Random Wax: 2021-2022 Illusions Basketball

21-22 Illusions:   I know the Spurs are in a 2-0 hole, but maybe Jerry West can give them some inspiration.  He's 5th all-time in NBA scoring average in the playoffs at 29.13 PPG right behind Kevin Durant.  Jerry West played with as much determination and fire as MJ and Kobe in my opinion.  He's the only player to win the Finals MVP on a losing team (1969 NBA Finals).  He's also 7th all-time in regular season scoring average at 27.03 PPG, again right behind Kevin Durant.

Josh Giddey, on this Intriguing Players insert, is now on the Bulls.  He's coming off a year in which he averaged 17/8/9 with the Bulls.  That Trendon Watford is an Orange Parallel.

I've always liked Illusions brand for some reason, and this one had a pretty good design to it.  The set included retired greats like Dwyane Wade and I always like retired greats.

Small pack of cards I purchased back in 2022, but I liked it.  Enjoy the game tonight and hopefully the Spurs can get a win.

BREAKDOWN: 
12 – Total Cards
3 – RC
2 – Retired Great
1 – Orange Parallel
1 – Intriguing Players

Random Wax: 2021-2022 Illusions Basketball

21-22 Illusions:   Kawhi is my favorite player, and I've made no secret of that.  This year he's played maybe the best season of his 14-year career.  It's been fun to see.  The Clippers are currently the 8th seed in the West.  I'm not sure they can catch Phoenix for the 7 seed but still, with all the changes the team has made during the season it's been something to watch.

Happy to see CJ on the Hawks now.  He's a professional player and he can shoot.  After trading for McCollum and Kesper as well as Kuminga, I like how Atlanta is constructed.  Still need to figure out their defense though.  Porzingis is with the Warriors now after stops in Boston, where he won a championship, and Atlanta.  That Hayward is an Orange Parallel.

All three of these young players are solid players in the NBA today.

Reflections insert.  While Green's season has been injury marred, he is going in a different direction than Ja in terms of his career.

Wilton Norman Chamberlain.  Man was this guy good and so athletic.  His dominance is not talked about enough.  He wasn't just a big man clogging up the lane though he spent a lot of time there.  His athleticism and skill led him to dominate the 60s.  10X All-NBA, 7X Scoring Champ, 11X Rebounding Champ, 4X MVP, 2X NBA Champ, 2X All-Defensive Team.  All-time leader in minutes played per game (45.8) and rebound per game (22.9).  He also averaged 30.1 points per game and of course had the only 100 point game.

BREAKDOWN:
12 – Total Cards
2 – RC
1 - Reflections
1 – Retired Great
1 – Orange Parallel

Random Wax: 2022 Illusions Football

2022 Illusions Football:  Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles are the reigning champions after easily defeating Kansas City in the Super Bowl.  Defense of their title starts tonight.  Hurts is only 26 but already has an outstanding 46-20 record as a quarterback.  I was happy for the Eagles and many of their players, and there's no reason to think Philly can't do it again.

This isn't my favorite Illusions design, but I really do like it.  Pretty good pull in this pack as well.

Jameson Williams has been a good receiver in Detroit.  Skyy Moore and Desmond Ridder haven't panned out.

These are both plastic acetate cards (I think that is the right way name for them) and you can see through them.  Not sure I'm a fan of either but I'm okay with thinking outside the box.  I wish Funkadelic really screamed Funkadelic.  As is, it's kinda meh.

This pack has been around since 2023 but finally getting to show it off.  Lots of fun players and I like seeing how things have changed in the interim.  Jones is the starting QB for Indy, Diggs is in New England, and Locket is a Titan.  Ja'Marr Chase is still a Bengal and there are high expectations for Cincy this year assuming their defense isn't a dumpster fire against this season.

BREAKDOWN:
20 – Total Cards
4 – RC
1 - Mystique
1 - Funkadelic

Random Wax: 2020-2021 Illusions Basketball

20-21 Illusions:  Some of Donovan Mitchell's numbers are down slightly this season but the Cavs are the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference.  I hope they do well in the playoffs.  They have a solid starting five who are obviously gelling this season.

I have a soft spot for Illusions, especially some of the older designs.  First time I'm showing this pack and wow does it age well.  Mitchell has raised his game, Morant is one of the most athletic players in the sport and Doncic is still crazy good and now a Laker.

We get retired greats on some of the inserts.  These Living Legends aren't my favorites but I'm not complaining.

The Saddiq Bey is an Orange Parallel.  This pack only had 12 cards but I'm definitely happy with it.  I also get a nice Trae Young pull.  The Hawks will likely be in the play in tourney, but they aren't that good this season so I'm not really sure what to expect out of them in the playoffs. 

BREAKDOWN:
12 – Total Cards
3 – RC
1 – Retired Great
1 – Living Legends
1 – Orange Parallel

  

2023 Illusions Football Blaster

2023 Illusions: It's draft day!  Hopes and dreams start tonight for players, teams and fans alike.  We'll kick it off with Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy.  Purdy has only started 27 games total including playoffs and he's already been to two NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl.

Some receiving greatness from the league here.  Traditionally I like Illusions.  This year's design is pretty good.  I wish the background photo was different than the photo in the forefront.  That Travis Kelce is a Dots Trophy Parallel.  Not sure what the "Trophy" part of those parallels refers to but Trophy is theme throughout some of the parallels in this set.

Rookies including an Emerald Trophy Parallel of Zay Flowers.  These cards look a lot different in hand.  I don't see many Illusions cards posted or written about.  Doesn't seem that popular so I'm a bit surprised I still see new sets each year.

The backs are somewhat boring, but the write-ups are fair.  One hundred base cards in this set so base team sets are only 3-4 cards.

Inserts including acetate designs in Mystique and Funkadelic.  I like the Funkadelic even without much color.  I'm good with the Amazing inserts as well.

One relic in the box and mine was a Great Expectations insert.  Dell had a solid rookie season teaming up with CJ Stroud.

Not sure I'll pick up more of these.  They are fine but not as excited about these as I once was.  Great C.J. Stroud acetate insert.  Pulled three of the top QBs from last year's draft in this blaster.  Hope everyone is happy with their team's draft!

BREAKDOWN:
36 – Total Cards
18 – RC
3 – Emerald Trophy Parallel
1 – Amazing
1 - Mystique
1 - Funkadelic
1 – Illusionists
1 – Dots Trophy Parallel
1 – Great Expectations Relic

Random Wax: 2020 Illusions Football

2020 Illusions:  Super Bowl Sunday!  Should be a good game.  I'm happy for Christian McCaffrey.  He's my favorite player in the league today and it'd be fun to see him win a championship.  He did have a great year rushing for over 1400 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry.

Only 20 cards in a pack but I had a great pull.  I know Dak has his haters but man so many teams dream about having a QB like him under center.  2020 would be Drew Brees' last season but wow what a career it was.  Purchased this pack in December, 2020 but just now getting around to posting it.

Can't wait to see Joe Burrow have another fully healthy season.  Cole Kmet had the best season of his career with 73 receptions.

A couple of great wideouts with Tyreek Hill a top three receiver in the league.  

That Minshew is one of the orange parallels in the pack.  We also get a nice Jerry Rice who knows a thing or three about championships.  Go Niners!

BREAKDOWN:

20 – Total Cards

6 – RC

2 –Orange Parallel

1 – Clear Shots

1 – Retired Great

Random Wax: 2021-2022 Illusions Basketball

21-22 Illusions:  Jayson Tatum is having another great year and could be the King of Cards come season end.  Still too early to tell but the Celtics look really good.

This is one of the small packs with only 12 cards.  I'm very happy with my pull though.  Nice variety of stars and retired greats.  That Embiid is an Orange parallel. Joel Embiid is having an even better season than last year when he won MVP honors.

The Bulls are really struggling this season as is DeRozan.  He's still one my favorites in the league.  Bradley Beal is with the Suns now and has had to deal with injuries this season.  Still don't really know what Phoenix is with him in the lineup. 

Williams is a solid young player for Memphis.

Pretty good pack of cards.  Lots of stars and some nice retired greats to round it out.

BREAKDOWN:
12 – Total Cards
2 – RC
2 – Retired Greats
1 – King of Cards
1 – Orange Parallel

Random Wax: 2020-2021 Illusions Basketball

20-21 Illusions: Conference Finals start tonight so it has to be basketball today.  This guy will play a big part in whether or not the Boston Celtics can get past the Miami Heat who are gritty and hot right now.  Their series starts tomorrow night

Kawhi, Paul George and the Clippers suffered another "what if?" season as the duo dealt with injuries throughout the year and playoffs.  Next year?  Who knows...

I like these cards showcasing players who have gone from one team to another.

Marcus Smart is one of the key players for Boston just as Kyle Lowry is for the Heat.  Lowry has to help make up for some of the points and playmaking lost due to injuries.  So far he has had some nice moments in the playoffs and will need to keep that up if Miami is to have a chance against the Celtics.

BREAKDOWN
12 – Total Cards
2 – RC
1 – Living Legend
1 – Career Lineage

 

Random Wax: 2020 Illusions Football

2020 Illusions:  Overall I like this brand.  This pack is almost three years old and I'm finally getting around to sharing it.  And Mahomes is as good as any other to start with.

One of the nice things about these are that the fronts have two different photos.  The prominent photo in the front and the muted photo in the back which has a head and shoulders shot with their helmet off most of the time.  That Elliott is an orange parallel.

Three years ago we had no idea what drama would befall Deshaun Watson.  Watt was already a defensive stud by this time in his career.

The Commanders didn't pick up their option on Chase Young's contract so this season will be a contract year for him.  I like him and hope he can stay healthy and maybe return to his dominant form.

Good pack of cards and a nice pull.  I always enjoy looking back at these.  They look good and you never know how things have changed since these were printed.  Glad to see Jackson finally get his deal done.  Now we'll see what the Ravens can do with that behind them.

BREAKDOWN:
20 – Total Cards
8 – RC
2 – Orange Parallel
1 – Shining Stars