A new series is coming to the Crucial Baskets Network this month looking to present NBA 2K as a more true-to-life simulator.
Simulations are a key part of what Crucial Baskets is about. This network is dedicated to better understanding the sport, and “sims” are a good medium through which to explore scenarios and tell stories.
There are a number of methods that can be used to simulate games and results. However, the NBA 2K video game series is, by far, the best conduit for replicating the sport. Unfortunately, the game’s AI doesn’t quite play like a facsimile of modern pro basketball out of the box.
To be fair, this is understandable. Visual Concepts, the game’s developer, is focused on making a product that, while grounded in the real NBA, is fun to pick up and play for as many people as possible. Ultimately, certain aspects of reality will fall by the wayside.
Thankfully, NBA 2K is a highly customizable game. There are countless sliders, settings, and attributes that can be altered to give individual players the type of experience they want. For years, I have wanted to utilize these tools to make the AI more true-to-life. If successful, I would be able to use my custom rosters to produce simulations and fictional stories that have a foundation in today’s game.
Welp, the NBA’s COVID-imposed hiatus gave me the opportunity to dive in and tackle this huge undertaking. Three-and-a-half months later, I’m ready to reveal my work to the world. I present to you the NBA 2K20 Simulation Showcase!
I will be broadcasting 15 games on the Crucial Baskets YouTube Channel. These games will showcase all 30 teams, with rosters based off of what they were when the league was suspended on March 11.
I will publicly post a condensed version of the matchup on the channel at 12:00 PM Central Time on game day. However, the full game video will be available via a link in the description box. The videos will be followed up with a recap/analysis article at 7:00 PM Central Time here at CrucialBaskets.com.
The full Showcase schedule is below. When available, you can click on the date to go to the article for the corresponding game.
| Date | Visiting Team | Home Team |
| July 1 | New York Knicks | Brooklyn Nets |
| July 3 | Boston Celtics | Charlotte Hornets |
| July 6 | Washington Wizards | Philadelphia 76ers |
| TBD | Oklahoma City Thunder | Miami Heat |
| TBD | Houston Rockets | Orlando Magic |
| TBD | Minnesota Timberwolves | Atlanta Hawks |
| TBD | Memphis Grizzlies | Toronto Raptors |
| TBD | Detroit Pistons | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| TBD | Indiana Pacers | Chicago Bulls |
| TBD | Dallas Mavericks | Milwaukee Bucks |
| TBD | New Orleans Pelicans | San Antonio Spurs |
| TBD | Denver Nuggets | Utah Jazz |
| TBD | Phoenix Suns | Portland Trail Blazers |
| TBD | Golden State Warriors | Sacramento Kings |
| TBD | Los Angeles Clippers | Los Angeles Lakers |
I’m incredibly excited about finally bringing this project to you and I truly hope you enjoy the results of it. Thank you for reading this and thank you for your continued support of the Crucial Baskets Network!
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