Shot clock: Quickfire guide to setting up your SuperCoach NBL team for round 8

After a late finish to round 7 on Monday night, it’s a quick turnaround for the next batch of matches, starting Thursday night.

And there are some spicy trade decisions to make.

Here’s a quickfire guide to everything you need to know.

ON THE DOUBLE

The schedule is the key to SuperCoach NBL success. Targeting players from teams that play twice in a round will give you twice as many opportunities to score points.

In round 8 there are four teams on the double – Melbourne United, Perth Wildcats, SEM Phoenix and Tasmania JackJumpers.

Perth has clearly the best schedule of any team in the league with doubles in the next four rounds.

United, Phoenix and Tasmania all end their dream runs this round before a set of single-game rounds, something to keep in mind looking ahead to next week’s trades.

Meanwhile, Sydney Kings and NZ Breakers are on singles for the next two rounds, posing the tricky question of whether to hang onto super scorers Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Xavier Cooks.

Of the two, prioritise PJC as a hold – after two singles the Breakers go on a run of four straight doubles from rounds 10-14, and you will definitely want him then.

If you were one of the smart 979 coaches who traded in his teammate Karim Lopez last round, he’s set for another big price jump – so he’s a definite hold.

Perth is the team to target with this week’s trades, but keep an eye out for any news on injured superstar Bryce Cotton. If he returns this week he could be a great trade-in option. If he’s missing again it will open the door for more minutes and more points for players like Elijah Pepper and Ben Henshall.

Pepper is close to a must-have regardless after scoring 62 points in round 7 and increasing in value by more than $43,000. His price is going to keep going up, and with that schedule you can keep him for the next month and enjoy the spoils.

If you’re looking for a cheapie and a fast cash grab, Cairns forward Alex Higgins-Titsha scored 35 points on a single last round and is just $112,900.

TRADE IN

1. Elijah Pepper (PER)

2. Kristian Doolittle (PER)

3. Nathan Sobey (SEM)

4. Alex Higgins-Titsha (CNS)

5. Jack White (MEL)

TRADE OUT

1. Keli Leaupepe (SYD)

2. Xavier Cooks (SYD)

3. Matt Mooney (NZ)

4. Tyler Robertson (SYD)

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CAPTAIN CALL

With Jackson-Cartwright and Cooks on singles and potentially no Bryce Cotton, it’s an open field for captain in round 8. Kristian Doolittle has been a reliable scorer for the Wildcats all season while Matt Hurt and a rejuvenated Nathan Sobey are putting up strong numbers for SEM Phoenix and could deliver big results on the double. And you can’t go wrong with United star Jack White.