Peak Kidd 2

A Frame Ahead

Two years ago,Jason Kidd was traded from the New Jersey Nets to the Dallas Mavericks.Too old and declining skills they said.Fast forward to 2010 and Jason continues to be one of the top point guards in the NBA.Despite his age,he continues to play at a high level averaging 10.1 points,6.6 rebounds,9.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 42% from three point range and 80% from the free throw line.Top it off with his 10th all star appearance.Not only did Jason change teams but he also changed shoe brands last year from Nike to Peak.Last season's Peak Kidd 1 was a decent start.While it had it's flaws,it still performed well enough to say that any drop off in Jason's performance shouldn't be attributed to his change in shoe companies.This season we get the Peak Kidd 2 that boasts some major improvements resolving some of the major issues of the Peak Kidd 1.With the Peak Kidd 2, extra attention was made to increase the breathability of the shoe as well as improving the traction.Lets see if the shoe really proves age ain't nothing but a number or if it will make you a grumpy old man.

figure1
note the slight curve to the forefoot

The Peak Kidd 2 feels a bit lighter than the Kidd 1.The materials used in the construction of the shoe felt like better quality than the Kidd 1.The asymmetrical collar comes back for great support without sacrificing range of motion.The collar is well padded with a softer material compared to the Kidd 1 and the lining did not bleed onto my socks like it's predecessor.The placement of the padding also keeps the heel locked down,where the padding is thickest between the ankle bone to really fill in the space between the ankle bone and heel to keep the foot in place.The breathability issue was addressed with mesh vents throughout the medial side of the shoe.The improvement in breathability was noticeable and kept my foot comfortable.Peak should probably consider changing the way the shoes are laced out of the box.Using an over-under method does not allow the wearer to really tighten the shoe to provide a snug fit.Changing to a more standard under-over lacing will allow the wearer to tighten as needed.

figure2
note the dark blue TPU shank that wraps under the heel

Peak designers did a good job lowering the profile of the Kidd 2 versus the Kidd 1.The Kidd 2 actually uses the same insole that gave me problems on the Kidd 1 but due with the reduced midsole,I didn't experience the same issues of excessive softness.Peak continues to tweak and evolve PK Rocket.On the Kidd 2, along with the lowered profile,the designers added a TPU shank to the heel that adds stability and helps disperse the force of impact evenly.I enjoyed the added stability and impact protection was again excellent.My only complaint is the again with the softer midsole comes extra weight and less court feel.I would like to see designers continue to move forward and find a way to add a lower profile overall feel without sacrificing the excellent impact protection.

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note the combination herringbone pattern on the heel and forefoot for excellent traction when changing direction and translucent rubber inserts for additional traction.

The Kidd 2 also improved in traction versus it's predecessor.The entire outsole now features either multi-directional herringbone pattern or concentric triangles for plenty of surface area to eat up dirt and really grip all court surfaces.Again a soft rubber compound is used to add to the already excellent traction.The overall feel of the shoe is very stable.An internal TPU midfoot shank adds midfoot stability and when coupled with the TPU shank in the heel makes for a really stable ride.A semi curved last also makes for great heel to toe transition.

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again note the semi curved outsole

I was impressed by the Peak Kidd 2.I liked that the shoe had an overall lower profile feel and the TPU shank in the heel to disperse the impact was great.Traction was excellent and designers addressed the lack of breathablity.Although lighter thank the Kidd 1,the shoe could be lighter with some tweaks to the midsole and compounds used.

Comfort and Fit-4/5
Cushioning-3.5/5
Ankle Support-3.5/5
Traction-4/5
Overall-4/5

Cushioning was great and while it provided excellent impact protection,the lack of rebound effect especially in the forefoot when cutting or pushing off in changes of direction made the difference.The comfort and fit of the shoe was improved but Peak would probably do better by changing the way the shoes are laced.The way the shoes are laced straight out of the box do not allow the wearer to really tighten the shoe and make for a snug fit.Overall the difference between the Kidd 1 and Kidd 2 is leaps and bounds.As Jason Kidd seems to be getting better with age,so too hopefully is mirrored by the Peak Kidd line.

Nike KD 2

Thunderstruck

I really try not to let certain events or players prevent me from trying certain shoes.That being said,having come from Seattle,the move of the Seattle Supersonics to Oklahoma City left a sour taste in my mouth and I completely shut out the team and players.Unfortunately,Kevin Durant and the rest of young superstars in the making wouldn't let me not notice them.Lets just reflect real quick on what Kevin Durant did this season.Youngest scoring champion,broke the record for most 25 point games and came second in MVP voting and was named to the all NBA 1st team.Needless to say, with the way signature shoes are going nowadays you would expect his signature shoe be priced in the mid $100's...nope..$84.99..not that I have forgiven the people who moved the Seattle Sonics to OKC..but the players just made a new fan.Now on to the shoe.Zoom air in the forefoot with a cushlon midsole for a soft ride.Midfoot strap and rubber heel counter for support.Lets see if the forecast calls for thunderstorms or just some light drizzle.

figure1
note the forefoot strap and additional fabric wrap on the lateral side

At first glance the KD 2 is nothing spectacular.Simple lines,overlays where extra support is needed,just simple and unassuming.Kind of like the player.At first glance,yah Kevin Durant is really tall but physically not really what one would call a physical specimen..until he drops 40 points on your head.A closer look at the shoe will reveal a number of personal touches that pertain to his life and what and the people that helped him get to where he is today...k back to the shoe..what is impressive about writing about this shoe more than probably any other is I find myself talking about Kevin Durant as I talk about the shoe which is a reflection of the great job the designers did really making this Kevin's shoe.The collar is well padded and right under where the ankle bone sits are two additional padded lobes to really create a nice fit and help prevent the heel from slipping.The shoe is cut fairly low,more like a 5/8 height to allow some ankle coverage but allow maximum flexibility.Unfortunately the single overlay of material in the upper doesn't allow for a lot of ventilation and the shoe does not breathe all that well.

figure2

note the rubber heel counter

The KD 2 features a full length cushlon midsole and forefoot zoom air.Cushlon is found mostly in running shoes where it is a lightweight,resilient foam that offers excellent impact protection.The zoom air unit in the forefoot allows for a low profile and responsive cushioning in the forefoot.I have always wondered why designers and Nike have insisted in putting the zoom air unit in the heel in certain shoes that have only one air bag.For the most part having only a zoom air unit in the heel and some type of foam in the forefoot has always left a little to be desired.During hard lateral cuts or change of direction most of the stress comes through the forefoot.Understandably the heel absorbs a lot of impact while simply running but the application of zoom air has always been best utilized in the forefoot,where it's low profile and responsiveness really come into play.All that being said heavier players who really pound their shoes might want to look elsewhere.Active players who do a lot of slashing and are looking for a responsive ride..look no further.

figure3
note the herringbone pattern on the medial side that provides traction crucial on quick changes of direction and cuts.

The outsole once again is a homage to Kevin's life and what is important to him.The outsole is a dangerous place to try to express your individuality.Fortunately for the KD 2,the designers did an excellent job incorporating that into the outsole without sacrificing performance.With a deep modified herringbone traction on the medial side for key pivot points,and plenty of surface area made of a soft rubber compound make for excellent traction on both hardwood and the dirty concrete tile.The midfoot strap holds the foot in place nicely.However those with wider feet may have some trouble with the strap not fitting properly.A phylon foot bucket keeps the heel in place and the additional overlays on the medial side help support the foot on hard cuts keeping the foot on the footbed.overall support is very good however with the shoe cut at a 5/8 height ankle support is marginal.

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Overall I really enjoyed playing in the KD 2.Simple, straightforward and an excellent value.Again if you're looking for more cushioning in the heel then you might want to look elsewhere.But for what it is and for how much it is,the KD 2 is an excellent value and when put up against some of the higher priced signature shoes,The KD 2 more than hold's it's own.Based on what we saw in the 2010 NBA playoffs it looks like the best is yet to come for this budding superstar and should have no problems making new fans.

Comfort and Fit-4/5
Cushioning-3/5
Ankle Support-3/5
Traction-4.25/5
Overall-4.25/5

The lack of breathability hurt a little bit and those looking for more cushioning in the heel may want to look for something else.

Li Ning BD DOOM

Dooms Day

Baron Davis certainly has had an interesting career along to go with his personality.There will be times where he will make you jump out of your seat(see the Golden State Warriors season of 2006-2007),to make you scratch your head a little(see 2009-2010 Los Angeles Clippers).His choice in shoes have mirrored his career as well.Baron Davis was in the Nike Freestyle commercial and recently signed with the Chinese shoe company Li Ning.Li Ning is one of the top athletic shoe companies in China and boasts Jose Calderon and Shaquille Oneal as other primary endorsers.On the surface the move from Nike to Reebok and then to Li Ning was a head scratcher but looking deeper,what you find may surprise you.Backed with an extremely popular youtube video that created hype similar to the nike freestyle video that Baron was originally in.While the Li Ning BD Doom will be his first signature shoe to bear his name what truly makes this shoe his is the unique "Beardman" logo.Lets see if the shoe makes you want to jump out of your seat like one of baron's countless highlights or leaves us scratching our head.

figure1
note the variable lacing at the top of the collar for a customized fit

Right out of the box you notice the BD Doom is well made.No stitching problems or glue stains.One thing I did encounter after playing in them a number of times was the paint chipping off of the midsoles.Not really a big deal and does not effect the performance of the shoe.The interior is well padded and provides extra padding on the Achilles to prevent the shoe from rubbing on the skin.One of the major gripes I had with the shoe was the severe lack of breathability.A mesh lined tongue and collar that is padded provided very little airflow in the shoe and made for drenched socks and hot feet after extended play.Strangely of the two different pairs I played in,there seemed to be a difference in stiffness of the internal heel counter.While it did not really change the fit or the feel of the shoe but it was enough to notice.

figure2
note the tpu supported heel counter as well as the additional padding for the achilles

The BD Doom uses two different types of cushioning.First off there is Li Ning Bounse which is found in forefoot and claims to have 25% more rebound effect.It does, but like every other foam based cushioning system,with extended use it eventually bottoms out..which can be said for all cushioning systems but foam based ones seem to lose effectiveness a little bit quicker.The heel features Li Ning Cushion which claims to provide 68% more shock absorption than other shoes.Needless to say without the percentages,both systems do their respective jobs.The forefoot does feel a bit more firm and while running and landing on the heel absorbed the impact well.However over a number of times wearing the shoes,the cushioning did diminish over time.The ride also sits very low for extra court feel which is excellent for active slashing players.

figure3
Note the visible Li Ning Cushion

Now this truly where the BD Doom really excels.Traction.Nice big and deep modified herringbone traction on nice soft rubber with plenty of surface area for the shoe to really grip the court.Coupled with the low to the ground feel,makes for an excellent combination.The outsole is also segmented for good flexibility without losing rigidness.Ankle support is marginal.The shoe is cut fairly high and offers variable lacing to allow the wearer to tighten or loosen the shoe where they see fit but other than that overall ankle support is very minimal.

figure4

Overall the Li Ning BD Doom is a solid signature shoe.Excellent traction,pretty good cushioning and a simple design are great but what really makes the shoe pop is how Baron Davis' personality exudes from the shoe.The Beardman logo just simply makes the shoe cool.Good thing the rest of the shoe is solid.With a couple of minor tweaks and fixes,primarily the lack of breathability,I'm sure we will be hearing more from Li Ning..besides to quote the company motto.."Anything is Possible"

figure5
"Beardman" logo

Comfort and Fit-3/5
Cushioning-3/5
Ankle Support-2.5/5
Traction-4.25/5
Overall-3/5

Again breathability was an issue and the cushioning's lack of sustained performance was taken into account in their respective categories.

Nike Air Max Rise

Uprising

Following up the excellent Nike Zoom Phenom,Brandon Roy goes to work in the beginning of the 2009 nba season in the Nike air max Rise.Featuring an air max unit in the heel for added impact protection and dynamic fit sleeve for added comfort and support.While it is a little strange to see a rising superstar like Brandon Roy wearing such a simple shoe, we are reminded that just like his personality,simple can be better sometimes.

figure1
note the pull tabs for the dynamic fit sleeve on the heel for easy entry

It almost seems like nowadays the standard for "light" is the Nike Hyperdunk or the Hyperize.While the Air Max rise certainly is not as light as either one of the aforementioned shoes,it's no heavyweight either.I would sacrifice a couple ounces for support any day.The heel is supported by a TPU external support on top of a ridgid internal heel counter.The shoe also features an internal fit sleeve that provides an excellent overall feel and support for the foot.The collar and Achilles areas are well padded to prevent any chafing when wearing low cut socks.One major problem I encountered was the lack of breathability.The colorway I played in featured an upper made primarily of patent leather and synthetic leather with a mesh tongue.With little ventilation,the patent leather and synthetic leather combination made it a little hot in the shoe.

figure2
note the tpu heel counter and the large volume air max unit

The Nike Air Max Rise features a max air heel unit.While overall impact protection was decent,I would have paid for a zoom air unit in the forefoot.Much like the Nike Zoom Phenom which did not feature any additional forefoot cushioning,the addition would have really helped the shoe.While impact protection was good,responsiveness was lacking and as time went on any forefoot cushioning seemed to go by the wayside.

figure3
note the large surface area and herringbone traction

Traction was excellent with plenty of surface area and simple herringbone traction.The rubber outsole does extend up the lateral side of the forefoot to add additional support when making hard lateral cuts and preventing the forefoot from sliding off of the footbed on hard lateral cuts.An ankle strap adds additional ankle support to the excellent heel support.

figure4
note the outsole overlapping to add additional support for the forefoot

Overall at the pricepoint the Nike Air Max Rise delivers with very good value.However as I have previously stated in other reviews there are times where I would have paid more for a certain shoe for some added features,this shoe is certainly a case for that.Forefoot cushioning was definitely a major sore spot for me and would have liked more added cushioning and responsiveness in the forefoot.As time went on any foam cushioning in the foreoot bottomed out.If not for that,the shoe performed extremely well in all other aspects.

Comfort and Fit-3.5/5
Cushioning-2.5/5
Ankle Support-3.5/5
Traction-4/5
Overall-3/5

Great value and solid but severely lacking in any forefoot cushioning or any kind of responsiveness in the forefoot.

Peak Kidd1

Climbing to the Peak

Recently there have been a number of NBA players signing endorsement contracts with various shoe brands based in china.It all started with Damon Jones signing with Li Ning and a number of other players most notably Shane Battier.PEAK is one of the top domestic shoe companies in China along with Li Ning and Anta.After the 2008 Olympics,Peak went out and signed future hall of famer Jason Kidd.Being Jason Kidd's first signature shoe baring his name with PEAK,it forces people to take a step back and notice the companies in China and their step into the mainstream.Lets see if the shoe makes a step towards the top or stuck at the bottom.

figure1
note the asymmetrical collar for maximum coverage on the lateral side of the ankle

At first inspection,the shoe is well made.No random glue stains or undone stitching,and what felt like quality materials to construct the shoe.The shoe was a bit on the heavy side,with a lot of the weight more towards the heel.The Kidd1 features an internal heel counter as well as a tpu support for added stability on the heel.The collar is well padded making for an excellent locked down feel with very little heel slip.The collar is also asymmetrical allowing excellent range of motion without sacrificing ankle support.One major problem the shoe has is the lack of breathability.While the tongue does feature some mesh lining,there is no where for the heat or moisture to escape.The perforations on the lateral side of the shoe do not help the shoe breathe at all.The moisture management problem got to the point where the moisture had accumulated in the shoe and turned my sock blue from the blue material inside the shoe.

figure2
note the beautiful Chinese art inspired details on the upper

The Kidd1 features PK Rocket cushioning.PK Rocket works by using a phylon midsole in combination with a lighter responsive foam and a dense impact absorbing core .I found the cushioning to be very soft.However I had some problems with the sockliner being too soft.It felt like I was fighting through the sockliner at times because it was excessively soft.Another problem the shoe has is the lack of responsiveness and being a little bit too high off the court surface during active play.Impact protection is excellent and I think would do very well on outdoor courts where cushioning is paramount due to the unforgiving concrete.I would like to see designers continue to progress PK Rocket by finding ways to make it lighter and more responsive all while lowering the profile of the shoe putting the foot closer to the ground allowing for greater court responsiveness.

figure3
note the triangular window giving us a view of the dual density driven PK Rocket cushioning system

Traction on the shoe Kidd1 was very good on all of the surfaces that I played on.The rubber compound used for the outsole is very soft and features a herringbone and concentric triangle pattern.One slight problem I encountered was I felt my forefoot slip at times on hard cuts due to losing some of the surface area with the PEAK logo on the forefoot in a key pivot point.A TPU midfoot shank adds midfoot lightweight midfoot support.The shoe also has a bit of support on the lateral side with the rubber outsole overlapping to the upper adding support and preventing the wearer's foot from sliding off the footbed on lateral cuts.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Peak Kidd1.I ran into a few issues but overall a solid shoe that was nearly on par with some of the shoes the bigger mainstream companies put out.Obviously the shoe is not perfect,with it's fairly heavy weight,excessively soft cushioning and lack of breathability.One other slight problem I ran into was a little bit of inconsistency in the materials.The lacehole on the tongue on one of my shoes nearly tore completely off.

Comfort and Fit-3/5
Cushioning-3/5
Ankle Support-3.5/5
Traction-3.5/5
Overall-3/5

Overall the shoe is solid for a first time experience.The heavy weight,lack of breathability and excessive cushioning need to be tweaked a bit but a solid start.The use of the asymmetrical collar for maximum ankle coverage was great and made for excellent support.It is always exciting to try something new and from a completely different angle from which we are used to seeing.If the designers can resolve some of the issues with the Peak Kidd1 I'm sure we will be hearing more from this company in the near future.

Nike Hyperize

Don't Criticize

Last summer we were introduced to the Nike Hyperdunk.Lighter,faster,better the culmination of Nike's obsession with making the ultimate lightweight performance shoe.While not perfect,the Hyperdunk did push the brand closer to that ultimate goal.This year,armed with what was learned with the Hyperdunk and even the zoom Kobe 4,The Hyperize was supposed to be the next step...Ah yes the kicker..supposed to..

figure1
note the heel tpu heel cup and the height of the collar and slope to the Achilles

Nike once again pushed the envelope and gave us yet another shoe even lighter than the Hyperdunk(I wont count the Zoom Kobe IV because of it being a low top and obviously less material needed).The Hyperize takes a couple ques from the Hyperdunk.Y notch on the heel,keyhole notch above the ankle for added flexibility.What they Hyperize failed to carry over was the stiff heel counter that was on the Hyperdunk as well as two speed lace loops just behind the keyhole notch that really helped the Hyperdunk secure the wearer's foot.Unfortunately the exclusion of these among other things hurt the shoe in terms of having any kind of support.As we learned in playing in the Kobe IV,even without a higher cut shoe,support did not have to be sacrificed as long as the heel was well supported.Unfortunately except for a flimsy plastic heel cap,there is absolutely no heel support which marginalizes any kind of support the shoe can give anywhere else.The shoe seems to be higher cut than the Hyperdunk because the slope from the top of the collar down to the Achilles is at a higher angle which allows for more freedom without sacrificing height.The collar is padded but anything less than a crew sock might cause some rubbing from the shoe to the skin.Moisture management is good with the mesh tongue and mesh cutouts on the Flywire panels that take off that micro fraction of weight while still being functional.

figure2
note the large lateral outrigger and mesh vent cutouts on the flywire panel

There have been alot of knocks about lunar foam.I currently at the time of this writing own four different shoes that have lunar foam as the primary cushioning setup.From the Hyperdunk to the Lunar Racer to the Lunarglide and Hyperize I have felt a small difference from each application of the lunar foam.I ran through my normal test runs of the shoe and the lunar foam in the Hyperize seemed to be holding up a little bit better than the lunar foam of the Hyperdunks.Not saying that this should would probably survive a season of practice and games,but it seems like there have been some improvements to the durability of lunar foam.Once again the lunar foam does not give the "springy" feeling that zoom air gives but the impact absorption of the foam is excellent.I am a little curious to see what a setup of lunar foam in the heel and zoom air in the forefoot would feel like but I think with the constant pounding on the heel would flatten out the lunar foam rather quickly.

figure3
note the "t-notch" and herringbone pattern

Traction is greatly improved from the Hyperdunk.A more traditional herringbone pattern with what felt like a softer rubber compound improved on what was decent traction of the Hyperdunk.A large lateral outrigger allows the wearer to make hard cuts without the fear of tipping over,and the "y-notch"(in this case t-notch) on the heel gives the shoe good flexibility without sacrificing alot of support on lateral heel strikes.A carbon fiber midfoot shank makes for a rigid mid foot without adding too much weight.Unfortunately another thing missing from the Hyperize from the Hyperdunk was how the Hyperdunk cradled the wearer's foot with phylon support on both the lateral and medial sides of the mid foot.I constantly found my foot sliding back and forth on the footbed during hard cuts.Issues with the heel support amplify this problem.where the shoe lacks almost any support.

figure4

I really did not want to make this a Hyperdunk versus Hyperize type of review.Unfortunately it works both ways in terms of improving each shoe,you would simply have the other one.Improve support you might as well buy the Hyperdunk.Better cushioning and traction thats lighter get the Hyperize.Unfortunately the complete lack of support really killed the shoe for me.For some reason unlike the Hyperdunk when I wore the Hyperize,the shoe seemed to fight my foot when running and seemed like it did not flex naturally.

Comfort and Fit-2/5
Cushioning-4/5
Ankle Support-2.5/5
Traction-4/5
Overall-2.5/5

The total lack of any support with my foot sliding on hard cuts completely turned me off to the shoe.In hindsight,when I give the Hypedunk a 4.5/5 and the Hyperize a 4/5 in terms of cushioning and claim the cushioning is better in the Hyperize,this was before we realized the lack of durability of the lunar foam.I saw it as a potential problem for the foam but at the time of the Hyperdunk review did not experience a significant loss of cushioning the Hyperdunk would eventually have with regular use.That being said,given some of the durability issues lunar foam has had in the past,in this shoe it performed very well.It seems just like in movies where sequels rarely are better than the original,the Hyperize fails to surpass the Hyperdunk.

Nike Zoom Phenom

Something Like a Phenomenon

Ive never been a fan of hybrids.Taking parts of other things and trying to combine them into something new and better than the originals.As another update to the Nike Sharkley that combines parts of the Shake N'Destruct and the Air Max Sensation,my initial reception to the shoe was lukewarm at best.The Nike Shake N'Destruct and the Air Max Sensation on their own were never really "guard oriented" shoes,much less combined and to be seen on the feet of Brandon Roy and Deron Williams,two active guards who have worn the excellent zoom bb 1 and 2.Needless to say I was curious in the choice of shoes.In essence you have the outsole of the nike Shake N'Destruct.Initially released in 1996 and was primarily marketed as a streetball shoe and worn by Dennis Rodman.For the upper we have the nike air max sensation which initially was Chris Webber's signature shoe which was one of the first to feature visible forefoot air.To combine these two shoes and having a great guard shoe be the result is like mixing peanut butter and jelly but coming out with something that tastes like steak.

figure1
note the visible large volume zoom air unit

For as bulky the shoe looks in pictures and the thicker outsole you would figure the shoe to be on the heavier side.Surprisingly that was not the case and the shoe is not that much heavier than the Nike Hyperdunk.The lacing system is descended directly from the 90's where elastic straps combined with speed lacing provide excellent fit around the foot.The Elastic straps provide just the right amount of tension to ensure a snug fit without sacrificing flexibility.Heel support is very good with a stiff heel counter reinforced with phylon and the heel of the outsole.The collar is lined with foam padding to provide a good snug fit.The tongue is lined with mesh to provide some moisture management but with all of the patent leather/leather/nubuck I found the breath-ability to be a little bit lacking.Overall Ankle support was average with great heel support and good fit around the shoe but nothing else to add for additional ankle support.

figure2
note the phylon wedge that adds lateral support on the forefoot

Cushioning comes from a large volume visible zoom air unit in the heel.Forefoot cushioning is a bit lacking using just phylon but still does the job.While not quite as responsive in the forefoot as I would have liked for whatever reasoning I had little to no problems when playing on hardwood or concrete tile.

figure3
note the deep groves and additional patterns on the outsole

Now we get to what I feel is the true strength of this shoe.Traction.While I dont remember how the Shake Ndestructs performed indoors and where the outsole of that shoe was designed to take the abuse on blacktop,the Zoom Phenom replaced the tough DRC(durable rubber compound) used in the Shake and replaced it with a softer compound that is well phenomenal.On the outsole in addition to the deep grooves that eat up dust on the court are smaller grooves within the traction pattern that enhance the shoe's grip resulting in me nearly spraining my ankle again during a quick stop and go.The traction pattern used and with plenty of surface area on the outsole make this one of the best shoes in terms of traction I have played in.To make sure you don't come out of the shoe during hard lateral cuts is a rubber/phylon wedge wich extends up the lateral side of the shoe to provide excellent lateral support.

figure4
note the elastic straps across the tongue for additional support

I really enjoyed this shoe,and have made it a regular part of my rotation when not reviewing shoes.I am still not really sure how two shoes that were designed for either beating up on asphalt and blacktop or for a young dominant power forward who could run like a guard and finish with authority mix to become an excellent guard based shoe.Like I said earlier,its like mixing peanut butter and jelly and finding out it tastes like steak.

Comfort and Fit-4/5
Cushioning-3/5
Ankle Support-3/5
Traction-4.5/5
Overall-4/5

The lack of forefoot cushioning hurt the shoe but thats just the spoiled voice inside talking.The lack of ankle support was not that big of a deal due to good fit through the heel.The forefoot provides a nice wide base to land on even without a lateral outrigger we see on many shoes today.Again we see an example of a shoe that has excellent execution with unlikely parts.Lightweight,excellent traction and good fit.Dr. Frankenstein has you good to go.