As we approach the end of the regular season, we’re now down to 10 teams as the bottom two teams were officially eliminated from playoff contention. Power had a chance to control their own destiny but fell short in the final minutes of their game against Trilogy. Killer 3’s were headed home regardless of the outcome but dropped their seventh straight game dating back to last summer.
- Enemies (6-0):
Just like that, we have our first playoff team. Seems only fitting it was the defending champions. Enemies stayed undefeated and won their ninth straight game after their convincing victory over 3 Headed Monsters. They now boast the third longest winning streak in BIG3 history with a chance to tie Trilogy for the second longest next week. Each game they show they can win in a variety ways and made this one look so easy they gave three different players a chance to hit game-winning shot. Jordan Crawford was arguably the most aggressive he’s been in weeks but barely played in the second half due to their large lead. Will they finish the regular season undefeated? It seems likely until a team can slow them down.
- Bivouac (5-1):
We entered Week 6 with two undefeated teams but left with only one. Bivouac dropped their first game of the season and were one of the many teams affected by the IT issues that led to multiple players having their flights cancelled, and ultimately, missing this week. Corey Brewer continued his MVP run putting up a double-double (24 points, 10 rebounds) but also accounted for most of the offense in the second half (18 of the 26 points) to keep it close. If anything, this game showcased how valuable the Bivouac bench has been with both Gerald Green and Jaylen Johnson out this week. Week 6 fill-in Kyle Wiltjer had a decent game all things considered but played more than anticipated with Javier Carter struggling. Although they couldn’t punch their first playoff ticket this week, they have a chance to do so in Cincinnati. Additionally, they can prove that this week was a fluke if they can be the first to knock off undefeated Enemies.
- 3’s Company (5-1):
Despite not playing this week, 3’s Company put another W in the win column while staying in position for the playoffs. 3’s Company benefited from their opponents not having a single player able to show up due to the travel difficulties, but that’s not to say they wouldn’t have won even if they were able to lace them up. Michael Cooper’s squad has been one of the hottest teams offensively and defensively while Michael Beasley was coming off Player of the Week performances after dropping 31 points in their win over Triplets. Either way, 3’s Company has five wins and are one step closer to their first playoff appearance since 2018.
- Tri-State (4-2):
With just three players available, Tri-State played arguably their best game of the summer and picked up a huge victory. Even without Jason Richardson and Henry Sims, Dr. J’s team showcased just how deep this squad is. Amir Johnson and Ray Nixon both put up season-high numbers while Kevin Murphy had another 20-point performance. This is a team that excels at putting the ball in the net and that should be a lot easier once Richarson and Sims return next week. If anything, we got a real taste of why this is a championship caliber team that can deliver when necessary.
- Triplets (3-3):
Not only were Triplets missing the top 3-point shooter in the BIG3, Jannero Pargo, for a second straight week but also played without Joe Johnson because of flight issues. And while they’ve shown they can be competitive without one of their stars, they clearly need a little more juice alongside Jeremy Pargo. Outside of Jeremy, no other player for Triplets scored in double-figures and the team as a whole struggled to defend the 3-point line. Sure, they can still knock down shots at a high clip but defense and turnovers have been costly when they don’t have the whole crew available. When Jannero doesn’t play, this team is 0-3 but with Summer League over he should return to the lineup sooner than later. However, with just two games left in the regular season, Triplets need to play at their top of the game if they hope to make it back to the championship game.
- Ghost Ballers (3-3):
Ghost Ballers reconstructed their roster late in the season with their toughest test in Week 6 and it paid dividends. With their backs against the wall facing an undrafted Bivouac, George Gervin’s squad answered the bell. It helped that Week 6 Co-Player of the WeekChris Johnson’s All-Star caliber season continued as he dropped a season-high 28 points, but new additions DeWayne Jackson and Stefhon Hannah fit this team like a glove. Jackson scored 11 points, grabbed eight boards, and dropped four dimes in his BIG3 debut. He also scored nine of the final 13 points. Meanwhile, Hannah had a couple of nice assists to propel Johnson’s big day. Ghost Ballers still have a ways to go and we’re still waiting on a vintage-like game from Mike Taylor, but they’re certainly headed in the right direction.
- Ball Hogs (3-3):
Another team in the hunt, Ball Hogs took advantage against a winless Killer 3’s squad. At their best, Ball Hogs are the most dangerous when they move the ball and get everyone involved. Four players scored in double digits, they shot the ball better from the perimeter, and dominated the glass to get back to an even record. Lucas Mariano grabbed 17 rebounds and gave his team multiple second chance opportunities. This is the team that showed potential to make their first postseason run last year – albeit they need more long range shooting performances like this past week. Yet, while they’re still in a tough position, they at least have a little more life entering Week 7.
- Trilogy (2-4):
Talk about a turnaround. Just three weeks ago, Trilogy looked like a team whose season was about to come to a close. Instead, they kept their slim playoff hopes alive. They always seemed like a team that could be dangerous down the stretch once they figured it out but Week 6 Co-Player of the Week Isaiah Briscoe has shown he can put the team on his back when needed. Not to mention, they’ve been one of the best defensive teams (three players in the top-5 in blocked shots) even after opening the season with four straight losses. Now that they’re knocking down shots and their rookies have adjusted, could this team do the unthinkable? Unlikely, but if any squad could do it it’s the three-time champions.
- 3 Headed Monsters (2-4):
3 Headed Monsters had more heads than others but without two of their best players (Brandon Moss and Greg Monroe), they suffered the worst loss in BIG3 history. But, here’s the thing; 3 Headed Monsters have had their challenges even with their complement of players. While you have to imagine the score would have been different, Rashard Lewis’ team has been up and down throughout the entire 2024 season. Sure, they’ve had guys in and out of the lineup that’s ultimately been part of their downfall. However, the other part has been around their defensive lapses and their lack of multiple strong efforts in the same game. The only time this team has had more than two double-digit scorers in a game have been during their wins while they’ve allowed a ton of big runs. Against the Enemies, they gave up a 25-8 run in the first half along with a 26-10 run in the second half – and that’s just one game. To add insult to injury, Jeff Teague grabbed his groin late on numerous occasions in the second half despite finishing the game. Maybe things would have been different if they had their full team every week but even before this past week this was a team trending down.
- Aliens (2-4):
When you think of a series of unfortunate events, Aliens suffered the biggest tragedy in the midst of their playoff push. Yes, this team was 2-3 but they’ve continuously surprised people all year when least expected. Unfortunately, due to the IT outage that forced a ton of players to have their flights to Portland cancelled, Aliens drew the worst hand as none of their players were able to make it out. In fact, their head coach Rick Mahorn didn’t arrive until the first game of the week had already started. This led to a forfeit and more importantly a fourth loss with two games to go. Let’s be real though, this is a team that has had its fair share of challenges defensively and they were about to play the most efficient offense in the BIG3. That being said, who knows what the outcome would have been had they played. All in all, this is a real blow late in the season.
