The Big 3 regular season concluded on Saturday afternoon in Dallas, with all 12 teams in action for the first time. Like all weeks in the Big 3, the day was not short on action and excitement. The playoff bracket is set, with the Triplets, Killer 3s, Power, and the 3 Headed Monsters set to vie for the Big 3 Championship crown. The playoffs are next Sunday in New Orleans, with the one seed Triplets facing the 3 Headed Monsters, and the three seed Power facing the two seed Killer 3s. Here is now today's action shook out:
Game 1: Bivouac (4-3) vs Ball Hogs (0-7)
In the first game of the day, the league's only winless team coming into the day was able to get their first win of the season - on the last day of their season - with an upset over a team that had a spot in the playoffs going into the day.
The Ball Hogs - playing for nothing else but pride and their own competitiveness - upended Bivouac 50-48, with Deshawn Stevenson hitting the game winning three from the corner to seal it. Stevenson finished with 11 points and 7 rebounds, as the Hogs battled back in the second half after trailing 27-19 at the halfway point. Xavier Silas led the Hogs with 22 points - along with 7 rebounds - and big man Will McDonald added 17 points and 4 rebounds.
On the Bivouac side, the loss was disappointing, considering that they were the big favorite going into the game and were a team with momentum. Instead of continuing their momentum going into the playoffs, their season came to a screeching halt. Will Bynum - coming off of his Big 3 record 33 point game, led his team with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Josh Smith added 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Game 2: Triplets (6-1) vs Ghost Ballers (4-3)
The Triplets secured their place atop the league standings on Saturday, with a convincing 51-38 win. They controlled the game for its entirety, leading 27-20 at the half and then outscoring the Ballers 24-18 in the second half.
Leading the charge for them - as usual - was Joe Johnson, who had 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. With the 19 points, Johnson set a new Big 3 record for points in a season, with 175. Sergerio Gipson, who hit the game-clinching shot, had 12 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds.
Ricky Davis led the Ballers with 20 points and 6 rebounds. Chris Johnson scored 16 and had 5 rebounds against his former team. The Ballers missed Mike Taylor, who was inactive and who would have helped give them some punch and energy. The loss breaks their two game win streak, and leaves them out of the playoffs.
For the Triplets, the win cements their status as the top seed - and top team - heading into the playoffs. They will face a tough challenger in the playoffs in a 3 Headed Monsters team that has won two in a row after starting the season 2-0 and losing four straight. The Monsters will counter Al Jefferson on the interior with Larry Sanders and Reggie Evans, and have strong perimeter scorers in Rashard Lewis, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, and Mario Chalmers.
Game 3: 3 Headed Monsters (3-4) vs Power (5-2)
Needing a win to get into the playoffs, the 3 Headed Monsters played one of their best games of the season when it was most needed, defeating the previously 5-2 Power to secure the 4th seed in next week's playoffs.
After trailing 26-24 at the half, the Monsters outscored Power 28-20 in the second half en route to the 52-46 win. Mario Chalmers - who hit the game winner three from the top of the arc - led the Monsters with 19 points, while Reggie Evans added 12. Chalmers and Larry Sanders also came up big on the defensive end, with two blocks each.
Power, who were playing once again without Cuttino Mobley, did not get enough contribution from their role players, as Corey Maggette led them with 20, and Jeremy Pargo had 16 in his first game with the team. Glen Davis and Julian Wright, who have been big for them all season, combined for just 6 points, and Quentin Richardson only managed 4. They lose a little momentum going into the playoffs, and while they will face a tough Killer 3s team, they would be aided by a Mobley return, who is one of the league's top scorers.
The win for the 3 Headed Monsters gets them a match up with the league's top team, who they will prove to be difficult for. They have got going at just the right time, and are an experienced team that will give a stern test to the league's top team.
Game 4: Killer 3s (4-3) vs Enemies (3-4)
The Killer 3s - who got off to a 3-0 start to the season but ran into issues - were able to get a comfortable victory over an Enemies team that took a nosedive after winning three straight games to get to 3-1. They looked like one of the league's best teams at the halfway point, but inconsistent play hurt them down the stretch of the season, as they will finish the season 3-5, and in 11th place.
The 3s used a balanced attack to get the win, with CJ Watson scoring 13 and Donte Greene and Stephen Jackson scoring 12. All three rebounded the ball very well, with Watson and Jackson securing 7 and Greene getting 6.
The Enemies struggled to find a groove offensively, as their leading scorer on the season, Craig Smith, only managed 4 points. They were led by Frank Robinson, who had 13 and 5 rebounds. Gilbert Arenas scored 9 and Royce White had 8. Perry Jones - who had his best game of the season two weeks ago with 20 points and 9 rebounds - scored just 2.
The loss brings to close a very disappointing season for the Enemies. With Gilbert Arenas as one of the league's marquee additions this season, they were expected to be one of the top teams in the league. But, as mentioned previously, inconsistent play and poor defense were part of their downfall. They also struggled to make shots as they didn't have a consistent shot maker.
Game 5: 3s Company (3-4) vs Trilogy (4-3)
3s Company saved their best game for last, as they stymied a Trilogy team that at one time was the hottest team in league (winners of 4 straight after starting 0-2) and ran away with a 50-28 win. Company was outstanding on the defensive end in the second half, holding Trilogy to 8 points in the second half after enjoying just a 25-20 lead at the half.
Andre Emmett was great once again, leading the way with 16 points. DerMarr Johnson scored 11 and Drew Gooden added 10 points and 6 rebounds. They had a 26-18 edge in the rebounding department in the game, with Dijon Thompson leading them with 7.
On the Trilogy side, leading scorer David Hawkins struggled, scoring just 6 points. James White led with 14 points, and Samardo Samuels - after scoring in double figures in his first two Big 3 games - managed just 8 points and 4 rebounds.
Trilogy looked very impressive after winning four consecutive games to run their record to 4-2, but fizzled in the season's last weeks. They were in position to maintain a playoff spot, but Hawkins failed to match the output of Emmett, which was a key factor in the game.
For 3s Company, it is a nice win to build off of going into next season. Emmett is one of the league's top scorers, and having more talent around him for next year would be a very positive thing for the team. Baron Davis was supposed to be one of the top players this season, but his deactivation by the league early in the season spoiled any chance of Company having a capable go to scorer alongside Emmett. Getting a primary ball handler with quickness who can create his own shot would be a plus for them.
Game 6: Tri-State (3-4) vs Aliens (3-4)
One of the league's most talented teams won their second straight game in the regular season finale, although they would not secure the coveted final playoff spot.
Tri-State - going into the game at 3-4 - defeated the 3-4 Aliens 51-44 to finish the season at the .500 mark.
Amare Stoudemire (17 points, 8 rebounds) led the way as one of three Tri-State players in double figures (Jason Richardson 15, Nate Robinson 10), on their way to the seven-point win. Alien Greg Oden was kept in check by Tri-State, scoring just 8 points (though he did have a game-high 11 rebounds.
Andre Owns and Brandon Rush led the way for the Aliens with 11 each.
Though both teams will miss the playoffs, they both have things to build on for next season. Tri-State has a formidable trio, and their chemistry was thrown for a loop early in the season with the Jermaine O'Neal and Bonzi Wells being deactivated. They figure to be one of the top teams next year. The Aliens, meanwhile, can build on their expansion season, and surround big man Greg Oden with more talent next season.
With the 2019 Big 3 season in the books, the playoffs get going next week in New Orleans with a pair of intriguing games. The top team in Triplets facing a team with great momentum in the 3 Headed Monsters, and Power will be in tough against a Killer 3s team that - though they had a tough stretch in the middle of the season - started the season off as one of the early favorites and have the ability to make noise in the playoffs.
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