The Classic Teams NBA 2k18 Left Out
The NBA 2k franchise blew everyone away when they released retro teams in 2k11, but there have been many complaints due to the lack of additions since. Perhaps the resurrection of NBA Live influenced 2k to up the stakes. In NBA 2k18, they are releasing "All-Time" teams: The greatest players to play for all 30 NBA teams. 2k is also releasing 17 new classic teams.
As a fan of NBA 2k, I must complain about something. Let's go over some of the classic that 2k left out. Leave in the comments any teams I might have missed.
The 54-28 Knicks broke the NBA record for most most made threes in a season (at the time). This was also Melo's best season, winning the scoring title and finishing 3rd in MVP voting. This team also had Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas, all in the twilight of their careers.
2k included the 2011-2012 Linsanity Knicks for reasons that I cannot understand. They went 36-30 in a meaningless lockout season and got smoked by the Heat in the first round of the playoffs.
Charles Barkley has not been included in 2k due to financial reasons, and that is a damn shame. This Suns team was arguably the toughest opponent for the MJ Bulls. It would also be fun to play as Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle.
https://twitter.com/howardbeck/status/788436026004008960
The 2k developers would have had fun creating Barkley contested dunk animations. Although he is now known for eating churros on TNT, he was a bulldozer back in the day going coast to coast on the fast break. Maybe one day Chuck will come around.
This Magic squad is not by any means an all-time great team. They only went 44-38. We already have T-Mac on a better Rockets team, but this was McGrady at the peak of his powers. Other notable mentions: Grant Hill, Mike Miller, Patrick Ewing, Horace Grant, Monty Williams and Bo Outlaw.
This championship Lakers team featured a Kobe Bryant who may have been past his prime from an athletic standpoint, but many would argue was at his prime from a fundamentals standpoint. At 31 years old he averaged 27 points.
Other notable mentions: Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest, Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum (perhaps his only healthy year), Shannon Brown, Sasha Vujacic, and of course, Luke Walton. This would have been a fun team to contest the LeBron Heat with.
The modern basketball analytic principle of either 3's or close shots (basically the extinction of mid range jumpers) might have started with this team. This Orlando team should be in 2k not just due to prime Dwight, but due to the firepower surrounding him.
Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson, J.J. Reddick, Courtney Lee and Mickael Pietrus were all sharpshooters in their own right. Other notable guys are Tyronn Lue and Marcin Gortat.
Bear with me here, I know this resulted as one of the worst trades in NBA history, but no one was saying that when the trade actually happened!
Yes, this Brooklyn team ended up being a huge disappointment, and is still affecting Boston's fortune to this day. However, NBA 2k is a video game, and this team is stacked with superstars, even if father-time was not on their side.
Dear Knicks fans: I'm sorry to even mention this team.
Reggie Miller's legendary 8 points in 18 seconds speaks for itself . This was a legitimate championship contender that lost in a 7 game Eastern Conference Finals battle to the Shaq/Penny Magic. Other notable players: Derrick McKay, Mark Jackson, Rik Smits, Dale Davis, Byron Scott, Sam Mitchell and Antonio Davis.
This is the "what could have been" team. This young Blazers core was a serious threat in the Western Conference before injuries piled onto Brandon Roy and Greg Oden.
Although their only notable point guard at the time was Steve Blake, Brandon Roy worked as the facilitator for the team. Other notable mentions: LeMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Travis Outlaw, Rudy Fernandez, Jerryd Bayless, and Channing Frye.
https://twitter.com/4field/status/617718498769268736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsixfouls.com%2F2015%2F07%2F07%2Fr-i-p-city-the-dynasty-that-never-was%2F
There are plenty of other teams I might have left out, so leave your comments below. RIP Rip City.
As a fan of NBA 2k, I must complain about something. Let's go over some of the classic that 2k left out. Leave in the comments any teams I might have missed.
2012-2013 New York Knicks
The 54-28 Knicks broke the NBA record for most most made threes in a season (at the time). This was also Melo's best season, winning the scoring title and finishing 3rd in MVP voting. This team also had Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas, all in the twilight of their careers.
2k included the 2011-2012 Linsanity Knicks for reasons that I cannot understand. They went 36-30 in a meaningless lockout season and got smoked by the Heat in the first round of the playoffs.
1992-1993 Phoenix Suns
Charles Barkley has not been included in 2k due to financial reasons, and that is a damn shame. This Suns team was arguably the toughest opponent for the MJ Bulls. It would also be fun to play as Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle.
https://twitter.com/howardbeck/status/788436026004008960
The 2k developers would have had fun creating Barkley contested dunk animations. Although he is now known for eating churros on TNT, he was a bulldozer back in the day going coast to coast on the fast break. Maybe one day Chuck will come around.
2001-2002 Orlando Magic
This Magic squad is not by any means an all-time great team. They only went 44-38. We already have T-Mac on a better Rockets team, but this was McGrady at the peak of his powers. Other notable mentions: Grant Hill, Mike Miller, Patrick Ewing, Horace Grant, Monty Williams and Bo Outlaw.
2009-2010 Los Angeles Lakers
This championship Lakers team featured a Kobe Bryant who may have been past his prime from an athletic standpoint, but many would argue was at his prime from a fundamentals standpoint. At 31 years old he averaged 27 points.
Other notable mentions: Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest, Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum (perhaps his only healthy year), Shannon Brown, Sasha Vujacic, and of course, Luke Walton. This would have been a fun team to contest the LeBron Heat with.
2008-2009 Orlando Magic
The modern basketball analytic principle of either 3's or close shots (basically the extinction of mid range jumpers) might have started with this team. This Orlando team should be in 2k not just due to prime Dwight, but due to the firepower surrounding him.
Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson, J.J. Reddick, Courtney Lee and Mickael Pietrus were all sharpshooters in their own right. Other notable guys are Tyronn Lue and Marcin Gortat.
2013-2014 Brooklyn Nets
Bear with me here, I know this resulted as one of the worst trades in NBA history, but no one was saying that when the trade actually happened!
Yes, this Brooklyn team ended up being a huge disappointment, and is still affecting Boston's fortune to this day. However, NBA 2k is a video game, and this team is stacked with superstars, even if father-time was not on their side.
1994-1995 Indiana Pacers
Dear Knicks fans: I'm sorry to even mention this team.
Reggie Miller's legendary 8 points in 18 seconds speaks for itself . This was a legitimate championship contender that lost in a 7 game Eastern Conference Finals battle to the Shaq/Penny Magic. Other notable players: Derrick McKay, Mark Jackson, Rik Smits, Dale Davis, Byron Scott, Sam Mitchell and Antonio Davis.
2008-2009 Portland Trail Blazers
This is the "what could have been" team. This young Blazers core was a serious threat in the Western Conference before injuries piled onto Brandon Roy and Greg Oden.
Although their only notable point guard at the time was Steve Blake, Brandon Roy worked as the facilitator for the team. Other notable mentions: LeMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Travis Outlaw, Rudy Fernandez, Jerryd Bayless, and Channing Frye.
https://twitter.com/4field/status/617718498769268736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsixfouls.com%2F2015%2F07%2F07%2Fr-i-p-city-the-dynasty-that-never-was%2F
There are plenty of other teams I might have left out, so leave your comments below. RIP Rip City.
