Monday, November 8, 2010

2010 Playoff Contenders Patches Basketball

Schedule Release Date: February, 2011
Box Configuration: 5 cards per pack, 20 packs per box
SRP: $120/box

Box Break:
4 Autograph cards including a 2010 Lottery Pick

My Thoughts:
This set has been a solid contender, excuse the pun, each year and looks to continue that trend with only one slight change, the manufactured prime patches now being included on the Rookie Ticket autographs.

Panini has changed the name from Playoff Contenders Basketball to Playoff Contenders Patches Basketball. The Rookie Ticket Autograph cards are being changed to now include a manufactured prime patch which some people may not agree with but I actually like it, the new look of the card now seems complete with the addition of the prime patch. I honestly would be surprised if these do not draw some big interest.

Some may find the “Place In History” autographs an interesting pull, an insert that focuses on players who were drafted by one team but were traded away without ever playing a game for the team. Players like Kobe and Charlotte and Pau Gasol and the Hawks. I think it is an interesting idea but the designers did not pull it well together, the set features a player with the draft team hat on imposed over a newspaper. I think they should have used the player image from draft day and somehow involved the team’s logo to tie it all together.

Pros:
4 autographs including one from the 2010 NBA Lottery

200 Championship Ticket 1/1 cards

Seems to be a solid list of autographs including Amar’e Stoudamire, Derrick Rose and Kobe Bryant.

Cons:
Patches are manufactured which some people do not like

Sticker autographs

Rating:
I will give this set 3 out of 5 because it is a standard set that meets expectations. The addition of the manufactured prime patch only adds to the Rookie Ticket Autograph cards. The only down side would be the use of stickers on an otherwise decent basketball set.

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