Here is my opinion:
1.) Player models do not look realistic..arms too long, heads too big, and backs are hunch over a little too much...maybe it's just me.
2.) Defenders are too quick...players move faster than their legs do.
3.) Slam dunk contest too difficult for the average gamer.
4.) Graphics seem outdated compared to the other basketball games available...I won't mention any names.
5.) The only thing I like is the voice commentary with Marv.

Sorry if this review sounds harsh....but earlier nba live games are much better...2003 and 2004.

Not to discredit anyone else but I've played a huge share of NBA games, from horrible to great, and I'm here to point out this games flaws. We all know this game has great commentary, a good soundtrack featuring exclusive songs from rappers like MC Lyte, G-Unit, mixtape star Joell Ortiz, Stat Quo, T.I, etc, and really great all-star extras. But instead of telling you what makes it a great NBA game, I will tell you what could have been improved. Dynasty mode is simple, your the GM, it's season through season of simulation or straight play. The problem with simulating game per game is the ammount of time it takes to do it, if you want to simulate one season it will take about 10 minutes for everything to pass as it shows you quarter by quarter results for each matchup involving your team. Running speed is a huge problem. If you're on a fast break, behind or ahead a rival player, they will ALWAYS run faster than you. This is one thing I absolutely hate about this game, no matter what the situation the other teams player is fast enough to catch up and get in front of you, unless you are extremely far ahead or close to the hoop. It was created this way to give people a chance but it's a major flaw that EA will hopefully change in the future. Another thing about the game that is a big problem is the way it sides with the losing player most of the time. As long as you're decent enough, the game will help you catch up in most cases. I find that because of that, skills don't even matter in some cases. You might be facing someone and they will drain 3 after 3, and you will miss a huge ammount of shots. The computer is probably the biggest problem in this game though. Playing anything above All-Star is rigged. Though not impossible to beat, the computer will make much more shots than you will long-range, even when they aren't open. Tighter defense isn't a problem because if you choose one of the harder game modes then that's what you should expect. But if you're playing extremely tight D on a comp, it shouldn't matter what mode it's on. Stealing is a streaky matter in NBA Live 2005, sometimes you can do it easily, and other times you won't even get near the ball. It's a great game but some of the flaws are really annoying, you will find this out by playing against the computer.

A great game, and a great deal since NBA 2006 was about to hit stores this game became incredibly cheap. Great deal and a great game!

I got this game a few days ago and have barely put it down. It is very realistic and has wonderful gameplay. It has ups and downs but overall it is great.

Pros:
Realistic and fun gameplay
Many cool gameplay modes

Cons:
Shots, do not look realistic at all

I owned the game about a month, won the championship with the Lakers(!) at the Starter level. All you had to do was steal the ball from the opponent, throw it up court on a fast break and dunk. Won most games by 20 while playing 8 minute qtrs. Fun for the first couple games, extremely boring after that. Then I tried the All Star level....way different ball game!...and much more enjoyable. It is very realistic in my opinion. Fast breaks are far less frequent but still possible, especially if you play like a real team (i.e. change individual match ups and defenses) and force turnovers. Offense is real challenging. The quick plays are great once you understand the purpose of each play. If you work for your shots and pass the ball you can get good open shots and finish with a high team shooting percentage (~50%). Now playing 12 min qtrs, and scores are realistic. I stunk, with the Lakers, to start the season, but I finally picked up on how to play and have had more success. I expect to be below 0.500 for the season which is what the real Lakers finished. 2nd season should be more fun.

My only complaint is with the quick plays. I would have had a lot more fun right away if the plays were explained. You have to really know basketball to know how the plays work. After some research I learned how several of the plays work and I started to do better. And forget the Prima guide. I picked one up for cheap, but it did not discuss any of the plays either. It went over the basic functions (e.g. steals, fade aways) but that was it. It mostly covered the slam dunk contest stuff and individual ratings which is helpful if you are more interested in in-game functions.