NBA

Episode #244 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we discuss the submission of our Wishlists for NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19, a new event involving NBA Playgrounds, the beginning of the 2018 NBA Playoffs, and Our Week in Basketball Gaming.

On this week’s show…

• As mentioned earlier in the week, our official Wishlists for NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19 have been submitted to EA Sports and Visual Concepts respectively. Since the topics are still open for discussion, we once again touch on what we’d like to see from the upcoming games in both series.
• Saber Interactive are partnering with Jack Daniel’s for an NBA Playgrounds promotion. While it’s put the game back into the spotlight, it feels like Saber has missed a lot of opportunities with last year’s arcade hoops title.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming saw some trial and error as we continued to incorporate some more structured playcalling into our gameplan during our most recent session of 2K Pro-Am. Meanwhile, new cards and challenges should hopefully keep the Ultimate Team experience fresh.
• Whether you want to say that they’ve tipped off or kicked off, the 2018 NBA Playoffs are underway! We give our thoughts on the first four games of this year’s postseason, and offer up our predictions for the first round as a whole.
• We wrap up Episode #244 of the NLSC Podcast with the feel good story of the 2018 season, Andre Ingram.

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #243 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Arcane and I are back after our break for Easter last week, ready to catch up on a fortnight worth of basketball gaming news, our own exploits on the virtual hardwood, and recent goings on in the real NBA.

On this week’s show…

• We open Episode #243 of the NLSC Podcast with an amusing bit of trivia, as it seems we’re bigger fans of The Playground than Ronnie 2K!
• March Modness has concluded, and the winner of the giveaway will be drawn soon. More mods are in the pipeline, of course.
• The inaugural NBA 2K League Draft was held on April 4th. We discuss the Draft and the forthcoming League tip-off, and once again consider the future direction of the NBA 2K series.
• In Our Week in Basketball Gaming, we catch up on a fortnight of action on the virtual hardwood. Brighter days could be ahead for NLSC GrindTime, an Ultimate Team collection continues to expand, and a new squad forms in NBA Live 18.
• We wrap up Episode #243 of the NLSC Podcast with some NBA discussion. The 2018 Playoffs are looming and there are a lot of interesting subplots to consider, especially with several seeds yet to be determined. We also talk about MVP candidates, and some untimely injuries.

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Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:15:05 — 51.6MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #242 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we discuss a couple of issues regarding transparency and goodwill in NBA Live and NBA 2K, recap another eventful week of basketball gaming, and catch up on the latest NBA news.

On this week’s show…

• There’s continued debate over the presence of loot crates and similar mechanics in video games, and whether or not it’s a form of gambling. Should NBA Live and NBA 2K contain in-game warnings to that effect, and be more transparent about the odds of crates and card packs?
• With yet another Locker Code prize gone in seconds, we discuss whether something needs to change in regards to NBA Live and NBA 2K providing more in the way of complimentary content and rewards.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming featured the regular session of 2K Pro-Am, the return of the baseline reverse (among other dunks), adventures in custom shoe creation, and plenty of nostalgia in Ultimate Team.
• We wrap up Episode #242 of the NLSC Podcast with some NBA talk, including injuries to Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry, and a strange situation with Kawhi Leonard.

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Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:31:22 — 62.8MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #241 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we talk about the perils of clickbait content with NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19, recap another week of basketball gaming, and catch up on the latest NBA news, including Aussies who are having an impact.

On this week’s show…

• It seems that the annual routine of clickbait content and fake trailers is already underway. We discuss the harm it does to the basketball gaming community, and how to be aware of deceptive content regarding NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming included a very memorable and satisfying game for NLSC GrindTime, further progress in The League, and failure to create an appealing signature shoe. We also discuss content for Ultimate Team, and how both games could be better at keeping things fresh several months into their release.
• We wrap up Episode #241 of the NLSC Podcast with the return of some NBA discussion, including some noteworthy performances by Australian players, and the tight race in both Conferences as we approach the final weeks of the regular season.

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Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:29:26 — 61.5MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #238 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Arcane is back this week, joining me for a discussion of the frequent discounts on NBA Live 18, 15% off player attribute upgrades in NBA 2K18’s MyCAREER, the 2018 All-Star Game, and some other topics related to basketball and basketball gaming from the past week.

On this week’s show…

• Before we get rolling on this week’s episode, we remind everyone to add their feedback to our NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19 Wishlists as soon as possible. Remember, suggestions left unsaid are guaranteed not to have an impact!
• Are the constant sales for NBA Live 18 a bad sign and potentially harmful to future games, or a good move by EA Sports in their bid to win back the audience?
• Player attribute upgrades in NBA 2K18’s MyCAREER are 15% off through February 25th. It’s a nice gesture, but along with the Double XP promotions, we feel it leaves something to be desired.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming included three 2K Pro-Am wins that should’ve been four, some great pulls in NBA Live 18 Ultimate Team, and a continued inability to dunk in MyCAREER.
• We wrap up Episode #238 of the NLSC Podcast with some final reflections on the 2018 All-Star Weekend. We also catch up on some recent news, and look ahead to the looming postseason.

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Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:18:57 — 54.3MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #237 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join guest host The X and myself as we discuss the All-Star updates for NBA Live 18, the latest controversies involving NBA 2K18, and the first two days of the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend.

On this week’s show…

• Since it’s The X’s first time on the NLSC Podcast, we talk a little about his history with basketball video games, as well as his tenure in the community.
• NBA Live 18 has received some new updates, specifically accurate All-Star jerseys and trade deadline rosters. We’re glad to see the updates coming through a little more quickly.
• New All-Star Fantasy Challenges have also been added to NBA Live 18 Ultimate Team. We’re liking the latest content, though there’s more we’d like to see added to the mode.
• An Australian-exclusive Virtual Currency sale has accidentally been advertised worldwide, leading to some unhappy US gamers who weren’t aware of the restrictions on the promotion. 2K’s response to the issue left something to be desired.
• In honour of the All-Star Weekend, NBA 2K18 offered Double Rep in MyCAREER and the connected modes, but the length of the event, not to mention the timing, could’ve been better.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming consisted of a couple of 2K Pro-Am sessions in NBA 2K18 that yielded mixed results, and Fantasy Challenges in NBA Live 18 Ultimate Team.
• We wrap up Episode #237 of the NLSC Podcast with a recap of the first two days of the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend. We have our gripes, but at the end of the day, we can certainly agree that it is what it is!

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #236 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we discuss this week’s updates for NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18, wonder about the future direction of the NBA 2K series, react to the trade deadline deals, and preview the 2018 All-Star Weekend.

On this week’s show…

• Fortunately, EA Sports corrected the issue with last week’s roster update for NBA Live 18 fairly quickly, pushing through a new roster without duplicate players. NBA 2K18’s rosters, meanwhile, have already been updated as of the trade deadline.
• Patch 1.10 has been released for NBA 2K18, but it’s another fix centred around the NBA 2K League Combine, with no updates that affect a majority of users.
• We discuss the future direction of the NBA 2K series, from the modes of focus to the intrusiveness of microtransactions. Will the success of NBA 2K18 lead the series down a bad path?
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming included a return to MyCAREER, missed opportunities in Ultimate Team, and another session of 2K Pro-Am.
• We wrap up Episode #236 of the NLSC Podcast with a look at the real NBA, including a devastating injury for Kristaps Porzingas, the trade deadline, and predictions for the 2018 All-Star Weekend.

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Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:32:01 — 63.3MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #235 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we discuss the latest roster updates for NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18, a patch for the NBA 2K League Combine, and other events from the past week in basketball gaming and NBA news.

On this week’s show…

• Both NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18 have received roster updates that reflect the latest transactions. Unfortunately the NBA Live 18 roster is bugged; hopefully, a fix is coming through soon. The NBA 2K18 roster meanwhile has added the 2018 All-Stars, complete with accurate jerseys.
• A new NBA 2K18 patch adds support for the NBA 2K League Combine, but doesn’t do much for the rest of us. We talk a little more about the NBA 2K League, and what it means for the future of NBA 2K.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming included an unlikely but surprisingly enjoyable return to 2K Pro-Am, and more LIVE Events in NBA Live 18.
• Moving on to some NBA talk, including the Blake Griffin trade, the Chicago Bulls latest efforts to tank, big nights for C.J. McCollum and James Harden, and struggles for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• We wrap up Episode #235 of the NLSC Podcast with some information about NLSC merch.

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Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:41:36 — 69.8MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #234 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! It’s another solo show this week due to some unfortunate technical difficulties, so join me as I discuss the latest roster for NBA Live 18, the next qualifying round for the NBA 2K League, the 2018 All-Stars, and more.

On this week’s show…

• A new roster update for NBA Live 18 has added a couple more City Edition jerseys, and made several ratings adjustments. Has it had a noticeable effect on gameplay?
• The NBA 2K League Combine is taking place in February, and is the next step in finding players to be a part of the 17 competing teams. In addition to providing information on how and when to participate, the announcement has also revealed some interesting details about the League’s MyPLAYER Archetypes.
• My Week in Basketball Gaming featured more Ultimate Team in NBA Live 18, and a little bit of retro gaming with NBA Live 06 for the Wayback Wednesday feature.
• Episode #234 of the NLSC Podcast wraps up with some NBA news, including the selection of the 2018 All-Star reserves, the unveiling of this year’s All-Star jerseys, and the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s 81 point game.

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Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 47:13 — 32.5MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #233 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! It’s kind of an experimental episode this week as I’m actually hosting solo, as Arcane and Kenny unfortunately weren’t available to record. So, join me as I share my thoughts on some recent basketball gaming topics, including the latest NBA Live 18 patch, an interesting Reddit post regarding NBA 2K18, and more.

On this week’s show…

• We’ve tipped off our Wishlist topics for NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19. Get your constructive feedback in ASAP, so that we can send it along to the development teams at EA Sports and Visual Concepts!
• Patch 1.10 has been released for NBA Live 18. It’s mostly a bug and stability fix, though that’s still most welcome a few months into a game’s life cycle.
• A Reddit post from a former EVE Online developer has highlighted some of the problems in NBA 2K18’s approach to player retention. Will 2K take note of these concerning issues?
• Following up on last week’s discussion of a new NBA Jam game, it doesn’t sound like a new title is all that close after all. However, there’s hopefully still cause for optimism.
• My Week in Basketball Gaming included dusting off NBA Playgrounds, and a great pull from a Legends pack in NBA Live 18 Ultimate Team. Also, some modding talk.
• Episode #233 of the NLSC Podcast wraps up with some thoughts on the 2018 All-Star starters. Fingers crossed this year’s game turns out better than it has over the past few seasons.

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Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 53:31 — 36.8MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #232 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we discuss some promising news regarding NBA Jam, the appeal of playing and modding old games, our past week in basketball gaming, and recent events in the real NBA.

On this week’s show…

• Legendary NBA Jam announcer Tim Kitzrow posted a Tweet suggesting that a new NBA Jam game might be on the horizon. With the game celebrating its 25th Anniversary, a rare version may also be made available (licensing issues permitting).
• If there is a new NBA Jam game, what features and improvements would we like to see?
• When it comes to video games, it’s fun to revisit old favourites. It’s something many of us have done from time to time, but what is the appeal of playing – and indeed, modding – old basketball games?
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming has been all about NBA Live 18, from LIVE Events and The League to Ultimate Team. We also talk about whether we need a bit of an extended break from NBA 2K18.
• We wrap up Episode #232 of the NLSC Podcast with some NBA chatter, including the Cleveland Cavaliers’ recent struggles, some thoughts on a few other teams, and the latest All-Star voting results.

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Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:24:30 — 58.1MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #231 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane, Kenny, and myself as we tip off a new season of the NLSC Podcast by catching up on all of the NBA Live 18, NBA 2K18, and NBA Playgrounds news from the holiday season, and look ahead to another year of basketball gaming.

On this week’s show…

• LIVESTRIKE events have been keeping gamers busy in NBA Live 18 over the holidays. They’ve even offered the opportunity to win some real swag!
• The new City Edition uniforms have been unveiled, and are now available in NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18. What do we think of Nike’s new secondary alternate jerseys?
• Patches 1.07 and 1.08 have resolved a handful of issues in NBA 2K18. Some new historical players have also been added to the roster.
• Game Informer has named NBA 2K18 as the Sports Game of the Year for the second year running. The response from the community has been…less enthusiastic.
• With the NBA 2K League qualifiers underway, we talk about the controversy regarding the number of spots that are actually open to members of the community.
• An Enhanced Edition of NBA Playgrounds has been released for the Nintendo Switch, alleviating the problems Saber Interactive has been having in pushing through new content on the platform.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming included what may be our last session of 2K Pro-Am in NBA 2K18, online Head-to-Head in NBA Live 18, and an assortment of LIVE Events. We also talk about our basketball gaming plans for 2018.
• We wrap up Episode #231 of the NLSC Podcast with a discussion of some recent achievements by our fellow Australians in the NBA.

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Friday Five! The Friday Five is a feature that I post every Friday in which I give my thoughts on a topic that’s related to NBA Live, NBA 2K, and other basketball video games, as well as the real NBA, and other areas of interest to our community. The feature is presented as either a list of five items, or in the form of a Top 5 countdown. This week’s Five is a list of five players who left the NBA quite abruptly.

Not all NBA players receive a big send-off when they call it a career. Farewell tours are generally reserved for future Hall of Famers, and even then, that’s something that only happens when a player makes a definitive declaration that the current season will be their last. Even when a player leaves the NBA without a big announcement or much fanfare, it isn’t necessarily a surprise. If they’re getting on in years and have already enjoyed a lengthy career, there’s usually no mystery as to why they’ve decided to hang it up, and are no longer a fixture after being around for so many years.

And then, there are the players who appear to leave the NBA quite abruptly and without any kind of statement, even when they seem to have several seasons left in them. Some quietly go overseas to play, or officially retire a few years later, but whatever the case, they’ll fail to latch on with a team and then that will be the last we’ll ever see of them in the NBA. While that’s inevitable given the limited amount of roster spots and the constant influx of new talent, we are left wondering what happened when prominent players seemingly just disappear. Here are five such players whose NBA careers came to a rather abrupt halt.

Read More »

Episode #230 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Without any technical issues to keep us off the air, we’re back to talk about the latest updates for NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18, share our latest impressions of both games, and catch up on the past couple of weeks in basketball gaming news.

On this week’s show…

• Patch 1.08 has added comprehensive roster editing to NBA Live 18. We’re certainly surprised, and impressed at how the game has continued to improve since launch.
• NBA 2K18’s Patch 1.06 has addressed some bugs, but also caused a few more problems. To be honest, we’re still feeling disappointed with this year’s release from Visual Concepts.
• The qualifying round for the NBA 2K League will be taking place in January. We share our thoughts on what the League might be like, given our experiences with 2K Pro-Am.
• Several t-shirts have been removed from the kiosk in The Neighborhood, mostly due to trademark and copyright concerns. This has led to some issues with lost VC.
• A teenager has spent over $17,000 AUS on microtransactions across various games, leading us to once again reflect on their intrusive nature in AAA titles.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming has seen our frustration with 2K Pro-Am reach its boiling point, an enjoyable victory in The Playground, and possible plans to change up our habits on the virtual hardwood.
• We wrap up Episode #230 of the NLSC Podcast with some NBA discussion, including recent streaks, and the Jahlil Okafor trade.

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #229 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we discuss the latest updates for NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18, recap an eventful week of basketball gaming, and catch up on some NBA news.

On this week’s show…

• Patch 1.07 provided a significant content update for NBA Live 18, including new rosters and 3v3 play in Live Run. The gameplay itself also continues to improve.
• A handful of new players have been added to the All-Time teams and historical squads in NBA 2K18. Unfortunately, some of the biggest names are still absent.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming was full and eventful! Although we had some rough sessions of 2K Pro-Am, we did pick up a few victories (including some in The Playground), continued our respective MyCAREERs, and had fun with NBA Live 18 online and offline. We also discuss shooting mechanics in NBA 2K18.
• We wrap up Episode #229 of the NLSC Podcast with some NBA talk, including the Celtics’ winning streak coming to an end, the Thunder/Warriors clash, and Derrick Rose’s future.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:34:39 — 65.1MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.