STARTERS
G- Jrue Holiday
2K16: 79 (finished season at 82)
Projection for 2K17: 84
My thinking: As I wrote here earlier in the week, Jrue Holiday has found himself surrounded on the offensive statistical leaderboards by players like John Wall and Kyrie Irving, both of whom garnered 87 overall ratings at the release of 2K16. I expect the creators to lag behind those numbers in their opinion of him because very few people actually watched the Pelicans past December last season. An 84 would fall right between how he was rated two seasons ago and where he was in 2K16.
Trajectory: Up, up, and away.
G- Buddy Hield
2K16: N/A
Projection for 2K17: 75
My thinking: Flying quickly through the NBA’s rookie crop from 2015-16, I spotted Mario Hezonja, who won a nice 73 overall rating from the 2K overlords going into last season. He went to Orlando two spots ahead of Hield’s draft slot this year, and came with a similar barnstorming reputation on the offensive side, and similar questions about his defense. I gave Buddy a couple extra points based on the name recognition and a sterling senior season at Oklahoma.
Trajectory: Static; the game-makers will likely wait and see what becomes of Year One of the Hield Hype before making any changes to his rating.
F- Solomon Hill
2K16: 73 (finished season at 74)
Projection for 2K17: 75
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My thinking: I took a look here at Jae Crowder’s 2K history to land at 75 for Hill. Crowder is a player who had a nice end to the previous season and benefitted from it in the next year’s 2K ratings. Hill only earned one point for himself during last year’s regular season, but worked his way firmly into the tightened playoff rotation in Indy last April. For that, I threw him another point atop his end-of-season mark.
Trajectory: Creeping upward; If he proves last season’s playoffs were for real, he’ll be rocketing up the ratings boards as a solid two-way player.
F- Anthony Davis
2K16: 92 (finished season at 91)
Projection for 2K17: 89
My thinking: Davis didn’t do enough last year to stay in the vaunted 90s. The game-makers will have the sense to punish his character accordingly, but we all know he’s still great.
Trajectory: Hopping over guys in front of him like it ain’t nothin’.
C- Omer Asik
2K16: 76 (finished season at 74)
Projection for 2K17: 72
My thinking: I took a look at Tyler Zeller’s down year last year to find context in the 2K world. Zeller came out of 2014-15 looking like an efficient two-way big under Brad Stevens, and then promptly lost his spot in the rotation last year. Asik has had a similar fall, and one that could continue. He gets bumped a whole two points down from where he finished last season as expectations have fallen due to the team upgrading around him.
Trajectory: Down, down, down, as the flames go higher.
Next: Projecting the Bench Guys' Ratings