Just like that we are almost to the month of September, as Week 3 of the K1 Fall League kicks off. A big week of games, highlighted by the Bucks and Spurs at 12:30 pm, and two pivotal East division matchups, promises a fun week of play. Catch all the action at Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene.
12:30 pm - Spurs (2-1) @ Bucks (2-0)
Week 3 wastes no time in delivering some serious action, as the game-of-the-week matchup between the Spurs and Bucks expects to be a dandy. Despite an opening week loss to the Lakers, the defending champion Spurs bounced back with two wins on Sunday and have quickly re-asserted themselves at the top of the standings. The Bucks meanwhile, are one of just two undefeated teams left in the league at 2-0, and the last team that can make this claim in the East Division. Only two teams in the K1 League average above 70 points per game, that would be the Spurs and Bucks. These two teams are also first and second in assists by a wide margin, so expect there to be some points in this one. While the Bucks believe they have the guard play to hang with anyone in the league, the question may be, do they have enough size around Kale Maupin to battle with the Spurs on the boards. Look for Lavell McIntosh, Jordan Logan, and Maupin to do their best, against the group of Trey Johnson, Austin Halcomb, Dennis Koger, and Ryan Kvasnicka. The Spurs open as 0.5 point favorites in the game-of-the-week.
1:30 pm - Celtics (1-1) @ Heat (1-1)
Although coming into the year it was a bit unclear what we would get from this Celtics team, they have a chance to prove to the entire league that they are for real as they take on the Heat in an East Division battle. The Celtics have seen some dynamic playmaking from Walter Hudson, Mendi Naylor, and Donald Ellis. Because the Heat don't have a true center, big guys Jay Slone and Jonathan Townsend may feel good about their matchup. Meanwhile for the Heat, a massive OT win in week 1 against the veteran Nets, felt a bit overshadowed by this past's week loss to the Warriors. For the Heat, it wasn't so much that they lost, but the way in which they lost. They turned the ball over 21 times and allowed 15 offensive rebounds. However, they will have to hit the reset button quickly, and they will look to stars Terrell Hendrix and Blake Graham to do so. Graham scored 23 points in Week 1, and Hendrix had 26 points in Week 2. The Heat are a 4.5 point favorite in this one, but the Celtics do match up very well across the board. Enjoy this one, in a battle for second place in the East.
2:30 pm - Suns (0-2) @ Lakers (2-0)
After just two weeks of play, the Lakers are one of two undefeated teams left in the K1 League, along with the Bucks. This is due in large part to the play of guards Antonio Brooks (18 ppg), Andre Robertson Jr. (15 ppg), and LJ Harris (11.5 ppg). Brooks, who scored 26 points this past week in a 66-50 win against the Lakers, won player-of-the-week honors in Week 2. The Suns will be outsized at almost every position on the court, as they enter this contest with the youngest team in the K1 League. Despite getting off to an 0-2 start, they certainly showed improvement this past Sunday in a very competitive loss against the Celtics. Brothers Devonte and Ferra Johnson have been bright spots so far, and they will need to continue to perform well if the Suns want to challenge the Lakers. Point guard Miyon Dabney will look to bounce back this week, while Michael Lonergan Jr. on Robertson Jr. should be a fun matchup in the battle of the "Juniors." Lonergan Jr. was special a week ago, nearly finishing with a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists). The Lakers are 17.5 point favorites in this one.
3:30 pm - Mavericks (0-2) @ Lakers (2-0)
The Lakers expect to have their full lineup back on Sunday, and they will need it, as they take on the Mavericks in game two of a doubleheader. With a doubleheader sweep on Sunday, the Lakers would become the league's first team to four wins. Standing in their path is a Mavericks team that appears to be searching for their identity. Behind reigning coach-of-the-year Marcell Hobbs, they have several new players teaming up with what is a core of mainly guards. Braijon Thomas was outstanding in his league debut a week ago, scoring 20 points. Jamari Washington was also really good, chipping in 18 points against the Spurs. Big man Antwan Peterson should have some fun in this one trying to matchup with big man Rob Anderson. Peterson enters the game averaging just shy of a double-double. Expect to see more in this one from the Lakers' Quon Shaw and CJ Link, two of their big offseason additions. The Lakers are 11.5 point favorites, as the Mavericks continue to battle through an extremely challenging stretch of their season's schedule.
4:30 pm - Mavericks (0-2) @ Warriors (2-1)
The Warriors, fresh off of as difficult a doubleheader as you can play a week ago, certainly have those in the K1 Fall League on high alert, if they weren't already. Following a convincing win against the Heat in a complete 40-minute effort, the Warriors battled back against the Spurs on Sunday afternoon, pushing the defending champions to OT in a West Division showdown. Martavius Laster was unconscious, as he scored 27 of his 29 points after halftime. Expect Tyree Mosley, Sammie Hines, and Jared Harris to distribute the ball well against this Mavericks team, as the Warriors look to break the 70-point mark in this one. Meanwhile for Marcell Hobbs' Mavericks, they will be on the back end of a brutal doubleheader. Center Antwan Peterson will have a fun matchup against Latrell Tidwell, as he looks to continue surprising with his ability to shoot from the outside. The guard trio of the Allen's will need to shine if the Mavericks want to keep pace with this Warriors team in this one. Expect the experience of the Warriors to give them the edge in this one, as they open as 10.5 favorites.
5:30 pm - Bulls (1-1) @ Nets (0-2)
The August portion of games in the K1 Fall League concludes with a fun matchup of East Division teams. The Nets, led by the veteran "Chillz," fell to 0-2 after facing difficult teams in their opening two games in the Heat and the Lakers. The Bulls meanwhile are 1-1, after falling to the Bucks a week ago. They did pick up a big 55-51 win in the opener against the Mavericks. These two teams could not be structured any differently. The Nets, who have yet to employ a player over 6'2" in their starting lineup, will have to matchup against the Bulls, who have a trio of big men - Matt Wells, Bobby Crivokapich, and the 6'10" Seth Johnson. Expect the guards of the Nets to have a slight advantage, especially if star Red Binion is cleared by doctors to play. However, the Bulls looked much better at the guard position this past Sunday, as Marcell Maiden and Benito Munoz both scored in double figures. If Red Binion and TJ Wicks are in the lineup for the Nets, we have them as 1.5 point favorites. However without them, the Bulls could have the edge, especially with what will be a big-time rebounding advantage on the interior. It's hard to see someone on the Nets slowing down Johnson, the double-double machine.