Hawks fall to Wizards in the First Round

The Atlanta Hawks were eliminated in six games by the Washington Wizards in the first round of the NBA playoffs.  This wasn’t a surprise.  The Wizards are clearly a better team and John Wall has elevated himself into the discussion of “best point guard in the NBA”.  Still it was good to see Dennis Schroder step up with a huge series averaging 24.7 pts and 7.7 assists.  Paul Millsap also had a big series putting up 24.3 ppg , 9.3 rpg and 4.3 assists per game.  After that though there just wasn’t enough help.  Taurean Prince had a small coming out party.  With the need for wing scoring on this team he would be a great help moving forward if he can continue to develop.  Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kent Bazemore didn’t shoot well and Dwight Howard wasn’t a factor. 

I’ve said it before.  This team doesn’t have a real identity nor does it have that go to guy.  This was Schroder’s first time putting up big points consistently and Millsap is normally an 18 PPG guy.  Millsap is also a free agent after this year (he won’t pick up his player option).  Atlanta rolled the dice by not trading him during the season.  Even keeping him has its issues as a max or near max contract would not allow the Hawks to make other changes that may be necessary to actually get better.  I do like Schroder but there just isn’t that much else on this team unless a few players take some big leaps forward.  To be honest this run the Hawks have had, 10 straight playoff performances, is probably over.  We’ll see how the offseason plays out but it feels like they’ll be fighting just to get an eight seed next year.

Trail Blazers Swept by Warriors

The Portland Trail Blazers were swept by the Golden State Warrior 4-0 in the first round.  After sprinting to an eighth seed in the Western Conference at the end of the season this was to be expected.  Golden State is loaded with more weapons than is fair.   As a team they shot 40% from three and are good on the defensive end of the court making every opponent work for all 48 minutes.  Portland had no answers shooting only 39% overall and 32% from three.  While both C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard both had a good series (though their shooting was off) they are still a two man team.  Jusuf Nurkic was a good addition to the team but he was hurt and only available for 17 minutes in the series.  Not that he would have made a difference.  The Trail Blazers were an eight seed for a reason. 

Last offseason big contracts were handed out with the expectation of players taking their play to the next level.  That didn’t happen in the case of Allen Crabbe or Evan Turner whom they traded for.  They make $19M and $17M respectively which is way too much for a combined 19.7 points per game.   This team has two stars and some nice pieces but they need more from their front court.  Nurkic should be a solid piece moving forward but they need to get more dynamic elsewhere.  They aren’t good enough to compete with the better teams in the Western Conference.  Their first priority will probably be getting under the luxury tax threshold which doesn’t necessarily align with the team getting better.  They bet some of these young players would be better this year and lost.

2017 Panini Donruss NASCAR Racing Cards

Grabbed a couple packs of the 2017 Donruss NASCAR racing cards.  The design looks like classic Donruss and I like these cards.  There are ten cards per pack.  Would like to see a few more for my buck but this seems to be the trend here.  There is a mix of car and driver photos.  Driver photos can't normally be action shots it is nice to see some with drivers in non-standard poses or looks.

  I love the '84 Donruss design and it is utilized here in the retro design cards.  You'll also see the Rated Rookie cards.  I was pretty happy with my pull with the Kyle Busch, Danica Patrick car, and '84 retro Chase Elliot being my favorites.

Race Kings and Race Queen are part of the set.  I didn't pull any but love these subsets across all the sports in Donruss sets.  I'll definitely go looking for the Kings subset  Again I really enjoyed these cards and I'm sure I'll pick up another pack or two this year. 

 

 

2017 Topps Road to Wrestle Mania Wrestling Cards

Grabbed a pack of these.  I don't follow wrestling like I did when I was younger but I do enjoy checking out these cards each year. 

The cards this year are ok for me.  I like the photos but there is something about the design that doesn't quite make them stand out to me.  Still there are some nice cards I think folks will like. 

The packs contain seven cards which is always tough for me.  Hard to put pick up any pack knowing I'm only getting seven cards. 

2017 Topps Heritage Basebball Cards

I did it again.  Again!  Every year I think I won't pick up the Heritage brand cards but here I am again after picking up a pack of the 2017 Topps Heritage baseball cards.  I again was disappointed.  My issue isn't with the design.  Taken for the 1968 Topps these aren't bad  looking overall.  My issues is head and torso shots.  When getting older designs on cards I prefer an updated take on the photos - this would include in-game or action photos.  This is self inflicted.  I know I don't care for these but I keep going back.  The Stephen Vogt card stood out to me from this pack.  Nice phot that just seems to fill up the card.  Aside from the base cards I also pulled the following:  team, World Series, 2017 Rookie Stars, disc and New Age Performer cards.  The disc cards like minis are smaller than normal cards which I am not a fan of.  I don't know what to do with them and I'd be ok if they just go away.  The World Series cards are pretty nice cards.  I love cards that document the past World Series.

I won't go looking for these cards but I know there are collectors who love this stuff.  I am truly happy they enjoy them but this niche isn't for me.  I normally enjoy the archives cards Topps puts out as there is more variety and you get better looking photos.  I hope others enjoy these but I'll pass.

 

Flea Market Find: 1997-1998 Topps Basketball Box

 I was very excited to find a box of 1997-1998 Topps basketball cards at the local flea market this month.  This was pure fun.  I didn't collect much in the nineties so these are cards I am not familiar with.

I paid $12 for the box which was probably a bit much but I wasn't disappointed.  There are a ton of cards that'll go into my personal collection.  I love cheap boxes of cards.  The design is ok.  There is no position or even the team name or logo on the cards.  This is a cardinal sin for me but I'll let it go.  They are cheap cards for a reason.  I like the backs with a new color photo, career stats, write-up and player information.  This is how backs should be done even if I do need a magnifying glass to read them. 

The inserts were fun as well.  Not spectacular but for the time I think they did a good job.

I will say there were tons of doubles which was a bit disappointing.  I still managed to get the big stars, not counting Hakeem Olajuwon, who was the player featured on the box.  Go figure.  Would I buy these at price equal to today's cards?  No.  Again I look at this purely from a fun standpoint and the cards themselves are all a bonus.  I'd do it again in a heartbeat though at this price.   

384 Total Cards
7 Hall of Fame Stamp
 3 Topps 40th Anniversary Cards
2 NBA Draft Redemption Cards (#17 & #18)
2 Checklists
1 Pressure Points
1 Shooting Stars
1 Fantastic 15
1 Rock Stars

Hawks vs Wizards and Trail Blazers vs Warriors NBA First Round Playoffs

Dwight Howard

Atlanta had a decent enough season (43-39) to get the fifth seed in the NBA's Eastern Conference playoffs but I can't say I really know who this team is.  They'll play the Washington Wizards in the first round who are a much better team.  And more than anything they know who they are.  I'd be surprised if Atlanta wins this series but who knows.  The Hawks will need the entire team to play at a high level every game.  That is not something that has happened consistently this year.  They still don't have that go to player to score when they need it.  I'd love to say I know how this game will go but I just can't get a good read on this series.  I am definitely leaning towards Washington though and think they'll probably take the series in six games.  I hope I'm wrong but Atlanta will have to play much better for something like that to happen.

C.J. McCollum

Portland really came on late in the season and grabbed the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.  The addition of Jusuf Nurkic at the trading deadline was a big part of the reason Portland raced into the playoffs.  It is currently unknown if he'll actually be able to play after breaking a leg near the end of the season.  This is a big blow.  The team still have stud Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum but this team need a miracle to win multiple games and playing short handed isn't going to help that happen.  I think Portland can win a game but Golden State is so, so talented that a sweep is a definite possibility.  I just have to believe their great play at the end of season can continue and they are able to steal a win or two.  I just can't make myself believe they can win this series.