THE GOOD: Exceptional gameplay, and in depth Dynasty mode gives a real vision of the NBA. Graphics have definitely improved since 2004. NBA All Star Weekend is fun. I love facing my friends in the three point shootout. Sometimes it's even fun to play with Shaq in this mode.
THE BAD: NO CREATE A TEAM!! Just because of this, it is a 3. This is the only majorly important thing it needs. EA can keep improving the graphics, adding better lighting, or whatever, but it defintely needs this mode. The create a baller mode is so cool, and if they added this, it would be fun to create several players. Another thing it needs is better play with the big man. I love to get it in to my center, like Shaq for instance. When you watch Shaq on TV, he is going to dunk 9 times out of 10, when he gets deep in the paint. In the game, you can't dominate like the big guys actually do.
SUMMARY: I like this game. Dynasty Mode kicks ass. I play this game a lot. If in 2006 they add a Create a Team mode, it could go up to a 4 or even 5 in my book.