[khower]

Hello all...if you haven't seen it yet, the latest Basketball Box Busters features Panini's first product, Prestige. If you want to win the cards we pulled, we need your honest opinion of the product, good or bad. The best reviews, as judged by us, will receive an autograph card that we pulled from the first-ever Panini America box to be broken. Ever.

Remember, we're looking for good, honest reviews. We want to know what you love or hate about the product, and we will not judge depending on which direction you go. We want good reviews, so bring 'em.

Also, don't forget to check out Beckett Sports Card Monthly issue #297 and Beckett Basketball issue #222 (the 2008-09 Rookie Rolodex issue) to see how you can win a box of Prestige and/or the Panini exclusive autographed basketball signed by Blake Griffin, Tyler Hansbrough, Jordan Hill and more...

Here's the Prestige Box Busters:

http://beta.beckett.com/group/452970/Man...tent />


Thanks,

Keith

[xstreaminsanity84]

Well Keith, I'm a little indifferent to the product. I say this for a couple of reasons. I like the fact that it is something different from Upper Deck or Topps, their designs became predictable and Topps to me was really borning. I like the use of digital art, I think it looks snappy. I like how from what I saw in the break, which was an ok break, the pictures of the players are somewhat solo shots, whether it be from a shoot or from a game. Yeah, I like pictures of someone dunking on someone, but if it is going to be a picture of them dribbling, then it needs to be a solo pick (unless they're about to break someone's ankles). What I didn't like was some of the inserts, specifically the Hardwood Heroes insert. That one looked very bland. I did like the draft picks, those looked pretty cool, but if they didn't have an Auto, they looked a little bare. I also have never liked the fact that the design between sports are the same. I know that they are going to be working on designs and such, and I don't know the politics or business between the plates used to print and such, but it would be nice if the basketball product was different in design than the football product. Also, and I don't know if I missed it in the break, but I didn't see any of the backs of the cards, so I'm still curious. I'm curious as to the thickness of the base and insert cards, because I prefer thicker cards, not flimsy cards. I don't remember if it was or wasn't, but was the Curry Auto on-card, or a sticker? I'll have to go back and check it out again. Overall, I'd have to say it was a B+ for their first product. A lot better than Topps, in my opinion that is.

Edit (credit to bbills): I agree with bbills, the old school players were nice. And I was really surprised, and happy, that Rodman was in a Pistons uniform. I know he's more known for being with the Bulls, but he was a bad boy too. I haven't seen the checklist, but I hope the old school Pistons include Bing, Thomas, Johnson (doubtful), Dumars, and Laimbeer.

[bbills1999]

After Watching the Box Buster Here are my Thoughts..

Overall im gonna give the Product a 7 out of 10. A Solid 1st effort from Panini.

What i loved were the Mix of Current players and Legand/Hall of Famers, The 2nd thing i loved was the Old School Autos on card which is great they have that Old type feekl to it..

What i liked the shots of the Rookies in there Team Jersey and the players that just signed with new team have pictures with there new squad(Hedo ect.).

The Base Inserts were base inserts nothing overly exciting about it.

Here what i hate the Inserts of the draft night auto's and the Draft night auto's themselves . When a company releases both Auto and Non Auto of the same insert like this the Market gets Flooded with Forged auto's. Now unless Panini used some type of Precaution to help Prevent fakes from hitting the market like Serial Numbers on the Auto's or something(i dont remember the guys sayin anything to this effect during the bust). If that is the Case then Awesome i give the product a 9/10

What could have been better on the base i would have liked to seen action shots. thats about it..

Will i buy this Product? Yes. Will i collect the set? I cant answer that until i have the cards in hand..

So in review I love the Mix of Current and Legands, Old School on card autos. what was a pleasent surprise was the rookies in Team Jersey and New Aquisition players in there new team Uniforms. The Inserts and Memoriabila cards were just that nots Super special but nice overall. What i didnt like were the Insert and Rookie Auto's being on the same type of card allowing the chance for Fakes hitting the Secondary Markets. But if Panini took Pre-cautions to prevent this then i really liked the rookie auto's overall look

[poki516]

After watching I thought that the on card Auto's looked decent. The inserts looked sleek. I especially liked the look on the kobe insert. The Draft day cards looked like the draft day cards from 07-08 Upper Deck. I like the fact that there are old school players in the set. It is always a plus to open a pack and find the player I collect (David Robinson) since he has been retired for what seems like eternity now. The overall design of the base did not appeal to me. Although I did not see the backs of any of the cards, the front was too plain. They looked too much like previous Upper Deck products.

[phdbeckett]

I liked it. What was missing, (maybe what was missed?) are the parallel cards typical to most Donruss/Playoff Releases. I realize this was the First release, but what adds value to the box opener are the hits.  UD missed out on including lower #ed parallels in their releases the past few years. Topps had captured that appeal with the refractor line.
Panini  this could make your product(s) stronger by offering these parallels.
So many international player collectors out there(trust me I know the market) may not go nuts for a Grant Hill,  Patrick Ewing, or Bob Cousy base, but a low numbered parallel? They would be ecstatic!
One thing Box Buster left out was the numbering on the "hits". Was the Curry Draft Auto #ed? Was the McAdoo also numbered? Numbering is not the end-all (remember Topps Signature, yikes!) but I feel it is something Panini can offer the collectors out there in their product line.  HOFers and Retired are great. Even greater would be a Parallel #ed /10 or /25 of those guys!

One final thought, some of the photos appeared dark, and one of the rookie's had an auto on a dark background card making it difficult to see.

-Joe

[xstreaminsanity84]

phdbeckett Wrote:I liked it. What was missing, (maybe what was missed?) are the parallel cards typical to most Donruss/Playoff Releases. I realize this was the First release, but what adds value to the box opener are the hits. UD missed out on including lower #ed parallels in their releases the past few years. Topps had captured that appeal with the refractor line.
Panini this could make your product(s) stronger by offering these parallels.
So many international player collectors out there(trust me I know the market) may not go nuts for a Grant Hill, Patrick Ewing, or Bob Cousy base, but a low numbered parallel? They would be ecstatic!
One thing Box Buster left out was the numbering on the "hits". Was the Curry Draft Auto #ed? Was the McAdoo also numbered? Numbering is not the end-all (remember Topps Signature, yikes!) but I feel it is something Panini can offer the collectors out there in their product line. HOFers and Retired are great. Even greater would be a Parallel #ed /10 or /25 of those guys!

One final thought, some of the photos appeared dark, and one of the rookie's had an auto on a dark background card making it difficult to see.

-Joe

If you go check the www.paniniamerica.net site for the checklist or product overview, you'll see the numbering. I just don't know if they print them.

Edit: Here's the Checklist - http://www.paniniamerica.net/pis/preview.cfm?product_id=178&product_configuration_id=401

[jonriggs23]

At first look, i would say this is a very nice looking product from Panini.

Here is what i liked:
I liked the mix of current players and retired veterans, Current stars today have got to have a high appreciation of the veterans that made basketball what it is today.

The inserts look very solid. A wide range of inserts cards are used in this product like Draft Day, Stat Stars, Playmakers, Prestigious Pro, and my personal favorite Old School. Yet again, i love how they incorporate great players from the 70's and 80's.


The On-card autos looked really nice like the Stephen Curry Draft Day auto....yeah thats a really nice card.

Some Suggestions/Dislikes:

The base cards are a little bland in my opinon, they could have a little more going on but the cards of the old school players were surprisingly very sweet.

As a collector i dislike sticker autos and the fact this product has both sticker and on-card autos kind of bothers me, maybe im being a little bias but if your going to have autographs, make them all on-card.

I didnt see any numbering on the cards, i know they probably have numbering on the back but it would have been nice to know what the numbering was on the autos and gu's.

Overall Grade:
B.....Nice looking product, wide selection of players, autos, and game used stuff.

[htowntigger]

I like the first concept. Although, being a Jordan collector, I don't know how much I can really get into the product. I would like to see what they do with future products, higher end stuff, before I'm sold on Panini and the exclusive rights. I would like to see # cards, that's always a big appeal... it's big in other sport markets, so that's a good start. The designs are simple, but good. I feel the product lacks the "Whoa!!!!", hand-shaking, pull factor which was come to known with Upper Deck. I think more has to be seen, being a basketball card collector.

[htowntigger]

I like the first concept. Although, being a Jordan collector, I don't know how much I can really get into the product. I would like to see what they do with future products, higher end stuff, before I'm sold on Panini and the exclusive rights. I would like to see # cards, that's always a big appeal... it's big in other sport markets, so that's a good start. The designs are simple, but good. I feel the product lacks the "Whoa!!!!", hand-shaking, pull factor which was come to known with Upper Deck. I think more has to be seen, being a basketball card collector.

[xstreaminsanity84]

I know that this reply isn't about Prestige as I haven't seen any, but Panini does number cards on the front some times, such as Elite will be, just to let some people know. However, many of the parallels in Prestige are numbered or Print Runs.