I think EA might be better off simply going the way of an over-the-top JAM-type game rather than meet 2K head-on with a sim.
I haven't owned a b'ball game since the SNES days but I'm biting the bullet this year.
This game is just too dang deep to pass up. Even though I'm not a basketball fan by anymeans, I like sports and this sim seems to be the best of them all.
See EA, you can cater to the hardcore and non-fans like myself will still come calling.