Larry Legend

Figure Fridays! Review: Rajon Rondo POP Vinyl figure

When it came out locally (in the Philippines) during the 2012 Toy con, there were only 5 players available from the NBA line. Blake, Lebron, Linsanity, DRose and Melo. It was sad that Toy Kingdom managed to get the complete sets from all the other series like the Avengers, Disney and music figures but not for the NBA line.

However, I finally got lucky and spotted one in greenhills at SRP.  Upon checking, here is the Review:

Sculpt and details

Similar to most funko POP  figures, it features an oversized square head and generic body. All NBA series funko have the same mold: Basketball on the right and articulated arm on the left. Unlike the other mindstyle NBA figure series (Coolrain x NBA) Wherein details were given, particularly on armbands and shoe endorsements.

Paint

For a jersey as simple as the celtics, I am surprised that funko had a hard time making a decent paint job. There are paint splatters and poor decal applications in the jersey and shoes.  There seems to be a lot of paint chipping off or poorly applied as they say.

Articulation

There are 2 points of articulation, the neck and the left shoulder. Since the ball prohibits the right arm from any movement. That's about it.

Display Factor

It just stands there, looking cute especially when paired with other POP vinyl figures. It does make a nice conversation piece.

Price

It goes for 500 Php or 10 bucks. Do not go for it when the prices jump to 15$.

Gametime!

The NBA starts in a few hours, so does the road to banner 18!

Bar Fight! C's Rally from 27 down to win

The Celtics Rally down from 27 points down to beat the Magic for the 2nd straight time. The C's are just 1 game below .500 and had won 3 straight. Nothing explains this game further than the video below.

Review: Paul Pierce Adidas Jersey

 

First of all, I would like to state that, Replicas are not Fakes!. Replicas are one of the 3 jersey lines that Adidas/Reebok refer to their NBA Jerseys. The other two being Swingman and Authentic. Replicas are characterized by Rubber prints over the jerseys and were usually made by air cool mesh until the revo 30 era (SRP $49.99). Swingman on the other hand have cut outs for script fonts and numbers and have the details screen printed on these cut outs (SRP $79.99)and Finaly, Authentics are the exact same ones seen on the court, worn by NBA players themselves (SRP $299.99).

With that on the way, I now show you the Paul Pierce Adidas Replica Jersey.

With the average Filipino salary at 6-7,000php (120 US$) it is obvious that even the most basketball diehard middle class citizens are unable to settle for Authentic or Swingman Jerseys. That is why most officially released jerseys on local Adidas outlet stores replica. With then, it is still expensive for some and because of that, most of them resort to bootleg china made NBA jerseys branded as "Von Dutch" or "BTV Hardwood Classics" sold for 350 to 500 pesos (7 to 10 US$) at 168, Tutuban, greenhills and other bootleg hubs, Those are the Real Fakes.

The Jersey was released August of 2011 along with BG and Stat.

Ever since the brand introduced its revo 30 release for authentic and swingman, it has also changed how it released its replica jerseys. The ugly air cool mesh seen since the days when Champion was still the outfitter are now gone. It is now replaced by a climacool type of mesh.  The rubber print is now Vinyl laser cut instead of the old Rubber printing. This gives the jersey a sturdier base for its print to hold on to and enables the print to last longer.

The Pic below compares the old Reebok replica PP34 jersey to its new counterpart.

Furthermore, the neck tag which sometimes causes itching at the nape area is replaced by a tag embedded at the collar area. This also holds true for its swingman and replica counterparts.

A good buy since orig NBA jerseys are scarce here, unless you consider the underground market.

Figure Fridays: Shaq Attack

Review: Kevin Garnett MINDstyle x Coolrain NBA Collector Series 1

This KG Figure is a part of the CoolRain x MINDstyle x NBA Collector Series 1 which featured ten of today’s best Ballers in the NBA. The series was launched early 2011 at Ronac's Secret Fresh.

Figure Fridays: Mc Farlane Sportspicks Paul Pierce

Photography: Beantown Heroes

Due to Stresses at work, I tried to go back to Shooting Figures as a stress release.

Here are the shots I did the past 2 Days. The Heroes of Beantown.

Nike Hyperfly Supreme Paul Pierce PE

Rajon Rondo Mighty Muggs

Custom Rajon Rondo Mighty Muggs

My Celtics Free Agency Wishlist

Mr. Nice Guy is My favorite player outside the Celtics. Yes, he spent most of his prime riding the bench with his ankle injury but he is a class act. The first of the Jordan "Hair apparents" Hill has proven in his time with the suns that he could come back to his often injured status. Coming off the bench, he wouldnt have so much pressure hence a lesser chance to be injured than his time with the suns. He also comes cheap and can be signed with the veterans minimum exception. Also, It would be good to end Grant's Career with a title, and with the Celtics at that.



Rasheed Wallace: Of all the possible free agent signings, this guy is the biggest. Since the C's lack inside presence outside of Perk and KG, Last year's postseason injuries took a toll and exploited this weakness. The signing of mikki moore as the next PJ brown certainly did not help either.

The C's are planning to use the mid level exception on this guy. But then again, there are so many players on sheed's market, contenders like the cavs and spurs are also hot in pursuit. The C's staff and players are courting this guy. As of now he'll think of it a week before deciding.




It took the Garnett and Powe Injury to really show the potential of bug baby davis, It did help us in the postseason, but it also did make things a bit harder for us now in the free agency. 4 teams are now interestsed in baby, the Pistons, Grizzlies, Knicks and spurs.

Either we get him or we get powe back, but powe will come off an injury and most likely be available in february. It will be a great loss if the C's dont sign him but we do have an insurance policy in powe.



Right Now, This one is a longshot. Marburry wants more money,which the C's certainly do not have right now. Though he did thank the team and the fans for playing here last season.

Turning point...

Seems like the Xmas day battle at the lake show proved to be a turning point in the C's fortune. From an NBA and Team Record best start in History, the C's Pummelled to a 2-7 Record in 9 game stretch. But finally it has snapped. Back in 03-04, the C's were in a Slump as well of 6 straight games but they finally bounced back with back to back wins over the raptors. Right now they are on a back to back situation once again with the said canadian team. Hopefully they pull it off again.

Artwork of the Week: Jesus Shuttlesworth

Since matagal pa yung Ray Allen na naka celtics ng mcfarlane (sa Feb 09 pa ang release), kumuha ako ng naka sale na ray allen figure noong otakonek (bucks jersey) at minodify para maging boston.

BEFORE

AFTER

Modified Ray Allen Mcfarlane in Alternate Celtics road Uniform

Pacman and the C's

Manny Pacquiao does not only beat the hell out of david diaz in round 9. He got to party with the Boston Celtics as well! Ang kulit ni Sam Cassel!



The 4 time weight division pound for pound champion parties with the 17 time champion Celtics!

Will Nike Finally Release Pierce's Shoes?

Lets face it, Paul Anthony Pierce is a great player but back then, he was still far from being included in the NBA's upper echeleon. He stuck around with his team for around 10 long years, The victim of bad management of the 90's and coaching disasters of ML Carr and Rick Pitino. Year by year the superstar continues to be underrated

But After nearly a decade, luck has finally returned to the Irish, with 2 NBA All Star reinforcements, The truth has finally climbed and suceeded to the top. On the way he has shown that he could tangle with the NBA's top caliber guns, From Joe Johnson, to Tayshaun Prince and probably the 2 best players on Earth right now, Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. He has not just done a good job in defending those guys, he has also gone head to head with them. Dropping 41 on King James and 39 on the Black Mamba. And to top it all off an NBA Finals MVP enroute to a Championship ring.

 The Nike Air Max P2 Ultimates and Air Max P2 IV

Through the years, nike has given the truth his own signature shoe. They even sent him to the Philippines twice to promote the company. However, there is a problem, It seems that nike only releases his shoes to the kid's department and does not produce them in adult sizes. They can be seen on local and online shops being sold, but still no adult sizes. This has been an occurence for years, there has been a small, yet solid demand on these shoes. But still, Nike hasnt answered back on them. Maybe he lacks cred or respect from the fans due to his standing of a good star on a bad team back then.

Since 2003, all finals MVPs had their own signature shoes except for parker which instead has Player Exclusives. Although not having signatures (huarache), Parker still has his shoes being sold in the market at adult sizes. Will Pierce Finally have his shoes released next season? will nike now consider him as a bigger time endorser for the sneaker market?

Lets see and find out.

The Real Underdogs.... The Greatest Comeback in Finals History.

May 2002, Fleet Center Boston Massachusets. The Boston Celtics were down By 21 points against the New Jersey Nets in game 3 of the eastern conference finals. Everyone thought that the game is all wrapped up and it is over. A then young captain Antoine Walker urged his team, including Pierce to go on and fight. The results were miraculous. The Truth scored 25 points in the fourth to knot possibly the greatest fourth quarter comeback in NBA playoffs history. That Sparkling moment, whas thought by many to be the only spark of the lost celtic pride that had in this generation, as they lost that series in which could've given them the right to face the once mighty Lakers.

Fast forward Six years later, The C's having made the greatest turnaround in History finally has the chance to get its 17th title after 21 long years of frustration and tragedy. However due to their struggles in the first 2 series where they had to face the young and athletic Hawks and the then Eastern Conference Champs Cavaliers where they had to struggle for 2 game 7 series to squeeze for the conference finals. They finally got their groove back on Motown. But by then, the majority had now believed they would be beaten in the finals with almost everyone jumping in the Kobe bandwagon.

And so the C's Climbed back to answer to the challenge. From a dramatic first game comeback to stopping a comeback in the second game. However, the wind blew the other way around as the Hollywood boys climbed back in the 3rd game and won a close game while limiting pierce and garnett below their averages. Back then, the band was expecting for The black mamba and his gang of soft european boys with the 3 game homestrech.

So there it is, June 12, 2007, With game 4 at Southern California, The Lakers wanted to cash in to the momentum that they had in game 3, They played a huge first half, even leading as far as 24 points in one point of the second quarter. When the C's started to get some mini runs to get it back to 12, the Lakers turn it back up to 20. Even midway in the 3rd quarter the Lakers still lead by 20 points. And that was the last time LA smiled as the C's Countered with a big run that placed them within 2 at the end of the 3rd. While the momentum was there, the Lakers were still hanging and leading by 2 or 4 after the C's tie the score. Finally, late in the fourth quarter, the Celtics Climbed to the lead with help from James Posey and Eddie House. House and Posey, along with the big 3 held on to the lead up to the closing seconds of the game. That game is now billed to be the gratest comeback in finals history and challenges the then greatest playoff comeback in history also done by the  C's.

So The C's are 3-1 and one win away from its 17th championship banner. No one in the finals has ever come back from a 1-3 deficit. And the Team Green, who just did their comeback knows about this and will try to prevent it on sunday.

BEAT LA!