The other online option is league play. Both public and private leagues can be created. For those brave enough to endure an 82 game season with a full league, the game creates a weighted schedule that mirrors an NBA season. A season set up with less than a full allotment of teams creates a round robin schedule where each team plays all of the other teams in the league a set number of times. Public leagues tend to be hit and miss, but leagues that are formed with a group of friends who have real interest in the continuity of the group can provide a great deal of fun.

Finally, NBA Blacktop is a collection of mini-games. Each game can be played by up to four players. This mode is for people that enjoy playing against their friends in some games that have a short time commitment. Each game takes 5-10 minutes and new games can be started relatively quickly. The control scheme on the dunking competition can be a bit daunting, but the other games offer small doses of fun and a good place to hone some of the game's finer skills. NBA Blacktop is nothing more than an add-on to increase the feature set, but it serves its purpose.

One of the overriding negative issues with the overall game is control. The problem is evident as soon as the manual is opened. Two-thirds of the manual's information is dedicated to the various control combinations to play the game. When did playing a sports game suddenly become so complicated? The extremely high learning curve needed to master the play in this game is tolerable at best and extremely frustrating at its worst. Thankfully, a simplified use of the controls by the user can be employed and the game will still give a decent basketball experience.

Even when using a minimal amount of controls, the feeling that much better gameplay can be achieved by those with thorough knowledge of the control scheme is palpable. Two and three button/stick combinations are needed for the most basic of basketball moves. The sheer number of controls available often results in several confusing moments where a wrong button press results in an action that is not close to what was intended. The number of control combinations is daunting to all but the most hardened of sports gamers. The controls can be mastered, but there is a significant time investment needed to do so.

Animations and graphics vary quite a bit. There are some moments that leave you speechless. Replays have a TV-quality appearance and statistical overlays create immersion to the point where the game reproduces a live telecast. Dunking animations portray the athletic ability of the players while staying within the bounds of reason. Shot animation is smooth and leaves little question when the actual release of the ball occurs.

On court movement animations show a lack of polish at times. Character models are very stiff. The release point for a player can be hard to decipher, making accurate shooting a difficult proposition. If a player stops just past the half court line, the animation actually causes the player's back foot to settle on the half court line. It should be a backcourt violation, but it is not called. A severe annoyance involves the referee retrieving the ball during a stoppage in play. Not only is the running animation sketchy at best, but the whole process can take several seconds of game time. It is like watching a bad loading screen and takes away from the immersion of the game. The developers should just allow the game to cut forward and put the ball in the player's hands to avoid detracting from the pace of the game.

The Association mode is a very deep simulation experience that should satisfy most simulation fans. There's a wealth of information available and the ability to customize the league and determine how much control the owner has over the team. The in-game engine, while showing some animation weaknesses, still provides a good simulation experience. 2K Sports needs to get the menu and gameplay controls simplified to the point where an advanced degree isn't needed to master the game. As it currently stands, there are a few too many nagging issues to qualify it as a major advancement in this series.

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