Disclaimer:tested only on 12 minute Laker games on the ROAD.
Features:
-Games are winnable as I was able to win by 4 on the road vs. the Magic (I used the LAkers) although Rashard Lewis separated shoulder kept him out of the game.
-EQUAL individual slider values for both User and CPU (this somehow clears the conscience,
) -Close games. User/CPU might go up 10-15 points but comebacks are very doable and that means exciting finishes.
-Fouls can now be used as a weapon. You have Lebron flying for the breakaway jam and you need to stop him, what do you do? Foul him and make him earn it from the line, that's how. Since the virtual players always go for the ball there is no 2 free throws and possession penalty. Again, attempt a steal and 80% of the time a foul will be called thus saving you the easy 2 points.
-Players AI from both sides would commit hard fouls against people driving in and this is a sight to behold as you see players being floored. No more easy baskets or less of them.
-Teams get into foul penalty and players do get into foul trouble, this means-realism. When the CPU gets into penalty early, I use Kobe to continuously fish for the fouls and let them pay from the free throw line gimmes. I drive more because fouls are called in favor of the players on the offense just like in the real game. I had Dwight Howard (CPU) in foul trouble, I drove in and challenge him to give another foul, what does he do? He shows up BUT backs off from committing another . The next dead ball, SVG puts him on the bench, wow. The fouls aspect of the game is crucial to the game of basketball an it is in full effect here.
-There are more and 1's.
-You can't cheat and drive to the hoop like crazy because offensive fouls are in full effect and are called. Besides, I found it not so easy to drive to the basket.
-Offensive Rebounds are kept to a minimum but when they do, CPU would kick them out to the perimeter most of the time and restart their offense, whew!
-I'm still working on it but the CPU miss shots (duh), not stupid ones but those misses we expect they make (what?) When playing, you somehow feel relaxed knowing that you will be rewarded when you play D unlike before that you had a feeling no matter how you D up, the CPU would STILL make their shots. Still, CPU still shoots around 60%FG but around 45% 3PT FG.
-The perimeter game is ON. You will be rewarded if you swing the ball to the open player on the perimeter as they will knock them down, consistently.
-The Inside game is easy but not unstoppable,ball movement is still, a must.
-Less alley oops, less put back slams, less fast break points but still consistent with actual NBA stats in general.
-AI opponent and team mate are dependable for blocks but if you attempt to block a player driving to the basket, most of the time a foul would be called against you.
-There are instances,CPU opponent would not run plays and would act dumb and let the shot clock run down with the ball in their hands, shooting it only before the shot clock expires. I'll try to eliminate this.
-Your team mates will flop and attempt to get a turnover.
-3 second calls are called both ways consistently.
-You can force a turnover by playing good D as you may steal or disrupt a pass.
-Less fatigue, this is the NBA and the only team that has a legal excuse to get fatigued is the Nuggets because of the high altitude at Denver (hence more oxygen demand) and yet they are among the fast breaking leaders in The league. So, less fatigue.
That's it, for the meantime.
good luck
