It's irritating, because I should LOVE this game, but certain things are killing it for me. I love the franchise mode/building a dynasty aspect of these games. I like scouting, drafting future stars, trading, signing free agents... etc.
But the stats engine is wonky and it's been a gripe of mine with this series for years. It annoys the crap out of me that none of the CPU-generated rookie point guards ever average over like 5-6 assists. It's like impossible for the game to create a John Stockton or Chris Paul or Steve Nash. It bugs me that the league leader in assists will average like 6 assists. On that same note... CPU-generated big men almost ALWAYS statistically SUCK. You can have a 7 footer who was drafted #1, is now rated 95... and he puts up 7 points and 8 rebounds a game. Very very very annoying. Dreadfully annoying, actually. The underperforming centers and power forwards is driving me crazy. I hate having a "phenom" who is rated 99, but performs like Dwight Gooden... and I hate it even more that I end up getting frustrated and just trade the "phenom" for one of the big men that is already in the game (Big Al, Dwight or Bosh, basically...)
Lastly... it's bugging the hell out of me that in order to build chemistry players need to be happy. Many elite players need minutes to be happy... but too many of those "elite" CPU-generated players average over 4 fouls a game and can only play 27 minutes a game. So I've come across a situation far too many times when I have some drafted player whose rating is 90+ and should be a superstar... so I set the depth chart to give him 40+ minutes a night. However... because he averages 4 fouls a game he only plays 27 minutes a night (his own fault)... and then the player gets angry that he's not getting enough minutes... and inevitably demands a trade... and then instead of performing like a 90 he's performing like a 70 and I have to dump the player for being useless.
All these things are fixable, but the 2k9 staff doesn't give a crap. I guess the majority of console players don't go into franchise mode much.
So heres an example which combines many of my irritants:
I started a franchise mode as the Pacers. Worked out a bunch of trades so that I end up landing three lotto picks in one draft. I lucked out and in year 3 I had the #1 pick and #3 pick. I had been scouting the draft and there was an undisputed #1 player. A point guard with A+ overall and A+ potential... A+ defense, A+ shooting, A+ passing... basically one of the most perfect prospects I've ever seen the game generate. #1 in the mock draft... #1 by all my scouts. He was the unquestionable top choice. 20 years old. Scouts say "no weaknesses". No brainer... I take him with the #1 pick. As a rookie he's got an 80 rating. With the 3rd pick I took the highest rated center. As a rookie he's got a 79 rating.
Flash forward a few years. The phenom point guard now is rated 91... averages 13 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds. He also averages 4+ fouls a game. He can't stay on the court for more than 27 minutes. He's already underperforming for a "franchise point guard", because the 2k9 stat system sucks... and now he's complaining about his lack of minutes. Ends up throwing a fit and I end up having to trade him. The center I drafted #3 is already an 88 rating... but does next to crap statistically. 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1.7 blocks. Basically useless. I can just trick the computer into trading me Dwight Howard for him, but what fun is that.
Yes... 2k9 is REALLY ticking me off too.