With the 15th iteration of EA's flagship b-ball game coming to a store near you, we're reminded of the teams that have had more explaining to do than Isiah Thomas during business hours.

9. Utah Jazz (<em>NBA Live 2004</em>, <em>06</em>)- Actual 2003–'04 Record: 42–40, T-12th out of 29 teams
Actual 2005–'06 Record: 41–41, T-14th out of 30 teams
Why the Low Rating? After an off-season that saw John Stockton hang up his short shorts and Karl Malone make L.A. his mail route, EA punished the Jazz accordingly. Thing is, they finished the real season one measly game short of a playoff spot at 42–40, which would have been good enough for the No. 4 seed if they had been lucky enough to be in the Eastern Conference. They followed that up with another surprisingly OK year that might have been better if their two leading scorers, Andrei Kirilenko and Carlos Boozer, weren't injured for a combined 72 games and Illinois alum Deron Williams had gotten used to the glare of all those white Mormons.

NOTE: Photo is from NBA Live 08.

8. Dallas Mavericks (<em>NBA Live 95</em>)- Actual 1994–'95 Record: 36–46, 17th out of 27 teams
Why the Low Rating? Before Mark Cuban terrorized the sidelines, the Mavericks were the worst team on both sides of the ball—the worst offense and the third worst defense. The only thing more laughable than their record was the names that populated this roster of ineptitude. Popeye? Lucious? Fat Lever? Was this a team, or a Wesley Snipes–Woody Harrelson comedy?

7. Indiana Pacers (<em>NBA Live 08</em>)- Actual 2007–'08 Record: 36–46, 20th out of 30 teams
Why the Low Rating? Disappointment was almost palpable in Indiana last year as the Pacers put together one of the franchise's worst seasons ever. They had a talented roster—including jump shooters Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson, and powerhouse center Jermaine O'Neal—but health problems plagued the navy blue and gold most of the season and their player ratings reflected it. Midseason trades of four different players didn't make the team any better.

3. Sacramento Kings (<em>NBA Live 98</em>)- Actual 1997–'98 Record: 27–55, 23rd out of 29 teams
Why the Low Rating? If you are a masochistic and actually choose to play as this collection of beleaguered ballers, there is only one way to win: Pass the ball to Mitch Richmond, dribble with Mitch Richmond, shoot with Mitch Richmond. The star guard was the only reason you may have given this team a second look—unless you were among the legions of Mahmoud Saltalamacchia-Abdul-Emelianenko-something-something fans.

6. Toronto Raptors (<em>NBA Live 97</em>)- Actual 1996–'97 Record: 30–52, T-21st out of 29 teams
Why the Low Rating? The NBA's attempt to go global started with baby steps, adding two Canadian teams—Toronto and Vancouver—for the '95–'96 season. Both produced memorably horrible seasons in their first years in the league, but the Raptors were especially penalized for their volatile roster (four of five starters were replaced after the season), even with the addition of a beast from the East (UMass) Marcus Camby.

5. Milwaukee Bucks (<em>NBA Live 07</em>)- Actual 2006–'07 Record: 28–54, 28th out of 30 teams
Why the Low Rating? It's hard to imagine management as useless as the New York Knicks', but how the "brains" in Brew Town have escaped public scorn despite their 2006 fire sale is beyond us. After being swept in the first round of the 2005 playoffs, they determined that trading guard T.J. Ford, forward Joe Smith, and center Jamaal Magloire for a used equipment bag was just what the team needed. The result: an 18-game losing streak, the league's third worst record, and the ridicule of gamers as they scrolled through the team selection screen.

NOTE: Photo is from NBA Live 08.

4. Denver Nuggets (<em>NBA Live 2002</em>)- Actual 2001–'02 Record: 27–55, 26th out of 29 teams
Why the Low Rating? Only a few years removed from nearly setting the all-time record for fewest wins (11), the mile-high team dropped a mountainous deuce on its fans, assembling a team so bad, coach Dan Issel's racial slur yelled at a Mexican fan was the highlight of the new season. You, too, can bring home this family fun with NBA Live 2002!

2. Golden State Warriors (<em>NBA Live 99</em>)- Actual 1998–'99 Record: 21–29, 21st out of 29 teams
Why the Low Rating? We're not sure how this is legal, but the Warriors used 22 players in one of their worst seasons in franchise history. With nearly the whole roster on the disabled list, it was up to Donyell "I swear my eye ain't lazy" Marshall to pick up much of the scoring slack, which unfortunately meant you'd be scoring less than the Jonas Brothers.

1. Chicago Bulls (<em>NBA Live 2000&ndash;2003</em>)- Actual 1999–'00 Record: 17–65, 28th out of 29 teams
Actual 2000–'01 Record: 15–67, 29th out of 29 teams
Actual 2001–'02 Record: 21–61, T-28th out of 29 teams (last place)
Actual 2002–'03 Record: 30–52, 23rd out of 29 teams
Why the Low Rating? Remember all those other guys that were allowed to play beside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen? Well, even they weren't with the team anymore during these three years of stupefying futility. Even worse, Pippen was traded to the Houston Rockets for Roy Rogers (really his name), a transaction superseded in fatitude only by the infamous Patrick Ewing–Colonel Sanders deal struck in 2001.

NOTE: Photo is from NBA Live 2003. The Bulls were rated 24th in NBA Live 2002, but we included them for additional ridicule.

DISHONORABLE MENTIONS
The Charlotte Bobcats (NBA Live 2005) and the Vancouver Grizzles (NBA Live 96) were rated the worst teams in their respective games, but we're kindhearted souls and gave them a pass as their teams were based on an automatic draft.