Controlling the action on the court is based on two main tenets - the Shot Stick and Isomotion. In theory, thesquare button also handles shooting, but there were plenty of occasions where we had to mash that thing a few times before our guys would finally take it to the hoop. The Stick can be tricky (especially for those who aren't vets of the series), but ultimately it is the finest way to get those points on the scoreboard. Utilizing Isomotion is the only path to true domination, since it'll let you crossover with Kobe, half-spin with D-Wade, and hop-step with Stevie Franchise. Just like the Shot Stick, it'll take some time to master, but it's a necessity if you're looking to win some championships offline or on Xbox Live.
Speaking of Live, 2K Sports continues its tradition of online excellence this year, especially the custom league options with accompanying web sites that totally kick the ass of any other competitors. The Dynasty, er, Association mode is also ridiculously deep, almost to the point of setting the arena maintenance plans. Wanna-be GM's get to hire staff, assign practice schedules for non-gamedays (we can hear Allen Iverson screaming "Practice?!?!" all the way from here), and try almost futilely to execute a trade in the salary-cap addled NBA of today.
