The scouting process has changed quite a bit, as well. When entering the scouting page, you must choose from a few different regions (Asia, Africa, Europe, and parts of the US) then take a look at all of the available players. Some info, such as height, weight, and age, are presented right off the bat, but you're going to have to pay if you want to find out how good they are. Using Dynasty Points that are awarded throughout the game (for things like allowing less than 20 points in a half or getting more than 10 offensive boards in a game), you can pay to have one of your scouts judge a player using one of three types of criteria: offense, defense, or athleticism. After a few days (these things take time, you know?), you'll get a report back that scores the potential rookie using an A to F system, at which point you can have him judged on the other criteria.

After the season ends, you'll have to deal with the usual offseason duties of the GM, including re-signing your players, finding out your draft position, and continuing to scout potential rookies. After the draft rolls around, it's time to make trades and sign free agents. If your owner is reasonably happy with your efforts, you'll get to do the whole thing over again. Repeat 25 times, and you've got a Dynasty!


But what about the changes that affect the gamers who would rather spend their time on the court instead of in the front office? Well, there's plenty of new stuff for all of the armchair shooting guards out there. EA has implemented what they are calling a "Freestyle Air" system, which allows you to alter your actions in mid-air. While it comes into a play little bit when shooting, the biggest change is in the rebounding mechanics. Rather than simply grabbing a rebound or arbitrarily trying to tip the ball in, you can now tell your player what to do with the board. While you're in the air, simply hit the corresponding button to make your man grab the rebound, tap it in, or attempt a ferocious follow-up dunk.

A few other gameplay elements have been tweaked, as well. The pro hop move, which was nearly impossible to stop last year, has been toned down quite a bit, and will only work in optimal situations. If you try to do it in a crowded lane, there's a good chance you'll get called for a charge. This year's player models move much more realistically, especially when compared to their real-life counterparts. While most of the league's role players move in more or less the same fashion, stars like T-Mac and Stevie Franchise dribble and drive in the same way they would on the real parquet.

So far, NBA Live 2005 is shaping up to be the best game in the series to date. The dynasty mode is deeper than ever, and it's finally a breeze to use, even for players who have never tried their hand at running a team. Upgraded visuals and controls add to the realism. While it remains to be seen if it will be the best hoop sim of the year, NBA Live 2005 is certainly a leap in the right direction for the franchise.