These are LAW. Please don't think I'm gonna budge. I didn't make this league to compromise. I made this league because I was sick of compromising. I do of course want suggestions, but some of these rules have zero tolerence.   League Guidelines: • Season 1 is made up of 16 teams, playing a 30 game schedule. The league is broken up into 2 Conferences and each team plays a 3 game series witBh everyone in their conference, and 3 out of conference series. We do this because it's not the easiest thing in the world to schedule a time with someone, so once you've got 'em - go ahead and do a triple-header. NBA games are quicker than NFL as well, so it should take about 90 minutes. As well, your head-to-head record determines tie-breakers, so the 3 game series is very crucial.   • The top 4 teams in each division will advance to the playoffs. The seedings and payout go as follows: The money in the above picture indicates what you're assured if you REACH that point, it doesn't keep adding up. Every round will be a 5 game series in a 2-2-1 format with the higher seed having Home Court Advantage. It is up to the teams playing how many games they wish to play in one night.   • Team Payscales. Unfortunately in this game, the Lakers, Kings, Mavs, and even the Blazers to an extent - are head and shoulders better than the rest of the league. Plain and simple: it's completely unfair. I've seen Shaq move faster than a point guard to the hole - it's sick. To compensate for that, I've priced these teams much higher than the rest of the league.If you pick them, you'll have to win the championship to get any sort of profit. The payscale is as follows:   $25.00 95 - Kings 94 - Mavs 93 - Lakers 88 - Blazers   $20.00 86 - 76ers 86 - Clippers 86 - Sonics 85 - Hornets 84 - Nets 84 - Pacers 83 - Magic   $15.00 83 - Knicks 82 - Pistons 80 - Hawks 80 - Spurs 77 - Grizzlies 77 - T 'Wolves 76 - Bucks 76 - Celtics 76 - Raptors 76 - Suns 71 - Rockets 70 - Warriors 69 - Heat 68 - Jazz   $10.00 65 - Bulls 63 - Wizards 62 - Cavs 60 - Nuggets   As you can see - the majority of the teams are $15 giving you a great payout in the playoffs. For $5 more you have a bit more power, but will need to have much confidence in your skills to do well in the playoffs. And I guarantee at least 1 of the 4 red teams will be in the Final Four, but you better be sure you can pull that off before you pick them. If you feel you can do that, they're all yours. This has worked very well for the NFL League, and made everything extremely competitive. The nice thing is if you pick a $10 team, all you have to do is get into the playoffs and you make your money back. That can be your plan all along - to pick a weak team and see if you can get to Round 1.   • Emergencies. In the event of a mid-season emergency that keeps you from completing your season, you will lose your money and everyone will get wins for the entire year for the week they played you. Unfortunately this means some teams will get a free win where others will not, because you don't play the whole league in the regular season. This is indeed unfair. This has actually happened before and it turned many curcial losses into wins, reshuffling the playoff picture. When the human element is involved in a league, these things will happen. However, simply quitting the last 3 weeks because you're "out of it" will get you MUCH heat. Be a friggin' man and at least use those last 3 series for practice for the following season. In some cases I may make individual "Credited" Wins, and not erase the whole year, but this is very rare.   Game Guidelines: • There will be no set "Schedule" of when you have to play. You will need to get ahold of your oppenents and set up a time to play your series. We will work in 2 week increments, and I will update accordingly. Order doesn't matter as long as it's within that 2 week span. Realize that 2 weeks is not real-time. When everyone has played their first 2 games, and I've updated - you're all free to move on to your next 2, etc. You cannot move on until you receive the newsletter with the new stats and standings. It'll be roughly two 3-game series per "real week".   • Game Set-up. The home team hosts the game and it must be Ranked. All games must also have the default "Behind the Back" camera angle unless both teams decide to change it. If one person doesn't like it - it must stay with the default.   • Playing Off-line. A few matches are off-line, and unfortunately NBA2K3 doesn't offer a system link. How insanely stupid is that? Anyway, select "Quick game" and Do NOT load any new rosters, or import teams - a straight up "Quick Game" and go from there.   • Stats. Each team will pick their 2 "stars" and take down Points, Rebounds, and Assists each game. You must pick these 2 players BEFORE the season, and this cannot change. If we always took the leading point scorer and rebounder each game I'd end up having to track 6-7 different people per team. That just isn't feasible for 16 teams.   What I will do however is have the Top Ten Leaders in Scoring, Rebounds, and Assists updated bi-weekly. That'll be great to watch unfold throughout the season. Here's exactly what I need in order for a game and/or series to be official:   GAME 1, 2 or 3 1 2 3 4 O F AWAY TEAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 HOME TEAM 0 0 0 0 0 0   YOUR STAR 1 - Points, Rebounds, Assists YOUR STAR 2 - Points, Rebounds, Assists HIS STAR 1 - Points, Rebounds, Assists  HIS STAR 2 - Points, Rebounds, Assists   Now read this very close, like 2 inches from the screen: If every stat is not recorded after the game, the game will not count. There is no wiggle room here. Stats are intregal to this league, and must be recorded. As you can see it's pretty simple, should take an extra 45 seconds. Generally when the game ends, you and your opponent will talk about the game while looking through the stats. Winner is responsible for the stats, although I'd like it if both people did it just for "argument"'s sake. To submit the form you can email me adam@4tvs.com or Instant Message me Adam4tvs.   • Excessive Lag. If lag is deemed unplayable by BOTH players, of course you can quit. Expect the guy winning to whine a bit, but sometimes it's just horrendous. Don't be a dick if you're up. Wait for a bit, but if it's unplayable, start up another game. Realize that lag is going to be part of this. You will have a play screwed up because of lag at some point in this league, that's just life. A game is bound to drop - don't freak out. This is the world we live in and it's unfair. As well the "Divergence" screen is bound to come up and there's not a damn thing you can do about it. Yes, you have to do the entire game over. It sucks. Go yell at Microsoft. Again, without the stats being recorded - the game does NOT count.   Cheating: • Here's the company line: If you cheat, you're kicked out of the league and lose your money. An alternate for the following season may take your place, or every team gets a win for your entire 16 week schedule. Period. Here are the examples of cheating that are known so far. These will be added to over time:   -Having someone play as you or with you. You have to play the exact same set-up each time. You can't have your friends jump on in the middle of the season, or have someone else play your games. You must also always play with the Xbox Gamertag you give at the beginning of the league, unless approved by me. There's just too much suspicion otherwise. As far as passing the controller to a friend, there's nothing anyone can do to stop that or catch you - but just don't. Play your own game, it's your money - so win it or lose it on your own merits.   -Quitting a game. Each team is allowed 2 emergencies for the season. Shit happens, and you don't deserve to be kicked out of the league because your cat's dying and you have to take him to the vet. But do not use this because you're late for a date or something. Allow a full 2 hours to play your 3-game series. You may quit a game if both players agree to, but if you quit without telling the person, or for a non-emergency you will no longer be in the league. Period. Of course I assume you could bribe your opponent so he doesn't tell me...   -Pulling the plug. This is a judgement call, as sometimes there are bad connections, but there are some tell-tale signs on whether it's connection related or on purpose. Don't even think about it. You will be kicked out instantly and lose all of your money.   -The Asshole Rule. Also known as the NFL Season 1 Miami Rule. LOL. Constant trash talking, and overall "Dick-headedness" is perfectly legal...but you will not be asked back for the following season. And no, I won't only listen to a sore loser say you're a dick, but if the majority of your 10 3-game series result in some sort of complaint on your attitude - I will make that judgement. I won't kick you out for the current season as you'll have already paid - but I simply won't accept your money for next season. We don't need you.   Finally, I reserve the right to change these rules even in the middle of the season if there is some form of abuse through a loophole. Just as I'm trusting you guys, you'll have to trust me that what I'm doing is in the best interest of the league.   The Best Online League is the property of 4tvs.com. All Rights Reserved. 2003