Player ratings

[.]

Shaquille O'Neal has his championships and his MVP awards, but he has been humbled by failure, by age and by injury and, with his career at a crossroads, he is dedicating himself to reversing those trends.

The process began Thursday afternoon, when O'Neal hired a personal trainer, following through on a promise he made to Lakers management last week.

Corey Gilday, a Portland, Ore.-based certified fitness trainer and nutritionist, will move to Orlando, Fla., this weekend and Monday will begin shaping a summer-long training program designed to make the NBA's premier center stronger, healthier and leaner.

It's a sharp departure in routine for O'Neal, who has long prized his offseasons as a time to relax and heal from a season of physical abuse. But at 31, he is feeling the strain of an 11-year career. For the first time in four years, O'Neal was not the league's most dominant player this season, nor was his team the league's best.

All of that conspired to change O'Neal's focus this summer. Gilday is the first personal trainer O'Neal has hired since joining the Lakers in 1996.

"Shaquille is a competitor," said O'Neal's agent, Perry Rogers. "With great athletes, you can't turn them off. And his season ended earlier than he wanted it to."

Rogers and Mike Parris, O'Neal's business manager, set out weeks ago to identify the best possible trainer to work with their client. Gilday, regarded as one of the top trainers in the nationwide 24-Hour Fitness chain, was chosen from a field of five finalists.

O'Neal met with Gilday, a former Marine, for the first time Thursday in Las Vegas, and the two exchanged ideas.

"He was really excited," Parris said.

The specifics of O'Neal's summer workout are being developed, but Parris said the general objectives are clear: "Weight loss, conditioning, he's going to work on his cardio, his leg strength."

A commitment to those goals was among the promises O'Neal made to coach Phil Jackson and general manager Mitch Kupchak in a June 2 meeting. In an interview four days later, O'Neal testily dismissed the issue, saying, "I think the only training I need is players that know their role and players that will give me the (bleeping) ball."

But Kupchak said he never worried about O'Neal's true intent.

"He's always been one to stand up to the obligations that he has," Kupchak said.

The Lakers' run of three championships ended in May with a second-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs. O'Neal has drawn by far the most public criticism, for delaying his toe surgery last summer and for failing to keep himself in prime condition.

"All our guys know that when you lose there's going to be a lot of finger-pointing and a lot of blame, and he has gotten perhaps more than his fair share," Kupchak said. "But that's the nature of who he is and what he represents. And some of it, he brought about himself.

"When that happens, everybody accepts the blame, and the only thing to do is look in the mirror and say, 'What do I have to do this summer? What's in my control, and what's my job?' And then we all have to go back and do that. And that applies to our players and our coaches and myself."

O'Neal's weight has increased every year of Jackson's tenure, from about 335 pounds in 1999 to at least 355 pounds this season. O'Neal attributes the weight to added muscle, which he says he needs to endure the nightly pounding in the paint.

That remains O'Neal's firm belief, and his representatives say he is not seeking to drop to any specific weight.

"I think in general terms Shaquille would say yes, I want to get leaner and meaner, but not lean and mean," Rogers said.

Rogers called O'Neal's offseason program "one step that goes along with the Lakers making some changes this offseason. These things all go hand in hand."

[FaT__MiKe]

18)A Iverson (83)

lol, you are kidding arent you ?

[Andrew]

1)KG (95)
2)Duncan (95)
3)Shaq (93)
4)T-mac (93)
5) J-Kidd (92)
6)Kobe (91)
7)Nowitzki (90)
8)Webber (90)
9)Brand (89)
10) S Marion (88)
11)J Oneal (88)
12)P Pierce (87)
13)B Wallace (86)
14)P Gasol (86)
15)Abdur Rahim (86)
16)Steve Francis (85)
17)G Payton (84)
18)A Iverson (83)
19)Ray Allen (82)
20)S Marbury (82)

Iverson will probably be higher, and it probably won't range from 95 to 82 that quickly. Otherwise, a pretty good prediction.

ratings should maybe go from 0-100 instead of 50-100, that way 50 could represent an average player, 65 -70 a quite solid bench player, 75-85 a quality starter, and 85+ an all star. 70 is abit of a high number to give a below average player, as is 60 for a no hoper.

The problem with having ratings lower than 50 would be the way the overall ratings are calculated. I would imagine most point guards would have rebounding and blocking ratings less than 50, which would mean a lower than desired overall rating. Having a smaller range (50-99) simplifies things.

[sixerfan03]

1. Duncan--I just think he's the best payer in the NBA
2. Shaq--still dominant
3. Garnett--He can't get his team out of the first round, but that's not important in the ratings (unless they bring back clutch)
4. Kobe
5. McGrady (the best offensive player, but 5th best overall.)
6. I think Nowitzki. He'll probably be ranked lower if they put more emphasis on speed, quickness, and athleticism. I think he's great because he's 7 foot and can shoot as well as anyone in the NBA.
7. Kidd
8. Iverson
9. Pierce
10. Webber (dropped because of age)

Also, I hope they adjust the legend's ratings. I was trying to create a roster using them, and I noticed Snow and Tiny Archibald have the same overall.

[Icebane]

The ratings also take into account Height and such... A player that is 7'1 will be higher ranked than a 6' player with the same rating... I mean Allen Iverson is Only 91 for christs sake...

[Icebane]

1)KG (95)
2)Duncan (95)
3)Shaq (93)
4)T-mac (93)
5) J-Kidd (92)
6)Kobe (91)
7)Nowitzki (90)
8)Webber (90)
9)Brand (89)
10) S Marion (88)
11)J Oneal (88)
12)P Pierce (87)
13)B Wallace (86)
14)P Gasol (86)
15)Abdur Rahim (86)
16)Steve Francis (85)
17)G Payton (84)
18)A Iverson (83)
19)Ray Allen (82)
20)S Marbury (82)

Iverson will probably be higher, and it probably won't range from 95 to 82 that quickly. Otherwise, a pretty good prediction.

ratings should maybe go from 0-100 instead of 50-100, that way 50 could represent an average player, 65 -70 a quite solid bench player, 75-85 a quality starter, and 85+ an all star. 70 is abit of a high number to give a below average player, as is 60 for a no hoper.

The problem with having ratings lower than 50 would be the way the overall ratings are calculated. I would imagine most point guards would have rebounding and blocking ratings less than 50, which would mean a lower than desired overall rating. Having a smaller range (50-99) simplifies things.

I just thought that having from 1-100 you'd better know how good there shooting was in a percentage area.
PLus in my franchise now, Kenny Anderson is 3rd in blocks.... How ridiculous is that?

[Icebane]

1)KG (95)
2)Duncan (95)
3)Shaq (93)
4)T-mac (93)
5) J-Kidd (92)
6)Kobe (91)
7)Nowitzki (90)
8)Webber (90)
9)Brand (89)
10) S Marion (88)
11)J Oneal (88)
12)P Pierce (87)
13)B Wallace (86)
14)P Gasol (86)
15)Abdur Rahim (86)
16)Steve Francis (85)
17)G Payton (84)
18)A Iverson (83)
19)Ray Allen (82)
20)S Marbury (82)

What about Rasheed??? and Ray Allen at 82???

[Andrew]

I just thought that having from 1-100 you'd better know how good there shooting was in a percentage area.
PLus in my franchise now, Kenny Anderson is 3rd in blocks.... How ridiculous is that?

It's not surprising, given the blocking system in NBA Live 2003. I believe Kenny Anderson does have a low blocking rating, but it doesn't really matter - blocks are too numerous regardless of ratings.

[Icebane]

I just thought that having from 1-100 you'd better know how good there shooting was in a percentage area.
PLus in my franchise now, Kenny Anderson is 3rd in blocks.... How ridiculous is that?

It's not surprising, given the blocking system in NBA Live 2003. I believe Kenny Anderson does have a low blocking rating, but it doesn't really matter - blocks are too numerous regardless of ratings.

I put my Blocking down to 60 once, but my Jumping is still 94... It makes very little difference... I mean with 99 you block everything, below that you block almost everything you go for... Should be Like Full Court Press and have different blocking styles for how good you are... Even though the worse blockign style was better than the good one:p

[Andrew]

Exactly. Scaling the ratings from 1-100 won't fix that - not much point in changing the scale if ratings don't have a big enough impact on a player's ability to block shots.

[Icebane]

But it should... All ratings should effect what it is...

[Andrew]

Yes, all ratings should have the appropriate effect. But that's what needs to be fixed, not the actual ratings scale. That's what I meant.

[Icebane]

Oh right.
I thouhght a new ratings scale would be good... Like have from 1 - 5 in blocks (or 0 -5) and that s how many they average per game... Hav ethe ratings on a new average per game style...

[Andrew]

That would be good for simulation, but ratings based on a player's abilities in different areas would be better for gameplay.

[Icebane]

Yeah thats what I mean.. Have it for every aspect.. Bring back Clutch (They never seem to hit on the buzzer in 2003) and have Shooting abilities from Inside, From 10 feet, From 15 feet ect...
And even though the blockign animations are cool in 2003, their is not enough.. There needs to be a more subtle block, the hand in the air and flick that ball away don't pump it...

NBA 99 style;)

[Andrew]

The Clutch rating would be most welcome if EA brings it back. Shooting Range should also be a visible rating again, rather than depending on the field goal rating. Having seperate ratings for different ranges might mean too many ratings, but I kind of like the idea.

As well as toning down the swats and making the blocks more "intelligent", Live 2004 should include the softer blocks (as you mentioned) as well as grabbing hold of the ball after rejecting the shot. Obviously, that would be less common that knocking the ball off course, but a good defender can trigger the offense with a well-placed block, not just slap it into the stands.

[Icebane]

Yeah there would be too many things to do... I create a fair few players in my NBA games, so I do alot of work (Having different shoes and choosing faces and such), but I think more things would give the game more depth... Sure it would be a whole lot bigger, but it would be worth it... EA should make an NBA Live that is all years, and release Roster Patches and Voice Addons as they go by... That would be cool... (Updating graphics after a few years ofcourse)

As for the blocks... I have seen Theo Ratliff grab about 8 blocks in my life... Amazing to watch, rare but great.

AI is a must.. No computer gets 40 steals a game caus eyou CPU teamates past CROSS COURT

[Icebane]

Although I have seen my Team mates do an a few awefully great passes.. It still doesn't make up for it...
And the game was said to have Rituals... It doesn't...

They also rely on the Player Character too much. Not as much when you put down the primacy though.
Primacy is a good Stat to be able to change, when you figure out what it means:p

[Andrew]

Regular official updates including cyberfaces and audio would be great, but that wouldn't make money. That's not a knock on EA - it's their goal to make money as much as it is to make games.

[Icebane]

They could if they sold them as expansions.. Add NEW comments and things like that.. Something new... all able to be incorporated into the game

[Andrew]

Sorry, I thought you meant downloading official updates from EA. Yes, they could make money from expansion packs, but they'd make more money by designing a new game (and probably fix problems more easily).

[Icebane]

More people would download it than buy it anyway I think.. Unless it was totally huge...

Its just that some NBA Lives are better than others... 99 is better than all... Cept 2003 (Only because its more advanced in graphics and such)

So they should continue on with a good NBA live instead of starting new...

But I may be biased because Graphics don't bother me.. I need gameplay before graphics;)

[Andrew]

Despite my complaints about Live 2003, I still feel it's the best of the series. If I have some time to spare I might try to play a game of one of the older Lives, but it's hard to go back when you're used to Freestyle control.

[Icebane]

I played NBA 96 recently... Used to love putting fouls on 0 and smashing people from one end of the court to another:p

[killerht]

1. Kobe Bryant (What can you say? Man or machine?)
2. Shaquille O'Neal (Most dominant player)
3. Tim Duncan (Unstoppble, Unbelievable)
4. Kevin Garnett (Just amazing, up there with Duncan)
5. Tracy McGrady (Superb, but not quiet there with the above 4 guys)
6. Jason Kidd (The greatest, X-Ray vision, but is 6th 'cuz of offense)
7. Allen Iverson (He is soo good, but his jumpers are fragile)
8. Dirk Nowitzki (German sensation, big man with 3-point range)
9. Chris Webber (Great low-post player, has an awsome mid-range)
10. Paul Pierce (A little selfish, but great offensive player)

That's who I think are the top 10 players in order in the NBA "overall".
But hey, if you don't agree, you figure it out.