1989-90 Roster: Lakers vs. Celtics and the NBA Playoffs Remake (PS4)

[fcf250]

So when I was a kid, the first basketball video game I ever played that used real life players was a game for the Sega Genesis called Lakers vs. Celtics and the NBA Playoffs. It sort of reproduced the final eight of the 1990 playoffs (ie, the playoffs after the '89-'90 season), and it was a blast. The graphics were terrible but the teams had full rosters and you could make substitutions and Michael Jordan could dunk basically from the 3 pt line.

This year, I'm going to try to reproduce that game on NBA 2K20 for the PS4. That 1989-90 season was the year all the pieces were finally in place for the next decade of NBA basketball. David Robinson was finally in San Antonio; the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Suns, Pistons, Sonics, Sixers, and Blazers were all title threats but nobody was an obvious favorite.

Within the next five years, Magic and Bird were forced to retire early, Reggie Lewis, Drazen Petrovic, and Hank Gathers all died, Roy Tarpley cocained his way out of the league, and MJ retired and unretired. What we got was a decade dominated by the Bulls and a bunch of other teams punching each other in the mouth. It was all fine, but I've always wondered how the decade would have played out with Magic still playing, with Lewis gradually taking the torch from Bird, with no MJ hiatus, and with all that talent we lost still in the league.

So! I started yesterday. As I finish teams, I will post to describe them here as a way to keep myself moving and honest. Hoping to finish one or even two today!

[Grentthealien]

Quote: Originally Posted by fcf250

So when I was a kid, the first basketball video game I ever played that used real life players was a game for the Sega Genesis called Lakers vs. Celtics and the NBA Playoffs. It sort of reproduced the final eight of the 1990 playoffs (ie, the playoffs after the '89-'90 season), and it was a blast. The graphics were terrible but the teams had full rosters and you could make substitutions and Michael Jordan could dunk basically from the 3 pt line. This year, I'm going to try to reproduce that game on NBA 2K20 for the PS4. That 1989-90 season was the year all the pieces were finally in place for the next decade of NBA basketball. David Robinson was finally in San Antonio; the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Suns, Pistons, Sonics, Sixers, and Blazers were all title threats but nobody was an obvious favorite. Within the next five years, Magic and Bird were forced to retire early, Reggie Lewis, Drazen Petrovic, and Hank Gathers all died, Roy Tarpley cocained his way out of the league, and MJ retired and unretired. What we got was a decade dominated by the Bulls and a bunch of other teams punching each other in the mouth. It was all fine, but I've always wondered how the decade would have played out with Magic still playing, with Lewis gradually taking the torch from Bird, with no MJ hiatus, and with all that talent we lost still in the league. So! I started yesterday. As I finish teams, I will post to describe them here as a way to keep myself moving and honest. Hoping to finish one or even two today!

One question are you creating all 27 teams from that season? Or only the final 8 from that postseason and the Lakers and Celtics?

[fcf250]

All 27 teams!

[Jaiveer]

Quote: Originally Posted by fcf250

All 27 teams!

contracts and draft classes too? this should be epic

[fcf250]

1989-90 Detroit Pistons
RECORD: 59-23 (1st place, Central Division)

Starting Lineup (OVR)

PG: Isiah Thomas (85)
SG: Joe Dumars (82)
SF: Dennis Rodman (79)
PF: Bill Laimbeer (81)
C: James Edwards (74)

Rotation and Bench

Mark Aguirre (79), John Salley (74), Vinnie Johnson (73), Gerald Henderson (71), William Bedford (71), Dave Greenwood (69), Scott Hastings (65), Stan Kimbrough (60)

[fcf250]

1989-90 Chicago Bulls
RECORD: 55-26 (2nd place, Central Division)

Starting Lineup (OVR)

PG: John Paxson (73)
SG: Michael Jordan (99)
SF: Scottie Pippen (80)
PF: Horace Grant (81)
C: Bill Cartwright (73)

Rotation and Bench

Stacey King (75), Craig Hodges (72), B.J. Armstrong (70), Ed Nealy (69), Will Perdue (65), Jeff Sanders (61), Clifford Lett (60), Charles Davis (60)

[fcf250]

1989-90 Milwaukee Bucks
RECORD: 44-38 (3rd place, Central Division)

Starting Lineup (OVR)

PG: Jay Humphries (81)
SG: Alvin Robertson (84)
SF: Fred Roberts (69)
PF: Brad Lohaus (73)
C: Jack Sikma (76)

Rotation and Bench

Ricky Pierce (82), Paul Pressey (79), Greg Anderson (72), Jeff Grayer (70), Ben Coleman (69), Jerry Sichting (64), Tony Brown (63), Frank Kornet (59), Tito Horford (57)

Injured

Larry Krystkowiak (74) - Left Knee, 120 Days

[mrclutch]

Quote: Originally Posted by fcf250

1989-90 Detroit Pistons RECORD: 59-23 (1st place, Central Division) Starting Lineup (OVR) PG: Isiah Thomas (85) SG: Joe Dumars (82) SF: Dennis Rodman (79) PF: Bill Laimbeer (81) C: James Edwards (74) Rotation and Bench Mark Aguirre (79), John Salley (74), Vinnie Johnson (73), Gerald Henderson (71), William Bedford (71), Dave Greenwood (69), Scott Hastings (65), Stan Kimbrough (60)

The greatest team of all time!!
I always tweak the 2k version of this roster because every version I try has Mark Aguirre nowhere good as he needs to be. He was a scoring beast but played in the system after being traded to the Pistons.
James Edwards had as deadly a post fade as Dirk but once again it’s hrs to get right without inflating his overall.
Thx for posting!