SUMMERLIN REC: Championship Game Preview

By LC Comine | Ultimate Hoops League Coordinator

#3 Recspekt (7-3) vs #1 Crypto Rock (10-0) 6:30 PM

So here we go again. For the third straight season Recspekt and Crypto Rock will meet for the Rec title. As we all know Recspekt is the two time defending champions and Crypto Rock is team that has been on their heels the last two seasons. Is it finally going to be Crypto’s time or will Recspekt make it a third straight title and send them back to the drawing board once again. We will find out in less than 24 hours so lets take a look at the game preview.

First of all kudos to both teams for playing tomorrow night. There was some chatter about this game being played on another night due to a player or two being gone. I am happy to see it being played tomorrow. It is a Tuesday league and the title game should be played on a Tuesday. So hats off to both teams for making it happen tomorrow night.

Now for the game. These two teams did not meet in the regular season. They were scheduled to play in week six but Recspekt ended up forfeiting the game. This will be the first matchup between the teams since last season’s rec title game, which saw Recspekt win 77-62. Rumor has it that Charles Vinson will not be in attendance tomorrow night. Without Vinson you have to wonder how Recspekt will look tomorrow night. Vinson is averaging 20.4 PPG and 10.3 REB/ game this season. A former MVP in both the open and rec league will be missed dearly tomorrow night if he is indeed out. Without Vinson Recspekt will turn to Charles DeJohnette and Jacob McDonald for their offense. McDonald leads the team in scoring at 24.8 PPG and is shooting a blistering 50% from deep on the season. DeJohnette has only played in three games this season but without Vinson they will need him to be the floor general tomorrow night and attack Crypto’s Juan Carter and keep him guessing. I am confident Recspekt will be okay on offense tomorrow night but where I am a bit concerned is on defense. Vinson is a great defender and without him on the floor I wonder who is going to step up and be the “guy” for Recspekt. Granted they will have William Holvoet in attendance but he cannot be everywhere. Will Carlos Jorgebe in attendance tomorrow night and be the enforcer in the paint for GM Stefan Hanania? If not who is going stop Chris Ford from getting rebound after rebound?

Crypto Rock is lucky to be here after last week. They barely got by Family Reunion in OT but they got the W and that is what mattered. Crypto should have no problem being motivated for this game. They have been beaten and beaten pretty soundly in the last two title games by Recspekt. The additions of MVP Chris Ford and UH vet Juan Carter have been huge for this team. Ford has dominated the rec division this season averaging 23.3 PPG and grabbing 17.5 REB. Carter has fit in nicely with Crypto shooting 46% from three and averaging 19.4 PPG. In the previous two title games Crypto really struggled shooting. In the winter title game they shot 30% as a team and in the spring title game they shot 34%. If they have another performance like that Recspekt will blow them out once again. I think we all know that Ford and Carter will show up tomorrow night. But the guy I am keeping my eye on tomorrow night is Bobby Mears. In the two previous title games Recspekt has shut him down. In the winter Mears had 14 points and in the spring Mears had 8 points which have been well below his scoring average. Crypto is going to need a big time performance tomorrow night from Mears if they want to knock off the champs. The question is will Mears be ready for Recspekt this time around?

I think we are going to see a much closer title game tomorrow night and we will see a game that will come down who is playing the most loose. I have seen a lot of these title games in which the teams are tight and not playing their game. I think both these teams are going to show up tomorrow night and will be ready to go. I am concerned about the legs of Stefan Hanania, William Holvoet, and Charles DeJohnette after playing some big time minutes in the open title game the previous night especially if they don’t have Vinson. I also have a feeling Crypto is going to be ready to bust out tomorrow night and take a few seasons of frustrations out on Recspekt. I really do think this game is going to go down to the wire but part of me thinks that Crypto is going to come out on fire tomorrow night and hammer Recspekt. With that being said I think the absence of Charles Vinson will be too much for Recspekt and Bobby Mears will have an MVP type performance for Crypto Rock tomorrow night as they finally slay the beast called Recspekt and take back their rec league title after two seasons of falling short.

My prediction

Crypto Rock- 84
Recspekt- 79