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Three Toughest Associations in NBA 2K13
NBA 2K13 is looking great every time we see it, and we all know which teams will be easy to play with this year (Heat, Lakers, Thunder, Bulls, etc). But which teams will be the toughest to use? We'll list the three teams, why we think they will be so hard to use in NBA 2K13, and what you can do to improve them. Wheeling and dealing with trades is a hint.



Charlotte Bobcats

This one is the most obvious. They had the worst winning percentage in NBA history last year, so don't expect their players ratings to be that high in this year's game. Yes, they are a young team, but in NBA 2K13, they will be a team to try and avoid. Gerald Henderson seems to improve with each iteration, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will be fun to play as for Bobcats fans. However, they don't have a go-to player. Ben Gordon? I don't think so. Tyrus Thomas? Yeah...no. When people go into the Association mode, or even online, they want that one player who can turn the game around for them or break it wide open. The Bobcats simply will not have that in NBA 2K13. How do you fix that? Go through the rosters of other teams and try to trade for a player that won't require you to trade away too many of Charlotte's young talent, but one that can help you immediately win games. If you play against human players (online, local) more than you play the CPU, like previously mentioned, it's best to avoid playing as the Bobcats this year.


Cleveland Cavaliers

The oldest player on the Cavs is Luke Walton at age 32. So why are they on this list? To be as concise as possible: no star power. Sure, Kyrie Irving will be a solid PG for fans of Cleveland and using him in online play might be fun for a few games, but not a single player on their team can shut down an opposing player with their defense or score the necessary points required to win a game. Our suggestion? Trade for a player that will help Kyrie Irving, possibly an athletic power forward who can can do well at the pick & roll (for readers, this is indeed my favorite play). Tyler Zeller might be great at that for some, but leaving him at center and signing or trading for a more athletic power forward will help the Cavs in NBA 2K13 tremendously. When taking the Cavs online, I would start Tyler Zeller over Anderson Varejao. Varejao has always been a good bench player in the NBA 2K series. This might shock some people, but I think Jeremy Pargo would be great at SG to compliment Kyrie Irving. Daniel Gibson is a decent player and spot-up shooter, but Jeremy Pargo looks like the better all-around player.


Sacramento Kings

This last team on this list was between the Kings and Wizards. I had to go with the Kings seeing as how the Wizards have a much improved team with the addition of Bradley Beal to go alongside John Wall. Add in Nene, Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor, and you have a team that any fan of the NBA 2K franchise would love to play with.

As for the Kings, they have potential. But going up against the likes of the Clippers and Lakers during the season will be tough for people playing as the Kings. Sacramento on paper does seem like a great fit to start an Association with, but not so fast: their young players might be difficult to play with in NBA 2K13. First, move Tyreke Evans to SG if he is listed as a SF. Next, put Jimmer Fredette in at starting PG (Aaron Brooks on the bench). Jimmer might not have great ball handling, but with his shooting, you are sure to have the defense on top of him every time he dribbles up the court. With Fredette at PG, Tyreke Evans at SG, Marcus Thornton at SF, rookie Thomas Robinson at PF and DeMarcus Cousins at C, you should have a team that could potentially be a little easier to use. Signing a decent player at that position might be your best bet, but you can go game-by-game before making that decision.

Think there is a team that will be tougher to use in NBA 2K13? Let us know in the comments below.

 


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Member Comments
# 41 sactown_13 @ 09/14/12 10:17 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by djwax90
Easiest 3: Heat, Thunder, Lakers

Toughest 3: Bobcats, Magic, Rockets

End of thread.
Houston just added a lot of talent through the draft. i wouldnt have them in the bottom 3. i would go 1. Magic 2. Charlotte 3. Then maybe Cleveland?? Im having trouble with the last one seeing how most of the bad teams have good young talent that should develop nicely in Association mode
 
# 42 Neoda2khead @ 09/14/12 10:42 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by djwax90
Easiest 3: Heat, Thunder, Lakers

Toughest 3: Bobcats, Magic, Rockets

End of thread.
So u believe it's harder to become a contender then it is to stay one ?
 
# 43 SpacialJones @ 09/15/12 05:16 AM
so i guess developing kemba walker wouldnt be as fun? I think in terms of rating yea the bobcats arent anything to even glance at but if you have a good defensive strategy and will use walker as play-maker... this could be a fun team.. dont sleep on BG though... he will light it up REAL quick. I think if your a player who plays 2k and only uses stars with limited knowledge of basketball then yea they dont look appealing. But if you know the game a little bit and have some good sim stick skills.... youll have a good time with em. thats just my humble opinion though.
 
# 44 Shadojoker @ 09/15/12 09:02 AM
Chicago easily...till Rose gets back and since they broke up the "Bench Mob"
 
# 45 Shadojoker @ 09/15/12 09:17 AM
 
# 46 Shadojoker @ 09/15/12 09:20 AM
Sry for triple post..
 
# 47 8KB24 @ 09/15/12 09:21 AM
The worst rated team is always the toughest to manage in association.
 
# 48 agreene7 @ 09/15/12 09:49 AM
If Rose is unplayable during association then I'll roll with them since they are my favorite in real life. If not i will roll with the Magic since they have no one and they got rid of those other big contracts.
 
# 49 cavsfan2 @ 09/15/12 10:04 AM
I understand the cavs have no star power aside from Irving, but really, the Magic have nothing.
 
# 50 TeamBuilder @ 09/15/12 12:53 PM
Three points:

One - The Kings are one of the better teams to start an Association with in 2K13. If you don't like the roster the way it currently is, you'll have a ton of assets with trade value to move pieces around. I made this case already: http://www.operationsports.com/forums/nba-2k/564190-2k13s-most-valuable-team.html[2K13's Most Valuable Team?

Two - I can't believe the Magic were omitted from the list of the three toughest 2K13 Association teams. It's going to be an absolutely painful year for those who play an Association with the Magic. The most valuable players on the Magic roster are Andrew Nicholson and Moe Harkless... ouch.

Three - In no way are the Wizards a more promising 2K13 Association team than the Kings. The trio of Okafor, Ariza, and Nene destroys cap room with their bad contracts (for older players) and Washington is going to struggle to score points. Bradley Beal should have decent enough offensive ratings, but look at the rest of that starting lineup (Wall, Ariza, Okafor, Nene). I don't think so...
 
# 51 lavy23 @ 09/15/12 02:38 PM
Honestly I wouldn't have the Kings anywhere near this list and Orlando, Phoenix and Detroit would all be harder to manage in 2k13 (due to lack of a future star) than the Cavs IMO.
 
# 52 TeamBuilder @ 09/15/12 03:10 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by lavy23
Honestly I wouldn't have the Kings anywhere near this list and Orlando, Phoenix and Detroit would all be harder to manage in 2k13 (due to lack of a future star) than the Cavs IMO.
I'm with you on Orlando and Phoenix, but I have Washington as the third team instead of Detroit.

Detroit has Monroe, Drummond, Knight, and Stuckey (all of which should have good potential/trade value in 2K13), while Washington has Wall, Beal, and to a lesser extent, Vesely.

I think what puts Detroit slightly above Washington is that the combination of Monroe and Drummond has a chance to develop into something special in a 2K13 Association (it remains to be seen if Drummond will develop in real life, but from a video game standpoint he should be the next closest thing to Dwight/Anthony Davis). Not to say that the Wall/Beal duo won't be special, but in a video game I'd take two bigs over two guards.
 
# 53 Championships @ 09/16/12 12:29 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by djwax90
Easiest 3: Heat, Thunder, Lakers

Toughest 3: Bobcats, Magic, Rockets

End of thread.
Rockets? no, that last team should be the Phoenix Suns.
 
# 54 teebee @ 09/17/12 01:16 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guard-ian
Orlando and Houston should be candidates to be in that list instead of Cavs and Kings... Also Detroit and Utah can be suspicious.

Kings players used to be pretty useful in past 2k games and Cavs will have a star in Irving from this year on...

Cheers! ;-)
Man who mentioned Utah, that team is stacked! So many good players there, its almost hard to get them all on the floor
 
# 55 rockchisler @ 09/17/12 04:13 AM
Ive strictly Played Detroit the Last 2 years, I know the ins and outs. They have quality players and will not be difficult to play with this year.
 

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