Power Heavily Favored in BIG3 Championship Game
- Power faces 3’s Company in the BIG3 championship game on Friday night at Barclays Center
- Can Corey Maggette continue his dominant play?
- Will Baron Davis carry his teammates to a title with another signature game?
Corey Maggette’s title drought could be coming to an end. The long-time NBA star will have a chance to win the first ring of his career on Friday night when he leads Power against 3’s Company in the BIG3 championship game.
It would be a fitting end for Maggette, who has steamrolled over the competition all season long. The former Clipper is averaging 16.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and has consistently come up with big buckets when his team has needed them most.
Maggette’s breakout campaign is giving Power -190 odds of downing 3’s Company in the title game.
BIG3 Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Power | -190 |
| 3’s Company | -110 |
Maggette is just one reason why Power is being heavily favored. The team also boasts one of the league’s best long distance threats in Cuttino Mobley, who is shooting 39% from beyond the arc and is still silky smooth despite being on the wrong side of 40. The former Rocket has allowed Maggette to attack the paint with impunity by drawing defenders away from the lane.
Power has also benefited greatly from the rugged inside presence of Glen “Big Baby” Davis, who has used every ounce of his 300 lb. frame to bounce opposing players off the block. Jermaine O’Neal is still trying to get around one of the picks he set last week.
Power Statistics
| Player | PTS | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corey Maggette | 16.9 | 7.1 | 3.1 |
| Cuttino Mobley | 12.0 | 5.0 | 1.9 |
| Glen Davis | 11.6 | 5.1 | 0.6 |
| Xavier Silas | 8.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 |
| Quentin Richardson | 4.8 | 4.3 | 1.2 |
| Chris Andersen | 4.8 | 3.0 | 1.0 |
| Ryan Gomes | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
3’s Company aren’t exactly pushovers themselves. The team has been led this season by Andre Emmett and Baron Davis, who have combined to score 31.3 points per game.
Davis is the bigger draw because of his glory days in New Orleans and Golden State, but Emmett is the tougher check. The 35-year-old dropped a team-high 27 points in last week’s emotional playoff win, and ranks second in the league in steals, fourth in scoring and assists, and sixth in rebounds.
3’s Company Statistics
| Player | PTS | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Emmett | 16.1 | 6.0 | 2.6 |
| Baron Davis | 15.2 | 4.0 | 1.2 |
| DerMarr Johnson | 7.9 | 3.1 | 0.6 |
| Jason Maxiell | 7.6 | 4.6 | 1.3 |
| Drew Gooden | 5.0 | 3.9 | 0.9 |
| Dahntay Jones | 5.4 | 3.3 | 1.0 |
Power will also have their hands full with Jason Maxiell, who has a well-earned reputation for being one of the BIG3’s most physical players. The one-time Piston is among the league leaders in rebounds per game and is a beast on the offense glass.
Power beat 3’s Company 50-44 in Week 2 during their only previous meeting of the season. Mobley led the way in that game with 18 points and seven rebounds and was one of three Power players to finish with double figures. The team repeatedly got to the basket at will and had no issue controlling the pace of play. Expect a similar outcome on Friday as Power has too much depth, skill, and balance to be denied.
The BIG3 championship game will take place Friday, August 24th at 8:00 p.m. at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The game will be preceded by the consolation match between Tri-State and 3 Headed Monsters. If you can’t catch it in person you can always tune-in live on Fox as the event will be broadcast in its entirety.
Ryan worked as an Editor and resident Lead NBA and MLB Writer for SB from 2017-19. He has authored his own weekly columns for Fox Sports and AskMen, and has created successful campaigns for the WWE, the NHL, and the NFL. Ryan's critically acclaimed stories have been published in 20 books.
