Early NBA Season Surprises
by 
We are now approximately 12% of the way into the NBA season at which point some trends can start to be analyzed. I thought it would be interesting to look at how the player ratings have changed based on the results from the start of the season. The easiest way to do this is look at those who are clearly outperforming expectations and those who are disappointing. How have their ratings changed in NBA Live 10 and NBA 2K10 since the start of the season?
Here are some of the players that have stood out to me or were suggested by others on Twitter. Their current and original overall ratings are listed.
Fast or surprising starts
Brandon Jennings 25.6 PPG, 5.1 APG
NBA Live 10: Current 70. Original 70. (No Change)
NBA 2K10: Current 74. Original 64. (+10)
Steve Nash 17.1 PPG, 11.8 APG
NBA Live 10: Current 88. Original 88. (No Change)
NBA 2K10: Current 80. Original 80. (No Change)
Tyreke Evans 16.8 PPG, 4.3 APG
NBA Live 10: Current 69. Original 69. (No Change)
NBA 2K10: Current 71. Original 71. (No Change)
Carmelo Anthony 29.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG
NBA Live 10: Current 90. Original 90. (No Change)
NBA 2K10: Current 91. Original 88. (+3)
Chris Kaman 22.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG
NBA Live 10: Current 74. Original 74. (No Change)
NBA 2K10: Current 72. Original 72. (No Change)
Slow or disappointing starts
Elton Brand 9.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG
NBA Live 10: Current 79. Original 79. (No Change)
NBA 2K10: Current 74. Original 77. (-3)
Shaquille O’Neal 11.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG
NBA Live 10: Current 83. Original 83. (No Change)
NBA 2K10: Current 81. Original 81. (No Change)
Hasheem Thabeet 0.6 PPG, 1.6 RPG
NBA Live 10: Current 72. Original 72. (No Change)
NBA 2K10: Current 57. Original 57. (No Change)
Stephen Curry 8.3 PPG, 4.4 APG
NBA Live 10: Current 73. Original 73. (No Change)
NBA 2K10: Current 69. Original 69. (No Change)
Kevin Garnett 13.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG
NBA Live 10: Current 90. Original 90. (No Change)
NBA 2K10: Current 87. Original 90. (-3)
Overall Analysis
Both the Synergy auto-updating for NBA Live 10 and the single person in charge of updating rosters for NBA 2K10 are somewhat unreliable. In Live’s case while Synergy is updating the rosters and tendencies after each game it has not resulted in any overall ratings changes which is very disappointing. Meanwhile NBA 2K10 is at least seeing adjustments to some players but others seem largely ignored and online play still uses the default roster as opposed to the most recent one. (Update) EA has stated that a full ratings update is coming this week.
November 16, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Live isnt really dependant on the overall rating so that doesnt bother me at all. It is all about the details within the DNA and those seem to be updating fine on my end. I love the Dynamic Season mode!
November 16, 2009 at 11:40 pm
EXACTLY!. WTF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PASTA. Overall rating doesnt mean squat. Its the individual stats that makes the difference. Overall is just a frame of reference. You should have learned that from playing Madden, Pasta. Pasta=Epic Fail
November 17, 2009 at 12:07 am
the DNA is not doing what you think it does. should really keep up more on how well it is or isnt working
http://www.operationsports.com/forums/nba-live/36...
November 16, 2009 at 11:23 pm
My Hornets have made me very sad :/
November 17, 2009 at 12:05 am
Is that you Weezy!!!!?
November 17, 2009 at 1:04 pm
yea but just dont be all over me man please
November 17, 2009 at 11:31 pm
I wont, I just want to say congradulations on your lil weezy's
November 16, 2009 at 11:35 pm
i only have 2k and the only thing that bothers me is that on ranked matches they use the default rosters, which is very stupid..and 2k does alter alot of ratings on alot a players, its usually just subtle changes that wouldnt change their overall rating unless theyre just doing work like jennings or carmelo
November 16, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Pasta, you should know that Live drives off Dynamic DNA and not overall ratings.
November 17, 2009 at 6:02 am
Yeah and who cares, Jennings just dropped 55 and has been playing well since the start of the season he should see a drastic change in ratings. And by the way Cabrillo after playing playing live it still sucks!
November 17, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Thanks.
November 18, 2009 at 3:40 pm
yup good point. Last night i was playing and I decided to do something I NEVER did in the past with this game….. I scouted my players. This is kinda where things really started to come together for me with this game. This game is about real tendencies and success rates, you really can't fight against this or its a sure fire ass beating. I've been able with no slider tweaks and set on All-Star 11 qrt to see some really nice stats going on. The game is a lot less frustrating when you do the scouting and no what you players success rates are. For example as much as i like to drain those J's with Kobe it's just not a good idea since he's posting up 50% of the time and his close shots are way down. This game just got a lot more fun for me and i was about to hang it up.
November 16, 2009 at 11:55 pm
David Lee in that screen shot makes me wonder if he's on steroids or something. When did he become the white Alonza Mourning?
November 17, 2009 at 1:03 am
LOL WORD DEY JACKED LEE UP DEY AIN'T SHO HIM NO LUV DIS YR
BUT DEY DID 4 AL & NATE BUT LEE IS 1 OF DA WORST LOOKIN PLAYAS N 2K10
November 16, 2009 at 11:56 pm
i dont put to much stock in this article cause overall ratings dont matter. But jennings not getting any boost in live is a little suspect.
November 17, 2009 at 12:07 am
overall ratings show what all the other ratings combine into. the big picture
November 17, 2009 at 8:50 am
Have you played with brandon jennings in live, he shoots the lights out. the ovr ratings don't really matter. look at his shot percentages, thats what allows him to be effective. remember there is no shot rating, everything is based off of real life percentages.
Where the ratings do screw up at is in the speed and stamina department, so if u have Jennings starting because his ovr is 70 when automatic subs is on, the cpu will take him out for Ridnour because Ridnour has a higher rating.
November 18, 2009 at 5:23 am
damn thats pretty jacked up.
November 17, 2009 at 12:07 am
Stephen Jackson gets traded to the Bobcats, and Iverson and Grizzles agree to terminate contract. So Iverson's not on the Grizzles no more
November 17, 2009 at 12:10 am
i have notice in nba 2k there are players rating changing even though there overall didnt change and there tendencies change to
November 17, 2009 at 12:17 am
live drives off Dynamic DNA, but if a guy can't shoot from outside from default and you update his DNA he wil attemt more but not make more shots so you need a slight ratings adjustment along with the DNA update. RATINGS ARE very important!
LAst year i was pissed off that even after Anthony Morrow was one of the best shooter sin the league and this was known around the league he still had lowzy nba live DNA ratings and tendencies.
Thabeet should drop in LIVE, Jennings could go up a little.
how hard could it be? you put 5 guys on top of the ratingchanges all year. they check the big changes in play onc ein 2 or 3 weeks and they apply.
easy
November 17, 2009 at 8:57 am
There aren't any shot ratings, the shots are controlled by the percentages. Look at the DNA scouting and go to the shot screens those percentages are what drive the scoring. The tendencies are are also included. Brandon Jennings is a beast in live when it comes to scoring. So what you are saying is is half wrong because they update shot statistics and tendencies. Not flaming just informing you.
Jennings does need to go up, I agree but his scoring is right on point. I think they need to bump his speed from 85 to 90 or so and his Stamina and a few other things but he's a beast especially from the 3 point line.
November 17, 2009 at 12:51 am
Any word on the Madden patch?
November 17, 2009 at 1:07 am
2k updates player overall ratings and some of the specific ratings like 3pt shot blocking, shot close, shot medium live does the whole dna stuff and rarely updates overall ratings. last year in live 09 they updates some dna ratings for players like the ones that 2k does but not as much overall ratings with that being said live 10 should update overall players ratings cuz that the most important ratings a player has. despite being driven off of dynamic dna anyway very few player ratings should go up. brandon jennings should go from a 70 to a 80 in live 10 do to his steller play carmelo should go up three points in live nash should go up two points also denilo gallnari should go up three points.
November 17, 2009 at 1:40 am
YO LiVE iZ N BEAST MODE
2K DONE FELL OFF
YA HERD???
HOLLA LATE PATNA
November 18, 2009 at 2:02 am
TELL ME HOW MY DIK TASTE MA
LMAO HA HA HA HA HA SHE CAN'T GET ENUFF OF IT MAKE ROOM 4 2NDS
November 17, 2009 at 1:57 am
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? first off how the hell could you say Steve Nash is a surprise? the past few years he was limited due to shaq and injury plus he didnt have the right talent around him and they were running a more defensive style of play which made him suffer but he still averaged about 15pts and 9APG last year so idk how his 17 and 11 is a surprise to you. Melo just was more of a team player last year and without him going out and putting up 45 a game they almost made it to the finals by him scoring 22 a game plus melo has always had scoring talent hes just unleashing it this year more than he ever has. Shaq was never expected to put up big numbers he was only brought in to stop the big guys like howard who destroyed the cavs in the paint last year dude is 37 and fat of course he wont put up good numbers. most of the others are rooks who never had that much promise to them anyway and Garnett? ummmm its called team basketball in Boston they dont worry about padding stats plus hes coming off a knee injury and working his way back to playing his minutes. Yo I usually agree with what you have to say but this time bro this article makes no sense and you sound like you have no idea about NBA basketball
November 17, 2009 at 10:27 pm
True dat (especially the Carmelo part)
November 18, 2009 at 4:54 am
LOL Thanks Melo
November 17, 2009 at 2:52 am
Live is supposed to change ratings this week. Since their player rotations are based on ratings they need to be changed. Right now if you play the Bucks Ridnour will come in at the first dead ball for Jennings because he's rated higher.
November 17, 2009 at 3:50 am
live is accuate so dont hate on the game people
November 17, 2009 at 4:09 am
The NBA Live DNA updates aren't working yet, the only thing they are changing is roster changes and injuries. Anyone know when they're actually going to change the ratings and dna/hot streaks cold streaks in the game?? None of the ratings have even moved yet.
November 17, 2009 at 4:41 am
Streaks don't fire up until players have played 10 games (should be pretty soon). All other aspects of DNA are rolling… check Jennings' shooting %s in the game. He is lights out right now and plays like it.
November 17, 2009 at 4:33 am
A LIVE update with the first batch of ratings changes will be out mid-week and weekly after that.
November 16, 2009 at 9:13 pm
o ok so the first big changes should be this week?
November 18, 2009 at 5:27 am
cool, are you goes set to do this on any certain day weekly or is it just random.
November 17, 2009 at 6:10 am
its not so relevant i guess but milwaukee bucks ersan ilyasova is way too underrated, he might even be the lowest rated player in the whole game, and he's by far not the worst player in the bucks, let alone in the nba, he just put up 19 pts 12 rebs against the mavericks tonight, nba guys should take care of that!!!!
November 17, 2009 at 6:40 am
This is very disappointing with NBA Live because I bought the game 4 2 reasons, gameplay and live dna. I have not seen any ratings changes, which is fine..if they are waiting for a larger sample size but otherwise saying DNA has nothing to do with the rating is stupid. There are players in this game that should have had significant enough DnA increases to affect their rating including Melo, B. Jennings, Marc Gasol and others…
November 17, 2009 at 9:01 am
Dude the DNA are Tendencies and Shot percentages. Ratings only come into affect if a player is running faster grabbing more boards shows more agility on the court. things like that. The way it's designed they don't necessarily have to run hand in hand. Case and point i dropped 51 with Brandon Jennings on Superstar shooting jump shots and he is a ovr 70.
November 17, 2009 at 7:11 am
WHERE IS TY LAWSON PASTA????
November 17, 2009 at 9:25 am
What I think would be nice is if players like Brandon Jennings, Chris Paul, and Russell Westbrook are able to dunk in the game…. they're all set up to where they can't dunk when Chris Paul has posterized a few people in his career, Westbrook was almost in the dunk contest last year and Brandon Jennings was invited to the McDonalds All-American 2008 dunk contest. I just think EA should put a little more effort into the entertaining ratings like dunk and vert…
November 17, 2009 at 1:36 am
Live be di shiz mofos..2k done fell off, ya digg….i das wish we mofos online. live be dead but its sitll da shizz..i love jackn up dem tres, ya digg..Holla
November 17, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Do your posts come with a decoder?
November 17, 2009 at 1:19 pm
pasta, who is the caveman in the lower left hand corner of the elton brand live 10 pic??
November 17, 2009 at 2:05 pm
that's mr. lopez of the Nets hahahahaha
November 17, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Brook Lopez
November 17, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Most of you clowns posting on this site don't know anything about basketball. Screaming for a ratings update when some dude you like drops 25 points. Jennings is a 74 and that's it. 2 games ago he was shooting 42% from the field, he has a couple hot games and now you want to cry for an update. Only thing should be updated is his shot tendencies becase he's just scoring a bunch of points for a crappy team. I guarantee you all 10 games from now they will be garbage again
November 17, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I'll take that bet… Because I believe you're wrong… See how I did that? I respectfully disagreed. I didn't call you a clown, I didn't troll a bunch of people I don't even know. That's what adults do. Grow up, sir. If someone scores 55 points, they are a talented basketball player.
November 17, 2009 at 5:46 pm
I never said he wasn't talented and I didn't say everyone was a clown (perhaps you should read closely….like an adult). I only referenced those specific individuals who think any good performance deserves a substantial ratings increase. If you really think the Buck are going to the playoffs you must be on some of that good stuff. Actually considering half the teams in the NBa make the playoffs, the Bucks might actually make it but it still doesn't stop them from being garbage. Jennings is 74 and Nash is an 80 on NBA2K10. Keep that in mind
November 18, 2009 at 5:39 am
especially a rookie….. trust me crappy team or not no one is just handing him 55 he's putting in the work.
November 19, 2009 at 12:57 am
thats what im sayin….
November 19, 2009 at 3:04 am
and idk what nba youre watching but the crappy team youre talking about is 6-3 after tonight and is in the top 5 in the league in defense… so before you act like you know so much about the nba and no one else does, do your homework first.
November 18, 2009 at 6:26 pm
I feel like lives Dna stuff forces you to play in a specific way to be successful i think just plain ratings are a much better way to play a basketball game for example read playmakers 2nd post on page 8 hes got a hell of a point http://www.operationsports.com/forums/nba-live/36...
November 18, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Why isnt the NBA live Ratings changing?? i know they have Dynamic DNA but the Ratings Should still change??? lazzy i think.
November 20, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Is anyone else having problems with their Live freezing up?