New Historic Teams For NBA 2K16
I had been thinking that the NBA 2K series needed to add some "new" historical teams. The collection that they already had was great, but they needed to get some more teams from 2000 onward. I was pleasantly surprised to find out they in fact added 12 teams to the upcoming game. Let's take a look at who we have added.
2008 Celtics
This Celtics team more than deserved to be on the game. Let's face it, if KG, Pierce, or Ray are you're favorite players it's tough to play with the 2016 "old man" version of themselves and still have fun. Especially Garnett who has slipped the most (rightfully so, it will be his 21st season), but at one point was the best player in the game. (More on that in a minute.)
The team itself was dominate beyond belief. I felt this team could go toe-to-toe with some of the great teams of years past just due to their swarming defense. (Now you can do that on the game.) PP averaged 19 PPG, KG 18 PPG, and Ray 17 PPG. Talk about balance. If that's not enough, you have supersub James Posey coming off the bench. I bet it's been a long time since you've heard that name. Also a forgotten bench player was Leon Powe, who really helped stick it to the Lakers in the Finals that year. You also get Kendrick Perkins who is just starting to peak, Eddie House, Big Baby, Tony Allen (I totally forgot he was a Celtic), PJ Brown, Sam Cassell, and the immortal Brian Scalabrine. For me it will be interesting to see how they rate Rondo. He was okay in 2008, but didn't really "break-out" until the playoffs of '09. I wouldn't be surprised if they cheat and make Rondo a bit better than he really was. Regardless, this team is stacked and I'm looking forward to use them.
2001 Lakers
This has been a pretty huge omission. Why? 15-1. In case you didn't know, that was the Lakers' playoff record in '01. No Bulls, Celtics, or early Laker team can boast a playoff record that good. I'm sure Shaq will be rated a 99, and rightfully so. Kobe I would think be around a 95. (29, 6, and 5 for the year.) Easily one of the greatest 1-2 punch in history. Combined with D-Fish, Brian Shaw, and Rick Fox at their Lakers' peak. And the always present on a championship team, Big Shot Rob. The only thing that takes this team down a tad for me is that douche bag Ron Harper was on it. I've hated him since I was 10 years old; I don't know why.
2004 Pistons
When you look up "team" in the dictionary, you see a picture of the '04 Pistons. They beat the "superteam" Lakers that year- and in convincing fashion. The only All Star in '04 was Ben Wallace, who had won 2 straight Defensive Player of the Year awards as well. Ironically he didn't win it this season, but had he had done so, would have won it five years in a row which would have been a record. My point is, he was a dominate defensive presence. Offensively, not so much. Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups (Finals MVP in '04), and mid-season acquisition Rasheed Wallace took up the offensive slack. (Tayshaun Prince did a little bit of everything.)
Rip and Chauncey would eventually become All Stars along with Big Ben, but none of those gentlemen were ever "superstars." They are truly the only NBA team to win the Finals without a superstar player. They also had a rookie named "Darko," he must have been the reason they won.
2000 Raptors
This team will make any gamer pee their pants. Why? This team boasted Vince Carter at his peak, and was arguably the most famous player in the NBA. I can confidently state that he is the greatest dunker of all time. Yes that is my opinion, but i would think the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest is good proof to back me up. This was also the year he jumped over the guy in the Olympics. VC was the man in 2000. He truly looked like he could be the next Jordan. If not in skill, then definitely in athleticism and popularity.
Vince is only half the story though. This team also had a young T-Mac who arguably was as athletic as VC, and ironically also his cousin. Family trees aside, throwing alley-oops between these two will be a thing of beauty.
2008 Rockets
If you're anything like me, you went "what the hell?' when you saw this team listed. Then you remembered this is the team that won 22 straight games. The two big names on the team are Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Yao only played in 55 games, and was hurt less than half way through their winning streak. (Makes you wonder how "good" Yao actually was.) McGrady only played in 66 games. He was really good, but definitely had already peaked. This was actually his last relevant season. Dikembe stepped in for the injured Yao, but again was a player well passed his prime. One of my personal favorites, Shane Battier was on this team, and he wasn't passed his prime.
Fun fact: the team that snapped the Rocket's winning streak? The Celtics of course! Now you can redo that game all you Rockets fans, and get revenge on those streak-killing leprechauns.
2003 Mavericks
I hate the Mavericks, but any team with young Steve Nash is okay with me. He isn't quite at Sun-level, but no doubt will be an elite point guard. Dirk also was the man by this point, so all the Dirk fans will have two of the them to choose from. This team also boasted Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel. Nick the Quick hasn't been on the game in years passed, but hopefully he'll be in this one.
2000 Blazers
Ah, the Jail Blazers. This is a really fun addition. For starters, you get a non-Bull era Pippen which should be interesting. And obviously Rasheed, Steve Smith, Mighty Mouse, Sabonis, Schrempf, Bonzi, Brian Grant, and a baby Jermaine O'Neal. That's a pretty solid team.
2005 Suns
My initial wish list for new teams was headlined by some year of the "run 'n gun" Suns. My wish was fulfilled. Holy shit what a team. Every starter averaged at least 15 points per game. That's insanity. This was Nash's first MVP year, so it will be interesting to see what they rank him. Amar'e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion were both really fun to play with back in the day, so I can't see any reason why it would change now. Those guys haven't been good on a game for a few years now, so it will be fun to take it back to their heyday. You can also jack 3's with Joe Johnson, Quentin Richardson, and Leondro Barbosa. Good times were had by all.
2006 Heat
Possibly Wade's best individual season (although his '09 season was tremendous), an aging but productive Shaq, White Chocolate, Zo, Antoine Walker, GP, and James Posey (that's twice now!). Had this team not had such old role players, and Wade stayed healthy the upcoming years, it's a real possibility that they could have won another title.
2013 Heat
This is the most recent team, and they were so publicized that not much needs to be said. This is the year they won 27 straight. You get another era of Ray Allen, and I get another version of Shane Battier. This was a great team. People are already bitching that it's "too soon" for these guys, which is true to an extent, but the more the merrier I think.
2007 Cavs
I dare you to name another player besides LeBron on this team. Come on, try! The reason I say this is because this may be the worst team to ever make the Finals. Here's the starting 5:
LeBron
Drew Gooden
Ilgauskas
Larry Hughes
Eric Snow (and in the playoffs Sasha Pavlovic)
Off the bench the only names of note were a young Varejao, and Daniel "Boobie" Gibson (who happened to catch fire in the playoffs. This team was only added because it was the year LeBron scored 29 straight in the Eastern Finals against the Pistons, who at the time had made like 6 straight Eastern Conference Finals. In other words, LeBron went from a "superstar" to a "superduperstar." The team is a novelty, plain and simple. They would have won 20 games without LeBron on there. So essentially you get another LeBron in the game with a 99 ranking.
2004 Timberwolves
When you think of "historic" teams, the Wolves don't exactly jump into your mind. But this was Garnett's crowning achievement. MVP, made the Western Conference Finals. Garnett was a solid 99 this year, and I'm sure he will be again. He grabbed every damn rebound, and blocked shots like a madman. Also on this team was "Mr. Ugly" Sam Cassell in his best season, and Sprewell's last productive season.
Preorder this bad boy now!!!
2008 Celtics
This Celtics team more than deserved to be on the game. Let's face it, if KG, Pierce, or Ray are you're favorite players it's tough to play with the 2016 "old man" version of themselves and still have fun. Especially Garnett who has slipped the most (rightfully so, it will be his 21st season), but at one point was the best player in the game. (More on that in a minute.)
The team itself was dominate beyond belief. I felt this team could go toe-to-toe with some of the great teams of years past just due to their swarming defense. (Now you can do that on the game.) PP averaged 19 PPG, KG 18 PPG, and Ray 17 PPG. Talk about balance. If that's not enough, you have supersub James Posey coming off the bench. I bet it's been a long time since you've heard that name. Also a forgotten bench player was Leon Powe, who really helped stick it to the Lakers in the Finals that year. You also get Kendrick Perkins who is just starting to peak, Eddie House, Big Baby, Tony Allen (I totally forgot he was a Celtic), PJ Brown, Sam Cassell, and the immortal Brian Scalabrine. For me it will be interesting to see how they rate Rondo. He was okay in 2008, but didn't really "break-out" until the playoffs of '09. I wouldn't be surprised if they cheat and make Rondo a bit better than he really was. Regardless, this team is stacked and I'm looking forward to use them.
2001 Lakers
This has been a pretty huge omission. Why? 15-1. In case you didn't know, that was the Lakers' playoff record in '01. No Bulls, Celtics, or early Laker team can boast a playoff record that good. I'm sure Shaq will be rated a 99, and rightfully so. Kobe I would think be around a 95. (29, 6, and 5 for the year.) Easily one of the greatest 1-2 punch in history. Combined with D-Fish, Brian Shaw, and Rick Fox at their Lakers' peak. And the always present on a championship team, Big Shot Rob. The only thing that takes this team down a tad for me is that douche bag Ron Harper was on it. I've hated him since I was 10 years old; I don't know why.2004 Pistons
When you look up "team" in the dictionary, you see a picture of the '04 Pistons. They beat the "superteam" Lakers that year- and in convincing fashion. The only All Star in '04 was Ben Wallace, who had won 2 straight Defensive Player of the Year awards as well. Ironically he didn't win it this season, but had he had done so, would have won it five years in a row which would have been a record. My point is, he was a dominate defensive presence. Offensively, not so much. Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups (Finals MVP in '04), and mid-season acquisition Rasheed Wallace took up the offensive slack. (Tayshaun Prince did a little bit of everything.)Rip and Chauncey would eventually become All Stars along with Big Ben, but none of those gentlemen were ever "superstars." They are truly the only NBA team to win the Finals without a superstar player. They also had a rookie named "Darko," he must have been the reason they won.
2000 Raptors
This team will make any gamer pee their pants. Why? This team boasted Vince Carter at his peak, and was arguably the most famous player in the NBA. I can confidently state that he is the greatest dunker of all time. Yes that is my opinion, but i would think the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest is good proof to back me up. This was also the year he jumped over the guy in the Olympics. VC was the man in 2000. He truly looked like he could be the next Jordan. If not in skill, then definitely in athleticism and popularity.
Vince is only half the story though. This team also had a young T-Mac who arguably was as athletic as VC, and ironically also his cousin. Family trees aside, throwing alley-oops between these two will be a thing of beauty. 2008 Rockets
If you're anything like me, you went "what the hell?' when you saw this team listed. Then you remembered this is the team that won 22 straight games. The two big names on the team are Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Yao only played in 55 games, and was hurt less than half way through their winning streak. (Makes you wonder how "good" Yao actually was.) McGrady only played in 66 games. He was really good, but definitely had already peaked. This was actually his last relevant season. Dikembe stepped in for the injured Yao, but again was a player well passed his prime. One of my personal favorites, Shane Battier was on this team, and he wasn't passed his prime.
Fun fact: the team that snapped the Rocket's winning streak? The Celtics of course! Now you can redo that game all you Rockets fans, and get revenge on those streak-killing leprechauns.
2003 Mavericks
I hate the Mavericks, but any team with young Steve Nash is okay with me. He isn't quite at Sun-level, but no doubt will be an elite point guard. Dirk also was the man by this point, so all the Dirk fans will have two of the them to choose from. This team also boasted Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel. Nick the Quick hasn't been on the game in years passed, but hopefully he'll be in this one.
2000 Blazers
Ah, the Jail Blazers. This is a really fun addition. For starters, you get a non-Bull era Pippen which should be interesting. And obviously Rasheed, Steve Smith, Mighty Mouse, Sabonis, Schrempf, Bonzi, Brian Grant, and a baby Jermaine O'Neal. That's a pretty solid team.
2005 Suns
My initial wish list for new teams was headlined by some year of the "run 'n gun" Suns. My wish was fulfilled. Holy shit what a team. Every starter averaged at least 15 points per game. That's insanity. This was Nash's first MVP year, so it will be interesting to see what they rank him. Amar'e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion were both really fun to play with back in the day, so I can't see any reason why it would change now. Those guys haven't been good on a game for a few years now, so it will be fun to take it back to their heyday. You can also jack 3's with Joe Johnson, Quentin Richardson, and Leondro Barbosa. Good times were had by all.2006 Heat
Possibly Wade's best individual season (although his '09 season was tremendous), an aging but productive Shaq, White Chocolate, Zo, Antoine Walker, GP, and James Posey (that's twice now!). Had this team not had such old role players, and Wade stayed healthy the upcoming years, it's a real possibility that they could have won another title.
2013 Heat
This is the most recent team, and they were so publicized that not much needs to be said. This is the year they won 27 straight. You get another era of Ray Allen, and I get another version of Shane Battier. This was a great team. People are already bitching that it's "too soon" for these guys, which is true to an extent, but the more the merrier I think.2007 Cavs
I dare you to name another player besides LeBron on this team. Come on, try! The reason I say this is because this may be the worst team to ever make the Finals. Here's the starting 5:
LeBron
Drew Gooden
Ilgauskas
Larry Hughes
Eric Snow (and in the playoffs Sasha Pavlovic)
Off the bench the only names of note were a young Varejao, and Daniel "Boobie" Gibson (who happened to catch fire in the playoffs. This team was only added because it was the year LeBron scored 29 straight in the Eastern Finals against the Pistons, who at the time had made like 6 straight Eastern Conference Finals. In other words, LeBron went from a "superstar" to a "superduperstar." The team is a novelty, plain and simple. They would have won 20 games without LeBron on there. So essentially you get another LeBron in the game with a 99 ranking.
2004 Timberwolves
When you think of "historic" teams, the Wolves don't exactly jump into your mind. But this was Garnett's crowning achievement. MVP, made the Western Conference Finals. Garnett was a solid 99 this year, and I'm sure he will be again. He grabbed every damn rebound, and blocked shots like a madman. Also on this team was "Mr. Ugly" Sam Cassell in his best season, and Sprewell's last productive season.
Preorder this bad boy now!!!
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