The Philadelphia 76ers’ starting lineup didn’t get enough respect from the folks behind NBA 2K19.
The 2018-19 season is under two months away, which means NBA 2K is once again at the forefront of sports video games. With the release date coming soon, all 30 starting lineups — and their ratings — were leaked.
Video game ratings are an inexact science, so there’s bound to be some discontent among every fanbase. This is by no means a serious issue, and most ratings will rise or fall as necessary once the season begins.
With that said, the Philadelphia 76ers‘ starting lineup featured some ratings that, in a vacuum, are fine. Compared to others around the league, however, the ratings can be disputed.
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Joel Embiid led the team with a 90 overall, which seems reasonable. But he was one point behind Karl-Anthony Towns, who leads all centers with a 91. It’s fair to say Embiid is Towns’ superior at this point.
Some marketing ploys might be at play here. Towns is part of 2K’s network of athletes, while Embiid graces the NBA LIVE cover. They’re direct competitors, so it would behoove 2K to rate Towns higher.
We’ll see if those ratings stick once the season begins.
Ben Simmons comes in a few ticks behind Embiid at 87. As we’ve known for a while now, Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum received the same rating. To put Tatum on Simmons’ level, at least right now, feels premature.
Generally speaking, though, an 87 seems fair for Simmons. He has a strong chance to improve as the season progresses as well.
Where the biggest issue lies is the Sixers’ supporting case. Robert Covington, Dario Saric and J.J. Redick all received a 79.
Here is every other player who received a 79: Brook Lopez, John Collins, Joe Ingles, Derrick Favors, Buddy Hield, Willie Cauley-Stein, Enes Kanter, Rajon Rondo, Evan Fournier, Luka Doncic, Will Barton, Darren Collison, Bojan Bogdanovic, Reggie Jackson, Serge Ibaka, Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol, Deandre Ayton, Jeff Teague and Jusuf Nurkic.
It’s worth noting that only starters were released. There are probably a few reserves who crack this list as well.
The main takeaway is pretty simple: That list is all over the place, with some players who deserve higher ratings (Ingles, Kanter) and some who deserve much lower ratings (Hield, Cauley-Stein).
Saric, Covington and Redick fit somewhat nicely into that hodgepodge of names, but generally speaking, their talent feels undersold. Saric is one of the most impactful offensive players listed and is entering his third season. Covington is an All-Defense first teamer.
Covington should probably be a few ticks higher, joining the upper-echelon of that group. Saric should too, assuming he takes another step forward next season. There’s no reason to believe he won’t.
A poor postseason run has made far too many people sour on Covington’s talent. He’s one of the best wing defenders on the planet, something that has tremendous value in the modern NBA. That, combined with spot-up shooting, makes him the prototypical 3-and-D player in a 3-and-D league.
When making my predictions for the Sixers’ 2K19 ratings, this is how the staring lineup measured out: Joel Embiid (92), Dario Saric (81), Robert Covington (80), J.J. Redick (80), Ben Simmons (87). And those were merely predictions — I would argue that Covington deserves a few ticks higher.
Leave your thoughts in the comments below.