NBA 2k13: Association Check In

I just finished my second season of my association mode. I went 21-8. (26-3 in my first season) I repeated as NBA champions with League MVP, Most Improved player, and Final MVP, James Harden (27.8ppg/6.0apg/5rpg) Last season, league MVP/Finals MVP was Derrick Rose.

Starting 5

 Derrick Rose               James Harden                   Rudy Gay                 Carl Landry             Andre Drummond

Season 3 (Current)
PG Derrick Rose, 98    $18mil
SG James Harden, 90   $15mil
SF Rudy Gay, 93      $18mil
PF Carl Landry, 80        $7.5mil
C Andre Drummond, 69       $2.6mil

Bench
PG Eric Maynor, 72      $2.5mil
SG Jeremy Lamb, 80        $2.5mil
SG Corey Brewer, 74      $1.5mil

PG Josh Selby, 65             $884K
SF Adam Morrison, 58      $494K
PF Fab Melo, 61               $494K
C Joel Pryzbilla, 58           $490K

Season 2
PG Derrick Rose, 96    $18mil
SG James Harden, 86   $14mil
SF Paul George, 84      $12mil
PF Josh Smith, 88         $12mil
C Chris Kaman, 75       $3mil
Bench
PG Austin Rivers, 72       $2mil
SG Jeremy Lamb, 75        $2mil
SF Kenneth Faried, 77      $1.5mil
PF Fab Melo, 59               $494K
C Joel Pryzbilla, 60           $490K
PG Josh Selby, 63             $884K
PF Brian Scalbrine, 44      $494K

In the original fantasy draft (season 1):
Rd. 1 Derrick Rose
Rd. 2 Roy Hibbert
Rd. 3 Paul George
Rd. 4 Kenneth Faried
Rd. 5 Jeremy Lamb
Rd. 6 Courtney Lee
Rd. 7 Austin Rivers
Rd. 8 Yi Jianlian
Rd. 9 Josh Hamilton
Rd. 10 Robin Lopez
Rd. 11 Josh Selby
Rd. 12 Brian Scalabrine
I immediately made a move to secure me a #2 player, James Harden. I traded Roy Hibbert and draft picks.
To fill the hole I created at Center, I moved Courtney Lee and draft picks for Chris Kaman.

So, just finished my second season in association mode. As I mentioned last check-in, I increased the difficulty to Superstar, and as such found myself in much lower scoring games. The games have been much tighter. I relied much on the passing game, making Josh Smith and James Harden my go-to scorers (Harden 28ppg/Smith 22ppg) while Derrick Rose drastically dropped to 14ppg, but increased in assists (9 to 13apg)

While my team has been very well-rounded and has won back-to-back championships, I find the lineup getting stale. I've gotten kind of bored playing games, so I thought I would shake up the roster.

In the offseason, I made a few big moves, with the biggest being the trade of Paul George and Josh Smith for Rudy Gay and Carl Landry.

Under normal circumstances, I would never in my life make that trade. I love Prince George and Josh Smith way too much. But, in the NBA finals the last two seasons, I faced the 76er's and their franchise guy was Rudy Gay. He would tear me up left and right; his inside game is disgusting and he can hit the 3 pointer need be. I thought it would be fun to nab him in exchange for 2 cornerstones of my team. I like to think I created some elaborate storyline in this alternate NBA universe.

New franchise player. Part of my new big 3 along with Rose and Harden

While Gay was the focus point of the trade, Landry was almost as important. He had a very cap-friendly contract for his rating (80) and he had the player skills/inside game that would still give me a scoring presence inside, with Smith gone (Hibbert was my guy in season 1.) I may move Landry for draft picks for cap relief, though. With 3 large contracts in Rose, Harden, an Gay, I'm strapped for cap room.

For my next move, I traded Kenneth Faried for Andre Drummond and a 1st Rd. Pick. 

Faried's morale has been quite low all season, with many minutes going to Jeremy Lamb. At one point, I was going to trade him, but as HUGE Kenneth Faried fan, I couldn't pull the trigger. Well, I finally did after it seemed he was inconsolable. The move didn't do much for improving my team, but it did create a challenge for me:

New project. Code-named Operation Big man, bigger stick.

Andre Drummond was the 9th overall pick (in real life) by the Pistons this past year and while he is raw and has tons of upside, his 2k13 rating is piss-poor. (59) He possesses the 'Eraser' player skill and has a very high dunk rating (87) and solid rebounding. I thought it would be a real challenge to take the 19yr. old, 6'10" C and make him great. He has a decent potential (B) and I increased it in camp with the 'Unlock Potential.' The move saves me lots of money (signed him to a 5 year deal, 2mil/yr,) too.

I also let Chris Kaman and Austin Rivers walk because of cap reasons. Very, very sad to part with Rivers.

Brian Scalabrine retired and I brought in Adam Morrison (Just need someone who won't be angry sitting on the bench.) I picked up Corey Brewer and Eric Maynor is Free agency. The latter was a pick made before the Gay trade to replace Rivers and save 1mil/year. His 2.5mil cap hit is a bit too much for me. I may trade him and bump Selby to backup PG.

I am currently under the cap $875k

While the roster shakeups weren't necessary, it keeps it fresh. It's fun to explore more players. The only mainstay will be Derrick Rose. That guy isn't leaving my team ever! Cheers fellow 2Kballers!

Keys For Success: Central Division

Keeping this thing going in the Eastern conference with the Central Division, home of wind, cars, and venison! Oh, and the birthplace of basketball.  The past season has held some strange turns for this division, from the injury of star Derrick Rose to the maturing of a powerful Pacers squad.  There are a lot of wild cards and variables this year but I'm going to break it down like James Brown on the most important players this year for each team.

Chicago Bulls
     Kirk Hinrich: I know that Derrick Rose would be the obvious choice, but lets face it, if he is coming back this season, its going to be at the tail end and the Bulls' record will pretty much be cemented at that point.  That means that the starting point, Hinrich, who is returning to his former team, will have to pull some extra weight.  He is a more than capable guard who taught Rose a lot when he was still there, but he is not as fast as he used to be because of injuries, and not Derrick Rose.  But with Nate Robinson coming off the bench, he has a solid back up to solidify the position.

Cleveland Cavaliers     

     Dion Waiters: The Cavaliers haven't been able to build much around Kyrie Irving since he arrived, and his performance is almost guaranteed to be great this season if last year was any indication of his skills.  With Irving at full strength and playing like he does, he will need the rookie Dion Waiters to perform well for the Cavs to move forward.  Their team is not heavy in talent at the guard spot otherwise so it falls on him to make things happen.

Detroit Pistons

     Andre Drummond: The Pistons are looking to make a surge this year in the East, and they started by trading away some of their thirty guards and drafting the under experienced but naturally talented Andre Drummond.  Drummond is big, powerful, and athletic, which is a lethal combination for a forward/center.  If he can develop soon as far as a mid range game and work on posting up, the Greg Monroe/Andre Drummond combo will be potent.

Indiana Pacers

     Paul George:  I've said it before and I'll said it again: Paul George needs to become more of an offensive weapon for the Pacers to be for real.  Come on, Prince George, you have the tools, just put on the crown.

Milwaukee Bucks

     Monta Ellis/ Brandon Jenning: This is my only tag team player combo on the list, and for good reason.  Apart, Ellis is one of the smoothest scorers in the league, and Jennings is aggressive and athletic at point.  Like a chicken bacon ranch pizza and peacock.  Both separate things, both beautiful to look at, but not together.  The key for the Bucks, with a small selection of forwards and centers, is for Ellis and Jennings to achieve a unicorn/rainbow level of harmony.  It could end of being the most exciting back court in basketball, or a tomato sauce covered peacock.  Damn I'm hungry now.

  

NBA 2K13: The Floater

If you're like me and have an unhealthy man crush on Derrick Rose, then you know all about his trademark floater. It's a great way of getting a basket on a fast break (if you don't want to Hopstep) and is ideal for getting a shot over bigger defenders when driving.

For the longest time, I had no idea how to do it. Eventually I got smart an youtube'd a tutorial.

Thought I might share.

How to do the Derrick Rose Floater

I'm not a fan of using X (Xbox) or Square (PS3) to shoot. I prefer the Shot Stick. In order to do the floater with the Shot Stick:

- Run towards the basket WITHOUT HOLDING TURBO.
- Then hold LT and press the RS away from the hoop.

It takes some getting used to, but you can always turbo towards the basket, then let go of it before you do the floater.

No Rose, No Thorn in Anyone's Side

  Are the the Bulls heading in the right direction in 2012-2013?

I'm worried about the Bulls. That team's strength was a healthy Rose and a lights out bench. Rose is hurt and the bench is full of new faces. Whether the changes were for the better, it's yet to be seen. I'm staying positive that the loss of Kyle "Hot Sauce" Korver, the overpaid Asik, and the underrated Ronnie Brewer won't ruin the cohesiveness the team is known for.

        Bulls Projected Starting 5:

PG Kirk Hinrich     SG Rip Hamilton     SF Luol Deng

            PF Carlos Boozer     C Joakim Noah

     Bench 

PG Nate Robinson/Marquis Teague     SG Marco Bellineli     SF Jimmy Butler/Vladimir Radmanovic

  PF Taj Gibson     C Nazr Mohammed

I love the signings of Nate Robinson, Kirk Hinrich, and Marco Belinelli. I love the drafting of Marquis Teague even more (cant believe he fell into their laps!)

I think the Bulls did an amazing job with the limited cap space they had to bring in solid players. The Bulls did right in not matching Houston's ridiculous offer to Asik and they saved money long term in not resigning Brewer and trading away Korver. 

Now all they got to do is rid themselves of Carlos Boozer...

If
- Rip Hamilton can return to at least half the wingman he was in Detroit
-Taj Gibson continues to produce like the 6th man of the year
-Joakim Noah plays like a top 5 center
-Nate, Kirk, and Marquis rotate smoothly at PG
-Boozer (or Kris Humpries??) put up 10/10 a game
- Deng plays like an All-Star

The Bulls can be a real threat come playoff time when they get a fresh pair of hop-steppin' Derrick Rose legs.

That's a lot of ifs, but, I have faith in Tom Thibodeau. I think it will be fun to see if the Bulls sneak up on everyone this NBA season.

-Josh