[mythreesons]

A few other observations from this game:

Most will agree without hesitation that the 2K is a much more asthetically pleasing game. But for some reason I keep coming back to this one. For one, the spacing as well as the player models are much better than the other game. When I pick-up the other game now, the players look chunky and the court looks crowded. Trust me, there are many issues with this game, but for the most part it looks and feels like basketball. I could write a list as long as my arm of things that need fixing.

I've gotten much better at defending both on the perimeter and in the paint and I'm able to make an impact if I stay focused. I feel like I can counter what my opponent is trying to do. I adjust, I change strategy and I play tough defense. My PIP allowed has fallen from 75% of points scored to near 40%.

At times offense comes too easy, which is accurate of what happens IRL where you get lulled into taking rushed or bad shots and suddenly you can't make anything. You have to pay attention because a run - either offensively or defensively - is only a bad shot or a missed defensive assignment away.

One ot the things that frustrated me about the other game was canned or scripted runs that you had no control over (other than the standard, "call a timeout" strategy). With this game I feel I can manage things better.

The other night I jumped out to a early 15 point lead in the first quarter, built to 20 and won by about that much - shoulda won by more but I got a little complacent and lost focus. But the game was a blowout from the start.

When I first got the game a 15 point first quarter lead would be reduced to two by halftime. Initially I blamed it on a scripted comeback - and that could possibly be so, but now I believe that it was more of me not managing the game, jacking up poor shots, playing porous defense - in essence allowing the computer to adjust to what I was doing rather than me adjusting to the flow of the game.

Didn't mean for this to be so long, but I've been trying to figure in my own head why I like this game. I still believe the other game is better, but (and I've heard a bunch of people say this) I have fun playing this one... not because I win or because I can bum rush the rim and dunk, but because it feels like a basketball game. It doesn't happen instantly... you have to learn the controls and understand what options you have at your disposal.

Personally I'm glad we have both, but for now I'm enjoying LIVE.