(63-19) First Round Wraps Up [4-0]

And we are back on track.

hova-, thanks man. It's a shame how the CPU is inept in late game situations. When you have a close game, and it's the CPU's turn to make a big play, you get disappointed because you were expecting something hard to defend but they fire up a pathetic desperation shot. But oh well, I got the win and that's what matters.

Stress Fracture, yes sir!

You all know I never liked Yao, but it's great to see him here

Part II

[32-10] Houston Rockets 90-88 Boston Celtics [24-17]


Dragic with a breakaway dunk. | KG pops a long distance turnaround jumper.

In what was a defensive stalemate, the Houston Rockets barely managed to scrape the win. Other than a brief lead the Celtics had in the rising minutes of the first quarter, the Rockets led the whole game. They had a five point lead after one.

The game remained close afterwards, with the Rockets occasionally pushing their lead out to 10, but the Celtics would come running back. Ray Allen's play kept them in it as he notched 16 points for the game. Kevin Garnett also had a big game for the C's as he had 19 points accompanied by 13 boards. For Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo, it was a struggle. Pierce was held to poor shooting through three quarters by Shane Battier, but he got his act together in the fourth quarter. Rondo, the league leader in assists, was held to only three tonight and coughed up the ball eight times.

"He's their offensive anchor. If he becomes a non-factor, there is not much his teammates can do," were Rockets coach Rick Adelman's words.

Kevin Martin nearly notched a double-double with 21 points and nine boards, with four assists to go with that. He did not shoot the ball well, but Yao Ming provided some cushion as he scored 15 points on 7/11 shooting. Luis Scola had 13 points and eight boards to round out their performances nicely.

Despite Pierce's efforts (he had 12 points in the fourth quarter), the Rockets acquired a double-digit lead with about four minutes to go in the game. The Celtics did not lay down and submit, for they raced back with a 12-4 run in the next two minutes. With the score 90-88, Boston had the chance to tie or win the game, but a forced jumper from Rondo was off as Houston held on to win it.

Notes: Houston limited the Celtics to only 10 assists for the night. Disrupting their offensive flow, the Celtics shot 42% from the field. The Rockets weren't better off either, as they shot just 40% from the field but still managed 24 assists.

Key Performers:
Rockets:
Kevin Martin - 21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 7/18 FG, 2/5 3P, 5/6 FT
Yao Ming - 15 points, 5 rebounds, 7/11 FG
Luis Scola - 13 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, 4/9 FG, 5/5 FT
Courtney Lee - 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 4/11 FG
Shane Battier - 7 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3/7 FG
Kyle Lowry - 7 points, 8 assists, 1 rebound, 1 block, 2/7 FG, 3/4 FT

Celtics:
Paul Pierce - 28 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 12/26 FG, 2/4 3P
Kevin Garnett - 19 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 8/21 FG, 3/4 FT
Ray Allen - 16 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 6/12 FG, 2/3 3P
Rajon Rondo - 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 5/12 FG, 8 TO

23 21 23 23 90
18 21 23 26 88

[33-10] Houston Rockets 102-106 San Antonio Spurs [21-21]


Yao Ming with a ferocious dunk! | Patrick Patterson gave the Rockets a nice spark off the bench.

Ginobili's excellent second half was key to a Spurs victory. | Duncan's first half was just as excellent and key.

If you give up multiple wide open three pointers to a single player, it can completely shift the momentum of a game. That is the lesson learned here by the Rockets, as they allowed Manu Ginobili to fire up 5/8 from the third dimension. Ginobili finished with 28 points, seven boards, and five assists to become the player of the game.

San Antonio led almost the entire first quarter. Tim Duncan was having a great game early on as he went 5/6 from the field and 12 points for the quarter. For the Rockets, Kevin Martin had 11 points.

In the third quarter, things went topsy-turvy for the Rockets. Ginobili scored 14 of his 28 in this quarter, as the Spurs regained the lead midway through the quarter and kept it for the rest of the game.

In the fourth quarter, Ginobili knocked down what seemed to be the dagger three-pointer to give the Spurs a seemingly insurmountable 12-point lead. However, behind Martin's scoring (finished with a game high 32), Houston countered that with an 8-0 run. It wouldn't get any closer than the Rockets snapping at the Spurs' heels as they could not convert on an opportunity to tie the game at 102. San Antonio held on to put themselves above .500, while Houston's seven-game win streak came to a halt.

Notes: San Antonio outdid Houston on offense shooting 48% compared to the Rockets' 45%. Houston had a slight edge in assists at 26-24, but San Antonio commanded the boards 49-43 in this one.

Key Performers:
Rockets:
Kevin Martin - 32 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 12/26 FG, 2/7 3P, 6/6 FT
Yao Ming - 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 8/11 FG
Luis Scola - 12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 5/11 FG
Patrick Patterson - 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 4/7 FG, 3/3 FT
Courtney Lee - 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 4/7 FG

Spurs:
Manu Ginobili - 28 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 11/17 FG, 5/8 3P
Tim Duncan - 27 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, 11/19 FG, 5/5 FT
Tony Parker - 16 points, 9 assists, 1 rebound, 4 steals, 6/15 FG, 4/4 FT
George Hill - 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 6/15 FG, 1/2 3P
Richard Jefferson - 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 5/11 FG

27 31 17 27 102
27 27 27 25 106

Last edited by Axel The Great on Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! This update a gift for you all!

Right now, NBA 2K13 is what is stopping me from updating this quicker. I will look to shelf it for now and then maybe sim a few games here to get through this quicker. I've been wanting to also catch up on other people's stories, but I've been busier than I thought I'd be this holiday.

Merry christmas, Axel. 2k13 is really good, the best 2k since 2k8 imho (from the improvements made). Good to see this one going though. Tough loss against the Spurs. Looks like a bit of luck would have won it for you.

NLSC Tournament Round Four

(1-2) Prazar Petrovic vs. Karl Cristobal (1-2)
Score: 21-18
Length: 17 minutes



Stats:
Prazar Petrovic - 16 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals, 15/25 FG, 1/4 3P
Ray Allen - 5 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 5/13 FG
Kevin Love - 15 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 15/20 FG
Karl Cristobal - 3 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 3/15 FG

(3-0) Ray Cer vs. Martti Must (2-1)
Score: 10-21
Length: 13 minutes



Stats:
Kevin Martin - 11 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 11/19 FG
Martti Must - 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 10/13 FG
Danny Granger - 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 8/16 FG
Ray Cer - 2 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2/6 FG

(0-3) Badger Johnson vs. Kene Yougario (3-0)
Score: 10-21
Length: 13 minutes



Stats:
Kene Yougario - 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks, 16/22 FG
Chauncey Billups - 5 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 5/13 FG
Badger Johnson - 6 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, 6/14 FG
John Wall - 4 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 4/10 FG

(0-3) Shado Green vs. Amadeus Pelayo (2-1)
Score: 21-3
Length: 9 minutes



Stats:
Shado Green - 12 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 12/17 FG
Joel Anthony - 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 9/12 FG
Amadeus Pelayo - 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2/3 FG
Luis Scola - 1 point, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1/6 FG

Tournament Standings

Player	Record
Kene Yougario	4-0
Ray Cer	3-1
Martti Must	3-1
Amadeus Pelayo	2-2
Prazar Petrovic	2-2
Karl Cristobal	1-3
Shado Green	1-3
Badger Johnson	0-4

What a way to get Shado's first win. Damn.

Hey, Happy Holidays to you, Axel.!

[33-11] Houston Rockets 121-98 Miami Heat [34-10]


After a minor slump, Kevin Martin is back to his scoring ways. | LeBron with a flashy dunk.

The last time these two teams faced off, it was in Miami. A game that came down to a game-winner from Chris Bosh, many expected this game to be a good one. The two best teams from either conference, it was a highly anticipated matchup.

The Houston Rockets had other plans for this game, however. After a relatively close first quarter bout, the Rockets pushed for an 11-0 run early in the second to push their lead to 14. Kevin Martin scored 15 first half points, and additionally converted on his first eight field goal attempts in this game. A late run from Miami to end the second quarter trimmed Houston's lead to just six.

Houston came out in the second half strong as they built an extensive 23-6 run. Their lead grew as big as 22. The Heat still had no answer for Martin, who finished with a game high 36 points. LeBron James top scored for Miami with 24.

In the fourth, the Heat were determined to trim this lead down. They managed to slim it down to 12, but ultimately even Houston's bench proved too powerful for the Heat on this night. Both teams are now tied for best record in the NBA.

"They were the better team tonight. The whistle wasn't blowing our way either, but that's the discretion of the officials to decide which way the whistle blows. We just gotta move on and learn from a game like this," Dwyane Wade said.

"We definitely didn't expect this. It definitely helped the team form a tighter bond knowing that this is the kind of offense we can build against an excellent defensive team like Miami," Yao Ming said.

Notes: The Rockets sabotaged Miami on the boards 51-30. Miami's lack of size was a factor in this one as Houston had 11 offensive rebounds, while they had only two themselves. Houston shot a blistering 54%, while Miami wasn't far behind with 50%.

Key Performers:
Rockets:
Kevin Martin - 36 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 13/18 FG, 2/2 3P, 8/8 FT
Luis Scola - 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 8/13 FG, 4/4 FT
Goran Dragic - 16 points, 4 assists, 1 steal, 5/9 FG, 3/4 3P, 3/3 FT
Yao Ming - 10 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 5/7 FG
Courtney Lee - 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 4/9 FG
Patrick Patterson - 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3/5 FG

Heat:
LeBron James - 24 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 11/26 FG, 1/7 3P
Chris Bosh - 20 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 9/14 FG
Dwyane Wade - 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 7/13 FG, 3/4 FT
Zydrunas Ilgauskas - 12 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 6/9 FG
Mario Chalmers - 10 points, 9 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 4/9 FG

29 26 32 34 121
24 25 23 26 98

[34-11] Houston Rockets 110-94 Minnesota Timberwolves [16-27]


Patrick Patterson continuing to show signs of promise. | Kevin Love's monster game helped the Wolves snap at the Rockets' heels.

Unlike last game, a blowout was most expected in this one. Minnesota provided resistance in the first quarter, but in the second, Houston stretched their lead to 19. However, Minnesota responded with an 11-2 run, managing to trim their deficit back to eight by halftime.

Things went as bad as they could go in the third quarter for the Wolves. The hole they found themselves went as deep as 25 points, as Houston was having their way. The Rockets feasted on Minnesota's turnovers as they came up with 11 steals for the game. They held Minnesota to only 13 points in the third quarter.

"Our offense was unorganized; it was a group of five players playing individually versus a group of five players playing as one. We had to change that in the fourth quarter," were Kevin Love's words. He had 20 points and 15 boards for the Wolves, as he sparked an excellent run in the fourth quarter.

The score being 81-60 after three, Rockets head coach Rick Adelman planned to rest his starters the whole fourth quarter. However, one mistake by Houston's bench players and the Wolves rushed to a 12-0 run, trimming the lead to 12.

"I was really enjoying the rest. I looked up at the scoreboard to see how the other guys were doing and they were closing in on us. Our rest was spoiled and we were called back in to finish the job," said Kevin Martin, referring to Houston's starters. Eventually, the Rockets did get the job done, as they closed out Minnesota behind Martin's 12 fourth quarter points. He finished with a game high 38.

Notes: Both teams shot 45% from the field, but Minnesota's 12 turnovers compared to just three from Houston was the key difference.

Key Performers:
Rockets:
Kevin Martin - 38 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 12/24 FG, 2/2 3P, 12/12 FT
Yao Ming - 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 8/11 FG
Patrick Patterson - 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4/10 FG
Luis Scola - 10 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3/6 FG, 4/4 FT

Timberwolves:
Kevin Love - 20 points, 15 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 9/17 FG
Jonas Valanciunas - 19 points, 16 rebounds, 7/12 FG
Corey Brewer - 17 points, 5 assists, 7/13 FG, 2/3 FT
Wesley Johnson - 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 5/12 FG, 4/6 FT

32 23 26 29 110
24 23 13 34 94

Merry christmas, Axel. 2k13 is really good, the best 2k since 2k8 imho (from the improvements made). Good to see this one going though. Tough loss against the Spurs. Looks like a bit of luck would have won it for you.

I really like 2K13, especially the dribble moves, but I was starting to get used to 2K11's Isomotion. It's definitely tempting to start an association in that game.

What a way to get Shado's first win. Damn.

Hey, Happy Holidays to you, Axel.!

For some reason Shado was possessed by Chris Paul that game. He was playing like a point guard!

I will change the difficulty I play on in 2K11. Currently play on All-Star with the sliders in CPU's favor, and even that isn't a challenge anymore (judging from the last two games). I will move up to Superstar and play around with the sliders using Sim as a base. Next update will probably take a while.

K-Mart delivering against the Heat and on the blacktop with me, nice work.

Beating the Heat like that does just prove what you already stated - put up the difficulty. Still great wins

Part II

[35-11] Houston Rockets 111-96 Sacramento Kings [25-19]
Simmed

Key Performers:
Rockets:
Kevin Martin - 26 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 10/15 FG, 3/6 3P, 3/3 FT
Courtney Lee - 18 points, 1 rebound, 7/11 FG, 2/2 3P
Yao Ming - 16 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks, 6/8 FG, 4/4 FT
Shane Battier - 15 points, 6 rebounds, 6/11 FG, 2/7 3P
Kyle Lowry - 9 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 1 block, 2/7 FG, 4/5 FT

Kings:
Jeff Green - 17 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block, 5/7 FG, 7/9 FT
Omri Casspi - 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 5/11 FG, 5/6 FT
Kyrie Irving - 14 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 5/12 FG, 4/4 FT
Marcus Thornton - 12 points, 1 steal, 4/8 FG, 2/4 3P, 2/3 FT
Beno Udrih - 12 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 block, 4/5 FG, 3/4 FT
Tyreke Evans - 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4/12 FG

29 21 34 27 111
26 24 20 26 96

[36-11] Houston Rockets 99-92 Dallas Mavericks [27-17]


Behind Thabo Sefolosha's 15-point fourth quarter, the Rockets mounted a comeback. | It wouldn't have been possible without Kyle Lowry's 17 assists.

Jason Terry had an excellent first half. | Caron Butler had an excellent second half, but Dallas could not get the win.

There was a diamond in the rough for the Rockets tonight. That diamond was Thabo Sefolosha. The Swiss swingman had the hot hand in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his season high 19 points, overshadowing Caron Butler's 11 fourth quarter points. Sefolosha shot an amazing 7/10 from the field.

"He was just on fire," Rockets head coach Rick Adelman said. "He played the entire fourth quarter. I had plans to put Shane [Battier] back in the game, but I ultimately opted not to since this was his night. He's definitely earned himself a few extra minutes the next few games"

"This wouldn't have been possible without Kyle [Lowry]. He was just giving us all the ball right where we wanted it. That kind of unselfish play got us the win tonight," Sefolosha himself had to say.

Dallas was in control almost the whole game, only allowing the Rockets to build their lead to as little as three while they held a nine point lead at one point. Dirk Nowitzki was consistent for them as he had a team high 21 points (9/15 shooting) and completed a double-double with 11 boards.

It appeared as though Dallas would pull away midway through the fourth, as they were up 90-84 with about four minutes left to play in the game. This was when Sefolosha came to play. He scored a three-pointer, then a dunk, then another three, to spark an extensive 15-0 run for Houston to make the score 99-90, turning the tables on the Mavericks.

"That was completely unexpected. I had told the guys to make sure they lockdown Kevin Martin. They did a good job of that, but the major damage came from someone else," Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle said. "However, we needed to make our shots down the stretch, but ill-advised shot selection hampered our chance to win this one."

True to that, Rodrigue Beaubois (4/16 shooting) shot Dallas out of the game. During the run, he chucked up two ill-advised threes and a difficult layup in three straight possessions, opening a window for Houston to get through and take a 99-92 win.

Notes: Houston shot 44% from the field, Dallas shot 41%. Dallas built an early lead by forcing turnovers, racking up 10 steals for the game. Houston's bench provided 35 points to keep them in the game and ultimately take the win.

Key Performers:
Rockets:
Kevin Martin - 26 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 10/22 FG, 3/6 3P, 3/3 FT
Thabo Sefolosha - 19 points, 1 assist, 3 blocks, 7/10 FG, 2/2 3P, 3/3 FT
Yao Ming - 13 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 5/10 FG
Kyle Lowry - 9 points, 17 assists, 4/12 FG
Shane Battier - 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 4/8 FG
Luis Scola - 8 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 3/5 FG

Mavericks:
Dirk Nowitzki - 21 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 9/15 FG, 3/4 FT
Caron Butler - 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 9/18 FG
Jason Terry - 17 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 7/19 FG, 3/10 3P
Rodrigue Beaubois - 10 points, 10 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 4/16 FG, 2/6 3P

26 23 23 27 99
29 19 29 15 92

K-Mart delivering against the Heat and on the blacktop with me, nice work.

Yeah he shoots extremely well no matter where he plays.

Beating the Heat like that does just prove what you already stated - put up the difficulty. Still great wins

Or, that my team is just too good. I ramped up the difficulty in the Dallas game that's just up. Moving up to Superstar was definitely the upgrade I needed to be challenged.

Happy new year everyone!

Great to see you getting some unexpected lift. Like in all 2k versions (dunno bout 2k13 though, haven't played against him), Dirk is not taking enough shots or difficult enough to guard. You could somehow say he is underrated in the game although his rating is okay. It's just that he does not really cause trouble guarding like IRL.

Great wins, you're going strong.

Odd to see the Rockets like they are in this story.

You're still going well.

Go Yao!

Great to see you getting some unexpected lift. Like in all 2k versions (dunno bout 2k13 though, haven't played against him), Dirk is not taking enough shots or difficult enough to guard. You could somehow say he is underrated in the game although his rating is okay. It's just that he does not really cause trouble guarding like IRL.

Great wins, you're going strong.

Well, Dirk's jumper is unguardable, period. I was getting a hand in his face every jumper but he kept knocking them down. It's just the fact that he's not aggressive that makes him underrated in the game. He doesn't attack the basket, and doesn't attempt very many shots either. I may have to edit his tendencies just to make it more of a challenge guarding him next time I face him.

Odd to see the Rockets like they are in this story.

You're still going well.

Yeah I know. The fact that only Patrick Patterson is the only player here that's in the RL Rockets is odd. I don't mind it too much though, I'm more fond of this team than the RL one, it's better imo.

Go Yao!

He's still awesome.

January recap next. It turns out I may actually have time to continue the Rocket Chapters, so stay tuned for one in the next few days!

January Recap

The Rockets started off the year 2012 on a high note, going 14-4 in the month of January. They sit at 38-11, good for the best record in the Western Conference, with a relatively comfortable lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Again, it was Kevin Martin who carried the load offensively for Houston. Martin is currently averaging 30.2 points per game, which is good for second in the league behind Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant. Luis Scola had some good scoring outbursts this month, and he is continuing to rebound the ball at a consistent rate. Kyle Lowry and Yao Ming have also consistently chipped in their fair share as well. One key, is the Rockets bench. You can always rely on at least one player coming up big every game, and to add to that, Houston's second unit plays as a team.

Things continue to click for the Rockets, as they have good home and road records, 21-2 and 17-9 respectively. If they keep up their stellar play, an even better month of February is in store for them.

January's Hot Headlines

Disturbance in San Antonio's Chemistry
Sources say both George Hill and DeJuan Blair of the San Antonio Spurs are not satisfied in San Antonio. Both have stated their desire to be traded and play elsewhere. Their dissatisfaction is believed to be one reason for the Spurs' sub-par 24-25 record.

"The lack of a bigger role despite playing higher than others' standards is what's bothering me right now," Blair stated in a press conference after a win against the Houston Rockets. "There comes a point when you want to move to the starting lineup."

Center Nikola Vucevic is currently starting over Blair.

"I'm really not sure what he wants. I give him his minutes, and I even let him close out games with our superstars," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said in the team's defense.

Read more...

Debate: Rockets or Heat?
Due to their comfortable leads over the second seeds of their respective conferences, there is debate all around the nation of which team is superior, the Houston Rockets or the Miami Heat. In addition, many believe this will be the NBA Finals matchup this year.

"The Rockets have more depth and size, while the Heat have more star power and defense. I'd say the Rockets would win this matchup. They have too many scoring options for the Heat to contain. They also play excellent team defense, which is what brought Miami down in last year's NBA Finals," TNT's Chris Webber said when asked his opinion.

"You can't go wrong with either team, but Miami's got two of the best players in the game. LeBron and Wade can do everything for the team, and everyone else just has to play their part," ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said.

Read more...

Kevin Martin, the MVP?
NBA fans, especially those in Houston, are arguing Kevin Martin's case for MVP. The 28-year old two-guard is averaging 30.2 points per game, and has upped his rebounding and assists rate with 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

He might make a strong case, but Martin has stiff competition from LeBron James and Kevin Durant, both of whom are putting up better numbers and are arguably just as valuable to their respective teams as Martin is to the Houston Rockets.

Read more...

Lakers Have Found Their Point Guard of the Future
Los Angeles's Xavier Nelson, whom went 22nd overall to the Lakers in the 2011 draft, has proven to be an excellent find. Nelson is currently the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year, averaging 15.1 points and 6.9 assists. This past month makes it the third consecutive time he wins Rookie of the Month honors.

"He's an excellent kid. He knows how to play and knows his role. There is certainly room for improvement, but these honors he's getting are definitely well-deserved," Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said.

Read more...

Trade Deadline Approaching
With the trade deadline only two weeks away, many teams have started to pursue deals to benefit them to finish the season. San Antonio is a top candidate to pull a deal thus far. Their sub-par season has raised questions about their ability to contend. Rumor has it that they may look to move George Hill and possibly Richard Jefferson. Something has to change in San Antonio; their reputation of being known as a winning team is on the line as the end of the season draws near.

Like last year, it is possible we may see a rush of trades before the deadline. There are plenty of other teams that have the pieces to pull a blockbuster deal.

Read more...

Players of the Month

Player	Conference	Statistics
Derrick Rose (CHI)	East Player	29.4 ppg, 8.5 apg, 2.0 rpg, 1.4 spg, 52.7% FG, 41%3P, 76.8% FT
Kobe Bryant (LAL)	West Player	27.6 ppg, 4.3 apg, 4.2 rpg, 2.5 spg, 52.9% FG, 59.9% 3P, 84.9% FT
Bismack Biyombo (CHA)	East Rookie	8.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.0 spg, 1.5 bpg, 47.8% FG, 58.6% FT
Xavier Nelson (LAL)	West Rookie	15.1 ppg, 6.9 apg, 2.4 rpg, 1.8 spg, 36% FG, 81.4% FT

Players of the Week

Week	East Player	West Player
January 1-7	Derrick Rose (CHI)	Kobe Bryant (LAL)
January 8-14	Dwyane Wade (MIA)	Kobe Bryant (LAL)
January 15-21	LeBron James (MIA)	Chris Paul (NOH)
January 22-28	Derrick Rose (CHI)	Kobe Bryant (LAL)

NLSCer Stats

Xavier Nelson (LAL)
47 GP | 47 GS | 32.3 MPG *Rest of stats listed above*

Justine Jones (CHA)
47 GP | 47 GS | 13.6 PPG | 6.8 RPG | 3.4 APG | 39.7% FG | 30.3% 3P | 72.4% FT | 28.3 MPG

Thierry Tirieux (MEM)
47 GP | 0 GS | 12.8 PPG | 4.7 APG | 2.7 RPG | 43.4% FG | 31.3% 3P | 69% FT | 24.5 MPG

Zee Otoo (WAS)
31 GP | 0 GS | 4.2 PPG | 1.9 RPG | 35% FG | 47.5% 3P | 74.3% FT | 9.5 MPG

George Koukoulis (MIL)
48 GP | 0 GS | 5.2 PPG | 2.2 RPG | 1.3 APG | 40.6% FG | 31.3% 3P | 72.5% FT | 9.8 MPG

Liam Washburn (POR)
28 GP | 0 GS | 3.2 PPG | 44.1% FG | 33.3% 3P | 88.6% FT | 5.2 MPG

Willie Lewis (UTA)
32 GP | 0 GS | 2.3 PPG | 1.5 RPG | 40.3% FG | 60% FT | 5.3 MPG

Valdis Iesalnieks (SAS)
14 GP | 14 GS | 13.4 PPG | 11.1 RPG | 1.1 BPG | 45.2% FG | 60% FT | 31.5 MPG

Players in blue are in the D-League, thus their D-League stats are shown.







Team Stats

Crazy that you still have this going, well done! Although if you are really enjoying 2K13 then perhaps it is time for a new story?

Crazy that you still have this going, well done! Although if you are really enjoying 2K13 then perhaps it is time for a new story?

I went on an eight month or so hiatus, so that's why it's still going. I like 2K13, but I am not sure I wanna hang this one up yet; I've grown too attached to these Rockets.

Last edited by Axel The Great on Thu Jan 10, 2013 6:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

[37-11] Houston Rockets 110-106 Memphis Grizzlies [18-28]
Simmed

Key Performers:
Rockets:
Kevin Martin - 26 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 9/13 FG, 1/3 3P, 7/7 FT
Kyle Lowry - 22 points, 7 assists, 1 rebound, 9/16 FG, 4/4 FT
Yao Ming - 16 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 7/11 FG
Thabo Sefolosha - 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 3/7 FG

Grizzlies:
Rudy Gay - 17 points, 17 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 5/13 FG, 6/7 FT
Michael Conley - 17 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, 8/14 FG
OJ Mayo - 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 5/14 FG, 3/5 FT
Thierry Tirieux - 11 points, 7 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 3/10 FG, 5/7 FT
Marc Gasol - 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 3/3 FG, 5/5 FT

24 32 28 26 110
25 19 33 29 106

[38-11] Houston Rockets 102-103 Los Angeles Clippers [22-26]


Kyle Lowry had it going from outside. | Kevin Martin comes up with a huge dunk over Blake Griffin.

Griffin got the last laugh as he led his team to a win. | Eric Gordon scored 35 points... on 40 shot attempts.

It had been a while since the Rockets were kept at bay like this. The Rockets never caught a glimpse of the lead. Thanks to Blake Griffin's consistent game, the Clippers were able to sneak by with a win. Griffin had 27 points and pulled down 16 rebounds.

Los Angeles built an early lead in the first, and it seemed as if they would not relinquish it. Eric Gordon had 25 first half points, but he was held to just 10 in the second half.

Occasionally, it would seem as if the Clippers were about to push their lead to double-digits, but Houston would counter with a run. When a layup from Griffin made the score 90-79 in the fourth quarter, things began to look grim for the Rockets. Behind Kevin Martin (team high 32 points), the Rockets built a 16-5 run to even the score at 95. From then on, both teams traded buckets, eventually getting to 99 even.

Two consecutive field goals from Griffin sealed the deal; with the score at 103-99 and only eight seconds left, the Rockets only managed to score a three-pointer to pull within one. Since they were not over the foul limit, they did not have time to intentionally foul twice as time ran out on them.

Notes: Houston shot the ball better at 48%, while the Clippers shot it at 45%. Houston also went 10/19 from beyond the arc, and the Clippers went an abysmal 3/16. The Clippers forced 13 Rocket turnovers, and had 12 offensive boards, their two biggest keys to keeping the Rockets at bay.

Key Performers:
Rockets:
Kevin Martin - 32 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 3 blocks, 9/18 FG, 4/6 3P, 10/11 FT
Kyle Lowry - 18 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 7/12 FG, 4/6 3P
Yao Ming - 14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 6/7 FG, 2/2 FT
Courtney Lee - 10 points, 2 rebounds, 3/6 FG, 1/3 3P, 3/3 FT
Thabo Sefolosha - 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3/10 FG, 1/3 3P

Clippers:
Eric Gordon - 35 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 15/40 FG, 3/11 3P, 2/3 FT
Blake Griffin - 27 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 13/18 FG
Chauncey Billups - 12 points, 11 assists, 1 rebound, 5/13 FG, 2/2 FT
Al-Farouq Aminu - 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 5/8 FG
DeAndre Jordan - 9 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks, 4/9 FG

26 25 26 25 102
33 22 29 19 103

[38-12] Houston Rockets 104-108 Portland Trail Blazers [25-24]


Gerald Wallace becomes Kevin Martin's poster victim. | Yao Ming made great plays down the stretch

Brandon Roy fought hard to lead his team to victory. | LaMarcus Aldridge knocks down the three-point dagger.

In the past few years, the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers have locked themselves into close battles, and this game was no different. Throughout the game, the lead was shared just about evenly. Portland's biggest lead was five, and Houston's biggest lead was four. Kevin Martin's early struggle was key for Portland's chances in this one. Through three quarters, Martin had scored just 11 points on 4/17 shooting. Martin went on to score 12 in the fourth quarter, converting on all four of his field goal attempts. He finished with 23 points on 8/21 shooting.

"You gotta give them credit. They knew my every move, and it was frustrating just trying to dribble the ball," Martin acknowledged Portland's defense, which ranks among one of the top five in the league.

Keeping the Rockets in it was Kyle Lowry and Courtney Lee. They scored 18 and 15 respectively, with Lowry draining four triples, three in the first half.

Portland was kept in it by LaMarcus Aldridge, who had a game high 37 points, with eight boards to accompany his huge point total. Brandon Roy helped round out his scoring with 28 of his own, on 9/21 shooting.

In the fourth quarter, Houston was able to take back the lead with a 14-6 run sparked by Lee. However, they coughed up the ball five times in the fourth, allowing Portland to stay at their level. The score tied at 101 with 55 seconds left, Roy knocked down two clutch free throws to make it 103-101. Yao Ming (12 points, eight boards, and three rejections), was double-teamed on the high post next possession, and he dished it to an open Luis Scola (10 points, five boards), who knocked it down from the baseline to tie the game once again.

In Portland's next possession, Houston played great defense not allowing them an easy shot. It led to Aldridge trapping himself behind the arc, and with two seconds on the shot clock, he had to take a three... and he sunk it. That put Portland up 106-101, and after Martin sunk a three at the other end, time wasn't on Houston's side anymore as they fell 108-104 at the Rose Garden. Their four-game road trip has come to a conclusion, as they went 2-2 with wins over Dallas and Memphis, but two consecutive losses against the Clippers and Portland.

Notes: Portland shot a blistering 53% while Houston shot 48%. Both teams were even in free throw shooting; Houston went 24/27, Portland went 25/28.

Key Performers:
Rockets:
Kevin Martin - 23 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 8/21 FG, 6/6 FT
Kyle Lowry - 18 points, 5 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 6/13 FG, 4/5 3P
Courtney Lee - 15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 6/8 FG
Yao Ming - 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 3/6 FG, 6/7 FT
Luis Scola - 10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 4/8 FG

Trail Blazers:
LaMarcus Aldridge - 37 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block, 15/26 FG, 6/6 FT
Brandon Roy - 28 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 9/21 FG, 2/6 3P, 8/8 FT
Gerald Wallace - 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 4/8 FG, 6/6 FT
Andre Miller - 9 points, 10 assists, 2 rebounds, 4 steals, 3/6 FG
Greg Oden - 8 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 4/6 FG

20 29 20 35 104
23 22 30 33 108

WTF? Eric Gordon attempting 40 shots?

The new difficulty setting seems to pay off for your opponents. Still a great record - so no problem. 40 shots and 11 from downtown is insane. I hate that 2k always fucks up some of the two guards' tendencies. They shoot the ball way too often.