NBA 2K13 Power Rankings: Top 10 Teams That Will Be Used In Online Play

The release of NBA 2K13 is just about two weeks away now. We’ve had a lot revealed about the game so far including signature skills that have been added to this year’s game and the top 20 overall rated players in the game.

There is a lot of hype for the game and not only because of the game but because it will be the first time NBA fans get a chance to play with the Lakers with Dwight Howard or the Heat with Ray Allen.

Which team will be the most popular in NBA 2K13? Where do the Oklahoma City Thunder place among the most popular teams in the game?

Here is a prediction power ranking the top 10 teams that will be used in NBA 2K13 when it comes out.

10. New Orleans Hornets

The Hornets will be the worst team that is used the most in NBA 2K13 mainly because they will have Anthony Davis. Normally, I would expect the No. 1 overall pick to be overrated in a video game but I think Davis’ 81 overall is pretty appropriate. With fouls rarely being called in online play, Davis will be a beast protecting the rim. Austin Rivers will also be another reason this team is used a lot. With the dribbling moves now being moved to the right stick, Rivers will become even more lethal with his deadly handle in the game. Throw in Eric Gordon who will be one of the top 3-point shooters in the game and you can see why this team will be popular to play with.

9. Golden State Warriors

Besides having a great fan base that seems to always be well-represented in the online community, the Warriors made some nice moves this offseason that will make them a more popular team. Andrew Bogut gives them an inside presence they didn’t have before and Harrison Barnes will be one of the highest rated rookies in the game. There may not be a better 3-point shooting backcourt than Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in the league right now so they will be very fun to use in the run-and-shoot style of play you see so often in online games.

8. Boston Celtics

The Celtics were always popular to use online the past few seasons. They were obviously a talented team but the main reason was because they had Ray Allen who was always one of the best 3-point shooters in the game. They don’t have Allen anymore and that’s why I see them dropping all the way down to No. 8. It should be a pretty big letdown when players decide to use the Celtics in online games. Unless you plan on calling plays and executing your offense every possession, don’t expect to win many games with the Celtics online.

7. Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose may still be recovering from his knee injury in real life but in the NBA 2K13 world, he will be as healthy as ever. Rose has become over the past two years one of the best video game players in the NBA. The Bulls have a great fan base as well that will be sure to represent their team online. The new dribbling controls will make Rose that much more popular too so expect to see a lot of Rose going 1-on-5 in the NBA 2K13 online world.

6. New York Knicks

The Knicks are ranked this high mainly because of their fans. If they still had Jeremy Lin, they might be No. 2 on this list. They still have Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire who will both be very good on the digital hardwood and able to compete with some of the best in NBA 2K13. Like the Bulls and Rose, expect the Knicks and Melo to be doing a lot of 1-on-5 play online.

5. Los Angeles Clippers

Lob City was one of the most popular teams to use online last year after the Clippers acquired Chris Paul. It’s hard to pass up the possibilities of throwing alley-oops with Paul and Blake Griffin in a video game. With Blake on the cover this year, the Clips will be that much more popular. Paul is also rated among the best in the game at a 94 overall and after a great season last year, should be extra nasty in NBA 2K13.

4. Brooklyn Nets

I may be underrating the use of Brooklyn in NBA 2K13 with them at No. 4 here. The move to Brooklyn has a lot to do with this as NBA 2K13 is also being produced by Jay-Z and it will be the first time fans get a good look at Brooklyn’s new uniforms. They also made a big trade this offseason bringing in Joe Johnson which now gives them one of the best starting fives in the league. Deron Williams is always one of the best video game point guards being such a great 3-point shooter. This Nets team will be one of the best in NBA 2K13 for sure.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder may have the best video game squad in the league right now. Kevin Durant has the most range in the NBA which online gamers love and Russell Westbrook is one of the best athletes in the league who will be one of the best dunkers in the game as well. Serge Ibaka can protect the rim as well as anyone in a video game and James Harden should get a very good rating in NBA 2K13 as well. This team has it all except for the ability to score really easy baskets inside but there really aren’t many teams that have this. Durant being on the cover should help make him even more unfair than usual.

2. Miami Heat

This is the first time that the Heat are not No. 1 in these power rankings since they acquired LeBron James. They are still going to be very popular this year as LeBron may end up with a 99 overall rating and at least a 98 which is what he had last year. LeBron will be as good as ever in a video game having just won his first NBA title. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will still be rated very high as well. Ray Allen gives the Heat another dimension with 3-point shooting and don’t forget Shane Battier either that will be deadly from beyond the arc as well in NBA 2K13.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

They got Dwight Howard and that was all it took to propel them to the top of this list. The Lakers have always been very popular in NBA 2K games because Kobe has always been nasty and their bigs make them very tough to match up with. Howard will make them that much better. Steve Nash helps too as someone gamers will use to shoot 5-plus threes per game. Defensively, there is no better player than Howard at protecting the rim which is essential in online games. There aren’t many teams on this list that have a center who can match up with Howard either. The Lakers have been called the best team on paper by a lot of NBA players and they will be rewarded most greatly in NBA 2K13.