Hornets Venom GT: Slam Open Week 3 Preview – Bracket Play

Hornets Venom GT, the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets, are heading to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the in-person portion of the Slam Open. Placing second in their group behind Hawks Talon GC, Venom advanced to their first week of in-person bracket play this season.

Despite going 3-3 during group play, Venom earned a spot in the bracket as the two seed in their group. In what ended up being one of the two most competitive groups, Venom carved out enough wins to secure their spot in Indy.

Having drawn 76ers GC in the first round, Venom will have to play the 5-1 76ers if they want to stay a while on the main stage. While Philly has looked nearly unbeatable in 3-v-3 play, they did drop one game in group play, which shows that Venom could sneak a series win if they play their cards right.

In the first batch of 3-on-3 power rankings, the 76ers were ranked as the best team in the Eastern Conference, and then they added last season’s Rookie of the Year and MVP, 630. By acquiring such a valuable piece via trade, the 76ers improved their chances of winning the Slam Open dramatically.

For Venom, it will be interesting to see who guards Philly’s one-two punch of guards. While King Haad, Nick, and DJ should continue to be the go-to lineup for Venom, only time will tell who draws the honor of guarding whom.

In a best-of-five series, Venom will have to snag three games off of the 76ers. It may be difficult, but it is certainly doable. The real key to the series is going to be getting DJ involved on both sides of the court. If he can dominate down low and slow the game down, the 76ers’ guards won’t be able to get out in transition too often.

The 76ers and Venom tip-off on Wednesday, May 11, on the 2K League main stage in Indianapolis. If Venom defeat Philly, they will play the winner of the Wizards and Team Handlez matchup.