just posted this in the EA forum, if Andrew can maybe forward it to his contacts at EA, it would be proper, thanks....
"A fairly new rule that has been implemented in the NBA recently is the "CLEAR PATH TO THE BASKET" rule. It basically means if you foul a player who is on a fastbreak with nobody in front of him his team automatically gets two foul shots and the ball, so it works out just like a technical foul.
And the reason this rule is so important is because when playing online a lot of players will foul you after you get on the fastbreak to prevent you from getting the easy hoop, and ends up happening is just a sideline throw in, which clearly demonstrates that this new rule just isn't in the game.
I'm not 100% certain but I'm pretty sure this new rule was implemented last season, and if anybody involved in making the NBA Live game this year even saw a handful of NBA games last year they would have surely heard talk of the new rule as it was a hot topic for a while.
And the reason it was a hot topic (and I fully agree with this) is that everyone was praising the rule as it's meant to serve the same purpose as the half-circle charge-free zone in the paint does, it's supposed to encourage more spectacular high flying action from our favorite NBA stars. Nobody likes to see Lebron make a flashy steal only to be hacked by some no name scrub preventing the highlight reel dunk.
now some of you noobs might think I'm being too picky, and it's no big deal, but it happens at least once or twice a game in the NBA (I should know, I've watched almost every single NBA game this year thanks to NBA League Pass and no work for me, and I can tell you it happens often, actually one just happened 20 mins ago at the Minnesota Clippers game I'm watching right now)
Personally when playing online out of the last 10 attempted fast breaks I was fouled at least 7 times, so it's a pretty important rule not to be in the game. $80 basketball "simulation" that can't even get the basic rulebook right? please fix this, the game has enough problems as is....
thanks"
EDIT: here is the official entry in the NBA website about the rule http://www.nba.com/features/misunderstoodrules_051128.html
Clear Path to the Basket: If a fast break starts in a team’s backcourt and a defender fouls any offensive player when the team is going to score an easy basket, a clear path foul has occurred. When the foul happens, no defender can be ahead of the ball where he could defend against the easy basket.
also an ESPN article explaining in detail http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2334673