Saturday, July 6: Legacy Arena at BJCC, Birmingham, AL
Game 1: Tri-State (0-2) vs 3s Company (0-2)
Inactive: Jermaine O'Neal, Bonzi Wells, Baron Davis, Dahntay Jones
Tri-State, having started off the season 0-2, were in desperation mode in Week 3 against an outmatched 3s Company team, who were also seeking their first win of the season.
Amare Stoudemire was there to make sure Tri-State got their win.
The 9th overall selection in the 2002 NBA Draft and 6-time all-star scored 22 points, had 9 rebounds and blocked 2 shots to lead his team to a 50-44 victory over a 3s Company squad that, though outmatched, put up a fight. Stoudemire, who had 14 2nd half points and who at halftime speaking with Ros Gold-Onwude attributed his success to his getting into great shape at 235 pounds, continues to display the skills that made him such a good player during his NBA career. Working the pick and roll with teammate Nate Robinson, Stoudemire was easily able to get to the rim and finish. He also knocked down his mid-range jumper, which he was very adept at during his career.
Jason Richardson added 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists for Tri-State, while Robinson contributed 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
3s Company, who, as mentioned, were led by Andre Emmett's double double of 21 points and 13 rebounds, still miss Baron Davis, who did not play for the third straight game. With Davis out, 3s Company has no scoring guard, and they get exposed when facing a team like Tri-State who has solid guard play with Richardson and Robinson. In Davis' absence, Drew Gooden scored 8 points and added 10 rebounds. Big man Jason Maxiell had 10 points and 6 rebounds.
3s Company plays the Ball Hogs in the Providence, Rhode Island opener next Saturday from the Dunkin Donuts Center, while Tri-State faces off with the Triplets in the Brooklyn opener from Barclays Center next Sunday in one of the season's most anticipated match ups.
Game 2: Aliens (0-2) vs Ball Hogs (0-2)
Inactive: Jermaine Taylor, Qyntel Woods
In the day's second game of winless teams, the Aliens controlled the action, working their way to a 51-39 victory.
Greg Oden, who was matched up with the league's third leading scorer Will McDonald, outshone the Ball Hogs' big man, outscoring him 18 to 10. Oden finished with 18 points and 4 rebounds, and had two noteworthy plays on a put back dunk and a block of a McDonald layup that led to a Deshawn Stevension 3 pointer. McDonald struggled, scoring just 10 even though he was his team's leading rebounder with 9.
Oden got great help from swingman Brandon Rush, who scored 13 points and had a game high 12 rebounds. Andre Owens chipped in 9 points and 6 rebounds, including a driving layup that ended the game.
The Ball Hogs, whose struggles continue at 0-3, were led by Stevenson, who had his best game of the year with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Outside of Stevenson and McDonald though, the Ball Hogs only got 9 points combined from Josh Childress, Marcus Williams, and Brian Scalabrine.
As the Ball Hogs face 3s Company next week in the opener, the Aliens are also on the schedule in Providence, playing in the finale against the Enemies.
Game 3: Enemies (1-1) vs Ghost Ballers (2-1)
Inactive: Lamar Odom, Perry Jones, Carlos Boozer
In the Birmingham finale, Craig Smith continued his outstanding play, leading the Emenies to a convincing 51-35 win.
Smith, who was second in the Big 3 in scoring coming into today, scored 23 points and had 8 rebounds to lead the Enemies. Gilbert Arenas added 12 points and 5 rebounds - including the game winning corner three - and Royce White put together a complete 8 point, 8 rebound, 9 assist stat line.
The Enemies, once they get Lamar Odom back, will be a force that will rival any team in the league.
The Ghost Ballers, coming off a five point victory last week where Jamario Moon had 21 points, just did not get enough in the scoring department today to keep up with the Enemies. Moon, although he grabbed 10 rebounds, scored just 7 points, as Ricky Davis and Mike Taylor - as the only guys finishing in double figures for the team - scored 13 points and 10 points.
Mike Bibby was ineffective for the Ghost Ballers, scoring just 2 points, and they lacked a guard who could counter Arenas. They were also hurt by the absence of Carlos Boozer, who would've been a nice match up against Smith and White.
With the Enemies playing the Aliens next week, the Ghost Ballers play the defending champion Power in the second game in Providence.
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