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Authored by Andrew Perna - 5th October, 2009 - 1:51 pm
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It seems like just yesterday that Kobe Bryant finally put a championship ring on his finger without the help of Shaquille O'Neal. In actuality, the NBA Finals concluded almost four months ago and in just a few short weeks the 2009-10 regular season will begin.
The preseason has begun, complete with replacement referees and excited fans in the stands. While the NBA won't play meaningful games until Oct. 27, you can fire up NBA 2K10 on the gaming system of your choice before the end of the week.
Our friends at 2K Sports will release NBA 2K10 on Tuesday; just look for the bold cover with Kobe showing his Laker pride. Isn't it funny that we all thought he had one foot out the door just a few years ago?
As we have become accustomed to each fall, 2K Sports has upped the ante once again. This year's edition is even more realistic than the last and includes a bevy of online options to keep gamers engaged over the course of a full season.
Personally, 2K has been my NBA game of choice for several years (no lie; I swear on my jump shot). I could write a few paragraphs on why I prefer it to its competitors, but the truth is in the numbers. Annually, 2K's NBA game is the #1 selling basketball game and NBA simulation.
2K Sports has provided us with some screenshots to help visualize what some of the biggest names to changes addresses this offseason will look like in their new uniforms. We'll go one-by-one and preview how the five players will look and how they'll change things on the court.
Rasheed Wallace, Celtics
Aside from getting a healthy Kevin Garnett back, the Celtics' biggest offseason acquisition was Rasheed Wallace. In fact, I'd venture to say that Wallace was the best signing of the summer. He can play alongside KG, while also filling in for him should the former MVP need either a breather or a few games off to rest his surgically-repaired knee.
He should also make things easier for Garnett when the two are on the floor together. Wallace's ability to step out and hit a three-pointer will pull opposing defenders out of the paint, giving KG more one-on-one matchups near the basket.
Ron Artest, Lakers
In eight months, if the Lakers successfully defend their NBA title, the addition of Ron Artest will be lauded as perhaps even better than Boston's signing of Wallace. He is an absolute bargain in terms of his contract, but everyone that analyzes his presence in Los Angeles (myself included) will mention the possibility of him mucking up what they had going.
Artest has a 16.1 points per game average for his career and has averaged more than twenty twice in ten years, but won't be asked to score as much as in the past with the Lakers. He'll be sharing the ball on offense with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and even Andrew Bynum at times.
Ben Gordon, Pistons
Ben Gordon brings his scoring punch slightly north to Detroit, where they are in need of help in the midst of a transition. He's expected to spend time with both the first and second units. He may not always start games, but he'll undoubtedly finish them.
Some might scoff at paying a "reserve" more than $10 million annually, but Gordon isn't a regular sub or even Sixth Man. He's averaged 18.5 points per game in his five seasons, including a career-high mark of 21.4 during the 2006-07 campaign. Detroit won't have an issue scoring on the perimeter with the Connecticut tandem of Gordon and Richard Hamilton.
Shawn Marion, Mavericks
On paper, the Mavericks look absolutely stellar. They certainly won't have a problem scoring points with a lineup that includes Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and Shawn Marion. Mr. Matrix is looking to prove doubters wrong after a few "down" years.
His numbers aren't that much lower than they were a few seasons ago in Phoenix, but there has been a slight dip in his points and rebounds. As deep as Dallas is, Marion doesn't need to stuff stat sheets quite the way he did in Phoenix for his new club to be successful.
Shaquille O’Neal, Cavaliers
Oh, Mr. Shaquille O'Neal. He's the highest-profile mover this summer and has been the loudest, which is saying something when Artest has changed addresses as well. O'Neal posted the lowest numbers of his career in his first 28 games with the Suns in the second half of the 2007-08 season, but rebounded nicely last year.
I don't think he puts the Cavaliers at the top of the Eastern Conference though, a belief that fans in Cleveland certainly don't share. People are absolutely giddy about O'Neal's presence, but he represents the team's second aging, plodding center (see: Ilgauskas, Zydrunas). The Cavs will absolutely have home-court advantage in the posteason, but I see them behind the Celtics and Magic even with Shaq Diesel.
Thanks to 2K Sports, we have a few copies of NBA 2K10 to give away to our faithful readers. All you have to do is e-mail in the answer to the following question -- Allen Iverson was featured on the cover of the first five installments in the NBA 2K series. Who was the first player other than Iverson to grace the cover?
Just e-mail me (address directly below) and you'll have a chance to win a free copy of NBA 2K10 for either Xbox 360 or PS3, courtesy of 2K Sports.
Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com and co-host of RealGM's Radio Show. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com. You can also follow Andrew on Twitter: APerna7. |
