Returning to the sport after taking 18 years off (TBP's Q's)

[ThoseBackPages]

You read that correctly. after an 18 year hiatus, i've decided to become a fan of the sport again.

i realize that ive got a lot to re-learn.

i will use this thread to ask any questions that i might think up, rather then starting many new ones.

First question.....i realize that Topps is done in Hoops (sad about that, btw). Is there a Panini "base" product equivalent to what Topps put out annually? reason i ask is, unlike what appears to be what the "in crowd" likes
nowadays, correct me if im wrong), i dont have any real desire for autos/gu/numbered and/or shiny cards.
i like good 'ole base cards like from when i was young. The only twist for me is that if i am buying them,
they must be slabbed (for those that may not know mw, im known for my analness via slabs).

next question...whats the deal with the Topps McDonalds cards? are they like the AFLAC basebal ones? handed out at a game?

Thank you for any help you could give me.

~Re-Newb

 

[rymflaherty]

Try to answer some of your initial questions...anyone can correct if I'm off-base on any of this.

Panini did have a base "Panini" product - it was a cheap price point and the focus was the base set.
That being said - I'm not sure it was heavily collected. The majority of the other products tend to look the same - which has been one of the major complaints against Panini.

Topps did make a base product this year though before their license ran out - so you can always go that route now and be more informed when next year rolls around. Though I will say, from my experience, there seems to be a lot less set collecting and that sort of stuff in basketball then the other sports.....seems to be more about the bit hits.

From what I understand - packs of All-American cards are given out at the McDonald's game, so the majority are most likely like the Aflac cards. Topps did release autographed McDonald's cards in base Topps last year though, to make up for the fact they were not able to make the photo-shoot auto's. They also releases an e-topps set as well.

If you are a fan of the older NBA - I also highly suggest rooting for /watching Kevin Durant and the OKC.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Try to answer some of your initial questions...anyone can correct if I'm off-base on any of this.

Panini did have a base "Panini" product - it was a cheap price point and the focus was the base set.
That being said - I'm not sure it was heavily collected. The majority of the other products tend to look the same - which has been one of the major complaints against Panini.

i will have to check it out. im guessing they have base RCs, correct? Thats where my focus is.

Topps did make a base product this year though before their license ran out - so you can always go that route now and be more informed when next year rolls around. Though I will say, from my experience, there seems to be a lot less set collecting and that sort of stuff in basketball then the other sports.....seems to be more about the bit hits.

Im old school that way, i dont mind a "big hit", but im happy with cards like they were when i was young
That being said, why the heck are 09/10 Topps Jumbos 3x as much as the two years prior? strange that
all this time has gone by, and the wax is still so high.

From what I understand - packs of All-American cards are given out at the McDonald's game, so the majority are most likely like the Aflac cards. Topps did release autographed McDonald's cards in base Topps last year though, to make up for the fact they were not able to make the photo-shoot auto's. They also releases an e-topps set as well.

interesting. i saw some slabs that werent all that costly.

If you are a fan of the older NBA - I also highly suggest rooting for /watching Kevin Durant and the OKC.

i happen to be a fan of pre-shaq-esque NBA. What makes Durant so special? or are you just a fan of his?

also, who do you fellas like from the last three or four drafts? Dont worry, not looking for "secrets", so if you dont want to share, i'll understand lol

 

[rymflaherty]

^
No actually I'm a Bulls fan. Also someone that was a much bigger Basketball fan a decade or so ago.....and for whatever reason the past year or so I have been drawn to Durant and that team....it's tough to root against him.

With all the "super-team" talk, ego, and nonsense around the sport, the kid has really literally done nothing wrong - whether it's showing up at summer league to cheer on the rookies, quietly signing an extension a few weeks ago w/ no fan fare, putting up 30 pts a game, etc......it's made him kind of the face/favorite now of past generation NBA stars.
Then it's simply my opinion - that he is the true heir to the Jordan - Kobe throne - not Wade, Lebron or any of those others...to me he's going to be the best player this next decade.

That's why I just threw that in the end....since like I said, he may be the easiest "superstar" to root for. He's probably still a bit undervalued too at this point, but I'm guessing that won't last long.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

^
No actually I'm a Bulls fan. Also someone that was a much bigger Basketball fan a decade or so ago.....and for whatever reason the past year or so I have been drawn to Durant and that team....it's tough to root against him.

With all the "super-team" talk, ego, and nonsense around the sport, the kid has really literally done nothing wrong - whether it's showing up at summer league to cheer on the rookies, quietly signing an extension a few weeks ago w/ no fan fare, putting up 30 pts a game, etc......it's made him kind of the face/favorite now of past generation NBA stars.
Then it's simply my opinion - that he is the true heir to the Jordan - Kobe throne - not Wade, Lebron or any of those others...to me he's going to be the best player this next decade.

That's why I just threw that in the end....since like I said, he may be the easiest "superstar" to root for. He's probably still a bit undervalued too at this point, but I'm guessing that won't last long.

Yea, the whole Lebron-gate thing makes it easy to dislike the Heat

Durant is in that tough to grade 2007 Topps Set (black borders), making picking up a nice graded copy not cheap lol

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Are the "game used" RC's photo-shoot jerseys like they are in football?

 

[rymflaherty]

Are the "game used" RC's photo-shoot jerseys like they are in football?

Yeah they have a photo- shoot as well so the rookie jersey cards aren't really "gu'd".
There may be a handful of sets that are actually game-used, but I'm sure those are few and far between.
Though the upcoming Panini update will feature a rc set that uses the jersey's they wore during the rookie challenge on All-Star weekend.

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

I'd definitely recommend playing in a fantasy basketball league this year. It's a great way to get a good grasp on who's who in the NBA. I was a huge fan in the 90's and got back into it in the last 3 years after only following the Celtics closely for most of the 2000's. I really jumped into fantasy basketball and know I have a pretty good knowledge of players and rookies from all the different teams. It also helps make games interesting that you wouldn't normally care about. I can turn on any basketball game during the season and have a couple players that I want to watch, either because they're on my team or I'm facing them that week in fantasy.

Also, check out The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons. Great research and historical perspective on past and current players.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

I'd definitely recommend playing in a fantasy basketball league this year. It's a great way to get a good grasp on who's who in the NBA. I was a huge fan in the 90's and got back into it in the last 3 years after only following the Celtics closely for most of the 2000's. I really jumped into fantasy basketball and know I have a pretty good knowledge of players and rookies from all the different teams. It also helps make games interesting that you wouldn't normally care about. I can turn on any basketball game during the season and have a couple players that I want to watch, either because they're on my team or I'm facing them that week in fantasy.

Also, check out The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons. Great research and historical perspective on past and current players.

ive never played fantasy hoops before, but im guessing its not too different from baseball, correct?
if you (or anyone) could fill me in, id appreciate it

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

I'd definitely recommend playing in a fantasy basketball league this year. It's a great way to get a good grasp on who's who in the NBA. I was a huge fan in the 90's and got back into it in the last 3 years after only following the Celtics closely for most of the 2000's. I really jumped into fantasy basketball and know I have a pretty good knowledge of players and rookies from all the different teams. It also helps make games interesting that you wouldn't normally care about. I can turn on any basketball game during the season and have a couple players that I want to watch, either because they're on my team or I'm facing them that week in fantasy.

Also, check out The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons. Great research and historical perspective on past and current players.

ive never played fantasy hoops before, but im guessing its not too different from baseball, correct?
if you (or anyone) could fill me in, id appreciate it

Yea, same as baseball. Usually use FG%, FT%, Points, 3's, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Blocks, and Turnovers as the categories.

I plan on seeing if there is interest for a league on FCB once the season rolls around.