NBA Live 2001 (PS2) (Lakers vs Blazers) (October 31st 2000)

Finally, I did it! I got the PS2 version of NBA Live 2001 working! Turns out my old PC had an outdated graphics card. Now that I got a PC with updated hardware, I can get down to business. During the 2000 NBA Draft, the Lakers selected Mark Madsen, and two months later signed free agent Stanislav Medvedenko. The Lakers front office debated on who they should make a restricted free agent to free up space on their roster, Nolan Owens or Tyronn Lue. One month after signing Isaiah Rider (A risky move for the Lakers because Rider is more erratic than Dennis Rodman), the Lakers decided to trade Travis Knight and Glen Rice to the Knicks in a 4-team trade deal and get Horace Grant, Greg Foster and Emanual Davis from the Sonics, free agent Mike Penberthy joined the team, Brian Shaw signed a multi-year contract in Oct 6th, and Emanual Davis got waived. John Salley permanently retired, John Celestand left the NBA to join the IBL, and A.C. Green became a free agent. The Lakers also signed free agent Andy Panko in August 23rd, but waived him in October 29th. During training camp in September, it became clear to the Lakers coaching staff that Kobe Bryant is super determined to be a better basketball player, he knew that being a champion demands players to step up their game to show their victory in the Finals was no fluke, and he felt that Shaq and most of his teammates don't understand that. And Derek Fisher got injured during practice, which allowed Nolan Owens to be in the roster instead of becoming a restricted free agent. Their first game will be a road game against their rival the Trail Blazers. (Final scores IRL) Lakers won Lakers - 96 Blazers - 86 Los Angeles Lakers 2000-2001 Roster Lineup #34 Shaquille "Shaq Diesel" O'Neal (Cover athlete on the NBA Live 96 PS1 box, and NBA 2K6 and 2K7's game boxes and 2K18 Legend) (   • SHAQUILLE O'NEAL | 75 Stories 💎  ) #54 Horace Grant (Traded from the Sonics with Greg Foster and Emanual Davis as part of a 4-team trade between the Lakers, Knicks, Sonics and Suns in Sept 20th, uncle of Jerami Grant of the 2023-2025 Portland Trail Blazers) #17 Rick Fox (The actor) #8 Kobe "Black Mamba" Bryant (R.I.P. January 26th 2020) (Son of Joe Bryant (R.I.P. July 15th 2024) of the 1976-1979 Philadelphia 76ers, the cover athlete on NBA Courtside 1&2 and NBA Courtside 2002, NBA 2K10, 2K17 Legend Edition, 2K21 Mamba Forever Edition, and 2K24) (   • KOBE BRYANT | 75 Stories 💎  ) #4 Ron Harper Sr. (Father of Ron Harper Jr. of the 2022-2023 Toronto Raptors and G League's 2024-2025 Maine Celtics and Dylan Harper who will be in the 2025 NBA Draft) Bench #57 Nolan Owens (A fictional player I created from NBA Live 97, father of Shep Owens of the 2022-2023 Miami Heat in my version of NBA 2K23's MyCareer story) #5 Robert Horry #20 Brian Shaw (Signed a multi-year contract in Oct 6th) #3 Devean George #35 Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen (1st Round 29th pick in the 2000 NBA Draft) #7 Isaiah "J.R." Rider (Waived by the Hawks in Mar 20th, signed free agent in Aug 25th) #10 Tyronn Lue (Head coach of the 2020-2025 L.A. Clippers) #12 Mike Penberthy (Shooting coach and pro scout for the 2022-2025 Denver Nuggets) #40 Greg Foster (Former assistant coach of the 2020-2021 Indiana Pacers) #14 Slava Medvedenko (Signed free agent in August 15th) #2 Derek Fisher (Injured for 60 games) Lakers head coach: Phil Jackson Portland Trail Blazers 2000-2001 Roster Lineup #11 Arvydas Sabonis (Father of Domantas Sabonis of the 2022-2025 Sacramento Kings and the Lithuanian cover athlete on NBA Live 2001) #30 Rasheed Wallace #33 Scottie Pippen Sr. (One of the cover athletes on NBA Jam 2001, father of Scotty Pippen Jr. of the 2022-2023 L.A. Lakers and the 2024-2025 Memphis Grizzlies) (   • SCOTTIE PIPPEN | 75 Stories 💎  ) #8 Steve Smith (The cover athlete on NBA Basketball 2000, cousin of Kay Felder of the 2017 Cleveland Cavs and 2018 Chicago Bulls and the commentator in NBA 2K22) #3 Damon Stoudamire (Cousin of Salim Stoudamire of the 2006-2008 Atlanta Hawks and Terrence Jones of the 2013-2016 and 2019 Houston Rockets, and head coach at Georgia Tech) Bench #4 Shawn "The Reignman" Kemp (Traded from the Cavs as part of a 3-team trade deal between the Blazers, Cavs and Heat in Aug 30th) #12 Detlef "The Threat" Schrempf #32 Dale Davis (Traded from the Pacers for Joe Kleine and Jermaine O'Neal in Aug 31st, father of Trayce Jackson-Davis of the 2023-2025 Golden State Warriors) #50 Greg Anthony (Father of Cole Anthony of the 2021-2025 Orlando Magic and 2025 Memphis Grizzlies) #6 Bonzi Wells (Assistant coach at Georgia Tech) #2 Stacey "The Plastic Man" Augmon #55 Will Perdue (Waived by the Bulls in Jun 26th, signed to the Blazers in Sept 13th) #21 Erick Barkley (Signed a multi-year contract in Sept 15th) Trail Blazers head coach: Mike Dunleavy Sr. (Father of Mike Dunleavy Jr. the current Golden State Warriors GM)