Sunday, July 7: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Game 1: Triplets (2-0) vs Bivouac (1-1)
Inactive: Jannero Pargo, Dion Glover
Josh Smith, playing 10 miles from his hometown of College Park, Georgia, got Bivouac off to a good start - and himself off to a great one - scoring all 12 of his team's first dozen points as they held a 12-8 lead early. The 6'9 forward was aggressive in the first half of play, active on the glass and on defense with a series of blocks and second effort rebounds and put backs. To end the half, he had a block on Triplet big man Al Jefferson, followed by a made layup and an and 1 opportunity which he converted at the line. He finished the half with 19 points, as Bivouac held a comfortable 25-14 lead.
In the second half, though, it was another former Atlanta Hawk who stole the show. Joe Johnson, one of the top players in the league this year and an early Most Valuable Player candidate, led the Triplet charge in the second half. He posted up smaller Bivouac defenders for easy jump hooks down low, and stepped out and hit big three point shots. The Triplets went on a 20-2 run to close the game, led by Johnson's 24 second half points. They scored 37 second half points, and improved to 3-0, while Bivouac dropped to 1-2.
The Triplets continued to show that they will be a force this season, with Joe Johnson again looking unguardable. His offensive arsenal and ability to score in bunches continues to be a problem for opposing teams.
Johnson and teammate Al Jefferson face their toughest test of the season next week, as they will battle Amare Stoudemire and Jason Richardson's Tri-State next Sunday in Brooklyn. Bivouac also play in Brooklyn against the 3 Headed Monsters.
Game 2: KIller 3s (2-0) vs 3 Headed Monsters (2-0)
Inactive: Eddy Curry
In a match up of unbeatens, the Killer 3s eked out a close one 51-48.
Stephen Jackson, the Killer 3s captain, hit on a three to open up the game and he didn't look back, scoring 22 points to lead his team. The Killer 3s also got strong contributions from Donte Green - who finished with 13 points - and Franklin Session, who flirted with a triple double as he finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.
For 3 Headed Monsters, former Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers led them in scoring in his first game of the season, scoring 16 points. Rashard Lewis added 16 points and 9 rebounds.
The 3 Head Monsters didn't get big games out of Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf or Larry Sanders, who totaled just 6 points between the two of them. Reggie Evans had his worst game of the season thus far, finishing with 6 points and just 6 rebounds.
3 Headed Monsters got a good game from Chalmers, but needed more from Abdul-Rauf to match the steady guard play of Session and CJ Watson.
The Killer 3s face Trilogy next Sunday, after the 3 Headed Monsters' contest against Bivouac.
Game 3: Power (2-0) vs Trilogy (0-2)
Inactive: Quentin Richardson, Corey Maggette, Ryan Gomes, Jason Terry
In the day's most surprising game, Trilogy upended Power 50-43, getting their first win on the season and handing Power their first loss.
Undermanned without one of their lead guards in Jason Terry, Trilogy received big contributions from David Hawkins, Patrick O'Bryant, and James White to get a much needed win. Hawkins finished with a game-high 21 points, O'Bryant added 14 points and 9 rebounds, and White finished with 11 points and 8 rebounds.
On the Power side of things, they didn't get their best game from league leading scorer Cuttino Mobley, who finished with just 6 points, and were further at a disadvantage without Quentin Richardson and Corey Maggette, the latter not having played yet this season. Chris Andersen played solid, scoring 12 points with 4 rebounds, but it was Kansas alum Julian Wright who led them, as the 32 year old finished with 17 points and 8 rebounds.
It was a much needed victory for Trilogy, who needed to keep hope alive after starting the season 0-2. For Power, it was a tough game where they didn't have all of their weapons in tow. With Mobley having an off game and not having Maggette suited up, it allowed for Hawkins to have an advantage at the forward position.
Trilogy needs to continue this week's momentum into next week, and they'll need Hawkins to have a repeat performance going up against the Killer 3s' Stephen Jackson. Power needs to bounce back next week, as they face the Ghost Ballers in Providence.
Comments