B/R's Dream 3-on-3 Tournament
Good things come in threes. In January, Ice Cube announced a new three-on-three basketball league, the BIG3, which debuted June 25. Earlier this month, three-on-three basketball was officially confirmed as an Olympic sport for the 2020 Games in Tokyo.
Now, inspired by this triumvirate fervor, we at Bleacher Report have decided to compile the best possible three-man teams across several sports.
For each sport—NBA, 2017 NBA draftees, NFL, college football, NHL and world soccer—we invited two to four experts to draft their ideal teams. Instead of a superteam in each sport (you won't find LeBron James and Kevin Durant as teammates in the NBA, for example), there are two great teams, and we'll pick the winner of a hypothetical matchup.
Of course, if you disagree with the draft picks or the winners, feel free to share your two—or three—cents.
David Gardner provided the intro text and picked winners for all of our hypothetical matchups. Follow him on Twitter @byDavidGardner.
NBA
1 of 6
The Rules
Our matchup would be played on a half court to 40 points (win by two) with standard two- and three-point shots. (Unlike the BIG3, we're not messing around with a four-point shot.) The ball changes possession after baskets, both zone and man-to-man defenses are allowed, and all standard basketball rules apply beyond that.
The Teams
Howard Beck: Kevin Durant (SF, Golden State), Kawhi Leonard (SF, San Antonio), Paul George (SF, Indiana)
Here at Team Beck, we value versatility, length, hoops IQ and clutchiness. All of our guys can handle, create, pass, shoot the three and defend. And we have two Finals MVPs, so we know we're in good hands when the game is on the line. Sure, Team Bucher threw a curve by taking DeMarcus Cousins with the final pick, but we've got enough height/length (KD) and toughness (Kawhi) to deter him (or frustrate him into an early ejection). Anyway, Cousins can't guard any of our guys. They'll be dribbling circles around him.
Ric Bucher: LeBron James (SF, Cleveland), Klay Thompson (SF, Golden State), DeMarcus Cousins (C, New Orleans)
Since three-on-three is half-court, I don't need speed or transition as much as I need size and versatility. I envision posting Cousins at the high or low post and letting him go to work. If the defense sags, I have a knockdown, quick-release shooter in Thompson to punish them or LeBron attacking from the weak side one-on-one. Defensively, I have the two best perimeter defenders capable of switching and defending the post as well. My big can clog the paint because there is no defensive three-second violation. Boogie can sit there all day, gobbling up rebounds—and victories.
The Result
Ric Bucher's squad has the best player in the world, but the overall edge goes to Team Beck. With Durant, Leonard and George, he's assembled a positionless squad that can defend with tenacity and sink threes at will. Although I like the idea of DeMarcus Cousins living in the paint, I doubt his effectiveness on defense, and I don't make a habit of betting on anyone forced to try to score on Kawhi Leonard. —D.G.
Follow @HowardBeck and @RicBucher on Twitter.
NFL
2 of 6
The Rules
Each expert's team must consist of one quarterback and two players of any other position. All players would be required to play two ways: offensive series and defensive series. Players would not be allowed to pass-rush, and quarterbacks would have four seconds to throw the ball, with the play resulting in a sack if they fail to do so. The game would be played on a 50-yard field, with each offensive series lasting four downs without the possibility of a first down.
Editor's note: The NFL team was having so much fun with this that we were unable to contain them to just two experts picking two teams. Prepare yourself for a double dose of hypothetical three-on-three football action.
The Teams
Matt Miller: Aaron Rodgers (QB, Green Bay), Marcus Peters (CB, Kansas City), A.J. Green (WR, Cincinnati)
Aaron Rodgers is quick enough to play safety on defense and smart enough to be the captain on the back end of things. Marcus Peters is the best cornerback in the NFL and has the size, quickness and hands to be a threat as a wide receiver. Since Mike Freeman loaded up on the NFL's best receivers, I'll go with a size threat that not many athletes in the NFL could hang with on either side of the ball.
Mike Freeman: Russell Wilson (QB, Seattle), Dez Bryant (WR, Dallas), Odell Beckham Jr. (WR, New York Giants)
The only problem with my team is they'd all be ball hogs. Plus, Dez would get in a fight and get kicked out of the tournament. The positive of my team? I'd have the best pure athletes in the tournament. Beckham would be my playmaker, and Dez is the guy no one can size up to in coverage.
Mike Tanier: Colin Kaepernick (QB, free agent), Julian Edelman (WR, New England), Adoree' Jackson (CB, Tennessee)
Look who just positioned himself as the boldest, most progressive owner-coach-entrepreneur in professional sports! He-llo, jersey sales windfall! And, like, social responsibility and stuff. I don't have to worry about Kaepernick's "system fit" because this is playground ball. Bet he's athletic enough to cover some of your receivers when the other guys need a blow too.
Edelman brings short-area quickness for the dink-and-dunk game, open-field YAC ability and the versatility to take snaps at quarterback when we want to change our look. Jackson will cover your best receiver and provide some pick-sixes when your quarterbacks are tired from playing two ways. I assume this is a two-hand-touch league, and Jackson has the perfect tackling style for two-hand touch. If it's tackle, give me Marshawn Lynch instead and more of that sweet, suh-weet jersey sale revenue.
Doug Farrar: Dak Prescott (QB, Dallas), Doug Baldwin (WR, Seattle), Richard Sherman (CB, Seattle)
Dak may be a second-year guy, but I'm more than impressed at his ability to throw all over the field with different velocities and arcs. Plus, he can run a bit. Baldwin will do anything to get and stay open, and outside of Antonio Brown, he might be the best route-runner in the league. Sherman will lock down most anyone on the defensive side, and as a former Stanford receiver, he is still of the belief that he can get that position done.
The Result
In my mind, this competition was over after the first pick. Aaron Rodgers' game is so perfectly suited for a backyard-style pitch-and-catch fest that I might have picked Team Miller even if he'd drafted a pair of defensive tackles next. Instead, he also nabbed the NFL's best corner and a 6'4" wideout sure to pose matchup problems for the other teams. For what it's worth, my remaining rankings would be Team Farrar, Team Freeman and then Team Tanier (but stay woke, Mike). —D.G.
Follow @nfldraftscout, @mikefreemanNFL, @MikeTanier and @BR_DougFarrar on Twitter.
NHL
3 of 6
The Rules
Our dream three-on-three matchup would mirror the format currently used at the NHL All-Star Game. Teams would consist of a goaltender and three skaters. Games would be played on a full-size rink and would last 20 minutes, and teams would change sides at the 10-minute mark.
The Teams
Lyle Richardson: Carey Price (G, Montreal), Erik Karlsson (D, Ottawa), Evgeni Malkin (C, Pittsburgh), Patrick Kane (RW, Chicago)
In a three-on-three situation, strong goaltending and swift, skilled offensive talent are essential for victory. With the NHL's top goalie and defenseman in Price and Karlsson, respectively, plus two superstar game-breaking forwards in Malkin and Kane, all those bases are covered.
Adrian Dater: Matt Murray (G, Pittsburgh), Drew Doughty (D, Los Angeles), Sidney Crosby (C, Pittsburgh), Connor McDavid (C, Edmonton)
Poor Team Richardson. It has to go against not only the best player now (Sidney Crosby) but the best player of the future (Connor McDavid). Add last year's Norris Trophy winner to the mix, Drew Doughty, and the best money goalie of the last two years, Matt Murray, and only two questions remain: How many goals will Team Dater win by, and what is your preferred brand of Champagne?
The Result
First, allow me to say there should be significantly more three-on-three hockey. As the All-Star Game has shown, it's fun as hell. Team Richardson did well to select the best goalie in the game with the first pick, but Dater picked up the excellent Murray and complemented him with not only the game's best defender (Doughty) but also its best overall player (Crosby). The Cup here goes to Team Dater. —D.G.
Follow @SpectorsHockey and @adater on Twitter.
World Football
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The Rules
The rules of engagement are simple, with goals of five foot in width by three foot in height—making precision finishing of real importance. We won't allow the infamous goal-hanger—the player who never leaves the opposition area during small-sided contests. To negate that, we will use a pitch split into thirds: If your team loses possession, all players have to leave the opposition third before becoming "live" again to receive the ball. First team to five goals wins.
The Teams
Dean Jones: Cristiano Ronaldo (Forward, Real Madrid), Eden Hazard (Forward, Chelsea), Paul Pogba (Midfielder, Manchester United)
Cristiano Ronaldo has to be the captain. No player has a winning attitude like this man, and his quick feet, stepovers and flicks would be impossible to track. His athleticism would make him the perfect leader.
Eden Hazard would be my main creator. Chelsea's Belgian star is brilliant in tight areas, so he would be encouraged to suck in opponents before making a twinkle-toed move that leaves them in his dust.
As for Paul Pogba, you have to include the dab king for an occasion like this. He loves playing basketball and would have great awareness of exploiting space in small surroundings. He's got the trickery, stamina and positional sense to completely dominate the occasion. In fact, this may be his ideal setting.
Alex Dunn: Lionel Messi (Forward, Barcelona), Neymar (Forward, Barcelona), N'Golo Kante (Midfielder, Chelsea)
When you have the luxury of Lionel Messi, it almost seems a waste to bother with the other two. The best dribbler and finisher there has ever been couldn't be better suited for three-on-three. Small goals? No problem—this kid could volley a letter into a postbox from 50 yards. Cristiano Ronaldo may be the ultimate athlete, but on a small pitch you need an artist. Place a brush between his toes and he'd paint you the Sistine Chapel within 90 minutes.
On a tight pitch you need quick feet. Neymar once picked up a speeding ticket taking a stroll to the shops. He also loves taking possession in the type of tight spots that would have mere mortals blowing in a brown paper bag. A showboater without equal, on a tiny pitch he'd make Messi look like the straight man.
Bearing in mind N'Golo Kante makes a full-size pitch look like a five-a-side pitch, just imagine how omnipresent he'd be on one designed for six players in total. The best sides always have a streak of pragmatism running through them, and by picking Kante the other two can go and express themselves in the knowledge the back door will always remain locked.
The Result
Without inserting myself into the great Ronaldo vs. Messi debate, I'll say that this particular pitch would really favor Messi's game. In terms of pure entertainment value, not much can exceed the idea of Messi and Neymar playing off each other in tight spaces like this. I like Team Dunn, but I'd be happy to be proved wrong if it meant I got to watch this match. —D.G.
Follow @DeanJonesBR and @AlDunn80 on Twitter.
College Football
5 of 6
The Rules
Just like the NFL competition, each expert's team must consist of one quarterback and two players of any other position. All players would be required to play two ways: offensive series and defensive series. Players would not be allowed to pass-rush, and quarterbacks would have four seconds to throw the ball, with the play resulting in a sack if they fail to do so. The game would be played on a 50-yard field, with each offensive series lasting four downs without the possibility of a first down.
The Teams
Adam Kramer: Sam Darnold (QB, USC), Derwin James (S, Florida State), Christian Kirk (WR, Texas A&M)
I'll take the best quarterback in college football, the best defensive player in college football and the best open-field threat in college football. While Sam Darnold might not be the fastest player at his position in the country, his athleticism on defense will be fine when you consider the destruction he'll cause offensively. Then there's Christian Kirk, who will take screen passes spectacular distances while making opposing teams—specifically non-defensive players—look woeful in their tackling efforts. Add in Derwin James, who will spend these games covering wide receivers on one side of the ball and catching touchdowns over them on the other, and I feel mighty comfortable in what we have to offer.
Matt Hayes: Lamar Jackson (QB, Louisville), James Washington (WR, Oklahoma State), Calvin Ridley (WR, Alabama)
The endgame here is winning. Isn't it always? That's why I chose Lamar Jackson with the first pick. Not necessarily because he's the best thrower in college football (he isn't), but because he's the best athlete anytime he steps on the field. Translation: He's going to be a hell of a free safety too. So while I know I can score with Jackson throwing to the best deep threat in college football (James Washington) and a receiver (Calvin Ridley) who gets open and separates as well as anyone in the game, I also have Jackson playing center field on defense. I'll use him as a bracket over Christian Kirk and force Derwin James to win individual battles as a receiver. It's all about stopping the other guy and has been for decades. Nick Saban would be proud.
The Result
As with the NFL, this game comes down to the quarterback, and Team Hayes will take the field with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Although I pity Lamar Jackson's receivers for having to get hit repeatedly by Derwin James, the two-way talent of Team Hayes will help it topple Team Kramer. —D.G.
Follow @MattHayesCFB and @KegsnEggs on Twitter.
NBA: 2017 Draft Class
6 of 6
The Rules
Just like the NBA competition, our matchup would be played on a half court to 40 points (win by two) with standard two- and three-point shots. (Unlike the BIG3, we're not messing around with a four-point shot.) The ball changes possession after baskets, both zone and man-to-man defenses are allowed, and all standard basketball rules apply beyond that.
The Teams
Kerry Miller: Lonzo Ball (PG, Los Angeles Lakers), Jayson Tatum (SF, Boston), Lauri Markkanen (PF, Chicago)
Provided I'm not required to have LaVar Ball on the coaching staff, this trifecta could do a lot of damage. In a three-on-three format, it's crucial to have guys who can do a little bit of everything, and all three of these guys can rebound, create for themselves and shoot from distance. I have no delusions that this bunch would defend their way to a title, but they could bludgeon the opposition into submission with their ability to space the floor and score on virtually every possession.
Jonathan Wasserman: Markelle Fultz (PG, Philadelphia), Josh Jackson (SF, Phoenix), Jonathan Isaac (SF/PF, Orlando)
Josh Jackson and Jonathan Isaac will set the tone with their defense while Markelle Fultz carries the load offensively. This squad is athletic, long and versatile with a big, a wing and combo guard. Fultz brings the scoring and playmaking. Jackson puts pressure on both the rim and the other team's top weapon. And Isaac works the paint as a finisher and shot-blocker.
The Result
To me, this matchup comes down to a decision between Josh Jackson and Jayson Tatum. Fultz and Ball are comparably talented (though totally different physically) as point guards; Isaac and Markkanen will both be excellent rebounders and rim-protectors for their teams. Jackson's versatility—unlike Tatum, he doesn't need to be the centerpiece of the offense in order to contribute—will make Team Wasserman the winner. —D.G.
Follow @kerrancejames and @NBADraftWass on Twitter.
