My thumbs tell me this is the best sports game I've ever played.
Second, the game has to have plays that are balanced... not impossible to stop for the defense, and not worthless to the offense. For example, in NBA 2k8, their was a major issue with the pick and roll. Specifically, the defender of the screener became a zombie and didn't cover either of the offensive players for a second, and you have to choose between giving up an open 3 or an open dunk. This has been corrected in 2k9. Now the defender will automatically switch out, and you have to switch down to the screener. This makes both basketball and video game sense. Overall, the plays work well if run correctly on both offense and defense.
Third, the players have to look good. You can't have Kobe Bryant look like a pixelated mess, no matter how good the gameplay is. The faces on this game look great. The only issue with graphics is that the knee-high socks look like... well... a pc sports game, even on the xbox360 (No offense to you PC sports gamers, it's just that sports are way more fun on a gaming console). But it's not just Kobe, LeBron, Garnett, etc that look amazing... all the way down to the role players, they look good. Sometimes a guy who barely plays will be at the line and they close-up on his face and it's amazing how close they look to the real deal. But I won't be saying that in 10 years (I say that because I broke out nba live 99 for the n64 the other day and it hurts my eyes trying to watch the players move around... but at the time those graphics were off the chain).
Fourth, the players' isolation moves have to be realistic and effective. Last year, Iverson's crossover was useless. Instead of crossing over and then blowing by a defender like in real life, he would stop to almost a stand-still, and do the slowest, ugliest video game crossover ever invented. Now, that same crossover propels him forward past the defender. The isolation moves are key to people who play this game online, especially "cheesers" (aka people who use the Cleveland LeBrons or the LA Kobes) who set up the isolation play and then try to score 100 points with one player. That reminds me - fortunately team defense is a lot better in this game. The computer controlled defenders will come over to help instead of standing there Zombified for whatever reason (probably don't want to end up on a poster. i didn't think that sort of AI was available yet). Anyway, no more 81 points for Kobe. Still, if you want to cheese, you can. It's possible... but no fun.
The biggest problem with 2k8 is that there was really no pace control. If you wanted to slow down the game, you couldn't it usually resulted in a bad shot, and the other person wants to run-and-gun so bad that by the end of the first half you're pulling up for 3s 5 seconds into the shot clock unless you can get a dunk. Well, 2k9 is a lot better in terms of pace if you do want to slow it down. Run plays, settle down, then get a good shot. It's that simple. For what feels like the first time in an NBA sim, you can force other players to play the slow down style if you want.
There are a few issues - like the players half-assing it down the court on a fast break when you're not controlling them, or how they always run straight to the corner instead of to the rim. Also, the jump-pass is overpowered to the extreme. There's no way Chris "The Birdman" Andersen should be going up for a dunk then all of a sudden dump off a pass to Nene standing 10 feet away. Also, there are some cut screens after time-outs and to start quarters that you cannot skip, and they look choppy at times. I might as well mention how you can't even see the jerseys when picking them. You just kind of pick "alternate" or "retro 1" without really knowing what they look like unless you already know... One last thing... I'm sick of most of the things the announcers say. They repeat themselves ALL THE TIME... and most of the things they say is from the last game. Plus, this new dude they have in here who replaced Kenny "The Jet" Smith is mad boring. I swear, this dude makes Larry King seem exciting. I mean, The Jet is an idiot for sure, but at least he didn't sound so forced with everything he said. Plus, they got rid of Craig Sager AND his wardrobe. They replaced him with with Cheryll Miller, who is cool and everything, but I just want to see Craig Sager's dope suits!
http://deadspin.com/assets/resources/2008/04/craigsager.jpg
Just look at those marvelous sequins!
Anyway, overall, this game is for real. I really think it's not only the best basketball game I've ever played, but probably the best sports game. Fun, addictive, doesn't get old, great modes of play...
OH and that reminds me, the Association Mode is real good if you liked the older ones. It's pretty much the same thing... except for Steven "The 2K Insider" A. Smith. Nice addition I suppose, but at least this one doesn't yell while he talks like the real Steven A. I think the only thing that would have made this mode better were something like SportsCenter once a week (season time). Hey... NFL 2k5 had it. That was actually a really cool feature, now that I think about it...