For the first time, I'm having a blast with 2k10 (I've had it for 2 months, partial credit to Lamrock).
Started a Charlotte association yesterday (with updated rosters + 11' draft class), was planning to only sim, not play at all, similar to Lamrock Detroit's (thus the credit). Here's the current lineup (did a bunch of unrealistic trades):
C - Marc Gasol (got him and Jeff Green for Gerald Wallace, IIRC they offered me this deal)
PF - Jamison (don't remember the exact deal, but it was something with Diaw)
SF - Jeff Green (read Gasol)
SG - OJ Mayo (got him from the Knicks for Ty Thomas, plain out ridiculous deal, somehow he is rated lower than him tho')
PG - Jason Kidd (got him for DJ Augustin + Nazr from Portland)
PF/C - Varejao (traded Stephen Jackson first for Ray Allen (they offered), then traded Ray for Varejao and Hickson as I didn't need him anymore with Mayo)
C - Damp
PG - Livingston
SG - Delonte West
PF - JJ Hickson (4 former Cavs players, lol)
SF - Stackhouse (signed at the end of the season)
PF/SF - Radmanovic
SF - DeMarre Carroll (got him in the Gasol deal) (and 3 former Grizzly)
Was doing surprisingly well for November-December, had a winning record, but don't remember the exact one. Then all the trades came along, got some losing streaks, went below .500. Played first game against Miami sometime in January, wanted to see how the Big 3 play in the game (here's the explanation to the blast part, when I first got 2k9 for Xbox, it was basically the first game I played with it, didn't have any previous experience playing with controller etc (I'm not really a hardcore player, as for basketball games, even more of a simmer), didn't have any problems with playing Pro from the start, tryed to level up even more, then it wasn't unbeatable either, now fast-forward year, got the 2k10, tryed to play it on Pro, but don't know the reason, but I didn't know how to play at all, I flat out sucked. Didn't have this problem with the demo nor 2k9 as mentioned, got frustrated a lot with it, then just decided to save my nerves and not play it, rather played 2k9, now for the first time tryed Rookie difficulty, despite not it being that competitive, got tons of more enjoyment out of it and so far loving to play this dynasty).
Won the game against the Heat by point or two, LeBron pretty much sucked, had way too many turnovers, made bad decisions and also missed the buzzer, Wade on the other hand played great. Bosh didn't have a chance to do anything as he didn't get the ball. Then played another game in January, against Boston, lost that by couple of points, had the chance to win it, but blew it in the end (Allen played for us, Jackson for them). 3rd game was again against EC team, Philly, won it by around 15-20 points, but it was a lot closer for most of the game, but managed to pull away in the 3rd (Jamison had been a beast for all 3 first games, also did well in the next one). Then March was a past and I was still dwindling slightly below the .500 mark, but still was a playoff team, then played an important game (which ended up deciding who was better of the two teams) against Chicago in April, we had the same record (36-38 I believe, I was coming from a 5 game winning streak), they had made some stupid moves, their backcourt was crowded with the addition of Kevin Martin and Eric Gordon, but their frontcourt was not that great anymore (they traded Deng and Noah away to get those 2), James Johnson and Kurt Thomas started for them. The game was close for the entire game, then they started using very bizarre lineup of CJ Watson - Rose - Eric Gordon - Kevin Martin - Boozer (4 guards, lol). Still ended up as close game, was down by 1 with me having the last possession, Jamison missed a jumper with couple of seconds left, Green fortunately recovered it, made a somekind of hook shot with him, made it, got in front with 1.0 second left. They didn't manage to get a shot before the buzzer, so my win.
Then, right before the end of regular season, decided to play against Hornets (with Ariza), for the first time, I thought that I didn't have a chance against them, managed to survive the 1st quarter, somehow I was up with a point. Then, LeBron's stepfather happened, he scored 11 points in a row (3 3's) and we were up by double digits. Managed to hold on to it, Delonte also scored couple more points and also got the POTG award (btw, I'm playing 5 min per Q). Simmed to the end of the season (1 more game), got the 6th seed. To my surprise, every team I expect to make it to the EC playoffs, made it. Mia (around 54 wins), Orl and Bos as the top seeds, NY came 5th (had better record than Chi, had around 45 wins), Chi 4th (thanks to division title, had the same amount of wins as I did, 40-42), then I came 6th, Mil 7th and Atl 8th. Not the same order as I expect to, but still. Philly just barely missed the playoffs, had the same amount of wins as Atl (37), just about the same I expect them to do this year. There were no major surprises in WC as well, Lakers had the best record, Den and SA were next, then also Hou, OKC, Dal, Por and Uta made the playoffs (don't remember the order). Min had the worst record, then Ind, Cle and Tor (actually, they easily could end up this way). LeBron got the MVP, R.Lopez MIP, Howard DPOY, Richardson 6th (18 points and 8 rebounds, not bad), Phil COY.
Went against the Orlando in the first round (they did a trade with NJ before, which was terrible for both sides, Terrence Williams for Jameer Nelson, so Williams and Duhon shared the PG duties), simmed through the 3 first games, lost all of them, then wanted to just get one game back and decided to play it (It was the first home game that I've played with them). Kidd was terrific and pulled it through, rest of the group played well as well, except Jamison, somehow he manages to disappear in virtual life as well, he was awsome during regular season). Simmed the 5th game in the hoopcast, barely won it, Mayo scored something like 31 points or so and forced a Game 6. Then the Jeff Green show started, he was plane out awsome in Game 6, scored 19 points (5 min quarters, so that translates to about 40 points in a regular game) and did it with efficient manner, all that with about 9 shots. The game ended out as a blowout, it was decided rather quickly, scored tons of 3's against them. Then, final, Game 7, was a lot different compared to G6, had a lot of problems with them, but still managed to hold it together and not let them away with the lead. Then again, sometime in the 3rd, The Jeff Green Show happened, he did it all, made some key defensive plays, dunked over people and shot some clutch 3s. He ended up with IIRC 22 points. Had no problem finishing them and managed to overcome the 0-3 deficit and advanced to the 2nd round against the Bucks. Carter, to no surprise, choked for the most of the series, shot like 25% from the field during the last game. Dwight dominated for most of the series, but had some trouble in the last one (was 2-9).
As for my team, I have to re-sign both Green and Gasol this offseason, but most likely right after I re-sign Gasol, I'll try to ship him off to the Bucks for Bogut. Not that I have anything against him, I just like Bogut more. Depending on the matchup, one of the Green/Jamison/Varejao will be the 6th man for me next year. Right now don't see trading anyone else in the near future. Underrated move of the season was probably getting Kidd, love playing with him, probably will retire a Bobcat. Mayo was a rather disappointment to be fair, showed a lot of flashes, but failed to deliver on consistent basis (also shot rather poorly). Not sure yet if I'll re-sign West, I'll try to make things clear with Green/Gasol before, then see the cap situation if I have room for him. Livingston has been a pleasant surprise as well, he has done especially well handing out alley-oops. As for the draft, I have around 15-20 pick, probably will aim for a swingman, but also Motiejunas is an option (the draft class I'm using didn't have neither him nor Vesely, had to create them, Motiejunas is projected around my range, while Vesely will be a top 5 pick. IRL it could easily be the opposite.
Wow, this ended up as a long post.
(I almost accidentally deleted it all)
by shadowgrin on Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:58 am 
As I said I had the Spurs already chosen, but some teams are really nice for playing...
