Panini elite black

[Agent 7o2]

Glad I'm not the only one who has recognized this. I too must ask the same question, Why does Panini seldom use action shots? Why must everything be player cut-outs? I miss Topps, they KNEW what they were doing when they made a basketball card. But just don't take my word for it, the evidence is right in front of you.

-There are just SO MANY good things about the Ray Allen card below. A nice clever design on the top of the card with the Celtics colors, letters are not too big...just right. The rest of the card has the picture and a nice small Celtics logo on the bottom left corner and the set logo on the bottom right corner, again the logos are the perfect size, not too big.
Now, we have this BEAUTIFUL picture! Arguably, (I say arguably because I think Reggie is just as clutch, maybe even better) the greatest 3-point shooter of all-time...doing what? Yes people, he's attempting a 3-point shot. With who appears to be Brandon Roy getting a late hand in his face and KG & Aldridge positioning themselves for the rebound if it doesn't go in. And look, we even have the shot clock and time in the shot! This is a well designed basketball card.



And now from another year of Topps Chrome we have what appears to be a LeBum breakaway dunk against the Pistons in takeoff.


.....Now we have this...
Bill Russell...with some crap design. Panini, I don't buy your CRAP because I want designs. I buy it because I LOVE BASKETBALL. Give me some action shots, PUHLEASE.


or this lazy as @#%* design...






I for your return Topps and Upper Deck...

Those are perfect examples!

[Agent 7o2]

Good point on the Laettnner.

Didn't know the Sweet Sigs weren't game-used...
I do know for a fact though that they are actual basketball/rubber/leather material.
All the Sweet Spot issues over the years have just been textured cardboard correct?

Yeah I think you are right about the Sweet Spot being just textured cartboard material. They sort of look like basketball material but you can tell when you touch it that it's not actual rubber/leather like that Sweet Sigs card.

[MatthewLee]

@ Zeppelin :

Excellent post using the Topps cards as reference (they really went out with a bang)!!!
Great way to illustrate the point we've all been making since...Certified?

Couldn't find any of my older posts, but trust me I've been screaming it :
https://www.sportscardforum.com/showt...0#post10070330

[MatthewLee]

Yeah I think you are right about the Sweet Spot being just textured cartboard material. They sort of look like basketball material but you can tell when you touch it that it's not actual rubber/leather like that Sweet Sigs card.

Hahaa yep, cardboard central...
Just pulled out these 2 and both DEF aren't ball/game-ball :

2001-02 Sweet Shot Signature Shots #KES
2007-08 Sweet Shot Signature Shots Black Ink #JR /25 6/25

[whalechaser]

@ Zeppelin :

Excellent post using the Topps cards as reference (they really went out with a bang)!!!
Great way to illustrate the point we've all been making since...Certified?

Couldn't find any of my older posts, but trust me I've been screaming it :
https://www.sportscardforum.com/showt...0#post10070330

^ Ha ha in that same thread was me disparaging Panini's supposedly next great product "Gold Standard" right under your post.


As for the action shots, Topps did it best, even better than upper deck I think. Memorable pictures for me include the Tim Duncan from 07-08 Topps, and the Kobe from 08-09 Topps (it's funny because those cards were so good that I actually remember the pictures on those cards), other great, great photograph was 06-07 Topps Full Court and going to the past a little 98-99 Fleer tradition. Actually, the late 90's fleer and fleer ultras had some great photos in them.

[Agent 7o2]

^ Ha ha in that same thread was me disparaging Panini's supposedly next great product "Gold Standard" right under your post.


As for the action shots, Topps did it best, even better than upper deck I think. Memorable pictures for me include the Tim Duncan from 07-08 Topps, and the Kobe from 08-09 Topps (it's funny because those cards were so good that I actually remember the pictures on those cards), other great, great photograph was 06-07 Topps Full Court and going to the past a little 98-99 Fleer tradition. Actually, the late 90's fleer and fleer ultras had some great photos in them.

Yeah when it came to those sets even the base cards were worth collecting just because of their awesome design and photography. I am just about finished with the 450 card 2011 Topps Football base set and it looks pretty sweet displayed in a folder. I guess we will have to wait until Topps and Upper Deck get their licenses back before we can see basketball cards like that again. Seems like all Panini cares about is their auto, memorabilia, manufactured memorabilia and gimmick cards. They don't seem to put any effort into their base cards at all.

[Zeppelin1985]

Yeah when it came to those sets even the base cards were worth collecting just because of their awesome design and photography. I am just about finished with the 450 card 2011 Topps Football base set and it looks pretty sweet displayed in a folder. I guess we will have to wait until Topps and Upper Deck get their licenses back before we can see basketball cards like that again. Seems like all Panini cares about is their auto, memorabilia, manufactured memorabilia and gimmick cards. They don't seem to put any effort into their base cards at all.

I just want to add that they're cards feel so cheap in hand. C - H - E - A - P.

[BigAl_83]

Well at least this NBA lockout is doing us one favor, because in upcoming releases for card products i can only find Football, Baseball and Hockey!! No more crap basketball stuff until the lockout is over!!

[whalechaser]

Well at least this NBA lockout is doing us one favor, because in upcoming releases for card products i can only find Football, Baseball and Hockey!! No more crap basketball stuff until the lockout is over!!

I'd rather there be new releases so I'm not competing against people on old Upper Deck/Topps stuff. At the same time though, as long as it's hurting Panini's bottom line, I'm all for it.

[41 Fan]

I can't go a whole year without basketball! Plus, I think that would postpone the end of Panini's horrible exclusive contract with the NBA.