🏀 Unrivaled Weekly: No hiding here
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
Much like Breeze BC star Paige Bueckers’ free throw percentage, today’s edition of Unrivaled Weekly is picture perfect…if we do say so ourselves. *winks*
- We’re so glad you’re here as we break down the league’s hottest hands, vibe-check the top off-court moments, and unpack the plays that hit different every Friday during the Unrivaled season. Let’s shoot some hoops.
Putting yourself out there can be hard. Just ask Laces sharpshooter Jordin Canada, who debuted original music at Unrivaled last weekend even though it meant stepping outside of her comfort zone. It’s giving Troy Bolton.
- The moral of Canada’s melodic story? Dare to be vulnerable even when it scares you, whether it’s at your nine-to-five or in your passion-fueled side quest. You got this 💪
👀 There’s no place to hide
The GIST: Two weeks into Unrivaled’s sophomore season, and there have already been some monster performances — be it Vinyl standout Dearica Hamby’s dominant 40-piece or Chelsea Gray averaging a league-leading 30.6 points per game for Rose.
- These jaw-dropping stats left us wondering: Why do certain players pop off in the small-sided game? Let’s discuss.
🏀 Breaking down 3v3: 3x3 basketball (aka the Olympic version) is vastly different than traditional 5v5 hoops. What’s more, Unrivaled’s take on the small-sided game offers a unique hybrid of the two: It’s played on a compressed full court, giving players more space to operate than the 3x3 half court, while employing an 18-second shot clock instead of the usual 24 seen in 5v5 play.
- These elements fundamentally change the way the sport is played and the types of players who excel — there’s nowhere to hide with only six players on the floor.
đź’Ş Athletes who thrive in 3v3 typically boast a killer combination of versatility, athleticism, and size:
- Eighteen seconds isn’t a lot of time to score in the full court, so players must create their own opportunities and capitalize on mismatches. That’s the 3v3 bread and butter, meaning players with a deep bag become even more dynamic with all that extra space to operate in.
- But it’s about more than scoring: Being a good defender is non-negotiable, especially when defensive switches are happening left, right, and center. Help defense exists, but there are only two other teammates on the floor…and a lot of court to cover. No hiding, remember?
🌹 Why is Gray so good in the small-sided game?: We broke down Hamby’s play last week, so let’s dig into Gray’s 3v3 aptitude. At five-foot-eleven, she’s a big point gawd, er, guard, but it’s her basketball IQ that truly sets her apart. Not only is she incredibly skilled, but she’s almost always making the right play, a nightmare for defenses already stretched thin. The proof is in the pudding.
👟 Offensive rebounds are not in the league-best Laces’ game plan: The 4-1 squad is averaging just 5.8 offensive boards per game, the worst mark in the league. Crashing the glass on offense generates more possessions, which can make all the difference in close games, but it hasn’t slowed down Unrivaled’s top dog — why?
- For starters, the Laces are shooting an impressive 48.7% from the field through five games. Simply put: When you’re hitting shots, you don’t need offensive rebounds.
- Plus, the undersized squad is averaging five steals per game, third-best among the league’s eight teams, providing yet another avenue for additional scoring chances.
🔥 Hive BC’s Saniya Rivers will finish the season as Unrivaled’s blocks leader.
The rookie is hosting a block party, highlighted by a six-rejection performance against Breeze in her second Unrivaled game. Five games into the season, Rivers is tied with Phantom star Aliyah Boston for the league lead, averaging two blocks per outing.
- Rivers stands at six-foot-one, but it’s her mind-boggling six-foot-five wingspan that sets her apart. That and her defensive instincts are second to none — timing is everything when it comes to tallying blocks.
As always, thanks for breaking down the Xs and Os with us.
Yours through timeouts and technicals,
The GIST Team
Today’s email was brought to you by Lisa Minutillo. Fact-checking by Elisha Gunaratnam. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.