This is the blog where ART, BASKETBALL SHOES and COMIC BOOKS collide! Welcome and enjoy! - The Shoe Shi

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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

JORDAN 2.5 TEAM

AJ 2.5 Team 01
Now I know this isn’t one of the newest shoes out in the market, in fact the JORDAN 2.5 TEAM has been out for well over a year. But after wearing them in my company basketball league, where we sadly lost in the conference finals, I thought this shoe deserved some recognition.

STYLE

The JORDAN 2.5 TEAM is what I like to call a hybrid shoe. Jordan Brand (JB) designers took elements from the original AIR JORDAN II and AIR JORDAN III to come up with the 2.5’s design. (Hence the name) At first glance, the 2.5 looks very much like the AJII with its sleek hi-top body design along with the original AIR JORDAN logo on the back which was eventually replaced by the more popular JUMPMAN logo starting with the AJIII. Upon closer inspection, you’ll start to see subtle elements of the AJIII from the five eyelets at the front of the shoe, to the visible air sole unit at the heel and the elephant print which made the AJIII standout from the crowd. I’m a big fan of the AJIII and would have liked to see more of the AJIII design elements dominate the shoe but overall the design works. The 2.5 was released in a variety of colorways and even had a low top version. If nothing more, the 2.5 brings back nostalgic memories of two classic AJ designs.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

AJ 2.5 Team 02
This shoe is full of neat details like the red "II" and "V" stitching on the side. The elephant print on the heel and lace area give the shoe a distinct Air Jordan flare.
AJ 2.5 Team 03

PERFORMANCE

The great thing about hybrids is not only the fact that they have design elements of two great shoes but it also features latest technology making the 2.5 a better performer on the court. The “ride” or “how the shoe feels when worn” of the 2.5 is much more comfortable compared to the AJII and AJIII. Improved cushioning reduces shock to the heels during running and jumping. This reduced the stress on my knees thus allowing me to play relatively pain-free. Ankle support on the shoe is nothing out of the ordinary but will do the trick in keeping your ankles from turning during normal court movement. The lacing system did its job and kept my foot in place which made me think less about my feet and more on what I needed to do on the court. The snug fit of the shoe, though I would recommend wearing two pairs of socks, also reduced foot fatigue while making blisters non-existent. The outsole design provided good lateral movement and traction during hard cuts and drives to the basket while stability was also good during play in the low post. I recommed the 2.5 to those who play a guard or small forward type of game but big men would still benefit from wearing this shoe due to its excellent cushioning and stability.

I would recommend "breaking in" these shoes before competitive play as the 2.5 tends to fit snug out of the box causing some discomfort until the leather and stitching start to loosen. Light jogging or walking a day prior should do the trick.
Rating: 4 out of 5

OVERALL

The JORDAN 2.5 TEAM is a great shoe and anyone who consider themselves a fan of the AJII or AJIII should own a pair. The design is distinctly “Air Jordan” without it being too flashy or too plain. The 2.5 will definitely grab people’s attention whether you’re sporting them on the basketball court or just hanging out with friends. One will also benefit from the technological improvements found in the shoe. Given that these shoes have been out for more than a year, you probably won’t find them at your local athletic shoe retailer where they usually phase out shoes after 6 months on the shelf. Your best bet would be to check out the outlet stores in your area. There's no guarantee that you'll find them there or if you do that they’ll have your size but sometimes half the fun is in “the search”. And if by chance you stumble on a pair in your size, they’ll probably sell for half of what they originally cost and you’ll be the proud owner of a great pair of shoes with enough cash left over to buy a sweet pair of basketball shorts to go with your new kicks.
Rating: 4 out of 5


AJ 2.5 Team Drawing
Aside from basketball shoes, art is my other passion. Here is a pencilled and colored rendering of the Jordan 2.5 Team.

2 comments:

  1. Wow, it looks very nice. The combinations of the color was very amazing. And the style it looks very beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete