Game 1 (CBS): Triplets (3-2) vs Tri-State (3-2)
In a battle for playoff positioning, both Triplets and Tri-State look to secure their first best win of the season. Each team has three wins but every win has come against teams under .500 on the season. Triplets’ wins have come against opponents with a combined 5-10 record. But make no mistake, this is a team with instant firepower that can separate themselves against any squad.
Triplets have the leaders in both 3-pointers and 4-pointers as brothers Jannero and Jeremy Pargo lead one of the deadliest shooting teams in the BIG3. The crazy part is three-time MVP Joe Johnson has played more as a second or third scoring option while being more of a facilitator in his fifth season in the league. Turnovers were an issue last week but being without Jannero Pargo last week was the major difference last week as the team shot just 1-7 from the 3-point line during the second half. He’s currently coaching the Indiana Pacers Summer League team and he could be forced out of action again this week. If that’s the case, they’ll need more from Johnson as a scorer while limiting the turnovers in order to stay in the top-4 of the standings.
On the other hand, Tr-State’s three victories have been against teams that have a combined record of 3-12 this summer. That being said, Kevin Murphy may be back to his MVP form after dropping 29 points in their win last week. Another team that can light it up from deep and run away with a game early but Jason Richardson has been quiet the past couple weeks. J-Rich has scored just three points the past couple weeks after dropping 41 points in Weeks 2 and 3. Henry Sims has stepped up during that time frame but they’ll need Richardson down the stretch. Ultimately, it’ll come down to which captain can turn back the clock and deliver.
Game 2 (CBS): 3 Headed Monsters (2-3) vs Enemies (5-0)
One team that’s also looking for a big game from their captain is 3 Headed Monsters, who hopes to get Jeff Teague back after missing last week due to personal reasons. Rashard Lewis’ squad is 2-1 when Teague’s in the lineup but winless without him. However, Brandon Moss has certainly shown he may be the top option even if Teague returns this week. Moss scored 29 of the team’s 36 points last week and showed off his offensive skill set in the process. The biggest issue all season has been getting multiple stops in a row as teams have been able to find a hole in their defense and attack it at all. If Moss can carry his momentum from last game, the team can get some key stops, and Teague continues his solid season, 3 Headed Monsters may have a shot to stop the defending champs win streak.
Although, that will be a talk task against an Enemies squad that just knows how to get buckets. Defensively, they’ve done a solid job playing on a tight string as a group (second in the BIG3 in points against) but the real threat comes on the offensive side where they can get after you in multiple ways. Jordan Crawford hasn’t scored in the same fashion he did in 2023 but he hasn’t needed to. Elijah Stewart is having his best season and currently sits top-10 in scoring. In addition, Isaiah Austin, Chris Allen, and Quincy Miller can put defenders on an island with their shot making ability. The question is not how you slow this team down offensively but can you? At this point, why try to fix what’s not broken.
Game 3 (X): Bivouac (5-0) vs Ghost Ballers (2-3)
This seems like an ideal matchup for an already lethal Bivouac squad. They’ve wreaked havoc on the defensive end and as good as they are creating turnovers, this might be a playoff clinching moment. Ghost Ballers has had issues beating themselves and have been turnover prone in 2024. Mike Taylor and Ryan “Hezi God” Carter have struggled to find their shot through five games adding insult to injury. And despite being a good team, they’ve had issues replicating their success from a season ago.
Meanwhile, Bivouac is having a historic season. They’re on the verge of making their first playoff appearance in franchise history and boast arguably the top candidate for MVP in Corey Brewer. Brewer leads the league in steals while ranking top-5 in points, rebounds, and blocks. Additionally, Garlon Green has been one of the league’s top scorers and rebounders giving them a strong 1-2 punch that doesn’t even include Gerald Green. The Bivouac captain has sacrificed the role he’s had the past couple of seasons and has been the first guy off the bench this year. Now he’s in contention for being 4th Man of the Year.
Ghost Ballers needs to win out starting this week with the way the top contenders have played. The only way they knock off one of the two undefeated teams this year is by having a clean game and a supreme performance from one of their two guards. If not, it may be a day for the record books for Gary Payton’s team.
Game 4 (X): Killer 3’s (0-5) vs Ball Hogs (2-3)
If you were to say that neither of these teams are sniffing the playoffs through five weeks at the start of the season, most fans may laugh at your face. Sure, that may be harsh for a Ball Hogs squad that can still control their own destiny but it’s been a disappointing summer to say the least.
Following their best season in franchise history last summer, Rick Barry’s team has yet to build off their impressive Week 1 performance. Shooting has been a problem in 2024 and over the past couple of weeks we’ve seen some defensive lapses. Last year’s All-Star game MVP Jodie Meeks has averaged just 12.4 PPG on 22 percent shooting from the 3-point line after leading the team in scoring a season ago. If this team wants to potentially join Bivouac in making their first playoff appearance this summer, they need to secure easy looks and move the ball like we’re used to seeing. Otherwise, they’ll be the last franchise in the BIG3 to make the playoffs and who knows when that will be.
The biggest surprise of the season may be Killer 3’s though who enters Week 6 as the only winless team in the league. After four straight 5-3 seasons, they’ve failed to find any type of consistency through the core group of Franklin Session, Donte Greene, Josh Powell, and Dominique Johnson.
The offense has been a roller coaster while defensively they’ve been one of the worst units in the league. Known as a team that’s built on a culture of grit and scrappiness, they just haven’t been able to find ways to win despite being one of the top rebounding groups in the BIG3. Week 6 probably marks the end of the road for them in 2024, but they at least have a shot to take another team down with them. It’ll just come down to which team can get more stops than the other.
Game 5 (X): Power (1-4) vs Trilogy (1-4)
Even with both teams sitting at 1-4, one team is trending up while the other is faltering. Trilogy got their first dub of the season last week after their best offense outing of the season. Earl Clark, Isaiah Briscoe, and Cody Lalanne all scored in double figures while they continue to be the best team in the league at protecting the rim.
For Power, it’s been a disastrous season. They haven’t played well defensively, they don’t shoot the ball well from the 3-point line, and rebounding has been a challenge for them. Glen Rice Jr. has really been the lone bright spot that’s shown up consistently every week while the others have been inconsistent.
How much this game matters at this point in the season is still to be determined, but with seven teams under .500 they may have a chance to stay in the playoff mix with a win. Trilogy looks like a team starting to figure things out and if they can get another strong offensive effort while maintaining their level of defense. they could be a scary team the rest of the way. Power on the other hand needs to do a complete 180 to keep their season alive. At the end of the day, one of these teams will have their season end next week with a loss.
Game 6 (X): Aliens (2-3) vs 3’s Company (4-1)
The nightcap features two teams both shining in their own rights. Aliens sit at just 2-3 but not many fans thought they’d even have a shot at a playoff run after Paul Millsap suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1. For 3’s Company, they’re coming off an elite win and boast one of the top offenses and defenses in the BIG3.
It’s been the duo of Devin Ebanks and Abraham Millsap that have will this depleted Aliens’ roster the past few weeks. Ebanks has been the go-to No. 1 option since joining the team in Week 2 and comes off a week in which he scored a game-high 21 points. Abraham Millsap has been the perfect compliment though as another shot creator and a pesky defender. But while they’ve surprised some, they still have a hard time defensively against the best teams losing by an average margin of 11.5 in games against
Enemies and Triplets. Basically, their Week 5 victory may be a tough act to follow.
That’s mainly due to the fact that they run into a 3’s Company team featuring Michael Beasley. Beasley won Week 5 Player of the Week honors after dropping 31 points and 10 rebounds last week. To be fair, no team has been able to stop Beasley as he leads the league in scoring currently. However, when talking about the perfect compliment, 3’s Company may have the most well-rounded team in the league. With a team that has Rookie of the Year candidate Nasir Core, Defensive Player of the Year candidate Sean William (t-1st in the BIG3 in blocks), and the top rebounder in Reggie Evans, this is a team that has all the tools to make things difficult.
So while we shouldn’t rule out Aliens off the rip, they’ll need another miracle to pull off the upset against Michael Cooper’s squad. Especially if they can’t find an answer for Beasley.