Week 3 is here, and the season is starting to heat up. Some teams are finding their groove, while others are still figuring things out.

As always, we keep our hearts with the people of Palestine and all those around the world facing hardship. May Allah continue to protect and uplift them.

This league isn’t just about basketball — it’s about brotherhood, community, and purpose.
Let’s get into some predictions !!

Areeha (2-0) Vs Jerusalem (0-2)
To kick off Week 3, we’ve got two teams in very different positions: the undefeated Areeha and the winless Jerusalem. According to some insider intel, both teams will be without their starting point guards — Muj for Areeha and Omar Singer for Jerusalem.

Areeha has already proven they can get the job done without their floor general, showing strong chemistry and depth early in the season. On the other hand, Jerusalem still hasn’t played a single game with their full roster and will continue that trend this week.

The biggest challenge for Jerusalem lies in their roster construction — they’ve only got two true guards, and with one of them out, Malik Zubi will be forced to take on primary ball-handling duties. That’s a shift from his usual role as a floor spacer and spot-up shooter, but that means he will likely have a lot more shots coming his way.

This game will come down to the final minutes, but I’m rolling with Areeha to stay undefeated. They’re more balanced and cohesive, Zain vs Big 0 will be a great matchup to see, but lack of spacing from Jerusalem will kill them this week.

Areeha by 6

Jenin (0-2) Vs Bir Seba (2-0)
What looked like a sure first win for Jenin last week slipped away after a rough second half, handing them their second straight loss.
Despite the result, there were bright spots — Anas Najib showed major improvement from his Week 1 outing. But if Jenin wants to get in the win column, Ali Hassan’s shooting has to take a step forward.

I don’t expect Ali to repeat last week’s performance. It was his first game with the squad, so chemistry and rhythm should naturally improve. A more confident Ali, paired with Anas building off his momentum, gives Jenin a real shot.

On the other side, Bir Seb’a will be without their captain, Ahmad Chaabane — a huge loss considering he’s their best on-ball defender. Lil O has been on fire the last two weeks and will need to continue that on both ends. I also want to see more from Hassan Farhat he has the talent to be this team's best player any given night.
If Jenin is going to secure that first dub, Anas and Ali will both need to go for 20+ and I think they will.

Jenin by 9

Gaza (2-0) Vs Sheikh Jarrah (0-2)

In my opinion, Gaza is the best team in the league right now, and I fully expect them to keep rolling in Week 3 against a struggling Sheikh Jarrah squad.
I’m not usually one to lean on team stats when making picks, but when the No. 1 team in assists is facing the team ranked 14th? That pretty much sums up the issues Sheikh Jarrah is facing early on. Whether it’s the lack of ball movement or simply not being able to hit shots when they do swing it around, something’s got to change.

They’ll need more from Mahrooz, who is easily a Top 10 player in this league, but the supporting cast has to step up if Sheikh Jarrah wants any chance of staying competitive.

Meanwhile, on the Gaza side, Mahdy has been doing his thing week in and week out, and I expect another strong showing from him in this one. And let’s not overlook Mo Raj!!! Yes, it’s a small sample size, but he deserves credit for the way he’s been impacting the game on both ends. He’s quietly helped anchor Gaza’s undefeated start.
Hate to say it, but I don’t think this one will be close. Gaza and Coach Jihad should continue their dominant run and stay undefeated.
Gaza by 14

Deir Al-Balah (2-0) vs Nazareth (1-1)

Talk about a bounce back game !!
Nazareth came into Week 2 off a blowout loss in their opener, but they responded in a big way pulling out a gritty win against Khan Yunis. What stood out most was the balance. Every starter contributed, and they now have all five starters nearly averaging 10 points per game to start the season.

On the other side, we’ve got Deir Al-Balah — who, in my opinion, is the second-best team in the league right now. They’re coming off a nail-biter of a win that came down to a missed layup at the buzzer. Sure, there may have been some questionable no-calls down the stretch, but once the final horn sounds, a win’s a win.

What makes Deir Al-Balah so dangerous is their floor spacing. Amir Hassan, Ehsan, and Humza Shah all stretch the defense, while Mana continues to dominate the glass. Add in Elias, who’s been doing all the little things and quietly having an excellent all-around season, and you’ve got a squad that’s firing on all cylinders.
I’m taking Deir Al-Balah this week to keep the momentum going and extend their win streak to three.

Deir Al-Balah by 8

Safad (1-1) Vs Haifa (0-2)

Based on some inside info, Safad will likely be without Raied this week — and that’s a huge blow. It’s already been tough for this squad without a true second ball handler to pair with Shazaib, and Raied has often filled that role when they need a change of pace.
Moazam couldn’t quite replicate his stellar performance from the previous week, and things won’t get any easier with Khalied Saleh guarding him this time around.

As for Haifa, they’re just two total points away from being 2–0, which is wild to think about. They’ve clawed back from two 20-point deficits but couldn’t finish the job in either game.

Anas Zubi and Capone struggled to find their rhythm last week, both going 5-for-16 from the field. But there’s no doubt this team has the talent to do something special this season. The key? Defense. We all know they can score, but until they start stringing together stops, it won’t mean much when the other team is lighting it up just the same.
There’s also a trade currently in the works, so we’ll see if that ends up impacting this week’s matchup.

I’m taking Haifa to get their first win of the season. Safad just doesn’t have the offensive firepower right now. Still, don’t be surprised if this one is closer than it should be.
Haifa by 5

Rafah (0-2) Vs Yaffa (1-1)
Rafah has had a tough start to the season when it comes to putting points on the board and it’s not getting any easier this week. With both Ali Mahin and Hassan Chaabane already confirmed out, things are looking rough.

Honestly, I don’t think this game should be close in any way. The one positive that could come out of this matchup for Rafah is the opportunity for Jojo and Zubidi to finally find their rhythm. Both have struggled to start the season, and their inconsistency has been a major factor in Rafah’s current record.

Yaffa, on the other hand, still has their own offensive concerns. While we saw a better overall performance from them last week, scoring remains an issue. That said, Omar Sehwail and Amir C stepped up in a big way, and they’ll need to keep that momentum going if they want to come out on top.

I know I mentioned Ali and Hassan are out, but don't be shocked if this one plays out a little differently than expected. That said, I’m still taking Yaffa to get the job done. They’ve got more firepower available and the matchup is heavily in their favor. First half of this game will be a lot closer than the 2nd.

Yaffa by 11

Baysan (2-0) vs Khan Yunis (1-1)
The final game of the night and my Game of the Week!!
Baysan enters this one riding high with a 2-0 record, fresh off a thrilling double-overtime victory. Meanwhile, Khan Yunis is coming off a narrow loss and looking to bounce back.

The marquee matchup? Big Moose vs. Aadil and Salman. Moose plays like a guard in a big man’s body, so expect Aadil to take on the defensive challenge.
Will need to see major improvements from Mo and Adeeb, who struggled from the field last week. They'll be very much needed for Baysan to remain undefeated.

Expect a gritty, physical battle that goes down to the wire. Moayad has been phenomenal to start the season and fits perfectly within Khan Yunis’ system. In games like this, it comes down to who wants it more and based on their track record, I’m backing Khan Yunis to close out the night with a statement win.

Khan Yunis by 3

Another week of predictions in the books, hope y'all enjoy, and until the next time, BrokenOne out!
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