3 on 3 Basketball

[Hoop Head]

Thought I'd post this in a new thread and leave the title a little ambiguous because this thread could also be used to talk about the upcoming Big 3 league when it starts June 25th.

The main reason for this thread though is that the IOC for the Olympics announced that they're adding 3 on 3 basketball for the 2020 Tokyo games. There will only be 8 teams for the men and 8 for the women, teams will have 4 players each and the game will use FIBA rules. So the style will be completely different to the Big 3 league. Scoring is 1's and 2's and the games will be played until a team reaches 21 points or 10 minutes, whichever is quickest. The shot clock is only 12 seconds. It hasn't been said if NBA players will be used or not but I think active NBA players shouldn't be allowed, which would open the field quite a bit.

Here is more info on that announcement...

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-3-basketball-now-officially-204142096.html

also...

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2017/06/ioc-adds-3-on-3-basketball-for-2020-olympics.html

 

[Hoop Head]

The Big3 league did release a statement about it but they haven't said whether they're going to try and push one of their teams into Olympics. Here is a link to that. That would be getting ahead of themselves considering they may not be around by 2020. That league is comprised of former NBA players in addition to non-NBA players who played in college, the D-League, or other leagues overseas. Each team there will have 5 players, 2 being reserves, and the games will be much longer than the FIBA rules for the Olympic 3 on 3. They're playing first team to 60 points, without a game clock, and by 2's, 3's, and a special 4 point shot. There have some players there that will make it worth a watch, if you're a big basketball fan. They have Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups, Jermaine O'Neal, Steve Francis, Kenyon Martin, Charles Oakley, Latrell Sprewell, Mike Bibby, and a number of other recognizable names from the NBA over the last 20 years.

They're going to be traveling across the country similar to the And-1 league or the Globetrotters, trying to bring in fans of the game rather than establishing teams anchored in specific cities or state. They're not going to make it to Phoenix during their first season but the places they're traveling to should help them as far as attendance and they're playing 4 games at each location each night, so it's a full night of Basketball for the fans who attend or watch it on TV. It will air on Fox Sports through the season, no word on if the finals will air on Fox or another broadcast channel but the playoffs will be in Seattle and the finals in Vegas.

I think having 3 on 3 in the Olympics will only help the Big3 league but their rules are a bit different, personally I like the Olympic/FIBA rules much more, but I imagine the Big3 will change with time if they can make it past their first year. Here is a link to the rules of the Big3 league...

http://big3.com/league-philosophy/rules-the-court


Here is another link to their Wiki page which lists a number of their notable players with NBA experience.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't know what to think. It sounds better for the playground than the Olympics.

Another way to look at it, there are so many meaningless sports in the Olympics that adding one more can't hurt.

 

[Hoop Head]

I don't know what to think. It sounds better for the playground than the Olympics.

Another way to look at it, there are so many meaningless sports in the Olympics that adding one more can't hurt.

I'm interested in how teams will be made up. I think they'll use 4 players who didn't quite mike the Team USA roster as sort of a consolation prize. That would require the least amount of effort for each countries basketball program, rather than making it all amateurs or something. I hope they go another direction though when they're making teams because they can get away with trying something different considering it's not full on basketball like the normal Team USA games. They should try and draw in some new fans in addition to the diehard basketball fans. Make it like it was pre-Dream Team with only amateur or college players. They could go similar to the Big3 league and use retired players, or a combination of the retired and amateurs. The games will be short though, with a 10 minute time limit so it's not like it'll take a bunch of time for the games to play through. Also in half-court setting with only 6 players on the court it will be quicker and more open.

I'd like to see a co-ed setup for it, personally. As of now they've said there will be 8 men's teams and 8 women's team competing against their own gender. Require each team to have 2 males and 2 females, so it's even and then there would be a 16 team field rather than just 8 for each. They used to do a quick 3 on 3 tournament during All Star weekend with an NBA player, a WNBA player from the same state/region as the NBA player and also a retired legend. It's only half-court basketball so there wouldn't be as much running as a traditional game and like I said, having just 6 players on the court will make it fast paced and wide open. They only held that for 2 years though during All Star weekend, in 2002 and 2003. It was something different and entertaining though. Obviously they're not going the co-ed route in 2020 based on the announcement of it's addition but since the game will be much quicker and wide open they should try and draw new eyes to it rather than be something only die-hard basketball fans watch.

 

[Ronin]

Lebron is not interested in playing in the 3 on 3 Olympic basketball.iirc

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm interested in how teams will be made up. I think they'll use 4 players who didn't quite mike the Team USA roster as sort of a consolation prize. That would require the least amount of effort for each countries basketball program, rather than making it all amateurs or something. I hope they go another direction though when they're making teams because they can get away with trying something different considering it's not full on basketball like the normal Team USA games. They should try and draw in some new fans in addition to the diehard basketball fans. Make it like it was pre-Dream Team with only amateur or college players. They could go similar to the Big3 league and use retired players, or a combination of the retired and amateurs. The games will be short though, with a 10 minute time limit so it's not like it'll take a bunch of time for the games to play through. Also in half-court setting with only 6 players on the court it will be quicker and more open.

I'd like to see a co-ed setup for it, personally. As of now they've said there will be 8 men's teams and 8 women's team competing against their own gender. Require each team to have 2 males and 2 females, so it's even and then there would be a 16 team field rather than just 8 for each. They used to do a quick 3 on 3 tournament during All Star weekend with an NBA player, a WNBA player from the same state/region as the NBA player and also a retired legend. It's only half-court basketball so there wouldn't be as much running as a traditional game and like I said, having just 6 players on the court will make it fast paced and wide open. They only held that for 2 years though during All Star weekend, in 2002 and 2003. It was something different and entertaining though. Obviously they're not going the co-ed route in 2020 based on the announcement of it's addition but since the game will be much quicker and wide open they should try and draw new eyes to it rather than be something only die-hard basketball fans watch.

All good points as to why not. I'd watch 3 on 3 basketball over a lot of other sports. At first glance the purist in me did not want to dilute the game.

I played some playground basketball when I was younger and thoroughly enjoyed the game with less than a full cast. It has some appeal like 3 player volleyball.

 

[sunsfan88]

Lebron is not interested in playing in the 3 on 3 Olympic basketball.iirc

Yeah he said he doesn't think he will be good at it.

 

[Ronin]

Breaking down each team in Ice Cube's BIG3 league

https://sports.yahoo.com/breaking-team-ice-cubes-big3-league-001545791.html

 

[Ronin]

BIG3 Schedule & Locations
Week 1: Sunday, June 25 – Brooklyn, NY at Barclays Center

Ghost Ballers vs. 3-Headed Monsters – Game 1
Tri-State vs. Power – Game 2
3’s Company vs. Ball Hogs – Game 3
Killer 3’s vs. Trilogy – Game 4

https://www.seccountry.com/sec/big3-league-rosters-schedules-tv-times-where-to-watch-online

 

[Ronin]

1. Will the players actually be in shape?
Iverson told For The Win that he had barely stepped on court in years before starting his training a month ago. A handful of other bigger names looked a bit out of shape, too.

But as a whole, the BIG3 made the smart decision to put non-captains through a draft combine and tryouts before selecting teams. That helped weed out players who simply weren’t ready to ball. There even are some younger guys still playing professionally overseas.

The issue is that it’s guys like Iverson who are the main draw. Will the stars be in shape? That’s a very different question than asking about the lesser-known players.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/06/big3-schedule-tv-info-season-opener-media-day-allen-iverson-ice-cube

 

[Ronin]

Marc J. Spears‏Verified account@MarcJSpearsESPN
Team captain Chauncey Billups won't be playing for the Killer 3s in the @thebig3 today. Eddie Robinson is the team's reserve player.

 

[Ronin]

Marc J. Spears‏Verified account@MarcJSpearsESPN 5m5 minutes ago
Dribbling down hall wearing a headband a little while ago was @alleniverson who says he will play "little bit" for fans at @thebig3 today.

 

[Ronin]

Marc J. Spears‏Verified account@MarcJSpearsESPN 1m1 minute ago
3 Headed Monsters coach Gary Payton said injured guard Jason Williams tweaked his knee and he expects him to play again in two weeks.

 

[Ronin]

Marc J. Spears‏Verified account@MarcJSpearsESPN 4m4 minutes ago
Cavs president candidate Chauncey Billups didn't attend or play in @thebig3 opener because he wanted focus to be on the debut of the league.

 

[Ronin]

Brian Mahoney‏Verified account@briancmahoney 3m3 minutes ago
Cuttino Mobley is shooting 4 for 17 here in the second game at the #BIG3. Still shaking off the rust.

 

[Ronin]

Marc J. Spears‏Verified account@MarcJSpearsESPN 6m6 minutes ago
DeShawn Stevenson nails game-winning 3-pointer to give Power 62-59 win over Tri State. Another fun game. Allen Iverson up next.

 

[JS22]

Read that these would be on FS Go. Couldn't find it.

Watching a washed up 46 year old Shane Heal has piqued my interest.

 

[Ronin]

Read that these would be on FS Go. Couldn't find it.

Watching a washed up 46 year old Shane Heal has piqued my interest.

The games are going to shown tomorrow on tape delayed FS1. I don't think any of the basketball games are going to shown live. That is the stinker of this league.

 

[Ronin]

Brian Mahoney‏Verified account@briancmahoney 5m5 minutes ago
Iverson is player-coach of his team and he doesn't look good. They've gone ahead while he sits. Does he put himself back in late?

 

[Ronin]

Big3 begins: Ice Cube's new 3-on-3 league starts with a bang
NEW YORK (AP) — DeShawn Stevenson nailed the shot, ran toward the sideline and slapped hands with Ice Cube.

Stevenson had a winner, and Cube might, too.

The rapper-actor's new 3-on-3 basketball league of former NBA players got off to a strong start Sunday, with the first two games both decided on winning shots.

The stands at Barclays Center were well-filled, with entertainers such as LL Cool J and NBA players such as James Harden in the crowd for the first two games before former MVP Allen Iverson, the main attraction among players, took the court following a concert for the third of four games on the day.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...s-with-a-game-winner-and-an-injury/103184926/

The eight-team league will play on 10 weekends, culminating with the Aug. 26 championship in Las Vegas. Games are shown on Monday nights on Fox Sports 1

 

[Ronin]

Fans at the Barclays Center got what they wanted Sunday, as Allen Iverson made his return to the floor at the first day of BIG3 play. However, it was clear Iverson was not the A.I. of old.

Iverson scored just two points on 1-of-6 shooting while playing minimally in 3's Company's season-opening win over the Ball Hogs. Andre Owens finished with 20 points, 15 rebounds and five assists for the Iverson-captained team, which pulled away late on an 8-0 run.

DerMarr Johnson (14 points) and Al Thornton (13 points) were also in double figures for 3's Company. Ball Hogs captains Brian Scalabrine and Josh Childress were equally uninvolved, finishing with a combined six points. Their scoring was almost entirely comprised of the 22 points put up by Rasual Butler and 19 by Derrick Byars.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...l-2017-results-allen-iverson-struggles-in-win

 

[Ronin]

NEW YORK — There was no mic in his hand. No sound check. No Raiders cap. But O’Shea Jackson, better known as Ice Cube, was still center stage, sharply dressed in a suit and tie as he stood courtside an hour before the debut of his BIG3.

The day wasn’t perfect: Allen Iverson was clearly not Hall of Famer Allen Iverson anymore. Chauncey Billups didn’t attend because of ongoing talks about a front office job with the Cleveland Cavaliers. There were injuries, and some kinks still needed to be worked out. But for the most part, the debut of Ice Cube’s 3-on-3 league of former NBA players was competitive and well-attended by a star-studded crowd of 15,177 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

https://theundefeated.com/features/big3-league-shows-signs-of-promise-in-brooklyn-debut/

 

[Ronin]

Nearly 400K For Delayed BIG3 Debut

• Airing on a one-day tape delay, the television debut of the BIG3 basketball league earned 398,000 viewers on Fox Sports 1 Monday night. Fox Sports said on Twitter Tuesday that it was one of the ten largest basketball audiences ever on FS1, but that statement was later pulled. Monday’s viewership exceeds every game of The Basketball Tournament, an annual summer competition that has aired on ESPN the past two years, and the average NBA regular season audience on NBA TV (313K). Keep in mind NBA games on NBA TV are blacked out in local markets.

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2017/06/big3-ratings-fs1-basketball-mlb-fox-espn/

 

[Ronin]

Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney

Jason Williams out 6 to 8 months after his knee injury. Kenyon Martin day-to-day, says Ice Cube, who yes, gives injury reports.

 

[Ronin]

Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney

Ice Cube says #Big3 open to moving championship game in Las Vegas on Aug. 26. It's booked for T-Mobile Arena, which Mayweather fight wants.