Basketball Games for PS2

[Wildfire]

So I'm decided whether to stick with Live (I have '05) or try out the2K games... anyone have any thoughts?

I've heard the Franchise mode stuff is better for 2K, but the game play is kinda weak.. but I've never actually played it, so I was hoping for some opinions.

[sickman]

Arcade style gameplay, go with Live. A close to true sim then go with 2K.

I'm a huge EA mark, but have not enjoyed a Live game since '96 on the Sega Genesis. After years of frustration with the Live series, I gave 2K a shot and really enjoy them.

The only thing that ticks me off is too many times an elite player (i,e, Wade) will not be resigned with the Heat (for whatever stupid reason the AI has), but no other team will have the salary cap space to sign him. So at the beginning of the preseason, he will accept a minimum contract of 1 year for 5 million dollars and then hit free agency again. Unless the team that picked him up resigns him.

[Wildfire]

Ok, so since it was cheaper than renting, I picked up 2K5 for $2.99, some thoughts:

1) Franchise mode stuff is WAY better than NBA live.. I like the 'chemistry' stuff.. way better done here than, say FIFA, were its just about the team being together. They got the cap exceptions in there too, which is good (still don't seem to have the Larry Bird rule, but its closer)

I was able to take the Celtics and get Allen and Garnett, so that was fun.. the Trade for Allen was pretty fair (gave up Ricky Davis and Delonte West) but the T-Wolves got screwed (They got Michael Stewart, Rick Fox (neither of which should ever play) Mark Blount, Jefferson, Gary Payton, and my 1st round pick)

I kept Marcus Banks to stand in for Rondo, Matt Barnes to cover for James Posey, and Eddy Curry (who, as a rookie, is pretty lousy) for Pollard (who was still pretty good in '05)

The game play is good, but there are definately some issues.. besides the typical too good shooting and lack of fouls, its seems WAY to easy to steal passes.... I'm forcing around 40 TO's a game through my 1st four games.... I'm hoping some slider sliding can fix this stuff though.

So far my biggest gripe is some stat issues.. they don't record blocked shots as misses, but rather if you block a shot, and then pick up what should be a rebound, it counts as a steal AS WELL AS a block, and a turnover.

The other big thing is that have a really cool feature 'simulate to end' which would rock to finish out the 4th quarter when you're up 15 or 20, that completely destroys the stats if you use it (it makes the game basically count twice)

I would hope they've fixed that.

The pace is good though, I can play 10 minute quarters and get pretty regular stats

Definately worth playing some more... probably by the time the 08 games come out I'll have decided if I like it better than Live or not.