2K10 Incorrect Positions

PGs and Cs are mostly correct (as they are kinda tough to get wrong due to their physical extremem). But 2K has traditionally screwed up the positions of many SG/SF/PFs, as there are many players versatile enough to change positions, or players who age in such a way that they can no longer play a certain position anymore. And this matters, because the CPU will move players into the lineup based on overall rating. I for one would find it annoying if Leon Powe were starting at PF while Anderson Varejao gets significantly less burn because he's 3rd on the center depth chart. This is how it's worked in the past and I don't anticipate 2K changing things now. So anyway, on to the positions (btw, if you can't tell, my sentence structure sucks because I'm tired as hell from working non-stop the last week and a half).

Point Guards
Delonte West - Started all season at SG, is due to compete with Anthony Parker for starting SG, and was a SG in 2K9. Who knows why 2K does what they do, because there was no reason to make the change.

Shooting Guards
Tyreke Evans - We'll accept him as a SG until he takes starting PG from Udrih.

Terrence Williams - He's a SF, and this matters as he has a higher rating than projected SG starter Courtney Lee.

Mike Miller - Washington has four SGs with upper 60s ratings. The logical solution would be to push Miller to his natural position. But when would 2K and logic ever belong in the same sentence?

Francisco Garcia - He's been a SF since entering the league. Not to mention this places him 3rd on the depth chart behind Kevin Martin and the aforementioned Evans. I can buy Garcia as a SG only if you're putting Evans at PG.

Michael Finley - Started at SF most of last season. The Spurs have Ginobili, Roger Mason, and Keith Bogans at SG, and only Richard Jefferson at SF. Not exactly a difficult call here.

Maurice Evans - Played most of his minutes at SF last season, and the team just added Jamal Crawford.

Martell Webster - Has barely played SG since entering the league, he's a 230 pound SF.

C.J. Miles - Started at SF last season.

Small Forwards
Andre Iguodala - Not "wrong" at the moment, but it's increasingly likely he will start at SG this season. Reason why? Willie Green sucks, and Thaddeus Young does not.

Lamar Odom - Hasn't been a SF since his Clipper days. There's a reason he comes off the bench, and Trevor Ariza/Luke Walton wasn't it.

Rashard Lewis - Lewis has started at PF for the last two years, though that could change with Turkoglu out of the way.

Anthony Randolph - A PF, especially on a Don Nelson team.

Rasual Butler - Started at SG for the Hornets. Will probably play both positions for the Clippers though.

Tim Thomas - Played some SF in NY, but the majority of his mins have come at PF the last half-decade.

Power Forwards
Tim Duncan - Has been a center the last 3 years though it's also his team's fault for continually listing him as a PF. Let's put it this way, there is no way in hell Matt Bonner and Antonio McDyess are centers anymore than Duncan is a PF. Duncan's the tallest guy on the team for christ's sake.

Al Jefferson - Starts at center due to Minny's horrid depth, plus it gets Kevin Love on the court.

Emeka Okafor - Has been a C for awhile now, and everyone knows he's starting at C in New Orleans.

David Lee - Not the biggest deal but he did start at center all season. I do get that he's a PF on most any other team. There is a possibility he starts at PF this season though depending on Curry and Milicic.

Rasheed Wallace - Has started at center ever since Ben Wallace left town.

Ben Wallace - Played center the majority of his career and will continue to do so in Detroit.

Andrea Bargnani - Starting at center now next to Bosh.

Ronny Turiaf - Warriors backup center, heck one of only two guys on the team that can even play the position.

Marcin Gortat
Obviously a center since he barely plays in Orlando (thanks to Howard) and was nearly signed to start at center in Dallas.

Marreese Speights - Played 2nd most center minutes on the Sixers but I can live with him at PF since Brezec was signed and Smith is returning from injury.

Drew Gooden - Gooden is slated to split time at center w/ Dampier in Dallas.

62 – Jordan Hill - Not a huge deal but D'Antoni already said he plans to use Hill at center (as Chris Wilcox's replacement, and look what position Wilcox is listed at...)

60 – Channing Frye - Projected to start at center in Phoenix.

54 – Vladimir Radmanovic - Similar to Tim Thomas except reversed; has mostly played SF the last couple years.

Centers
67 – Anderson Varejao - Starting at PF this season, rather than being 3rd on the C depth chart.

2K10 Rookie Ratings

Point Guards
74 – Jonny Flynn
74 – Ty Lawson
69 – Stephen Curry
67 – Jrue Holiday
66 – Jeff Teague
66 – Eric Maynor
65 – Darren Collison
65 – Toney Douglas
64 – Brandon Jennings

Rookies Flynn and Lawson are as good as T.J. Ford, Raymond Felton, and Mike Conley?

Shooting Guards
76 – James Harden
71 – Tyreke Evans
71 – Terrence Williams
67 – Gerald Henderson
64 – Demar DeRozan
62 – Jermaine Taylor
62 – Wayne Ellington
61 – Jodie Meeks
58 – Marcus Thornton

I don't have any particular complaints, aside from Harden being rated a wee bit close to Kevin Martin, Tracy McGrady, and Michael Redd (players who could put up 25 ppg on a lottery team).

Small Forwards
69 – Derrick Brown
67 – Sam Young
65 – Chase Budinger
64 – Danny Green
64 – Earl Clark
60 – DeMarre Carroll
60 – Austin Daye
59 – DaJuan Summers
57 – Jonas Jerebko
51 – Omri Casspi

The top four SFs are all second round picks.
Derrick Brown = Marvin Williams
Sam Young = Anthony Randolph
Chase Budinger > Mike Dunleavy
Danny Green = Nicolas Batum
All four > Peja Stojakovic

Power Forwards
77 – Blake Griffin
68 – Tyler Hansbrough
62 – Jordan Hill
62 – James Johnson
60 – Taylor Griffin
59 – DeJuan Blair
55 – Taj Gibson

Taylor Griffin is not the worst player on this list, which is quite possibly a bigger failure on 2Ks part than anything else I've called them on. He actually has the same rating Channing Frye does. Guess which of the two has a snowballs chance of starting, much less making the team?

Centers
57 – Hasheem Thabeet

Same rating given to DaSagana Diop which might mean he's the only rookie that wasn't overrated. In what universe do we give the #2 pick trash ratings and then pump up 2nd round picks?

Top 10
77 – Blake Griffin
76 – James Harden
74 – Jonny Flynn
74 – Ty Lawson
71 – Tyreke Evans
71 – Terrence Williams
69 – Stephen Curry
69 – Derrick Brown
68 – Tyler Hansbrough
67 – Jrue Holiday (T-10th)
67 – Gerald Henderson (T-10th)
67 – Sam Young (T-10th)

2K10 Ratings Analysis: Is Rajon Rondo overrated?

One of the highly disputed ratings in 2K10 is Rajon Rondo's.

Rondo ranks a lofty 3rd among all PGs, and ranks second on a team with three all-stars not named Rajon Rondo (KG, Pierce, Allen if you've been living under a rock).
Your 2009 All-NBA PGs were Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and Chauncey Billups.
Jameer Nelson and Mo Williams were both named all-stars ahead of Rajon Rondo yet they are rated 79 and 77 respectively.

How does Rondo compare against his peers? Not well.

40+ point games
Harris: 3 (47, 42, 41)
Parker: 2 (55, 42)
Paul: 2 (43, 42)
Williams: 0
Billups: 0
Rondo: 0

30+ point games
Paul: 15
Parker: 13
Harris: 12
Williams: 9
Billups: 3
Rondo: 2 (32, 31)

Games w/ single digit scoring
Rondo: 36
Billups: 8
Parker: 6
Williams: 6
Harris: 4
Paul: 2 (9 pts each)

Games w/ 5 points or less
Rondo: 12
Billups: 5
Harris: 2
Parker: 1 (4 pts in 10 mins vs MIA)
Williams: 1
Paul: 0

Scoring is not everything for a point guard (obviously) but this disparity is just too overwhelming to ignore. Rondo failed to score in double figures in 36 games while the top 5 non-Rondo PGs had only 26 COMBINED.

Rondo had a huge statistical explosion in the playoffs due to the following factors:
1. No Kevin Garnett = padded rebound totals
2. 19 year old rookie Derrick Rose was one of the worst defensive PGs in the league.
3. Triple OT games padding stats.

Rondo was 39-104 from the field against Orlando, but this poor performance is ignored in favor of a Chicago series where he was averaging 45 minutes per contest.

I would have to say Rondo is AT LEAST 5 points overrated, which is pretty significant. That's the difference between being the 11th best player in the game to the 30th.

NBA 2K10 Player Ratings

Ranking the players by position will allow us to nitpick them all the better. I have some huge beefs with... pretty much the entire list. Unfortunately, I need to be at work in 25 minutes and don't have the time to go into detail. I have some interesting analysis I've derived simply from looking at the overall ratings...

Just know that while the formula and scale may have changed, this is still the same 2K Sports making the same mistakes they've been making the entire decade. At least their consistency makes things easier to fix.

Also note that not every player is listed, operationsports only showed the top 12 on each team, didn't show FAs, and I have yet to look through their D-League rosters filtering out the real NBA players (think I saw Chris Mihm and Linton Johnson).

Point Guards
94 – Chris Paul
89 – Deron Williams
87 – Rajon Rondo
86 – Devin Harris
85 – Chauncey Billups
84 – Tony Parker
84 – Gilbert Arenas
82 – Baron Davis
80 – Steve Nash
80 – Derrick Rose
80 – Jason Kidd
79 – Jameer Nelson
78 – Andre Miller
78 – Mike Bibby
78 – Nate Robinson
77 – Maurice Williams
77 – Kirk Hinrich
77 – Russell Westbrook
76 – Monta Ellis
75 – Jose Calderon
75 – Rafer Alston
75 – Delonte West
74 – Jonny Flynn
74 – Mike Conley
74 – T.J. Ford
74 – Raymond Felton
74 – Mario Chalmers
74 – Ty Lawson
73 – Rodney Stuckey
72 – Chris Duhon
72 – Steve Blake
71 – Jarrett Jack
71 – Aaron Brooks
71 – Keyon Dooling
70 – Louis Williams
70 – D.J. Augustin
70 – Derek Fisher
69 – Stephen Curry
69 – Kyle Lowry
69 – J.J. Barea
68 – Antonio Daniels
68 – Will Bynum
67 – Jrue Holiday
67 – Sebastian Telfair
67 – Jordan Farmar
66 – Luke Ridnour
66 – Jeff Teague
66 – Eric Maynor
65 – Ronnie Price
65 – Darren Collison
65 – Toney Douglas
65 – Jerryd Bayless
65 – Jason Williams
64 – Beno Udrih
64 – Jannero Pargo
64 – Brandon Jennings
64 – Earl Watson
63 – Chris Quinn
63 – Marcus Banks
63 – Mike James
62 – Sergio Rodriguez
62 – Travis Diener
62 – Goran Dragic
62 – Acie Law
61 – Speedy Claxton
61 – George Hill
61 – Lindsey Hunter
61 – Anthony Johnson
61 – Anthony Carter
60 – Daniel Gibson
60 – Shaun Livingston
60 – Chucky Atkins
59 – Eddie House
58 – Bobby Brown
56 – Mardy Collins
56 – Kevin Ollie
55 – Royal Ivey
55 – Dontell Jefferson

Shooting Guards
97 – Kobe Bryant
96 – Dwyane Wade
87 – Brandon Roy
83 – Joe Johnson
83 – Manu Ginobili
81 – Vince Carter
80 – Ray Allen
78 – Richard Hamilton
78 – Ben Gordon
78 – O.J. Mayo
78 – Jason Terry
77 – Tracy McGrady
77 – Kevin Martin
76 – Michael Redd
76 – James Harden
75 – Jamal Crawford
75 – Leandro Barbosa
73 – Larry Hughes
72 – Jason Richardson
72 – Eric Gordon
72 – J.R. Smith
71 – Raja Bell
71 – Roger Mason
71 – Tyreke Evans
71 – Terrence Williams
71 – Randy Foye
70 – Ronnie Brewer
70 – Kelenna Azubuike
69 – Mickael Pietrus
69 – Sasha Vujacic
69 – Mike Miller
68 – DeShawn Stevenson
68 – Courtney Lee
68 – Anthony Parker
68 – Willie Green
68 – Francisco Garcia
68 – Rudy Fernandez
67 – Nick Young
67 – Gerald Henderson
67 – Shannon Brown
67 – Michael Finley
66 – Tony Allen
66 – Charlie Bell
66 – Maurice Evans
66 – Dahntay Jones
66 – Marco Belinelli
65 – Brandon Rush
64 – Demar DeRozan
64 – Thabo Sefolosha
63 – Ricky Davis
63 – Arron Afflalo
63 – Quinton Ross
62 – Chris Douglas-Roberts
62 – Jermaine Taylor
62 – Wayne Ellington
61 – Damien Wilkins
61 – Daequan Cook
61 – Jodie Meeks
60 – Martell Webster
60 – Kyle Weaver
60 – Antoine Wright
60 – Marko Jaric
59 – Morris Peterson
59 – Devin Brown
58 – Marcus Thornton
57 – C.J. Miles
57 – J.R. Giddens
56 – Malik Hairston
52 – J.J. Redick

Small Forwards
96 – LeBron James
88 – Carmelo Anthony
84 – Danny Granger
84 – Paul Pierce
84 – Andre Iguodala
83 – Caron Butler
82 – Kevin Durant
81 – Stephen Jackson
80 – Ron Artest
78 – Gerald Wallace
78 – Rudy Gay
77 – Lamar Odom
77 – Josh Howard
77 – Tayshaun Prince
76 – Hedo Turkoglu
76 – Shawn Marion
76 – Richard Jefferson
75 – Rashard Lewis
75 – Thaddeus Young
75 – Corey Maggette
74 – Jeff Green
73 – Luol Deng
73 – Wilson Chandler
73 – Trevor Ariza
72 – Shane Battier
72 – Grant Hill
72 – Michael Beasley
72 – James Posey
71 – John Salmons
71 – Luc Mbah a Moute
70 – Andrei Kirilenko
70 – Andres Nocioni
69 – Marvin Williams
69 – Travis Outlaw
69 – Derrick Brown
68 – Corey Brewer
67 – Anthony Randolph
67 – Al Thornton
67 – Sam Young
67 – Renaldo Balkman
67 – Matt Harpring
67 – Luke Walton
66 – Matt Barnes
66 – Ryan Gomes
66 – Jamario Moon
66 – Julian Wright
65 – Chase Budinger
65 – Dominic McGuire
64 – Danny Green
64 – Mike Dunleavy
64 – Earl Clark
64 – Nicolas Batum
63 – Jared Dudley
63 – Bobby Simmons
63 – Joe Alexander
63 – Dorell Wright
63 – Jarvis Hayes
62 – Peja Stojakovic
62 – Quentin Richardson
62 – Carlos Delfino
61 – Rasual Butler
61 – Kyle Korver
61 – Trenton Hassell
61 – Devean George
60 – Tim Thomas
60 – Alando Tucker
60 – DeMarre Carroll
60 – Austin Daye
59 – DaJuan Summers
59 – Jason Kapono
59 – Bill Walker
58 – James Jones
57 – Jonas Jerebko
56 – Danilo Gallinari
55 – Donte Greene
55 – Adam Morrison
51 – Omri Casspi

Power Forwards
89 – Kevin Garnett
88 – Tim Duncan
84 – Al Jefferson
84 – Chris Bosh
84 – Pau Gasol
84 – Carlos Boozer
83 – Dirk Nowitzki
82 – Amare Stoudemire
79 – Emeka Okafor
78 – David West
77 – LaMarcus Aldridge
77 – Josh Smith
77 – Blake Griffin
77 – David Lee
77 – Elton Brand
76 – Zach Randolph
75 – Antawn Jamison
75 – Al Harrington
74 – Kenyon Martin
74 – Troy Murphy
74 – Rasheed Wallace
74 – Paul Millsap
73 – Luis Scola
72 – Boris Diaw
72 – Charlie Villanueva
72 – Kevin Love
71 – Ben Wallace
70 – Udonis Haslem
69 – Andrea Bargnani
69 – Jason Maxiell
68 – Antonio McDyess
68 – Tyrus Thomas
68 – Brandon Bass
68 – Tyler Hansbrough
68 – Carl Landry
67 – Ronny Turiaf
67 – Marcin Gortat
67 – Marreese Speights
66 – Jason Thompson
66 – Leon Powe
66 – Drew Gooden
65 – Glen Davis
65 – Louis Amundson
65 – Brandan Wright
65 – Darrell Arthur
64 – Hakim Warrick
64 – Joe Smith
64 – Pops Mensah-Bonsu
64 – Josh Powell
64 – Sean Williams
63 – Amir Johnson
63 – Nick Collison
63 – D.J. White
62 – Jordan Hill
62 – James Johnson
62 – Craig Smith
62 – Chuck Hayes
61 – J.J. Hickson
61 – Darius Songaila
61 – Eduardo Najera
60 – Shelden Williams
60 – Channing Frye
60 – Taylor Griffin
59 – Ryan Anderson
59 – Jared Jeffries
59 – Kenny Thomas
59 – Nathan Jawai
59 – Kris Humphries
59 – Malik Allen
59 – DeJuan Blair
57 – Reggie Evans
57 – Sean May
57 – Jason Smith
57 – Ike Diogu
55 – Taj Gibson
55 – Josh McRoberts
54 – Vladimir Radmanovic

Centers
89 – Dwight Howard
83 – Yao Ming
81 – Shaquille O’Neal
77 – Brook Lopez
76 - Nene
76 – Al Horford
75 – Jermaine O’Neal
74 – Andris Biedrins
74 – Andrew Bynum
74 – Marcus Camby
74 – Greg Oden
73 – Zydrunas Ilgauskas
72 – Chris Kaman
72 – Kendrick Perkins
71 – Samuel Dalembert
71 – Mehmet Okur
71 – Marc Gasol
71 – Andrew Bogut
71 – Kurt Thomas
70 – Tyson Chandler
67 – Anderson Varejao
67 – Chris Andersen
66 – Joakim Noah
66 – Zaza Pachulia
65 – Joel Przybilla
65 – Brad Miller
65 – Jeff Foster
65 – Eddy Curry
64 – Roy Hibbert
64 – Spencer Hawes
63 – Chris Wilcox
62 – Francisco Elson
62 – Etan Thomas
62 – Andray Blatche
62 – Fabricio Oberto
61 – Jamaal Magloire
61 – Nazr Mohammed
61 – Erick Dampier
60 – Rasho Nesterovic
60 – Nenad Krstic
60 – Kosta Koufos
60 – Brendan Haywood
59 – Primoz Brezec
59 – Theo Ratliff
58 – Matt Bonner
58 – Darko Milicic
58 – Joel Anthony
57 – DeSagana Diop
57 – Hasheem Thabeet
57 – Steven Hunter
56 – DeAndre Jordan
55 – Hamed Haddadi
54 – Mark Blount
54 – Ryan Hollins
49 – Randolph Morris
42 – Jerome James

NBA TOP 50
97 – Kobe Bryant
96 – LeBron James
96 – Dwyane Wade
94 – Chris Paul
89 – Dwight Howard (5)
89 – Kevin Garnett
89 – Deron Williams
88 – Tim Duncan
88 – Carmelo Anthony
87 – Brandon Roy (10)
87 – Rajon Rondo
86 – Devin Harris
85 – Chauncey Billups
84 – Chris Bosh
84 – Pau Gasol (15)
84 – Al Jefferson
84 – Carlos Boozer
84 – Danny Granger
84 – Paul Pierce
84 – Andre Iguodala (20)
84 – Tony Parker
84 – Gilbert Arenas
83 – Dirk Nowitzki
83 – Yao Ming
83 – Joe Johnson (25)
83 – Manu Ginobili
83 – Caron Butler
82 – Kevin Durant
82 – Amare Stoudemire
82 – Baron Davis (30)
81 – Vince Carter
81 – Stephen Jackson
81 – Shaquille O’Neal
80 – Steve Nash
80 – Derrick Rose (35)
80 – Jason Kidd
80 – Ray Allen
80 – Ron Artest
79 – Jameer Nelson
79 – Emeka Okafor (40)
78 – David West
78 – Gerald Wallace
78 – Rudy Gay
78 – Richard Hamilton
78 – Ben Gordon (45)
78 – O.J. Mayo
78 – Jason Terry
78 – Andre Miller
78 – Mike Bibby
78 – Nate Robinson (50)

2K10 Team Ratings

Team Ratings were released via operationsports.com screenshots. Here's a full listing as well as a quick breakdown. Post your thoughts in a comment!

OVERALL
88 Lakers
88 Celtics
86 Nuggets
85 Cavaliers
83 Magic
83 Mavericks
81 Rockets
80 Spurs
80 Hawks
80 Hornets
80 Grizzlies
79 Blazers
79 Jazz
79 Warriors
78 Sixers
78 Wizards
78 Pistons
77 Heat
76 Thunder
76 Clippers
75 Knicks
73 Suns
73 Bobcats
73 Bulls
73 Raptors
72 Pacers
71 Wolves
71 Nets
68 Bucks
65 Kings

Nuggets lost two rotation players (Linas Kleiza and Dahntay Jones), didn't add any player of substance, yet are somehow ranked ahead of the Cavs and Magic.

Rockets lost Yao and will be without McGrady for the foreseeable future. I'm assuming T-Mac is still in the lineup because otherwise there is no good reason why the Rockets are the #7 team in the league.


Lets break it down by conference.

EAST OVERALL
88 Celtics
85 Cavaliers
83 Magic
80 Hawks
78 Sixers
78 Wizards
78 Pistons
77 Heat
75 Knicks
73 Bobcats
73 Bulls
73 Raptors
72 Pacers
71 Nets
68 Bucks

I don't really have a problem with the east rankings, aside from the Raptors being a tad low (they just replaced Joey Graham with Hedo Turkoglu... though they are weak at SG now).

WEST OVERALL
88 Lakers
86 Nuggets
83 Mavericks
81 Rockets
80 Spurs
80 Hornets
80 Grizzlies
79 Blazers
79 Jazz
79 Warriors
76 Thunder
76 Clippers
73 Suns
71 Wolves
65 Kings

Suns and Warriors should probably trade places, given that the Suns have two players (Nash and Amare) better than anyone on the Warriors' roster. I also have a tough time swallowing Houston's #5 ranking but that was covered above.

OFFENSE
90 Lakers
88 Celtics
85 Raptors
84 Cavaliers
84 Spurs
83 Wizards
82 Hawks
81 Magic
81 Nuggets
80 Mavericks
80 Jazz
78 Blazers
78 Grizzlies
77 Suns
77 Sixers
77 Rockets
76 Hornets
76 Pistons
76 Warriors
76 Clippers
74 Heat
74 Pacers
73 Wolves
72 Thunder
71 Bulls
71 Nets
70 Knicks
68 Kings
67 Bucks
66 Bobcats
64 Wolves

Don't really have a problem with this other than nitpicks. Philly loses Andre Miller yet they're better offensively than a team led by Chris Paul?

DEFENSE
91 Lakers
90 Celtics
89 Nuggets
86 Cavaliers
83 Magic
83 Rockets
81 Hawks
81 Heat
80 Mavericks
80 Warriors
79 Hornets
79 Bobcats
78 Blazers
78 Sixers
77 Jazz
77 Spurs
77 Pistons
75 Nets
75 Knicks
74 Thunder
74 Clippers
73 Bulls
73 Grizzlies
71 Suns
69 Pacers
67 Raptors
66 Bucks
64 Wizards
63 Kings

As usual, 2K decided to give ridiculous ratings to their favored team, the Warriors. The Warriors were among the worst defensive teams in the league and their only change was drafting ANOTHER scoring guard. Why they are a top 10 defensive team is beyond me.

Boston Celtics 09-10 Season Preview

ADDITIONS
C Rasheed Wallace (FA)
SF Marquis Daniels (FA)
C Shelden Williams (FA)
PG Lester Hudson (Draft)

SUBTRACTIONS
PF Leon Powe (FA)
PG Stephon Marbury (Retire)
C Mikki Moore (FA)
PG Gabe Pruitt (FA)


The Celtics are two years removed from a championship season and I have them favored to do it again if KG is healthy. Last season they won 62 games even though the Big Ticket missed the entire second half. They even pushed Orlando harder than Cleveland did in the playoffs. The Celtics hope Marquis Daniels is the solution at SF off the bench, as the team never truely found a replacement for James Posey last season.

POINT GUARD
Rajon Rondo (18.8 PER)
Eddie House (15.4 PER)
Lester Hudson (N/A)

Rondo is one of the best young players in the league and really came into his own last season. Eddie House is a great compliment as he covers Rondo's biggest weakness (shooting). House isn't a true PG however, as he's a below average ball handler and passer compared to other guards his size (you could say the same for unsigned rookie Hudson). The Celtics will need to make sure Rondo stays healthy or else they'll end up experimenting at the PG position (Marquis Daniels) or making a trade.

Grade: B+


SHOOTING GUARD
Ray Allen (17.3 PER)
Tony Allen (12.9 PER)
J.R. Giddens (26.0 PER, 8 mins)

Ray is among the top shooters in the league, and helped carry the load last year with KG out. His backup Tony would be a nice compliment if he could ever stay healthy himself. Giddens didn't make an impact in his rookie season but has the opportunity to earn minutes if he has a good training camp. Marquis Daniels will also play a lot at the position, perhaps at the expense of both backups.

Grade: B


SMALL FORWARD
Paul Pierce (17.7 PER)
Marquis Daniels (12.8 PER)
Bill Walker (10.9 PER)

Pierce was the defacto leader after KG went down and performed admirably (despite putting up worse shooting stats). The Celtics are looking to limit his minutes which is why Daniels was brought in. Of course, Daniels actually needs to stay healthy for a change if that's going to happen (he misses about 20 games per season). The Celtics want Daniels to reprise Posey's defensive stopper role but I don't think that's possible given that Daniels is a weaker defender and also isn't the 3pt shooter Posey is. What Daniels does give you is versatility as he can play all three perimeter positions. Walker showed flashes late last season and perhaps he will come closer to filling the Posey void.

Grade: B


POWER FORWARD
Kevin Garnett (21.2 PER)
Glen Davis (10.7 PER)
Brian Scalabrine (7.4 PER)

What's scary is that KG was limited by injury and he was still twice as effective as Glen Davis. The Celtics championship hopes are riding squarely on his shoulders, so they need him to be his usual dominant self on both ends. Davis came into his own in KG's absence but realistically shouldn't be more than a backup. This is likely Scalabrine's final season in the league. Rasheed Wallace should also see some time here, if only to make sure Scalabrine doesn't.

Grade: B+


CENTER
Kendrick Perkins (13.2 PER)
Rasheed Wallace (14.9 PER)
Shelden Williams (13.7 PER)

Perkins is an enforcer and the Celtics will need him with Shaq and Howard on the enemy lines. Sheed rings the Celtics excellent depth and versatility at the position. Shelden Williams offers some additional inside toughness as he is basically a shorter version of Perkins.

Grade: C+

Atlanta Hawks 09-10 Season Preview

ADDITIONS
SG Jamal Crawford (Trade)
PF Joe Smith (FA)
PG Jeff Teague (Draft)
C Jason Collins (FA)
C Courtney Sims (FA)

SUBTRACTIONS
SG Flip Murray (FA)
C Solomon Jones (FA)
PG Acie Law (Trade)
PG Speedy Claxton (Trade)
SG Thomas Gardner (FA)


The Hawks are coming off a second round berth and have made the playoffs two consecutive seasons now. They had a great offseason as they re-signed all their key players and still managed to improve their bench a bit. Unfortunately they shouldn't expect better results (4th seed and a 2nd round loss) because the competition is so steep. Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando are all built to "win now" however, and there isn't a team in the east with a brigther future than Atlanta. Josh Smith is entering his age 24 season, while Horford and Marvin are entering their age 23 seasons. Three years from now those guys will be in the prime of their careers. KG/Pierce/Allen will be 36, 35, and 37 respectively. Vince Carter will be 35 and Rashard Lewis 33. Shaq will be 40 and Ilgauskas 37. So just because Atlanta isn't contending this season doesn't mean they have nothing to play for.

POINT GUARD
Mike Bibby (16.3 PER)
Jeff Teague (N/A)

Bibby is still an effective offensive player thanks to his excellent shooting skills and passing ability. Unfortunately he rarely drives to the basket, his man defense is perhaps the worst among starting PGs, and at 31 he could decline at any moment. Teague is a rookie and not a pure point, which gives him limited value on a team trying to get the most out of the 20 million owed to Jamal Crawford over the next two seasons (more on this in a moment). There is a severe lack of depth should anything happen to Bibby.

Grade: C


SHOOTING GUARD
Joe Johnson (18.2 PER)
Jamal Crawford (15.1 PER)
Mario West (10.0 PER)

Johnson has not been the most efficient scorer the last two seasons (his mid-range game has fallen off ever since Bibby showed up), and I for one will be curious to see how he'll mesh with one of the league's most inefficient chuckers (Crawford). Crawford gets many of his looks from mid-range off the dribble, does not finish at the basket and he is not a strong 3pt threat. He is making about 9 million more dollars than Flip Murray will this season, for about the same production (and quite possibly a worse fit, since Murray's slashing game and defense better compliment Bibby and Johnson). Crawford's salary and playstyle likely ensure Joe Johnson's departure as a free agent in 2010 (my prediction: NY's consolation prize in the Bron/Wade chase).

Grade: B


SMALL FORWARD
Marvin Williams (16.0 PER)
Maurice Evans (11.1 PER)

A lot of people forget that Williams is only 23 years old. He should continue where he left off in 2009. Evans is an underrated backup who played in a team high 80 games (along with the departed and likewise underrated Flip Murray). JJ also should see extra time here in Bibby/Crawford/Johnson lineups.

Grade: C+


POWER FORWARD
Josh Smith (17.2 PER)
Joe Smith (13.8 PER)
Othello Hunter (12.1 PER)

Josh Smith looks to rebound from a subpar season. He's only 24 so he still has plenty of potential. Joe Smith should be an upgrade from Solomon Jones on the bench.

Grade: B-


CENTER
Al Horford (17.0 PER)
Zaza Pachulia (14.1 PER)
Courtney Sims (12.8 PER)
Jason Collins (3.3 PER)
Randolph Morris (1.8 PER)


Horford should continue to improve, and the Hawks will need him to do it if they have any hope of contending. Pachulia remains one of the better backups in the league thanks to his offensive rebounding ability. Collins is a downgrade from Solomon Jones at the C position, but hopefully the two guys in front of him stay healthy enough to limit his minutes. Courtney Sims has a decent chance of making the team as he is easily the D-League's top center and is certainly a better player than Randolph Morris has shown thus far.

Grade: C+

Same old paint pounding 2K

Some disturbing notes from this gameplay footage of NBA 2K10 posted on IGN....

http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/14293226/tba-nba-2k10/videos/nba2k10_gmp_lakersvscavs_92109.html

Lakers went 4-6 from the field including 4-4 in the paint. This was highlighted by Kobe Bryant backing down Delonte West from 10 feet all the way to 2 feet with hardly any effort.

Cavaliers went 4-6 from the field, all shots coming from the paint. Shaq dunked quite easily, while the two misses were heavily contested forces w/LeBron, one of which was converted into a putback dunk by Shaq.

Anyone who thought 2K would be more sim after playing Draft Combine were sadly mistaken.

How do you rate the 2K Insider?

Long overdue topic.

http://www.operationsports.com/forums/nba-2k/359689-how-do-you-rate-2k-insider.html

Real 2K Insider where are you?

Working two jobs. Hence the lack of updates.