Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

NBA 2K13 has come out with their first roster update and it is now available to be downloaded. The rosters still aren’t perfect as there are still some rookies and foreign players missing.

There were some pretty noticeable changes in terms of overall ratings though including for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder were the 3rd best rated team overall when the game first came out but now they have dropped to No. 5. The Lakers are now the best with the Heat second, Bulls third and Spurs fourth.

I am not sure why the Thunder took a hit and why teams like the Bulls and Spurs are rated higher. Here is a look at each Thunder player and their new ratings.

Kevin Durant – 94 overall

Durant remains a 94 overall. An interesting note with Durant is that his layup rating is only an 80 overall. Usually the best players in the game all have a 99 rating for layups making them great at finishing at the rim. LeBron and Wade are 99’s but Durant is only an 80? It’s a little low and Durant really should be rated higher in this game.

Russell Westbrook – 90 overall

Westbrook dropped three overall points to a 90. He was on par with Wade and Kobe as a 93 but apparently he has gotten worse over the past week. A lot of people complained that Westbrook was too good and maybe 2K listened.

James Harden – 81 overall

Harden remains an 81 and untouched. It’s just ridiculous that he is an 81 while Ginobili is an 86.

Serge Ibaka – 81 overall

Ibaka gets one point better from the original roster. His midrange rating is an 83 and his block shot rating is still a 96.

Kendrick Perkins – 73 overall

If you thought Perkins was overrated at first, look now because he just got one point better. Perkins is a very decent offensive option in this game which isn’t too realistic.

Thabo Sefolosha – 69 overall

Sefolosha remains a 69 overall and likely untouched.

Eric Maynor – 68 overall

Maynor is still a 68 and also likely untouched. He was thought to be the no-doubt backup point guard for the Thunder this season but it looks like Reggie Jackson is challenging him for the job.

Reggie Jackson – 67 overall

Maybe 2K was on to something rating Jackson so closely to Maynor. Jackson is a great athlete and someone who would be seemingly overrated by 2K’s overall rating system.

Nick Collison – 65 overall

Collison goes up two overall points here. His defensive awareness is still just a 49 which is pretty much insane.

Daequan Cook – 63 overall

Cook gets one point better in this roster update. Not sure why.

Perry Jones, III – 60 overall
Lazar Hayward – 60 overall
Cole Aldrich – 59 overall
Daniel Orton – 56 overall
Hasheem Thabeet – 54 overall

All of these guys stayed the same and were probably untouched except for Orton who got one better which is a great mystery.

It appears that the new Oklahoma City Thunder alternate uniforms have been leaked by NBA 2K13.

A grainy photo of Kevin Durant is this uniform popped up a few days ago and now it seems that photo was legit. NBA 2K13 has hidden in the game alternate uniforms for every team. NBA 2K13 accidentally leaked the new Brooklyn Nets uniform earlier this month before the game’s release.

Thunder GM Sam Presti said back on media day that there would be new alternate uniforms unveiled this season for the Thunder. Then a photo was leaked from NBA 2K13 that looked to be the new alternate jersey for the Thunder.

Now two more photos have been revealed and it seems pretty close to confirmed that this is what the alternate uniform will be for the Thunder this season. It is odd though that “Thunder” is spelled incorrectly on this jersey. Hope that’s fixed for the game.

As you can see they stray away some from their traditional colors. It looks kind of like the old Indiana Pacers ABA uniforms with the text going vertical and on the sides. It’s also overall a pretty plain look that doesn’t jump out too much at least in the video game screens.

There was some speculation that the Thunder would go with a black colored uniform for their alternate but it appears that is not the case. This alternate kind of blends with a lot of the other alternates we often see around the league with more of a throwback look to it.

It is unknown for now exactly when the Thunder will wear these alternate uniforms and how often they will. Teams usually sport different uniforms for nationally televised games so we can expect that from the Thunder as well.

It will be cool to see the Thunder in a different uniform this season but this is nothing too special at the end of the day.

If you ever want to know what is going to happen in the future of the NBA, the easiest way to find out is using NBA 2K13’s Association Mode.

That is just what I did. Using the default roster, I simulated the entire 2012-13 season on the game to get a little glimpse into the NBA’s future.

Here is what happened, with an emphasis on the Oklahoma City Thunder of course.

• The Thunder finished the season with the best record in the league winning 61 games. The Heat won 58 and the Lakers won 57. The 76ers won 55 and then the Nuggets came in with 52 wins. The biggest surprises were the Celtics winning only 33 games and the Timberwolves winning 45.
• Kevin Durant won the MVP. He averaged 29.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. He shot 48.4 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from three. His PER was 27.9.
• Durant did not win his fourth straight scoring title because Russell Westbrook won his first instead averaging 29.9 points to go with 7.3 assists per game. Westbrook had a PER of 27.8 and led the league in usage rate at 34.0 compared to 31.1 for Durant.
• James Harden was the Sixth Man of the Year again averaging 16.2 points per game. His PER was 20.0 and he once again led the league in true shooting percentage at 62.8.
• Anthony Davis won the Rookie of the Year Award averaging 16.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
• Josh Smith won the Defensive Player of the Year Award and simply had a monster year statistically. He averaged 22.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
• Goran Dragic won the Most Improved Player Award and averaged 13.2 points and 10.1 assists per game.
• Scott Brooks was the Coach of the Year.
• The All-NBA First Team was Westbrook, Deron Williams, Durant, LeBron James and Dwight Howard. The Second Team was Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love and DeMarcus Cousins. The Third Team was Kobe Bryant, Brandon Jennings, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge and Andrew Bynum.
• The All-Defensive First Team was Paul George, Dwyane Wade, Josh Smith, Tyrus Thomas and Dwight Howard. The Second Team was Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Paul Millsap, LeBron and Anthony Davis.
• The All-Rookie First Team was Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Damian Lillard, Thomas Robinson and Bradley Beal. The Second Team was Harrison Barnes, Dion Waiters, Terrence Ross, Jeremy Lamb and Tony Wroten.
• Serge Ibaka had a big drop off in blocking shots averaging just 1.8 per game after 3.7 in real life last season. He also averaged 10.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
• The fifth leading scorer for the Thunder was Daequan Cook averaging 4.2 points per game.
• Kendrick Perkins averaged 1.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
• Rookie Perry Jones III hardly played averaging 2.1 points and 1.1 rebounds per game.

Here is how the playoffs went up until the NBA Finals:

First round
1OKC over 8DAL in 7
5LAC over 4MEM in 5
3DEN over 6MIN in 6
2LAL over 7SAS in 7

1MIA over 8WAS in 7
5BKN over 4IND in 6
3CHI over 6NYK in 7
7DET over 2PHI in 6

Second Round
1OKC over 5LAC in 4
2LAL over 3DEV in 6

1MIA over 5BKN in 5
3CHI over 7DET in 6

Conference Finals
1OKC over 2LAL in 6

1MIA over 3CHI in 5

• As you can see we have ourselves a rematch of last year’s NBA Finals between the Thunder and Heat with the Thunder once again having home court advantage.
• The Thunder would win the first two games of the Finals then lose the next three in Miami. Westbrook was a monster at home in the first two scoring 35 in Game 1 then 51 in Game 2.
• The Thunder won Game 6 at home to force a Game 7. The home team won each of the first six games of the series with no final scores being within 11 points.
• The Heat dominated in Game 7 to capture their second straight NBA title winning 119-86 behind 28 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists from LeBron. Westbrook went 7-for-24 from the field in Game 7. Durant had 26 on 9-for-21 shooting.
• LeBron was the Finals MVP averaging 21.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.
• Let’s hope this plays out a little differently in real life.

NBA 2K13 has been out for a little over two days now and I’ve been playing it for as many hours as possible. There are plenty of reviews out there calling NBA 2K13 the best basketball game ever and I think that sounds about right.

It didn’t take long to realize playing this game that it is in a class by itself. You have as much control as ever in a basketball video game and combine that with the improved physics and player logic and NBA 2K13 is the closest thing to an actual NBA game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the highlights of the game. After making it to the NBA Finals last season and establishing themselves as one of the best teams in the league, NBA 2K13 took notice putting more detail into Thunder players and rewarding the team with very high ratings.

Kevin Durant of course is the face of the Thunder and NBA 2K13 being one of the players on the cover. You can make the argument that Durant is quite simply the best player in NBA 2K13. As a shooter, there is no one really close. His range makes him a threat once he crosses half court and he is skilled enough to make shots just about anywhere in the half court set. Durant is listed at 6-foot-9 in the game but plays like his real life taller, lengthier self. He can finish at the rim because of this as well as anyone and his height makes him a solid passer as well. There’s still something about Durant’s shot that just doesn’t feel quite right. There’s a little hitch in it or something where in real life it’s as smooth as anyone’s in the league. It’s close enough though and doesn’t take away from playing with him.

Durant has the perfect video game running mate in Russell Westbrook who is without question a top five player in this game. Westbrook is probably the best point guard because an equal athlete, there is not in NBA 2K13. Staying in front of Westbrook is a battle you will never win in NBA 2K13. Couple Westbrook’s quickness and strength with his automatic mid range jumper and just like in real life, there are some possessions where you bring the ball up with Westbrook, don’t pass and take a shot with him. He has all the talent in the world and 2K gives him it. His handle may be a little overrated in the game too which makes him just that much better. Defensively all you need is the physical tools in a video game to be dominant and Westbrook of course has that making him elite on that end of the floor as well.

James Harden completes OKC’s big three. NBA 2K13 rated Harden just an 81 overall (5 points lower than Ginobili) but he plays like a superstar nonetheless. Harden is rated 86 on his 3-point shot and is pretty automatic when left open. His handle is solid too and his ability to finish at the rim (which is among the best in the NBA in real life) is represented quite nicely in NBA 2K13 as well. Harden is a mast in the pick-and-roll and getting to the rim using the euro step. You can pull off all of his moves in NBA 2K13 and make the sweet drop off bounce passes to cutting bigs as well. One thing that is not in the game is an effective way to hand the ball off on certain plays. This is a little disappointing for Harden because of the two-man game he always runs with Nick Collison that involves a handoff at times. Other than that, Harden makes the Thunder big three quite possibly the best in the game.

Serge Ibaka blocked more shots per game than anyone in about a decade last season. He isn’t rated a 99 for blocking shots so the 96 2K game him will have to do. Ibaka is a big presence in the paint still, maybe even more so than in real life. He obviously can swat shots as well as anyone and is a better post defender in the game than in the real world. Ibaka is even more overrated on offense. His legitimately good mid range jumper is there but he is also very adept at finishing inside. It’s not that he isn’t in real life but in 2K with the Thunder, it’s not hard to go for 20 with Ibaka if scoring with big men is your thing.

Kendrick Perkins has a lot of value for doing the little things on a basketball court. NBA 2K13 does a great job bringing that to the digital hardwood this year for Perkins. Perkins sets some of the best screens in the game which is very useful in getting Durant, Westbrook or Harden open. He is also an overrated finisher on offense in the game and isn’t a terrible option to pass to in the pick-and-roll game. Defensively, Perkins is very solid as well receiving the signature skill of defensive anchor and acting the part too.

The rest of the Thunder players got a little bump in their ratings it seems due to the team’s trip to the Finals last year. This is what happens in video games and there’s probably nothing wrong with that. Eric Maynor and Daequan Cook are very reliable 3-point shooters, Collison grabs offensive boards as well as anyone and Thabo Sefolosha is one of the best options in the game to lock up Kobe or Wade. All of this adds up to the Thunder being one of the best teams in the game and maybe even the best. No team is better at scoring in isolation settings than OKC and that’s what video game basketball is all about. The one weakness the Thunder may have is scoring from the post but that is easily forgotten when you get out and run with these guys. The Heat have their big three, the Lakers have Howard and Nash now but if you want to have the best chance against either of those teams, OKC is the team of choice and that’s why they are the best in the game.

Now it’s time for the official preview, the last post leading up to the game’s release. Here we will outline all of the new features in the game and everything to look for when you finally get your hands on NBA 2K13.

Producer: Jay-Z

You will immediately notice on the cover of NBA 2K13 that Jay-Z came on to produce the game. This was a great move by 2K to try and improve their game in some areas from the soundtrack to the menu layouts. Jay-Z also helped improve the pregame entrance videos and routines for the game and you can also see him sitting courtside at Brooklyn Nets games. It is a big addition for 2K but not the biggest for the gamer. The subtle improvements and attention to detail should really help improve the game some though.

1992 Dream Team (and other classic teams)

One of the biggest announcements for NBA 2K13 was that it would be featuring the 1992 Dream Team along with the 2012 Olympic Team. At first, the Dream Team was going to be without Scottie Pippen but Pippen has since agreed to come on the game. The Dream Team is complete and ready to compete with the 2012 Olympic Team. The slick trailer of the two teams taking on each other can be seen here. All of the classic teams from last year will be on the game again this year. NBA 2K13 has also added the 2001 76ers that feature Allen Iverson from his MVP season. However, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving and Chris Webber will not be in the game. You will be able to play online with classic teams as well.

New controls

The controls have gotten a little makeover for 2K13 as well. The dribbling isomotion engine is now gone and replaced by the right stick. There will be some who will miss the old controls and can go back to them if they want to in the game. Overall, control has gotten much easier for 2K13. It’s not just the dribbling either. The hop step layups, spin layups and eurostep moves are now easier than ever to pull off. This will result in less skilled gamers able to compete with the more advanced online but overall giving the user more control is never a bad thing.

My Career and My Team

The most popular game mode in 2K the past few years has been My Player which has now been renamed My Career. For the first time in 2K, you are able to be drafted No. 1 overall as a rookie if you really impress in the Rookie Showcase. The focus was on the off-court things as well for example you can now request a sitdown with your GM. The things you say in press conferences can now impact the way announcers talk about you during the game. There are more endorsements now too including Nike. My Team is a lot like Madden Ultimate Team. You collect cards of players to add to your team. You play games online or offline to gain points to help build your team. They made it so it is really hard to get all of the best players on your team so there will be a large variety of different teams by others online.

Association mode

There will be a new interface for Association mode which is nice since the past interfaces always seemed to be lacking some. All Star Weekend is the biggest new addition as it has been totally revamped. There will be a dunk contest that plays like guitar hero as well as all of the other All Star Weekend festivities. The overall CPU logic has been improved all around as well as the new CBA rules being implemented.

Conclusion

NBA 2K13 promises to be one of the best basketball games ever made. It has dominated the industry so much that NBA Live 13 was cancelled yet again. There is no competition for this game because it is so well done. The 2K team didn’t overhaul anything so there’s nothing to be scared of that could ruin the game. It has simply been improved in a ton of areas. What else can we ask for?

The release of NBA 2K13 is less than two days away now. Many people have gotten their hands on the game already and have revealed player ratings and other information.

Signature skills is one of the biggest new additions to the game, a way to make the game more authentic by making players better in certain situations rather than relying solely on ratings. You can see all of the signature skills here and you can also view my prediction for what signature skills each Thunder player would have in NBA 2K13.

We now can confirm which signature skills each Thunder player has.

Kevin Durant – Shot creator, Microwave, Deadeye, Closer, Finisher

Durant’s signature skills were confirmed awhile ago actually but it’s worth going over them again now that everyone’s signature skills have been revealed as well. After playing the demo a ton, you can easily notice the impact of the signature skills. Durant heats up very quickly because of microwave and finishes just about everything at the time. Deadeye means defenders hardly affect his shot even with tight defense and shot creator means he gets a percentage boost when he gets an open shot after some dribble moves.

Russell Westbrook – Acrobat, Finisher, Pick Pocket, Interceptor, Ankle Breaker

I was surprised with some of these. I thought Westbrook would definitely get posterizer since he tries to dunk on people as much as anyone in the league. I also thought he might get shot creator or deadeye as well. Instead, 2K is giving him two skills for getting steals. Interceptor is definitely appropriate since he plays the passing lanes a lot but pick pocket is kind of a reach. Ankle breaker is also a little surprising. Westbrook has solid handles and can break his man down but he’s not exactly known for it. It works though nonetheless.

James Harden – Finisher, Shot creator, Microwave

This is right about what I expected for Harden. I thought maybe he would also get spot-up shooter but it’s understandable that he didn’t. Finisher was a no-brainer for Harden since he has one of the best shooting percentages at the rim in the league. Shot creator is a nice one for him too and microwave is pretty obvious since he comes off the bench.

Serge Ibaka – Hustle points, Eraser, Defensive anchor

These skills aren’t perfect for Ibaka. Hustle points is a little surprising but not horrible. Sure, he is good at finishing baskets after offensive rebounds but again, he’s not exactly known for it or considered elite at it. Eraser is obvious since Ibaka is one of the best shot blockers in the league. Defensive anchor was expected but kind of a stretch since Ibaka has a long way to go with his defensive fundamentals. He should have also gotten chasedown block because he gets a ton of blocks this way as well.

Kendrick Perkins – Brick wall, Bruiser, Defensive anchor

We knew Perkins would be getting brick wall and bruiser but defensive anchor was a little surprise. 2K overrated Perkins a little in NBA 2K13 it seems making him a 72 overall and really respecting his defense too.

Thabo Sefolosha – Active hands, Lockdown defender

We knew Sefolosha would get lockdown defender and active hands is a nice addition as well. Active hands basically means you are good at stripping the ball when players are going up for shots or layups.

Nick Collison – Charge card, Scrapper

These were both expected for Collison. He takes charges as well as anyone in the league and is known for his hustle which scrapper embodies.

Daequan Cook – Corner specialist, Spot up shooter

Cook had a down year shooting the three last season but 2K still respects him by giving him both of these signature skills. Cook will have a lot of value in the game because of this.

Eric Maynor – Dimer

I didn’t think Maynor would get any signature skills after playing just nine games last season. But 2K remembers him as one of the best backup point guards in the league. Dimer is a ncie compliment as not a lot of players have this skill in the game but you can definitely make the case that Maynor deserves it.

The NBA 2K13 demo was available for download two days ago and since that time I have played the 5-minute quarter between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat nonstop.

The hype surrounding NBA 2K is always biggest right before the launch and after playing this demo, I am confident that NBA 2K13 will be the best basketball game yet.

Here are a few takeaways from playing the demo:

How does it look?

The game looks absolutely amazing. It’s a significant upgrade from NBA 2K12 from the graphics to all of the little detailed animations. Every player feels different too. Russell Westbrook moves just like he does in real-life from simply dribbling up the court to kicking out his leg on a contested jump shot. There is a noticeable difference in controlling each player which really adds to the game. LeBron James’ strength is impossible to miss when you are controlling him or trying to drive past him. Kendrick Perkins’ screens are better than Chris Bosh’s. The size and weight of a player matter more than ever in NBA 2K13. The physics have been revamped as well so that on a fast break, Serge Ibaka isn’t chasing down LeBron. If LeBron is ahead of you, it’s over, just like in real life. Bosh isn’t staying in front of Westbrook either. Chalmers isn’t even staying in front of Westbrook without a great defensive effort. Simply put, the physics have greatly improved and are more realistic now.

New controls

The biggest change in NBA 2K13 is the right control stick which is now used to pull off dribble moves. It can still be used as a shot stick too but only while holding down the left trigger. Once you get used to the new controls, you have more control than ever before in a 2K game. I was never a fan of the isomotion because I felt like I didn’t have quite as much control as I’d like but now those days are over. If anything, the game has now become a lot easier because of the more control you have. This is not a bad thing although it may shrink the gap between the experienced gamers online and the new ones. The shot controls have most notably become easier to pull off as well. Hop steps in the lane, eurosteps and spin moves can all be done with button pressing as well as the shot stick which has made them extremely easy to do. NBA 2K13 feels a lot different than NBA 2K12 but it didn’t take me that long to get used to it and now I feel like I have more control when playing 2K13 than I ever did with 2K12. I think this means the potential for 2K13 is greater.

Signature skills

One of the new additions to NBA 2K13 is the 31 signature skills that are assigned to players. It is clear that even in playing the demo these signature skills will impact the game a lot and in a good way. It makes the game feel more authentic but some of them may be overblown a little bit. For instance, I have yet to see Shane Battier miss a 3-point shot from the corner. Kevin Durant and Westbrook don’t miss at the rim. LeBron gets those chasedown blocks a little too easily. Overall, it’s another element added to the game that will make it seem more realistic.

Thunder players

I have played almost exclusively with the Thunder in this demo. You can’t sub in the demo so I have barely played with the bench players including James Harden. Playing with Westbrook and Durant has been awesome though as they are both monsters in this game. Like I mentioned before, Westbrook is impossible to stay in front of. The demo is only on pro level and you can literally score every play with Westbrook if you want to. It’s really fun working to get to those open midrange shots from the elbow with Westbrook like he does in real life. There is such a variety in the ways you can take shots that I hardly ever recall seeing the same shot twice. Durant is fun too. His shot looks a little better than it did in 2K12. He is absolutely money on his spot-up threes and it is clear that it is really hard to affect his shot at all. Ibaka is really fun to use on defense protecting the paint and blocking shots. A lot of his blocks sent the ball out of bounds which almost never happened in 2K12. He is also automatic on his midrange shot whenever he’s left open.

Verdict

Overall, my time playing the demo has been awesome. I have no doubt that 2K13 will be far better than 2K12 and be a candidate for Game of the Year. The detail and authenticity in the demo is the best I’ve ever seen and playing with the Thunder especially is so realistic. The full game will come out Oct. 2 so we are just a few days away now. I will be one of those guys standing in line come midnight for sure.

Yesterday not only did we get the release of the NBA 2K13 demo but someone who had the game early revealed all of the overall player ratings in the game including the Oklahoma City Thunder players.

A little over three weeks ago I predicted the overall ratings for every Thunder player. I ended up being pretty close on some but not perfect of course. There were a few surprises but it looks like the Thunder are going to be pretty unstoppable to use in NBA 2K13.

On to the ratings.

Kevin Durant – 94 overall

We have known for awhile that Durant would be a 94 overall. What we also know now is that there are two players rated higher than him in LeBron James (98 overall) and Dwight Howard (96 overall). It’s not surprising that Durant is this much less than LeBron and Dwight. He is not going to get rated too highly on his defensive skills and post-up offense. Nevertheless Durant will surely be ridiculously good in the game. There won’t be any better shooter from anywhere on the floor for the most part and thanks to 2K introducing signature skills, it will be even tougher to affect Durant’s shot at all.

Russell Westbrook – 93 overall

Westbrook got a big boost from last year and ends up two points higher than I predicted. He is one of the most all-around players in the league for his position and that is clearly shown in this rating of 93, which is also the rating Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant received. From playing the demo just a little bit it is already very clear just how amazing Westbrook is in the game. It is close to impossible to stay in front of him in the game, very much like it is in real life.

James Harden – 81 overall

This one surprised me to see Harden this low. I predicted an 85 overall and it has been revealed that Manu Ginobili is an 86 overall. Harden is not five points worse than Ginobili. There games are so close that you have to compare the two and it isn’t hard to make the case that Harden has surpassed Ginobili at this point in their careers. Harden must not have gotten very good ratings on defense at all and perhaps awareness ratings. He should still be very good in the game but an 81 is simply too low.

Serge Ibaka – 80 overall

Ibaka with an 80 overall is exactly what I predicted. He will be the best shot blocker in the game and deservedly so. They also gave him the defensive anchor signature skill and while he may not quite deserve that yet, it will make him even better in the game. After playing the demo some it is also clear that 2K respected Ibaka’s midrange jump shot which is basically money in the game as well.

Kendrick Perkins – 72 overall

I predicted a 70 overall for Perkins but after some thought, I am not surprised 2K made him a 72. He will clearly be a little overrated in the game as we know he also has the defensive anchor signature skill. The real shocker is how much lower Nick Collison is rated.

Thabo Sefolosha – 69 overall

I thought Sefolosha would get a little higher of a rating but this is pretty fair either way. He is rated as one of the best perimeter defenders in the game which is nice but he does little else besides knocking down a few threes.

Eric Maynor – 68 overall

Maynor goes up from last year’s game despite playing only nine games last season. This may be an example of a team making it to the NBA Finals and everyone on the roster getting a little ratings bump because of it.

Reggie Jackson – 67 overall

This is ridiculous that Jackson is just one point worse than Maynor. Jackson was pretty terrible last season and I can’t believe he is rated this high. This will make Jackson a real asset to trade for a high draft pick in Association mode which shouldn’t be the case. I guess he is rated pretty well on athleticism that may make him this high overall.

Nick Collison – 63 overall

Collison is a little low for my taste and every other Thunder fan’s. Saying he is nine points worse than Perkins makes just about no sense. This is where the 2K team falls short doing their homework on guys like Collison. He was still valuable in last year’s game as a great offensive rebounder and I expect the same this year. If he has any hustle signature skills he may be a little better too.

Daequan Cook – 62 overall

This is right around what I expected for Cook. He will be a good 3-point shooter despite having a down year last season and that’s all he will bring the Thunder.

Perry Jones, III – 60 overall

This seems a little low for Jones but he is a late-first round draft pick and 2K rated accordingly. He is pretty unknown right now so don’t expect Jones to play too close to real-life form out of the box.

Lazar Hayward – 60 overall

I can’t imagine any Thunder fan will ever be playing with Hayward. 60 might be a tad too high.

Cole Aldrich – 59 overall

Aldrich gets a solid boost for no apparent reason except he is the frontrunner to assume the backup center role for the Thunder. We will see if he has any value at all in the game.

Daniel Orton – 55 overall

Orton may not make the team in real life. A 55 overall won’t make him too popular in 2K either.

Hasheem Thabeet – 54 overall

Shouldn’t Thabeet at least be higher than Orton? 2K must hate him because neither have done anything in their NBA careers but I still think you say Thabeet has more upside than Orton. 7-foot-3 players are always valuable in 2K no matter how low their rating is. I may end up using Thabeet instead of Aldrich at times in NBA 2K13.

At midnight tonight, we will be exactly one week away from the highly anticipated release of NBA 2K13. We’ve heard a lot about the game and there will still be more player ratings and info revealed in the coming week before the game comes out.

One of the biggest new features in the game is the addition of signature skills. Signature skills are a way for certain players to stand out beyond just their ratings in a way that makes them unique and more authentic to their real-life counterparts.

There are 31 signature skills in the game, all of which are detailed here. Any player can have as many as five signature skills and a lot of players won’t have any.

Here is a look at each Thunder player and a prediction for which signature skills they might have.

Kevin Durant – Shot Creator, Microwave, Deadeye, Closer, Finisher

These signature skills have been confirmed for Durant already. Shot creator means he will be more effective shooting when he works with the ball to get open for a shot. Microwave means he heats up quickly. Deadeye means defenders have little impact on his shot. Closer means he gets a ratings boost in close games in the fourth quarter. Finisher means he is good at finishing shots at the rim despite contact. They are pretty accurate but you could make the case that Durant deserves more than just five signature skills. Spot-up shooter and hustle points are two of the skills you could argue for Durant as well.

Russell Westbrook – Posterizer, Finisher, Acrobat, Shot Creator, Interceptor

The only one we know for sure of with Westbrook is finisher. I predict posterizer for sure as Westbrook is always dunking on people or at least trying to. Acrobat is also one he should get for his ability to finish shots around the rim acrobatically. I think he will get shot creator too because he does a lot of isolations coring although this one I am not totally confident he will get. Interceptor is the other one he should get because most of his steals come from playing the passing lanes. You could also make the case for him to get hustle points because he is one of the best offensive rebounding guards in the league and scores a lot that way too but it is pretty unlikely. He may even get lockdown defender because he has shown the potential to be that but really doesn’t deserve it at this point in his career yet.

James Harden – Finisher, Shot Creator, Microwave

Harden is a very all-around player so there are a lot of signature skills he is close to qualifying for. You have to think 2K won’t be giving these out too easily though. He should get finisher because he posted one of the best field goal percentages at the rim last season. Shot creator suits him well too because he also is great at scoring in isolation situations. I think he will get microwave mostly because he comes off the bench. You could also make the case that he deserves pick pocket or active hands but I doubt 2K gives him any defensive skills. He could maybe get spot-up shooter too.

Serge Ibaka – Eraser, Chase Down Artist, Defensive Anchor

We know Ibaka is getting eraser and he definitely deserves it blocking more shots per game than anyone in almost a decade. I think he deserves chase down artist too because he gets a lot of blocks from behind as well, on the break sometimes even. He hasn’t reached his full potential on defense yet and has a lot of work to do but he may get defensive anchor as well. We know Dwight Howard, Tyson Chandler and Kevin Garnett will have this. It depends on how lenient 2K is to give out these signature skills but Ibaka is in the tier right behind these guys in terms of defensive anchor. It will be lame if 2K gives him posterizer but I could see them somehow doing that.

Kendrick Perkins – Brick Wall, Bruiser

Perkins is definitely getting brick wall which is for setting hard screens. This is one of Perkins’ greatest strengths and may be a pretty useful thing in 2K13. He should also definitely get bruiser which is reserved for players who are very strong and can move other players around more easily. He definitely fits that mold.

Nick Collison – Charge Card, Scrapper

I can’t imagine Collison won’t have charge card, which is for players who are known for taking charges. Collison could get scrapper as well which is for players who basically are known for hustling and dive for loose balls a lot.

Thabo Sefolosha – Lockdown Defender

It has been confirmed that Sefolosha will get the lockdown defender skill. He has been one of the best perimeter defenders in the league for awhile. It will be interesting to see how valuable this skill is and if he will be able to really shut down guys like Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. He shot a career-high in 3-point percentage last season so maybe 2K gives him spot-up shooter or corner specialist even though he doesn’t deserve either. He could get active hands, pick pocket or interceptor as well.

Daequan Cook – Corner Specialist

Cook had a down year last season in terms of 3-point shooting percentage but I think 2K still gives him the corner specialist since a lot of his threes are taken there. He could get spot-up shooter instead or also but that’s about it for him.

The bread-and-butter of any basketball game is actually playing the game. We’ve heard the game is now much smoother than before, there are of course many new animations and more realistic physics.

The best way to reenact actual NBA game play is with the deep play calling system that NBA 2K has. It began in NBA 2K11 when you could assign each player four different plays unique to them. Then last year in NBA 2K12 that expanded to where some players could have 20-30 different plays called for them in a single game.

After playing hundreds of games with the Oklahoma City Thunder, I had their playbook down pat. I could call the plays quickly on the fly, knew where everyone would be on the floor and it enhanced the gameplay like never before.

But not every play the Thunder ran in real life was represented in the game. And not every play was a perfect replica either.

Here are the top five Thunder plays that need to be in NBA 2K13 to make the game the best it can be.

5. Double High Screen

The Thunder were one of the only teams in NBA 2K12 to not really have any double high screens in their playbook. They don’t run a ton of this in real life either but they do occasionally on some pretty important plays. The first option is Russell Westbrook looking to score. He has a double come to him at the top of the key, goes to one side then the screener rolls, then he gets the other screen, comes to the middle of the floor and looks for his pull-up jumper. The other option is Kevin Durant being one of the screeners, Westbrook goes off the other screener who then sets a downscreen for Durant to pop up to the 3-point line. This second option is kind of in the game but it needs to at least be tweaked some to be more like how the Thunder run it.

4. Harden-Collison handoff/pick-and-roll

When James Harden and Nick Collison are in at the starts of the second and fourth quarters, they always run the same play at least a few times. The point guard will have the ball and receive a screen from Collison at the top of the key while Harden waits in the opposite corner. Collison fades to the 3-point line after setting the screen and the point guard passes him the ball as Harden begins to move up toward Collison. Then it becomes a 2-man game between Harden and Collison where decision-making is crucial and that’s why it is so effective. Harden can cut backdoor here, receive a handoff/screen and shoot the three or get the ball and run a pick-and-roll with Collison. This play was in NBA 2K12 only the way handoffs were in the game made it much less effective than real life. The different options from this set were pretty much impossible to pull off as well.

3. The Skip Pass play

This is another set play that we always see the Thunder run with their second unit. It starts with Harden having the ball on the left side of the floor. He receives a pick so that he can drive toward the left baseline but meanwhile another back screen is being set on the opposite end of the floor for Daequan Cook so he can flare to the opposite corner. Harden is money at making this pass and Cook loves the quick catch-and-shoot from the right corner. This play is somewhat in the game but you can’t run it designed for Cook when Harden is in the game. It needs to be tweaked as well so the first option of the play is Cook and it can be more easily called.

2. Durant-Westbrook pindown

This is a set that the Thunder went to a ton vs. the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals and they killed them with it. Westbrook has the ball to start and waits for Harden to come off a double screen on the left side of the floor. After Westbrook passes to Harden he runs to the right elbow area to set a pindown screen for Durant. The options are Durant popping to the top of the key where he can shoot immediately or have the space to isolate. Westbrook is often open slipping backdoor as well after setting the screen. In NBA 2K13 the other option will be Harden coming off the double for the outside shot. This play was not in the game in this way last year but definitely needs to be in NBA 2K13.

1. Westbrook-Durant pick-and-pop

It sounds simple and there were some variations of this in NBA 2K12, just not in the way that the Thunder usually ran it. The way OKC runs it most often is with Westbrook on the left wing and Kendrick Perkins setting a screen to free up Durant coming across to set the screen and pop for Westbrook. The key to this play being most effective is that there is no one on the left side of the floor except for Westbrook and Durant. This will also allow for Perkins and Serge Ibaka to crash the boards from the opposite side. For this play to be truly authentic for NBA 2K13, Durant must be able to barely the set the screen and quickly pop or cut to the basket. I don’t have to tell you that this play is very effective for the Thunder and in the NBA 2K13 world, it would be run all the time.

Yesterday, 2K Sports streamed live the first ever seen full game of NBA 2K13 played between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat.

Ronnie Singh and Chris Manning of 2K Sports were the two playing the game against each other. They also provided commentary during the game and talked about the new features that will be in this year’s title. They also noted the new additions to gameplay as they noticed it in the game they were playing.

The main point that both Singh and Manning were stressing is how much smoother NBA 2K13 feels compared to last year. This is a good sign that 2K isn’t overhauling their game this year and is instead tweaking and perfecting what they already had in NBA 2K12.

Singh and Manning somewhat surprisingly were not very good at this game. They looked like two young kids playing online, no sim whatsoever and mostly running all the time and jacking up bad shots.

Unfortunately, neither of them called any plays from their team’s playbook in the game. The extent of playcalling began and ended with quick play pick-and-rolls.

It would have been nice to see a better gamer playing with these teams to see if there were any new sets or improved offensive looks from the Thunder and Heat in the game.

Singh was controlling the Thunder and losing for most of the game before coming back to win in the final moments. It was interesting that he basically went away from Durant late in the fourth despite even noting himself how good Durant is in clutch situations in the game. Singh instead used Harden as the kind of point guard for the Thunder which was kind of an authentic touch to the game.

The demo for NBA 2K13 will release Sept. 25 and it will feature one 5-minute quarter between the Thunder and Heat. The full game will come out a week later on Oct. 2.

The NBA 2K13 demo will be available for download next Tuesday, Sept. 25 for PS3 and 360. The demo will be one 5-minute quarter between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat.

The demo will be online enabled meaning 1 vs. 1 quick games with random opponents. The demo will not feature commentary as most demos do not.

In past demos you haven’t been able to pull up the menu to call plays either and could only call quick plays. Also in some past demos you were not able to substitute. This will be an issue for OKC fans if they cannot bring James Harden in for Thabo Sefolosha.

As usual, the two teams that played in the NBA Finals last season are featured in the demo. We know that LeBron James is rated a 98 overall in the game and Kevin Durant a 94 overall. Dwyane Wade and Russell Westbrook are both in the 92-93 overall range.

It would have been interesting if they featured the 1992 Dream Team and 2012 Olympic Team in the demo but clearly 2K wants us to wait until the full version of NBA 2K13 before playing with those teams.

The demo is never a full version of the game and is probably a model from months ago. It will still be a significant change from NBA 2K12 as it always is.

The game will release on Oct. 2, just one week after the demo arrives.

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.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

A screenshot from NBA 2K13 has been revealed showing the top 20 rated players in the game. It does not show their exact ratings but based on the knowledge we have received about some players, we can predict just about everyone’s overall rating.

The ratings in parentheses below are those that we do not know for sure and are estimates.

LeBron (94+), Howard (94+), Durant 94, Paul 94, Kobe 93, Wade (92-93), Westbrook (92-93), Rose 92, Anthony 92, D. Williams (90-92), Rondo 90, Love 89, J. Smith 87, Duncan (87), Nash 87, Manu (87), Bynum 87, Iguodala 87, Gay (87), P. Gasol 87.

It has also been revealed that Serge Ibaka will be rated an 81 overall in the game.

Until now, Kevin Durant was the highest rated player that we knew of. We knew LeBron would end up being rated higher but Howard will also. LeBron was a 98 overall last year and will likely be the same if not a 99 in NBA 2K13. Howard will probably be no higher than a 95.

We see where Westbrook fits in here too right behind Wade and ahead of Rose. It’s a nice boost in overall rating for Westbrook from last year and it’s pretty impressive that 2K has him ahead of Rose, even if just by a tiny bit.

James Harden is not in the top 20 but you have to think he is just on the outside looking in. I predicted that he would be rated a 85 overall in the game but I wouldn’t be surprised if he is an 86 overall based on these ratings. You see Ginobili in there at an 87 overall meaning he is rated higher than Harden. I doubt Harden is rated much lower than Manu is.

Then there’s Ibaka whose 81 overall rating is pretty high. I predicted he’d be an 80 overall. We know he will have a 98 or 99 block shot rating and he has the signature skills as well that will help him block shots too. He obviously is given some decent offensive ratings to be an 81 overall. He can hit the midrange jumper but in 2K13, I bet he’s a very good finisher around the rim as well.

We are 22 days away from the release of NBA 2K13 and today we get our first look at the official trailer for the game.

Not surprisingly the game looks the best it ever has and it promises to be the deepest yet as well.

Just by watching the trailer you can see the detail that 2K Sports went into to make this game. We see LeBron James going for a chasedown block, Lob City in full effect and even JaVale McGee throwing an alley-oop to himself off the backboard on a fast break.

There are some Oklahoma City Thunder highlights as well. Kevin Durant is seen shooting a couple of threes as well as James Harden. Russell Westbrook is featured a little bit more including one nasty slam that looks exactly like him complete with the snarl-face reaction he is known for.

Also present in the trailer is the ankle-breaking animations most notably Eric Gordon making Jared Dudley fall and then a little montage of Stephen Curry with some step back dribble moves. The trailer was not without some clips of Dwight Howard as a Laker as he is shown catching some lobs.

The game will come out Oct. 2. To help get you in the mood, I have made my predictions on what overall rating every Thunder player will have in this year’s game.

Oklahoma City Thunder fans will be especially excited for the game with the Thunder coming off such a successful season a year ago. The Thunder have the most exciting, young team in the NBA, one that will be very fun to play with in NBA 2K13.

Kevin Durant will be on the cover of the game along with Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin. We know that Durant will be rated as one of the best players in the game but what about the entire Thunder team?

Here’s a prediction of what every Thunder player will be rated in NBA 2K13:

Kevin Durant – 94 overall

This one was pretty easy since Durant’s rating has already been revealed as a 94. It is the highest rating that we know of yet, tied with Chris Paul. Durant should be even nastier than usual in 2K13 as he should receive a bump in most of his shooting numbers as well as overall awareness ratings. Last year Dirk Nowitzki received a 99 mid range jump shot rating after winning the NBA title. Expect Durant to be ridiculously rated on his mid range and 3-pointers as well. 2K updates player ratings throughout the year based on performance and if Durant has the MVP-type of season many are expecting from him, expect his rating to climb potentially as high as 96 or 97 by the end of the year.

Russell Westbrook – 91 overall

Westbrook is turning into the perfect sidekick for Durant not only in real life but especially in a video game. In a world where turbo rules, no one embodies that better than Westbrook. An NBA Finals appearance should yield better signature styles for Westbrook which will make him that much better in 2K13. Add the fact that his midrange jumper was already money in last year’s game, and Westbrook becomes a real superstar.

James Harden – 85 overall

Harden had a breakout season last year and will see a big boost in his rating this year. His finishing skills and ability to draw fouls should all be very high which will make him extremely valuable in the game. He is coming off a career-high in true shooting percentage too so we should see a rise in most of his shooting ratings too. His defense is still suspect which is what will keep his overall rating low. But don’t be fooled by that because he should still be one of the best scorers in the game.

Serge Ibaka – 80 overall

Ibaka finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting last season and blocked more shots per game than anyone in about a decade. That will get him a 99 block shot rating or close to it. Ibaka will be one of the best defensive anchors in the game combined with his standing dunk rating and mid range rating which will make him solid on offense as well.

Kendrick Perkins – 70 overall

Perkins didn’t help his cause in terms of NBA 2K ratings with his play last season. His offense is still basically nonexistent but 2K should respect his defense which will make him decent to have on the floor when playing against the Lakers and Dwight Howard. Perkins will also have a signature skill for setting brick wall-like screens which could make him a little more valuable as well.

Thabo Sefolosha – 71 overall

Sefolosha was just a 68 last year but I expect 2K to give him a boost mostly based from team success last season. His perimeter defense we know is already considered elite on the game which will bode well for his overall. Sefolosha also had a very good year shooting the three which will make him decent as a spot-up shooter as well.

Nick Collison – 67 overall

Collison wasn’t rated very high in last year’s game but that should go up this year. He has a lot of respect among NBA circles and there was a lot of talk about how he should have played instead of Perkins late in the playoffs last year. I think 2K will hear this and give him a bump in his overall. Collison was a great offensive rebounder last year and should be the same in 2K13.

Eric Maynor – 66 overall

Maynor only played nine games last season so he shouldn’t see much of a change in his rating. He is still considered one of the best backup point guards in the league and should maybe bet rated a little higher than this.

Daequan Cook – 61 overall

Cook won’t see much of a change in his rating from last year either. He didn’t really improve much as a 3-point shooter but he may be one of the players to receive the signature skill as a corner 3-point shooter specialist. If that is the case, then he will become a little more valuable.

Perry Jones III – 64 overall

Jones was a lottery-level talent that fell to the Thunder in this past draft. He has some injury concerns but nevertheless will be rated decently based on his talent and upside. He should be very athletic on the game and a good dunker which will make him very popular to play with for Thunder fans.

Reggie Jackson – 62 overall

Jackson had an overall unimpressive rookie campaign and will not be rated very high at all in the game. 62 may actually be pretty generous.

Cole Aldrich – 55 overall

Aldrich will be battling it out for the backup center minutes next year but 2K13 hasn’t seen anything yet from him.

Hasheem Thabeet – 56 overall

NBA 2K13 should give Thabeet a little respect since he is a former No. 2 overall pick and his size at 7-foot-3 will make him a decent option to have on the floor in the game.

NBA 2K13

Kevin Durant, who will be on the cover of the game along with Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin, was first revealed to have an overall rating of 95. Since then it seems his rating has dropped one point.

Apparently this isn’t because Durant has gotten worse but because they have changed the formula by which they interpret an overall rating and Durant and many other players have seen the 1-point decrease.

One of the new features in NBA 2K13 that 2K Sports is really promoting is signature skills. Signature skills are basically certain areas where a player really stands out at compared to the rest of the league, something that can’t always be captured in ratings. It is intended to make playing with star players feel more authentic.

There will be 31 signature skills in the game with any player capable of having as many as five. They range from “Corner Specialist” (think Shane Battier) to “Brick Wall” (think Kendrick Perkins).

Durant has five of these skills: Shot Creator, Microwave, Deadeye, Closer and Finisher. Below are the descriptions of each skill via the 2K Sports Tumblr page.

Shot Creator: A player with this skill can hit shots at a higher percentage than most if he creates space for his shot. For this skill to fire off there are a number of rules that must pass:

1. The shooter must break his defender down to create space, either with iso-moves, triple threat moves or drives into special shots (i.e. step backs, drifters, hop shots, spin jumpers, etc). The space he creates when he starts his shot must be more than the space he had when he started to break his defender down.
2. The Shot Creator must be closer to his matchup (within 7 feet) when he starts to break him down.
3. The shot must be taken within 2 seconds of the initial break down.
4. The shot must be taken in a half-court context (i.e. not in transition and not on a fast break) and must come from 33 feet to the basket or closer.
5. The shooter must not be smothered by the defender at both the break down and the release of the shot.

If the shooter passes all of these rules, then the shot penalty enforced by the defender on the release of the shot is reduced up to 100%.

Microwave: A player with this skill can heat up in a hurry. It takes fewer made shots and good plays for a Microwave to get hot than players without this skill. Once hot, various offensive and defensive attributes are given a boost for a period of time.

Deadeye: Late arriving defenders have less impact on this type of shooter than most. When we determine the final outcome of a shot, part of the calculation comes from how well a shooter is defended at both the start and release of the shot. When a Deadeye shoots and the defender is more heavily guarding the Deadeye when he releases the shot than when he started it, we reduce the impact of the release up to 100% depending on how heavily guarded he is at the beginning (the more heavily guarded, the more we reduce). A couple more things to keep in mind:

1. In order to ensure that closing out on a Deadeye matters, there must be some sort of defense applied at the start of the shot.
2. The shooter must not be smothered by the defender at both the start and release of the shot or the skill will not trigger.

Closer: This player raises his game in clutch moments. For the last 40% of a fourth quarter and all overtimes, a Closer receives the following perks:

1. Attribute boosts of up to 12 attribute points
2. A widened “Excellent Release” free throw release window, thus making it easier to knock down clutch free throws
3. Energy boosts during timeouts so that he retains more energy through breaks during clutch moments
4. Shot chance percentage boost of up to 5% for “moving” shots, such as drifters and step back shots.

Finisher: This player is adept at finishing contact layups and dunks at a higher rate than others. There is a shot penalty that all offensive players receive when they make contact with defenders in the air. Finishers decrease this shot penalty by 30%. This skill combined with our existing Draw Foul Tendency lends itself well to creating and-one opportunities.

That all sounds about right for Durant.

Now we can finally end the debate on which team is the greatest ever.

#NBA2K13 will feature the iconic ’92 Dream Team! Play as the greatest. Spread the word, tweet #NBA2K13 twitter.com/2KSports/statu…

— 2K Sports 2K12 (@2KSports) August 15, 2012

NBA 2K has been featuring classic teams since NBA 2K11 when Michael Jordan was on the cover and the “Jordan Challenge” was the big draw for the game.

NBA 2K12 stuck with the classic theme including Magic Johnson and Larry Bird on the covers as well and even more legends and classic teams.

One of the players that was most notably left out of NBA 2K12 was Charles Barkley. 2K Sports planned to have Barkley in the game and featured the 1985 Philadelphia 76ers and was also going to feature the 1993 Phoenix Suns but they couldn’t get him last year.

Barkley appears in the photo 2K released today standing with the rest of the 1992 Dream Team in digital form.

Scottie Pippen, however, will not be on the team which is a pretty big letdown. This also means Pippen probably won’t be on any classic Bulls teams which means maybe there won’t be many classic teams after all.

NBA2K13 game features every 1992 Dream Team player but Scottie Pippen. Couldn’t strike deal with ex-Bulls star.

— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) August 15, 2012

2K Sports hasn’t released other information about which classic teams will be on the game but there should still be some. They did say they would be focusing more on the future than the past as evidence by their new cover athletes, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin.

2K Sports also announced a few days ago a major change to the controls. The right stick will now be used to control dribble moves. This was how dribble moves were controlled in some of the old NBA Live games. 2K is promising this will be a better version of that in NBA 2K13.

NBA 2K13 continues to be innovative every year in finding ways to draw more fans. They have the best basketball product on the market but they don’t stop there.

Two years ago they included Michael Jordan and the Jordan Challenge in NBA 2K11. Last year they added even more legends by popular demand featuring Larry Bird and Magic Johnson on the game’s cover along with Jordan.

This year NBA 2K13 will be partnering up with Jay-Z who is coming on to serve as executive producer.

“This has been a unique opportunity to collaborate with 2K Sports and be a part of one of the best sports video games in history,” Jay-Z told 2K Sports. “NBA 2K13 will be the next evolution in sports and basketball culture, and I’m ready to usher in the new era of the franchise.”

The move to include a Hip Hop legend in Jay-Z was again a very savvy one by the 2K Sports team. With the Nets moving to Brooklyn for next season as well, it’s even more fitting.

“We aren’t content with just being the best, and we will continue to grow the NBA 2K franchise into one of today’s premier entertainment experiences,” Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports said. “Jay-Z’s role in NBA 2K13 represents a unique fusion of basketball, music, art, and entertainment, and illustrates the evolution of NBA 2K into something much bigger than simply the best basketball video game series ever made.”

2K Sports also announced today the soundtrack for the game which will include many songs by Jay-Z himself.

Credit: NBA 2K13 Facebook page

It was revealed a few weeks ago that Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin would grace the cover of the game. NBA 2K13 will release on October 2, 2012 in North America.

Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Kevin Durant cemented himself as the second-best player in the league this past season right behind LeBron James. He finished second in the MVP voting behind LeBron then finished second as a team when the Oklahoma City Thunder lost in the NBA Finals to the Miami Heat.

Durant did beat LeBron in one sense making the cover of NBA 2K13 along with Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin. NBA 2K13 wanted to focus on the future of the league as opposed to its past like it has done with the last two installments. That is perhaps why Durant got the nod for the cover over someone like LeBron.

Durant’s overall rating was revealed during the 2K Sports NBA 2K13 live stream interview with Ronnie Singh. Durant received a 95 overall, three points higher than the 92 he got at the start of last season.

This is probably a fair number for Durant. While he is the second-best player in the NBA, you can make the case for him having this low of a number. His defensive ratings will still not be too high and his passing rating will also be a little low.

LeBron will likely receive the 98 overall he has been getting or possibly even a 99 overall rating. After the way he played this past season and especially in the playoffs, a 99 is probably deserving.

The real question is if there will be anyone rated above Durant besides LeBron. In recent years, there has been a few players rated above 95 along with LeBron. Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant have been among the players being rated that high.

Wade and Kobe should dip under that plateau for NBA 2K13 though and definitely should not be rated as highly as Durant. Chris Paul is maybe the only player that should be rated higher than Durant is.

One thing is for sure though and that is that Durant will be unstoppable to play with in the game. He already pretty much has been in past years but he’s really reaching a point now where he is becoming the ultimate video game basketball player.

His height and length is always an asset and his ability to shoot from long range makes him pretty unfair. Expect ratings in the mid-to-high 90s for his midrange jumper.

The overall rating is not always the most important thing. Last year, Dirk Nowitzki received an 85 overall rating but was still unstoppable because he had a 99 midrange rating.

Russell Westbrook and James Harden should get a lot of love from 2K Sports this year as well. Westbrook will be as quick as any player in the game and will also have a very high midrange rating which will make him unstoppable. Harden’s beard length will certainly be more accurate in NBA 2K13 and his ability to finish at the rim with the euro-step will hopefully be unstoppable as well.

Serge Ibaka should be graced with a 99 shot blocking rating after averaging more blocks per game than anyone since the 2001-02 season. Expect Perry Jones to get a nice rookie rating as well, possibly 71 or around that.

Durant, Rose and Griffin are three of the league’s hottest young stars which is clearly something 2K Sports is trying to sell with this year’s game.

The past two years, the NBA 2K series has focused on legends including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. That was especially convenient for last year’s game which was released while the NBA lockout was going on. Reminiscing with the legends was a perfect cure for NBA lockout withdrawals.

Focusing back on the present and the future of the league was the right step for NBA 2K13. Durant, Rose and Griffin certainly represent that to the fullest.

This is actually the second time Durant has been on the cover of an NBA video game with the first time coming for NBA Elite 11, a game that was planned to release in 2010 but delayed and later canceled by EA Sports basically because they knew NBA 2K11 would blow it out of the water.

Many people thought LeBron should have been considered for the cover but the decision was obviously made awhile ago as to who would be selected. LeBron’s recent ascension as an NBA champion was unable to influence who NBA 2K13 chose for their cover.

Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin are clearly the “clues” we can take from the cover that 2K has given us so far.

We see a tarantula representing Kevin Durant for his nickname of “Durantula.” Then we see roses clearly hinting at Derrick Rose and then the gryffin which points to Blake Griffin.

Last year, NBA 2K12 focused more on the past and the legends with Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird being on their covers.

This year it’s about the future of the NBA with Durant, Rose and Griffin.

NBA 2K13 will be released October 2, 2012.