Sunday, February 27, 2011

Box Preview/Giveaway: 2011 Panini Contenders Basketball



I recently received a hobby box of 2011 Contenders Basketball from Panini yesterday for review. A big thanks to Panini for valuing my opinion. I will be giving all cards away in this post, so keep reading the review to find out how to receive some fresh new basketball cards.

The Positives:
The positives from Contenders revolves all around design. The Contenders Season Ticket base card style looks great and is a vast improvement from last years base card. Also, the use of vibrant team colors across the product line is fantastic and again, an improvement from last years release. In addition to the overall design, the various die cut parallels are fun (checkout the Chris Bosh die cut above). Finally, the rookie (manufactured) patch/auto's look great and I appreciate four per box, but I'm not sure they're better than the Rookie Auto'd Tickets from last year (It's a matter of each collectors' preference).

The cards I enjoyed pulling the most were the Place In History cards (the Dirk Nowitzki [front] and Hedo Turkoglo [back]). The scans don't do the shiny foil surface justice. The cards actually look like news paper printing plates. Very cool. Overall, this 5 card, 20 pack box was very fun to open.

The Negatives:
The plural use of the word Negative is really a misnomer. I did not care for the design of last years Contenders Basketball, but I really enjoyed this years offering. However, the monetary value was not there in a box that retails for approximately $100. I've seen some pretty pricey 2011 Contenders cards on the Bay (click here), but I just don't see that same value from this box. Since I can only review this particular box and not necessarily what I'm seeing on the secondary markets, I have to say that the value just wasn't there and a bit disappointing. However, as any collector can attest, searching for "mega" hits is like playing the lottery. Not everyone can pull a John Wall, Kobe Bryant or Blake Griffin auto, but a hit from a star would have been nice. At least the design elements are there and the potential for bigger hits is there of course.

The Contest/Giveaway:
I will be giving away all cards from this box to one lucky winner except for the L.A. Lakers and Portland Trailblazers cards. The Lakers cards will be going to Lakers fan/collector Fuji over at The Chronicles of Fuji and Guy over at The Retro-Set Addict. These fellow bloggers are loyal readers and often comment, so it's time for a little Hoopography reader love. As for the rest of the cards, including the three Rookie Ticket Patch/Auto's, Blake Griffin & Kevin Durant cards, numerous die cuts and a great set building start, here is your chance to score some great hoops cards in one shot (please read all contest rules):

  • I will randomize entries on Random.org.
  • You must be a follower of the Hoopography blog (If you are a reader, but do not have a google account, become a fan of Hoopography on Facebook or a follower on Twitter. Please include that you have become a fan or follower in the comments section, if you can not become a follower through Blogger.).
  • One comment in the comments section below equals one entry. If you publicize the contest on your blog, you will receive an extra entry for a total of two. If you do not include a link to that publicity post in the comment section below, you will not receive the extra entry.
  • Contest ends 12:00PM ET on Friday, March 4th
  • One winner takes all.

34 comments:

  1. Great review! I love the inserts in this set.

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  2. From what I can see of your scans, this looks like a pretty nice set. Love the auto patches.

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  3. I bought 4 packs of this on Friday at the local card shop after work and pulled a Luke Harangody, the day after he was traded away from the Celtics. Figures. The base cards are nice and there are some inserts, but like most Panini products, the MSRP is way too high for what you get in the average box. This set is all singles or wait for box prices to drop.

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  4. Not a bad looking set, not my favorite ever, but not bad. I am not sure why, but the John Wall card kind of reminds me of the old Skybox cards

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  5. Hmm. I like the base set design.

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  6. Turkoglu looks so young! Plug link: http://just-in-justinsworld.blogspot.com/2011/02/contest-plug.html

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  7. Well, it's good that they offer a box where you can get 4 rookie autos. Hopefully some of those rooks will pan out.

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  8. Following now for sure, found your blog today! Thanks for the contest!

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  9. I'm in! Great review and I really want to win that Aminu card, well all of them, but that one in particular.

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  10. Really like the RC autos with the patches...other subsets look pretty cool as well

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  11. I'm now a follower! Solid review, nice work.

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  12. Great contest yet again. I love that Rookie Ticket design.

    Plugged here
    http://cardsfromthequarry.blogspot.com/2011/02/quick-contest-plug-for-some-cool.html

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  13. Hey C... thanks the Lakers cards... I won't enter your contest (let someone else have a chance), but I'll definitely plug your contest on my site.

    By the way... I'm a huge fan of this year's rookie ticket autographs. Have a good one bro!

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  14. I don't typically collect basketball cards, but those are some pretty sweet looking cards and designs. Count me in!

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  15. The rookie tickets look pretty sweet. Thanks for a cool contest Charles! Here's my contest pimpage:

    http://plaschkethysweaterisargyle.blogspot.com/2011/02/1953-topps-al-rosen-1959-topps.html

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  16. thanks for the contest!
    although some people might not be into it, I kind of like the look of the manufactured patches.

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  17. Thanks for the contest and the review. Just started following you on Twitter! The rookie ticket design looks awesome, but agree the overall value is lacking.

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  18. Great contest from a great blog. I sure hope those manupatches end up in my mailbox!!!

    I spoke of said contest on my blog. http://manupatchesandchromescratches.blogspot.com/2011/02/mustaches-apb.html

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  19. Thanks for the contest. Also , for the nice scans. anyway, thanks

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  20. Thanks for the great contest.

    Followed, commented and plugged

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  21. I am in and follow. I will plug in my next post and send you the link when I do.

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  22. The die cuts are just so random....but they're die cutes, so they can't be bad. Contest plugged here: http://communitygum.com/2011/03/enter-contests-that-arent-ours/
    Thanks!
    --Jon

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  23. I would've bet money I was already a follower, but I guess I wasn't. I am now though. Count me in for the contest.

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  24. Now following your blog. Thanks for the great contest!

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  25. i would like to be a winner, Charlie Sheen style. thank you

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  26. I follow you anywhere! Now lemme win!

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  27. Love the product. Love the contest. You have a new follower!

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  28. I've bought 5 packs so far of Contenders Patches (can't afford a box unfortunately) and pulled just one numbered diecut and no hits. Glad you are having this contest so I can maybe turn my luck around.

    -Became a fan via Facebook-

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  29. For me the manufactured patches are a great addition to this set, it adds a great deal to the chase for me. The autographs are crisp and clean. The patches are absolutely stunning in my opinion.

    What I also like in the set are the places in history subset that they have going. Not only would it provide great background info but a pretty nice addition overall.

    The die cut inserts and shiny cards make this a worthwhile product to bust in my opinion. The concepts behind the cards are fresh enough for me and the design execution is unparalleled. Hope they do something about the hits per box but at 4 hits, and with a little bit of luck, I wouldn't complain. BTW that aminu patch auto looks sweet, now if i could just somehow pull that blake griffin auto patch, i can go have a heart attack...

    the blog's great bro, been reading your posts and they're quite informative and succinct enough for me. like you I'm a certifiable sports guy. keep up the great work man!

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  30. Followed on twitter. I love some of those cards. They are sweet.

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  31. This contest is officially closed. I will announce the winner today in a new post. Thanks to everyone who participated. Good Luck!!!

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  32. I entered earlier, here's the plug.

    http://babennysbaseballcardbuffet.blogspot.com/2011/03/some-plugs-for-happenings-out-in.html

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