06WC looks promising, but I'll be sticking with the demo given my limited economic means (going to school FTL).

Gonna have to disagree with you there.

First of all, if you play NBA Live (terrible game) you get so many steals it's absurd. Second, if you play NBA 2K (great game), you can still get plenty of steals, it's just that almost all of them are off the ball. This is because ON THE BALL STEALS ARE RARE IN REAL LIFE.

I don't get why so many people can't seem to understand this. Great defenders don't gamble for steals every time down the floor.

And as far as the shotblocking being ridiculously overpowered (the one major thing wrong, IMO)... just turn the blocking sliders down.

There hasn't been a great defender in the NBA in fifteen years, so a lot of people don't actually know that great defenders don't gamble for steals every time down the floor.

15 years? I don't mean to be contrary, but what do you call Scottie Pippen, if not a great defender?

I was referring to all the fouls that you get trying to steal.

Yeah, and that's exactly as it should be.

You'll find that you play far, far better defense if you simply stick with your man without swiping at the ball. Ever. If you foul, then it's a foul. If you miss, they got an open lane/jumper. Swiping on the ball just isn't the greatest idea.

Just stick to your man, and wait for the other team to be passing your man the ball to try to steal.