MyLEAGUE/MyGM Plans

[Andrew]

I know I'm not the only franchise gamer around these parts, so who else has been mulling over MyLEAGUE/MyGM plans? I have to admit that I haven't spent as much time as I would've liked in MyLEAGUE the past couple of years, but I want to get back into it this year.

I've been thinking about what I'd like to do, and my default choice is always to run with the Chicago Bulls. With their offseason acquisitions of Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo, as well as couple of their other moves, they certainly have an interesting lineup; one that'll probably fare a little better in video games than in real life, but that suits me fine for NBA 2K17. I'm tempted to pick them and try the idea I wanted to run with in NBA 2K16, which is bringing back Ben Gordon for some extra shooting off the bench.

The other idea I had for NBA 2K16 that I'm interested in reviving for NBA 2K17 is a MyLEAGUE game with the Charlotte Hornets. I really like their branding, and they're fairly competitive these days. They lost Al Jefferson, but their roster is still reasonably solid. With a couple of trades, I think they could be fun to play with.

Another idea I'm toying around with is controlling a couple of teams, as I'm thinking it might be fun to play with the 76ers this year. Mostly because of Simmons, since he's an Aussie and spent some of his youth in my hometown, but they're an interesting scenario with a young team, and a couple of trade possibilities. I think I'd want to control them in addition to another team though.

And of course, there's the new league expansion feature. The idea of starting fresh with a new expansion team - I'd probably add two, to balance out the league - is definitely appealing. However, I could also see it being too rapid of a departure from reality for me, with the novelty wearing off quickly. It's probably something I'd experiment with in a second MyLEAGUE game, with my primary game featuring the real league as-is.

[Dee4Three]

my Myleague plans will differ from many. Ill be focusing on two rosters - A all time fantasy draft roster (Which will include the myteam/hidden players), and a classic teams Myleague (which will have the benches of the teams properly filled in accurately, as well as new classic teams).

As far as doing a current team MyLeague, or a current league fantasy draft, it's not something I will pursue. But, if I were to do it, I'd use the Celtics... I'm a lifelong fan and live an hour outside of Boston.

[Andrew]

I've found that I lose interest in franchise games when I try complete fantasy options, but that does sound like a fun idea.

[TGsoGood]

I watch a lot of youtube MyCareers. I was thinking of creating about 30 youtubers and throwing them into a draft class for MyLeague. I did this in the story thread with a college roster for 2k14.

I also wanted to create an NLSC Draft class, but I don't know enough members to make that worth while. I would need about 25 members at least and I'm sure I could create about 12-15 NLSC guys but I would need more because a lot of guys would be spread throughout the league and some would get little playing time on CPU controlled teams.

[ThePointForward]

I'll pick up Heat as usual and I guess I'll have to build around GOATside and Winslow combo. Those and Bosh with Dragić are locked up until 2019 (Winslow has team options, so there's that).
Many Heat players are going to be free agents in 2017 or 2018 with some interesting players becoming free agents around the league - Griffin, Curry, Iguodala, Oladipo, McGee (hey, he's not having shaqtin a fool moments too much anymore) and in 2018 it's Durant, CP3, Wade (yeah, I guess that's not happening), Cousins, Gay, Wiggins, Jabari Parker and others.

[Rosque]

I am gonna roll with my Lakers and try and get to the championship contender level in 3 seasons. I am going to impose some house rules for my self. For example if I win 0-20 games I can only sign players under 75 overall. If I win 21-35 games I can only sign players under 78 overall. If I win 36-43 games I can only sign players under 81 overall. If I win 44-50 games I can only sign players under 85. If I win 51-82 games I can sign anyone. This ensures that I don't sign LeBron or KD and I'm still struggling. Of course I'd put some exceptions like, if a player on my team is locked up for 3 or more years and is over 85 rating I can sign one player that is under 88 rating regardless of my record to create a big duo but only if I offer him more than the rest of the competition.

[Jackal]

Before the Lakers sucked I used to play the Clippers without CP3, I'd create my own player as the PG and run the team from there.

For the last couple of years I've been playing with LA though, I still create a player as a PG but then they drafted Russell. So I shifted to SF. Now they've drafted Ingram.

That's why I'm intrigued as to how the gameplay will be, could I make a behemoth C a la Shaq to play with the young guys? It's certainly going to be interesting to me if it does work, if not I guess I'll have to go with an athletic C-type player - Randle - Ingram - Clarkson & Russell lineup.

Looking forward to it in fact!

You guys' ideas sound fun too, I wouldn't do the whole fantasy draft though, I tried it once but had no idea who was playing where and it messed me up.

[Andrew]

Seems like we've got a few different approaches so far, which is great. Is anyone planning on redoing the 2016 offseason, now that that's an option? I'm tempted to do that at least once.

[ThePointForward]

Totally forgot about that one. Then I'll definitely try to convince someone to take their talent to the South Beach.

[Andrew]

Durant, perhaps? He's established that leaving OKC isn't an unrealistic scenario.

[ThePointForward]

Yup, he was courted by the Heat after all. I'll probably try to revamp guards a bit too, bring back Rio as backup PG and perhaps Ray Allen as backup SG for one more year.

The current guard could surely use a good veteran like Allen to mentor them.

[Nick]

First thing i'm gonna do is do a test game and sim a bunch of seasons ahead to make sure i like what i see. No dumb bugs? A.I. good enough? Good enough suspension of disbelief? Alright let's party.

There's a few things i wanna do, but i haven't decided which one i will do first.

-Create my own expansion team, jerseys n all, and try and bring that team to championship glory. The idea of picking from a pool of players that teams couldn't protect sounds like a really fun challenge. I was originally cynical towards the expansion feature (because i want the developmental time spent elsewhere), but it'll definitely be fun to at least try out. Looking forward to stealing Malcolm Brogdon from the Bucks and starting at SG! Stuff like that.

-Play as the post-Duncan era Spurs and try to keep them within the elite. (will prob do this one with MyGM)

-Create a bunch of players (or edit a bunch of shitty/obscure free agents to be much better) throw them all into a big fantasy draft with say, four, additional teams. And watch what happens with the new sandbox! Play god for a little bit! (note: will only do this one if i really like the overall AI / logic of MyLEAGUE mode)

[Nick]

Seems like we've got a few different approaches so far, which is great. Is anyone planning on redoing the 2016 offseason, now that that's an option? I'm tempted to do that at least once.

Nah.

The only case i would do this is for a fantasy draft league. In every other case, I want the rookies to play for their real teams.

[ThePointForward]

First thing i'm gonna do is do a test game and sim a bunch of seasons ahead to make sure i like what i see. No dumb bugs? A.I. good enough? Good enough suspension of disbelief? Alright let's party.

Last year:

* simulates one season forward
Wade goes to Chicago, Rose to NY and Durant to Warriors
"2K AI is dumb, totally unrealistic"
* fast-forward a year
"Oh... Okay"

[Nick]

First thing i'm gonna do is do a test game and sim a bunch of seasons ahead to make sure i like what i see. No dumb bugs? A.I. good enough? Good enough suspension of disbelief? Alright let's party.

Last year:

* simulates one season forward
Wade goes to Chicago, Rose to NY and Durant to Warriors
"2K AI is dumb, totally unrealistic"
* fast-forward a year
"Oh... Okay"

Did that seriously happen to you? Spooky!

[ThePointForward]

No, it didn't, but I know many people said that they saw unrealistic off-season moves where big names moved around a lot... and then this off-season hit.

Though I was able to sign LeBron... So I've had Dragić, Wade, LeBron, Bosh and Whiteside.

[Andrew]

That's the thing about making franchise modes realistic. We do see unexpected trades and signings, so it's tough to say what is realistic and what isn't. I think one of the main issues in years gone by are trades that are highly unlikely given the context, or recent events. I've had games (admittedly a long time ago) where CPU teams have traded players that were just signed to big contracts the previous season, or while in the midst of having a great season. It's not inconceivable, of course, but I think that's the kind of stuff most of us want to see much less of, and I feel there has been improvement in that regard over the years.

Seems like we've got a few different approaches so far, which is great. Is anyone planning on redoing the 2016 offseason, now that that's an option? I'm tempted to do that at least once.

Nah.

The only case i would do this is for a fantasy draft league. In every other case, I want the rookies to play for their real teams.

I'd prefer that too in my main game, but I'm interested in the potential "what if" scenario it could create.

[Dee4Three]

First thing i'm gonna do is do a test game and sim a bunch of seasons ahead to make sure i like what i see. No dumb bugs? A.I. good enough? Good enough suspension of disbelief? Alright let's party.

There's a few things i wanna do, but i haven't decided which one i will do first.

-Create my own expansion team, jerseys n all, and try and bring that team to championship glory. The idea of picking from a pool of players that teams couldn't protect sounds like a really fun challenge. I was originally cynical towards the expansion feature (because i want the developmental time spent elsewhere), but it'll definitely be fun to at least try out. Looking forward to stealing Malcolm Brogdon from the Bucks and starting at SG! Stuff like that.

-Play as the post-Duncan era Spurs and try to keep them within the elite. (will prob do this one with MyGM)

-Create a bunch of players (or edit a bunch of shitty/obscure free agents to be much better) throw them all into a big fantasy draft with say, four, additional teams. And watch what happens with the new sandbox! Play god for a little bit! (note: will only do this one if i really like the overall AI / logic of MyLEAGUE mode)

I'll be doing a sim of some seasons to start as well. NBA 2K16 stats were all screwed up for the first few months it was out. You had PF's and C's getting like 25 assists and 5 steals for an entire season, and forwards/guards getting like 2 or 3 blocks. The sim stats were all screwed up. I spent days tweaking the tendancies of the players in edit player to make it right. They even came out and admitted that it was a problem and that they were going to work on fixing it (Which It never really got fixed completely.

So yeah, Sim of seasons to check for accuracy, and playing a bunch of games to see if or how many of the glitches are still present.

[Sportsdude360]

I always make 2 Leagues. One is exclusively for throwback teams.

[kashy_bambino]

why does everyone choose myleague over gm? nobody like being the gm? lol i love the behind the scenes action of a general manager.

[Andrew]

You're still the GM in MyLEAGUE, you just don't have an avatar for it. I think most of us who prefer it do so for the customisation options that aren't available in MyGM. MyGM is more of an RPG experience - the GM version of MyCAREER, in a sense - whereas MyLEAGUE is more of a sandbox experience, and closer to a traditional franchise mode, only much, much deeper. For many of us who go a long way back in our love of franchise modes, it's more along the lines of what we've always wanted. Also, no VC paywalls.

[ThePointForward]

Yeah MyLEAGUE is pure profit and you don't have to deal with player promises, press, etc... But main thing for me is absolute customization.

[Nick]

why does everyone choose myleague over gm? nobody like being the gm? lol i love the behind the scenes action of a general manager.

I prefer to play the role of "The Basketball Gods" rather than "The GM", so i like to be able to edit everything to do with the NBA landscape as the years go on. And even more reason to do so when you have to manually compensate for the silly little warts that the mode had last year