2023-2024 NBA Conference Finals

 It's that time of the year and the NBA Playoffs are down to four teams.  In the East we get Boston and Indy.  Love Indy and their move to pick Piascal Siakam from Toronto.  It's helped them get to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2014.  This team is centered around Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner and Siakam.  Knicks may have been banged up but nobody expected them to come back from a 3-2 deficit in that series.  Even without Kristaps Porzingis dinged up Boston is too good not to get this far.  They have so much fire power with Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.  

I didn't think Dallas could make it this far but they out muscled OKC and got enough from their big two in Luka and Kyrie.  They can score and they played defense in the last round to help win a huge game 7.  The Minnesota Timberwolves are the darlings of the playoffs.  Their tenacious defense and breakout star, Anthony Edwards, make them so much fun to watch.  Hard to think they could come this far after they looked so bad last year after trading for Rudy Gobert.  And that comeback against Denver in the Semi-Finals.  Down 3-2.  Down 20 points in the third quarter of game seven.  Amazing.

I'll be rooting for Minnesota, and Georgia alum Edwards, as well as Indiana.  Neither team has won a championship, and it would be so special to watch another team hoist their first banner.   We've already seen two teams do it in the last five seasons - Toronto and Denver.  That said, I think its the Timberwolves and Celtics in the NBA Finals.  I do think Dallas can make this a really good series but Minnesota is just too good right now.  Boston is just too good period.  Way too much talent even with Porzingis not on the floor while he heals.  I think those two teams would be a great matchup as well.  Hopefully no matter who we get in The Finals, I hope the Conference Finals series are fun.

2023-24 Panini Select Basketball Hanger Box

23-24 Select:  Anthony Edwards has had an incredible playoffs and there's been many comparisons to NBA greats which are premature.  That said, I've always been on the former Georgia Bulldog's bandwagon and he's showing why he's a star in the league.  

While shiny cards aren't necessarily my thing, I've always had a soft spot for Select.  This year's offering is a nice bright blue which I like.  Overall nice design and good photos.  These Blue base cards are specific to retail as opposed to the hobby cards.

Youngsters.  We have the base Concourse design, a Tectonic Prizm Parallel and an Orange Tectonic Prizm Parallel.  Bilal Coulibaly had a solid rookie season for the Wizards.  He was originally drafted by Indiana but went to Washington as part of the three-team Bradley Beal trade.

These first two are Premier Level cards with that Murray being a Green/White/Purple Prizm Parallel.  The Brandon Miller is a Mezzanine Level base card.  Below are the different levels within the set which have their own designs and rarity.

Concourse – #1-100

Premier Level – #101-200

Courtside – #201-300

Mezzanine Level – #301-400 (retail exclusive)

The backs are always colorful but are devoid of stats.

The Thunder Lane inserts are pretty cool.  Maybe my favorite card in the box.  On to the NBA Conference Finals this week.

BREAKDOWN:
20 – Total Cards
12 – Concourse #1-100
9 – RC
2 – Tectonic Prizm
3 – Premier Level #101-200
1 – Thunder Lane
1 - Tectonic Orange Prizm
1 - Mezzanine Level #301-400
1 - Green/White/Purple Prizm

Atlanta Hawks get the #1 Pick in the 2024 NBA Draft

 The Atlanta Hawks beat the odds and have the top selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.  Unlike 2023, there is no consensus #1.  The Spurs couldn't lose.  Even if Wemby did nothing in his career nobody faults them for that pick.  The Hawks will not have it so easy.  Atlanta is already rumored to be up for major changes.  Trae Young, Dejounte Murray and the supporting cast have not made for a playoff caliber team.  Personally, I'm okay if Trae Young goes.  His lack of defense has always been a sticking point for me.  Getting Murray was a fail for me.  I like Murray but he just isn't a fit with Young and now that's he's on a big extension he'll be hard to move.  If nothing else, the #1 pick gives Atlanta lots of options.  Whether that is who they pick or the ability to make trades.

Portland has two picks in the top 14.  They need lots of help so this is good.  Same thing in that they'll have options in regard to making trades.  I'm okay if they move up using those two picks but I wouldn't mind them getting two players who can really help.  They are struggling to stay healthy, helps their young core take the next step and to see the benefit of picking up Deandre Ayton.

No matter how much grief teams get for drafting, the NBA draft is a crap shoot.  So whether you're #1 or #14 you have your work cut out for you.  The draft is May 12 in Chicago.

Random Wax: 1991 Upper Deck Football (3 Packs)

 1991 Upper Deck:  Three more packs of this very fun box of cards.  We'll kick it off with one of the all-time greats to play.  Anthony Munoz was a 9X All-Pro, 11X Pro-Bowl selection and the All-1980s Teams.

Mark Duper is so happy he's got Dan Marino throwing to him.  That's not why he was a great receiver but it didn't hurt his stats.  RIP Junior Seau.  Still fun to celebrate his amazing career.  Jessie Tuggle played his entire 14 season career with the Atlanta Falcons and was a 5X Pro-Bowler.

These Aerial Threats are fun.  The Dolphins card is the most fun as you get Dan Marino in one game and the other Mark in Miami, Mark Clayton, in the snow.

Nothing special with the Team MVP card design but no complaints having another opportunity to see greats in the game.

Season Leaders are similar to the basic design again, but it works.  They didn't go crazy and we get to see top players in the league.  Wouldn't have complained with a multi-player leaders card but I'm still good.

Huge fan of these Checklist cards.  We need more art like this.

This set is always so much fun.  We end it with Steve Young who would start ten games in 1991.  He only won five of those games but he still had a great year.

BREAKDOWN:
36 – Total Cards
6 – Team MVP
3 – Aerial Threats
3 – Team Checklist
2 – Season Leaders
1 - Checklist

Random Wax: 1991 Fleer Baseball (4 Packs)

1991 Fleer:  Hard to believe Dave Stewart was only an All-Star one time.  He won 20+ games four seasons in a row with the A's.  Stewart made up for it by winning three World Series - one each with the Dodgers, A's and Blue Jays.  He was also known the intense look.  Unfortunately cards from the 80s and 90s were known for horrible centering like this one.  Such a disappointment.

Some key players from the era.  Ellis Burks is an all-time favorite of mine.  I tend to not give Sheffield the credit he deserves but looking at his baseball card helps remind me how good he was and I've been won over by his Hall of Fame argument.  

Everyone loves the stickers and the backs of these are great too showing off the all-time leaders for a team.

Out of the league for two years due to Tourette Syndrome, Jim Eisenreich still had a really good career hitting .290 over 15 seasons.  Nice Don Slaught photo.  Easy to imagine a play that just occurred as he looks back for the call.  I like this set for no good reason even with its eye pain inducing brightness and lack of logo on the front.

Zane Smith is a top-ten all-time favorite of mine.  Maybe it's that hair.  Nice look at Stewart's stats including the apex of his career.  Love the memories and I'll keep sharing these over time.

BREAKDOWN:
60 – Total Cards
4 – Stickers

Random Wax: 2023-2024 Donruss Basketball

23-24 Donruss: The Oklahoma City Thunder are still fighting for their playoff lives in their second round series with the Mavericks, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is doing his part.  One of the best players in the league, he was acquired in the trade that sent Paul George to the Clippers.  If only LA had known...  This is a Green Holo Laser Parallel

Jayson Tatum and the Celtics punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals last night.  Six times in the last eight years!  Amazing run!

These guys are still young and finding their way in the league.

All these guys are key contributors to their team.  Max Strus was born in Hickory Hills, IL.

Lavine and Thompson could be in new cities come next year.  Lavine has a huge contract so he may be hard to move but I think the Bulls are motivated to move on from him.  Thompson is a free agent and no matter how hard it seems to move on from a Warriors legend, I think it is time.

Paulo Banchero came up huge for the Orlando Magic in the playoffs.  Even though they lost in seven games to the Cavs, he's a big reason they have big hopes for the future.

Love Donovan Mitchell and how he plays.  Injuries ended his playoffs early, but Cleveland still played Boston tough.

BREAKDOWN:

30 – Total Cards

3 – Rated Rookie

2 – Green Laser Holo

1 – Franchise Features

Random Wax: 2023 Donruss NASCAR with Autograph

 2023 Donruss: We'll kick off this pack with NASCAR three-time Cup Champion Tony Stewart.  Stewart had 49 wins over his career.  He never shied away from saying what he thought and had a temper but was well liked by fans.  NASCAR is in Darlington today.

William Byron is only 26 and finished in the top 10 in standings the last two seasons.  In 2024 he already has three wins and has to be one of the favorites to take home the championship.

Greg Biffle raced until age 52 and was top-10 in the Cup standings five times.  We have a Carolina Blue and Silver Parallel here.

Joey Logano has struggled some this year but he's a two-time champion at the Cup level.

Always enjoy pulling a auto no matter who it is.  Aric Almirola is no longer racing but had three wins and one top-ten in the standings.  This is an Optic Retro 1990 card.

More retro 1990 cards which are the highlights for me.  I'm 1990 Donruss fan and I like the take here for NASCAR.

Bubba Wallace is a favorite of mine.  He's not as consistent as I would like though but made the playoffs last season.  Kevin Harvick ended a Hall of Fame career and is now an announcer. 

Ross Chastain is one of pop's favorite drivers and famous for the Hail Melon.  A must watch as he just floored it in a video game move using the wall to get into the playoffs.  Crazy.

These Race Kings aren't my favorite design.  I like the car appearance but still a little bland.  Always fun seeing retired Great Jeff Gordon on new cardboard.  Felt like a lot going on in this pack which was a good thing.  We end it with current Champion Ryan Blaney on a Carolina Blue Parallel.

BREAKDOWN:
30 – Total Cards
6 – Retro 1990
4 – Race Kings
3 – Carolina Blue Parallels
2 - Elite
2 – Optic
2 – Rated Rookie
2 – Retired Greats
2 – Under the Lights
1 - Unleashed
1 – Silver Parallel
1 – Checkers Parallel
1 - Optic Retro 1990 Auto