Anyway...
I've recently started a Franchise with the Timberwolves, using the opening night rosters from the NLSC current roster update (which are untweaked). Since I like to play a full game, I play with 12 minute quarters, which naturally results in scores in excess of 130.
I have always endeavoured to slow the game down with my play (though sometimes I just play the game and forget about realism), and in previous years, I've had success. In my first two games of the Wolves Franchise, I got excited. I noted the statistics from the second game, vs the Orlando Magic.
Orlando's stats at the end of the first half were as follows:
52 points
21/43 FG (48.8%)
1/4 3pt (25%)
7/7 FT (100%)
8 rebounds
6 blocks
13 steals
14 assists
12 turnovers
All of which are pretty decent for NBA Live 2003 (I trailed 52-50 at the halftime). Though the blocks, turnovers, steals and assists are somewhat high, they did not yield an unrealistic scoreline at the half. Ignoring the "sticky hands" steals and the blocks out of bounds/to half court/by Darrell Armstrong, and allowing for my own carelessness on a few plays, the offensive game had been more or less realistic. Granted, I took measures to slow the game down a little, but the fact remains the first half played a game that was fairly realistic. Then came the third quarter.
This is where Orlando raced ahead. It could be a bruised ego at work, but I contend that the Magic should not have played the way they did. My players, as fresh as theirs, failed to execute on offense, and refused to work on defense. I could not make a jumpshot, wide open or otherwise, I could not get to the basket; they had no trouble doing either.
Orlando's stats for the 3rd quarter:
49 points
21/28 FG (75%)
5/7 3pt (71%)
2/2 FT (100%)
6 rebounds
8 blocks
3 steals
12 assists
4 turnovers
A similar output in terms of scoring, rebounds, blocks and assists to the entire first half, shooting the ball above 70% inside and outside the arc.
Orlando's 4th quarter stats:
27 points
13/29 FG (44.8%)
1/10 3pt (10%)
0/0 FT
14 rebounds
3 blocks
3 steals
9 assists
9 turnovers
Which by comparison, is not too bad. The final result was a 128-114 Orlando victory.
The problem always seems to be the third quarter, especially on offense. CPU opponents seem to make an inexplicable during the third quarter that is certainly unrealistic and very difficult to prevent. If you tally the stats from the 1st, 2nd and 4th quarters for Orlando, the result is this:
79 points
34/72 FG (47.2%)
2/14 3pt (14.3%)
7/7 FT (100%)
22 rebounds
9 blocks
16 steals
21 assists
21 turnovers
Not totally unrealistic numbers for 36 minutes (especially in terms of scoring), when you factor in my own errors and momentary carelessness. I gave away free throws on some stupid fouls that resulted in at least 5 points, and pressed the wrong direct pass button resulting in a turnover a few times for some more easy points.
Though the whole game needs to be slower, it seems as though 36 minutes can produce realistic numbers. For some users, 9 (or even 8) minute quarters might be a good option. But there's still 12 minutes that need to be addressed - specifically, the 25th-36th minutes of the game.
