On the court this game is exactly what you'd expect and hope for, adding extra speed to the real thing, while preserving the realism of an NBA match to please both the adrenaline junkies and the basketball enthusiasts. The action is silky smooth and the animations are so cleverly designed that any NBA fan would instantly agree that the resemblance to the authentic actions of a professional basketball player is uncanny.

Picking the better team is no longer sufficient to overwhelm the opponent and even a player starting as underdog now has a decent chance of winning if he chooses the appropriate tactic to annihilate the rival's strong points. The line between offense and defense is very thin in NBA and as a result a gamer with a more defensive approach can shut down the opponent if he manages to close the gaps and nullify each player individually.

Never before the difference between players has been so important and it pays off to focus and determine which one is a better 3 point shooter, who can dunk the ball and which players are lethal at the free throw line. Guys like Lebron James, Kevin Garnett, Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant etc may look a bit overpowered but the truth is they are simply outstanding in the real life as well so instead of complaining it's wiser to research a bit and find ways to reduce the danger they pose. NBA.com is the main source of information and for those willing to take on a franchise quest, this site will provide all the facts and figures needed by a team manager.

Association 2.0, as this new program is named has been greatly improved and updated to assist the players in their chase to create a prominent franchise out of scrap and to make trading and contract signing more intuitive. The "Larry Bird" rule has been introduced to keep the game management as close to the real thing as possible and although it further complicates you mission is a welcomed addition for a title that intends to offer the most realistic NBA experience.