarrell Brantley and Tasmania JackJumpers star Jack McVeigh went to work at Spark Arena.

Brantley bounced back after a quiet debut in Round 1, with the NBA import scoring 16 of his 19 points in an outstanding first half showing. He used his body to score inside with efficiency, as seven of his eight attempts from the field fell, while he was not afraid to let it fly from behind the arc, nailing two triples in a damaging display. He also pulled down six boards and dished out a pair of assists in a match-winning performance.

Down the other end, McVeigh was Tassie’s strongest performer, proving to be a reliable source of scoring despite some inaccuracy from downtown. Just one of his five three-point attempts fell, so he worked his way into the paint to affect the contest, where he found better success. McVeigh remains a tough matchup for opposition defences, with an ability to score both inside and out, and while his best work came in the paint and from mid-range, he can still nail a variety of shots at any time thanks to his smart shot selection and consistent shot-making.

Reigning Grand Final Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Sydney Kings superstar Xavier Cooks was the best player across the round, delivering a pair of seriously strong outings and leading his side to an unbeaten record. Kicking off his weekend against the Brisbane Bullets, Cooks went head to head with the likes of Aron Banyes and came out on top, finishing with a big double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds. He backed it up with another 23 points against Melbourne United, this time needing just 26 minutes to do so. He has thrown his hat well and truly in the MVP ring, and looks set for a massive campaign.

Saturday evening saw another intriguing battle between two of the stronger fours in the competition, during the SEM Phoenix‘s clash with the Cairns Taipans.

Scoring machine Mitch Creek was at his best on the offensive end, opting to score the ball inside the arc and finding plenty of success. He flipped the script from Thursday night’s inaccurate showing, with 12 of his 17 shots falling against the Taipans. He missed a pair of shots from downtown, but stuck to what he knew with some tough lay-ups and smooth mid-range shots.

Offseason import D.J. Hogg continued to impress following a strong opening round showing. Against the Phoenix, Hogg worked his way into the game with 18 points and eight rebounds, and resumed his impressive work on the defensive end, with a trio of steals. Athletically gifted and hard working, Hogg will play a crucial role in Cairns’ potential improvement on last season.

The power forward battle was an enthralling one over the course of the weekend, with plenty of stars emerging at the position in the opening weeks of the season, and more should put their name in the conversation as the fixture progresses.