Insert Set Flashback: 1997-98 Ultra Jam City
Posted: Monday, January 16, 2012 Filed under: Inserts | Tags: Blake Griffin, Cards, Collect, David Robinson, Dwight Howard, Fleer, Jam City, Juwan Howard, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, NBA, Ultra Leave a comment
The Set:
1997-98 Ultra Jam City
Set Odds:
1 in 8 series 1 packs
Key Cards:
Kobe Bryant $8.00
Shaquille O’Neal $4.00
Kevin Garnett $3.00
Why I Like It:
Oh man, how to get started. How sweet would a modern-day Jam City set be? Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard, LeBron, etc… highlighting a set of the league’s best dunkers? Or a set with past slam-dunk champions? The Jam City name had tons of potential.
The cartoon-y black and white background makes the color shot of the player jump off the card. Putting some of the league’s arenas into the background would have been a nice touch.
One thing I found amusing from the cards above: How does Juwan have a pass into Jam City when the back of the card says that he likes to step out for 18-footers? Howard could throw it down in his younger days, but at least mention that rather than his set-shot ability.
Nobody Can Guard LeBron James
Posted: Thursday, December 29, 2011 Filed under: Around the NBA | Tags: Boris Diaw, Charlotte Bobcats, Chris Bosh, D.J. Augustin, Gerald Henderson, Lebron James, Miami Heat Leave a comment
Last night I saw LeBron James play in-person for the first time. I was not left disappointed.
Corey Maggette tried, Derrick Brown tried. Valiant efforts. The Bobcats left it all on the floor last night at TWC Arena in uptown Charlotte. But in the end, the big 3 turned it on and had just enough to keep the Heat undefeated in the early season. No one in the league can guard LeBron James when he’s locked in.
In the first half, the Heat looked like they were playing their 3rd game in 4 nights. They were struggling on the defensive end. Gerald Henderson was getting open looks on the baseline whenever he wanted them. Boris Diaw made everyone forget that he’s starting at center because the team doesn’t have a true starting center. Augustin was hitting contested outside shots. The Cats jumped out to an 11-0 lead before the Heat scored their first points, and they had extended the lead to 15 at the half. A friend asked me whether or not the Cats would keep it up. I said, ‘Why not? The Heat look tired.’ I should have known better.
In the 2nd half, LeBron was getting to the rim at-will. Gone were the possessions of settling for outside jumpers. When on his game, LeBron is unguardable. I knew this already but it was confirmed in a big way seeing him glide past defenders for spectacular lay-ins and dunks time after time.
LeBron and Chris Bosh pulled the Heat close, and Wade was once again the finisher.
