 NBA Jam 2010 Eastern Conference Rosters BreakdownSep 9 2010 5:13PM
By Ming Wong #2 True story: when NBA Jam came out in '93, I was a freshman in college and spent a great deal of time—and more so, quarters—enthralled by NBA Jam. I wasn't too into the arcade games, especially at that age. I had friends who plunked down quarter after quarter on Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat, but I can't ever recall those games getting any of my change. But NBA Jam was love at first sight. Previously, I played my fair share of basketball videogames—Double Dribble (those cut scenes of dunks, even though there were only three of them, were dope), Jordan vs. Bird (I always wondered why there was never Bird vs. Magic) Tecmo Super Basketball (not even close to duplicating Tecmo Bowl)—but this was unlike any other game. Of course, it was technologically cutting edge at the time—player faces (albeit pixelated like a blown up JPEG), player stats and abilities that resembled the real product on the court, but most of all, it allowed for four players to go at it simultaneously. The gameplay was aces—the big dunks, three-point bombs, the commentary, the movement. Sure, it was way over the top, but during the pre-Internet days, this was a way to get close to the bigger-than-life game. I started out slowly, only playing with friends socially when there would be four of us. Then it grew to playing solo in order to achieve the quest of beating every NBA team. It started out at a modest one team per day. That morphed into seizing 15-minute increments out of the day to get a game in (nothing angered me more than someone "joining in" midgame, especially when I was well on my way to defeating a team since it cost $.25 per 3-minute quarter of play, so each attempt to defeat a team meant $1 and about 15 minutes of time). Tired of getting "interrupted," I would hit NBA Jam at the weird hours. Because the game only kept records locally, I was forced to frequent the same machine over and over. The game was located in a neighborhood video store (for the kiddies who grew up on Netflix, we used to have to physically go to a store in order to rent a movie), so I would go there when the store opened up at 11am or when it was about to close around 10pm. Eventually, I defeated every team and in the process, getting to know the proprietor of the video store well (come to think of it, I rarely ever even rented a video from there). Defeating every team put my name on the top of the leader boards at my local machine as I was the first to accomplish it (if I ever come across that particular NBA Jam machine, I'd go all Seinfeld Frogger on it. 
My obsession never ended with the accomplishment. I started going at all hours to troll for games against unsuspecting folks. I'd toss a quarter down during their games and demoralize them. I was good at NBA Jam. Really good.It was as if I started and ended the game "On Fire." I felt like Michael Jordan showing at a pickup game and taking on all comers. My eroded memories say I never lost after I became a Jedi at NBA Jam and when the game was released for the Sega Genesis, I would mop up the opposition (I'm pretty sure I never lost on the Genesis version). I caused countless folks to give up on the NBA Jam (right, Brian?) because they stood no chance against me, computer-assist or not (NBA Jam famously had a feature programmed in the game that swung the odds in favor of the losing team down the stretch to even out the playing field and make games close; ridiculous shots by the losing team would fall and the team that was up would go cold, especially from outside). My team of choice was one of two: either the hometown Knicks with Patrick Ewing and Charles Oakley or the Hornets' Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson. The logic was that you wanted a duo that was even in size with high power to bully other players for better shoving (remember, there were no fouls in NBA Jam) and easily dunk the ball around the basket (harder to block dunks) which would increase the likelihood of getting"on fire." Once on fire, even a Ewing or Oak could light up from the three-point line and they would be able to goal-tend to their heart's desire.. Based on that theory, teams like Chicago (Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant) and Seattle (Shawn Kemp and Kendall Gill) were solid teams. What can I say, it was the '90s. It was the era of rock 'em, sock 'em basketball. Even in NBA videogames. Which brings us to this post about the reboot of NBA Jam called NBA Jam 2010 by EA Sports which is due out next month. After much excitement and online voting for the 2010 rosters, EA Sports has announced the Eastern Conference rosters for NBA Jam 2010. Each team will have at least three players and a legend and/or mascot to round out the roster. I can't say how the new version will play, but based on everything I've heard and read, the plan is to not make it a huge departure from the original from 17 years ago. Based on that, here's my two cents on the rosters.
Atlanta Hawks This team has some potential, especially with Smith and Wilkins on the court together. Smith, in particular, would be an Jam best with his blocking/stealing/dunking combo. Johnson would be a good third guy off the bench. I never had much regard for little guys in NBA Jam, so Webb and Bibby would be played sparingly, if at all. Rating: 7
Boston Celtics If this were a real NBA squad, they'd be Murderer's Row, as there would be an almost perfect blend of defense, shooting, passing, low-post play, speed and clutch play. In Jam, it'd be a good squad. If the game producers don't base it off KG's past season, he should be a gem in the game with his size/defense. Bird and McHale would have to be monsters. It's a shame they couldn't somehow work Shaq into the C's, that would've made him the only dude to be a part of the original game that's still an active player. Rating: 9
Charlotte Bobcats While not filled with names that excite the imagination, the Bobcats aren't too bad. Wallace should be pretty effective and depending on how they design Thomas, he could be useful. Too bad they couldn't get the team owner into a pair of shorts. In my book, the only mascot that would be Jam-worthy is the Suns' Gorilla (if he's even in the game). Rating: 5
Chicago Bulls Like the original, the Bulls will be a force to be reckoned with. It might also be one of the few teams where the legends are better than the young'ns. Pippen and Rodman has the 18-year-old inside me salivating. Oh, Boozer, Rose and Noah look good, too. Wow, like with Charlotte, imagine if they had gotten MJ into the game? Rating: 9 Cleveland CavaliersPlayers: Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison and Anderson Varejao Legends: Mark Price and Brad Daugherty Sorry, Cavs fans, the prospects for this team, much like the real team sans LeBron, isn't looking good. Without the benefit of flopping, Varejao won't be anywhere as valuable as his real self and a tweener like Jamison is useless in my opinion. Rating: 2
Detroit Pistons Ugh. This team is on par with the Cavs. There's very little going for it unless they beef up the guard play in the game. If based on original game, small guards (even those as good as Isiah) are easily nullified, making this a pretty bad team. Rating: 2
Indiana Pacers While not as bad as the Cavs or the Pistons, the Pacers look to be one of the weaker teams. Granger and Dunleavy look like middle-of-the-road players while Ford is best left on the bench. The one good thing is that in original Jam, Schrempf was effective and a favorite of mine. Rating: 3
Miami Heat There's little doubt in my mind that the Heat will be the most popular NBA Jam 2010 team and with good reason. There's little difference between real LeBron and the videogame version. Both dudes can do almost anything on the court and I fully expect his NBA Jam debut to be just as awe-inspiring. Bosh should be a solid running mate and my guess is Wade will be a bit like John Starks in the original (there must've been a Knicks fan on the NBA Jam team, as they were generous in his attributes). In Jam, one player can carry a team; if they make LeBron god-like, the Heat will go far. Rating: 9
Milwaukee Bucks Unless they let Bango bring a ladder onto the court, the Bucks don't do it for me. Once again, unless they make guards harder to guard (much like in today's NBA), even a elusive speedster like Jennings can be neutralized with a good shove. Bogut and Maggette don't make me Fear the Deer. Rating: 4
New Jersey Nets Lopez should be a force in the game but the rest of the lineup doesn't wow. I'm not sure why Lee is on the Nets, but regardless, he's a non-factor. Drazen would be curious to see. In the original game, the Croatian sharpshooter was always money from deep. Once again, I suspect a Drazen fanboy in the game's designers as he seemed to play better than his abilities would indicate. Rating: 3
New York Knicks Oh, how much has changed in 17 years. In '93, the Knicks were a perennial playoff team on the cusp of the Finals and fresh off Starks' "The Dunk". Now they are a a team barely good enough to be mediocre. Like Chicago, the legends will be a better alternative to suit up for heavy minutes.Ewing and Johnson were Jam standouts, but I can see Stoudemire being a potentia top-10 Jam player. Rating: 9
Orlando Magic Orlando would be a pretty good pick in NBA Jam. Howard is tailor-made for the game with his defense/dunking. Although, he's no longer the same guy from 10 years ago, Carter will likely hold his own in NBA Jam. Lewis' big man/perimter game should translate well. It's just too bad they couldn't get Shaq as a legend; pairing him with Howard would be a curious sight. Rating: 8
Philadelphia 76ers Based on just the Eastern Conference, the Sixers would be the team I'd likely want to try out first. The combination of Iguodala and Erving could very well be formidable. I'm sure they'll make Dr. J a demi-god in the game, but Iguodala's exciting game should come big in Jam. If they improve on the guard play, Iverson could be dangerous. Rating: 7
Toronto Raptors
Players: DeMar DeRozan, Jarrett Jack and Andrea Bargnani You know how I said the Heat would be the most popular team in NBA Jam 2010? The Raptors will be the direct opposite. DeRozan has the potential to be Iguodala, but I doubt they'll make him good. Bargnani will be like the Rik Smits of the original game, which is to say, not good. The Raptor will be interesting if he's allowed to do this. The one good thing is that EA Sports is based in Canada and the homers might boost up the Rapts a bit. Rating: 2
Washington Wizards I think most players will move their D-pad over the Wizards. There's not enough bulk and power to my liking. I am intrigued by seeing the posthumous appearance of Bol in the game and wonder if they'll bless him with a high three-point shooting acumen. Rating: 3 blog comments powered by Disqus
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