Badging Thread

[ajg52801]

Re: Badging Thread

@harryl We need you on ps4 man. You are too knowledgeable about the game and basketball in general to be on PC. Hope you decide to get on PS4 for the next cycle. Would love to play with you and discuss tips and strategies.

[harryl]

Re: Badging Thread

How do you see a players shot chart?

Somewhere in the game pause menus (or post-game). There's some menu where you can see both team's shot charts, and you can see breakdowns for individual players, individual quarters, halves, and so forth.

I hardly ever look at it, but if you have a tough badging decision, particularly one involving Corner Specialist, then you can get a good sense of how many times you actually shoot from the corner zones with someone, depending also probably on the offense you're using.

That said, I think pretty much anyone will naturally get some looks from the corner. Frontcourt guys will go to the corner during P&R in 4- or 5-out formations. Guards tend to not be in the corner during halfcourt sets, unless you run them there, off-ball, in a play. But they'll still go to corners during fast breaks.

@harryl We need you on ps4 man. You are too knowledgeable about the game and basketball in general to be on PC. Hope you decide to get on PS4 for the next cycle. Would love to play with you and discuss tips and strategies.

Well, thanks, that's very nice for you to say. For 2K18, all things are on the table for me: I might quit playing the game entirely. I might still play the game, but not MyTeam, and just play MyLeague on PC. I might play MyTeam...and if I do, then it will be on a console. But I don't know if I'll do PS4 or XBox.

The cost of either console is not really an issue, though it's a little annoying to buy a console, because NBA 2K is the only game I'd play that isn't better on PC. Even more annoying, in principle, is the cost of the online account subscriptions. On that front, because of Bing search rewards, I have enough credits for two free years of XBox Gold, which might push me in that direction.

But it's definitely not lost on me that the population is higher on PS4 and the whole point of going console is to be able to get MTO/Blacktop games on demand, so it would make sense to maximize that benefit, costs be damned.

[harryl]

Re: Badging Thread

Diamond Paul Pierce

Comes With:

• Catch & Shoot
• Corner Specialist
• Deep Range Deadeye
• Difficult Shots
• Limitless Range
• Mid-Range Deadeye (HoF)
• Tireless Scorer
• Acrobat
• Dream-Like Up & Under
• Relentless Finisher
• Lob City Passer
• Bruiser
• Posterizer
• Charge Card
• Defensive Stopper
• Pick Dodger
• Pick Pocket

Open Slots: 6

Badges to Consider:

1. Rim Protector: No-brainer for anyone with room for it, and mandatory for Pierce if you're going to use him as a Stretch 4.
2. Dimer: No-brainer for anyone with room for it, and especially so for someone who you'll run your offense through as an ISO type threat.
3. Post-Spin Technician: We don't know the exact formula for success of this, but with his high Post Control and Strength, post spins should be a successful staple move for Pierce and an essential part of his arsenal.
4. Drop-Stepper: Same as above.
5. Hustle Rebounder: Think this is probably mandatory if you plan to play him at the 4, to diminish the rebounding liability that would present.
6. P&R Maestro: He has good enough handles to be a P&R ballhandler, though he's not necessarily ideal for that. In the end, the thing is that he doesn't need a lot of daylight to shoot effectively and having this badge gives him a buff, coming off a screen.
7. Brick Wall: Useful on anyone, especially if they're strong, and especially if they play 4 or 5, of course.
8. Pick & Popper and Pick & Roller: I could imagine running a lot of effective P&R with Pierce as the screener, especially if you're playing him at 4.

There's other stuff, of course. One Man Fast Break. Ankle Breaker. Break Starter. Tear Dropper. But I prefer the stuff in the above list and there's already 9 Badges there, competing for 6 slots.

Coming with 17 badges, one would think that badging him the rest of the way would be easy, but he has such a well-rounded game that basically every single badge in the game is useful on him, so there are dilemmas and it comes down to play style and what you want to emphasize most.

[Nickstank]

Re: Badging Thread

harryl, I think your analysis is spot on. I put Rim Protector, Dimer, P&R Maestro, Post Spin Tech, and Drop Stepper on him. I think I put One Man Fast Break in the last slot because he plays the 2 and 3 for me and I usually don't screen with those guys in the offense I run. He comes with so many great badges already that some of these are just icing on the cake.

[harryl]

Re: Badging Thread

Diamond Paul Pierce
[*]Post-Spin Technician: We don't know the exact formula for success of this, but with his high Post Control and Strength, post spins should be a successful staple move for Pierce and an essential part of his arsenal.[*]Drop-Stepper: Same as above.

Actually, I wasn't thinking clearly...Drop-Stepper requires not just Post Control and Strength, but also Standing Dunk, in order to really be a useful badge/move.

For example, if Magic has the PC and Strength to Drop-Step well, but once you complete the move, he won't dunk. So then you get an awkward standing layup that could be blocked/contested from behind. And it's probably better to just shoot a contested post hook.

Magic has 25 Standing Dunk, so he basically cannot standing dunk. Pierce has 45 Standing Dunk, which is quite low. But...maybe he'll dunk. Maybe buffing it to 54 makes a difference, too.

Something to check out before deciding on the badge. I almost hope that he will not/rarely standing dunk, so I can just take that badge out of consideration.

[ajg52801]

Re: Badging Thread

I'm running him at the two. My debate is if I just give him pick n popper rather than brick wall and pick n popper, would he still be able to successfully perform screens and pop. I don't want to use 2 badge slots for one particular action I might use with him. Thoughts?

[harryl]

Re: Badging Thread

I'm running him at the two. My debate is if I just give him pick n popper rather than brick wall and pick n popper, would he still be able to successfully perform screens and pop. I don't want to use 2 badge slots for one particular action I might use with him. Thoughts?

Well, break the badges down and consider the distinction between them...

• Pick & Popper: Will buff the player's jumpshot, taken after he sets a screen, fades, and receives pass from ballhandler. Roller will buff shots taken after he rolls to basket and receives pass, after setting screen...don't know if, for roller, shot to be buffed must be a layup/dunk, or any shot.
  
• Brick Wall: Will buff chances that player's screen will result in knocking down of the ballhandler's defender, perhaps generally increase disruption of screen, even if not resulting in knockdown.

So they're not redundant.

In a manner of speaking, Brick Wall is more useful. Will be used during all screens, both for fades and for rolls, as well as any off-ball action. But will not buff shot after screen.

[sk8board]

Re: Badging Thread

Well, break the badges down and consider the distinction between them...

• Pick & Popper: Will buff the player's jumpshot, taken after he sets a screen, fades, and receives pass from ballhandler. Roller will buff shots taken after he rolls to basket and receives pass, after setting screen...don't know if, for roller, shot to be buffed must be a layup/dunk, or any shot.
  
• Brick Wall: Will buff chances that player's screen will result in knocking down of the ballhandler's defender, perhaps generally increase disruption of screen, even if not resulting in knockdown.

So they're not redundant.

In a manner of speaking, Brick Wall is more useful. Will be used during all screens, both for fades and for rolls, as well as any off-ball action. But will not buff shot after screen.

Just curious, I know you have PC and I was thinking of selling my Xbox to play NBA 2K on PC since it's the only game I play lately. Do you play online? How is MTO? I hear people cant find games in the higher leagues and it's full of glitchers.

[harryl]

Re: Badging Thread

Just curious, I know you have PC and I was thinking of selling my Xbox to play NBA 2K on PC since it's the only game I play lately. Do you play online? How is MTO? I hear people cant find games in the higher leagues and it's full of glitchers.

Apparently population is pretty good in Europe. Merely horrible on East Coast. Virtually nonexistent on West Coast.

Don't play on PC if you are in US and want to play PvP modes.

[sk8board]

Re: Badging Thread

Apparently population is pretty good in Europe. Merely horrible on East Coast. Virtually nonexistent on West Coast.

Don't play on PC if you are in US and want to play PvP modes.

Its so stupid I have to buy a console to play 2k on line

[jballaz]

Re: Badging Thread

Its so stupid I have to buy a console to play 2k on line

Why is it stupid? If you love the game and it is the best environment to play Pv on... why not?

I'm not saying it is worth it for everyone. I get super frustrated at times with online play on 2k... but again, if it is something you truly enjoy... then why not? People spend their money on way worse...

Sent from my SM-G930F using Operation Sports mobile app

[Scramz718]

Re: Badging Thread

For example, if Magic has the PC and Strength to Drop-Step well, but once you complete the move, he won't dunk. So then you get an awkward standing layup that could be blocked/contested from behind. And it's probably better to just shoot a contested post hook.



Magic has 25 Standing Dunk, so he basically cannot standing dunk. Pierce has 45 Standing Dunk, which is quite low. But...maybe he'll dunk. Maybe buffing it to 54 makes a difference, too.



Something to check out before deciding on the badge. I almost hope that he will not/rarely standing dunk, so I can just take that badge out of consideration.

Drop step layups works best if you start the move just outside the paint. You'll get smoother layup animations if you're 5 ft away from the basket when you finish the move vs being right under the basket. I relied more on drop steps than hooks with Magic. On higher difficulty settings hook weren't as consistent as drop steps for me.

[harryl]

Re: Badging Thread

Drop step layups works best if you start the move just outside the paint. You'll get smoother layup animations if you're 5 ft away from the basket when you finish the move vs being right under the basket. I relied more on drop steps than hooks with Magic. On higher difficulty settings hook weren't as consistent as drop steps for me.

Thanks, not something I ever noticed or suspected. But it makes sense this would be the case. Have space to lean into the layup, basically. I'll try this out with Magic a bit.

[NeverSettle4Midz]

Re: Badging Thread

Badge advice for Diamond Jimmer Fredette?
Mine has HOF corner specialist, Catch n shoot, deep range deadeye, limitless range. Gold difficult shots, tireless scorer, midrange deadeye, acrobat, tear dropper, ankle breaker, flashy passer, pick n roll meastro, pick pocket, and dimer.

6 open slots: was thinking relentless finisher, defensive stopper, pick dodger, one man fast break and...?

Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk

[sk8board]

Re: Badging Thread

Why is it stupid? If you love the game and it is the best environment to play Pv on... why not?

I'm not saying it is worth it for everyone. I get super frustrated at times with online play on 2k... but again, if it is something you truly enjoy... then why not? People spend their money on way worse...

Sent from my SM-G930F using Operation Sports mobile app

Because I could use that money for something better. If the game worked well on line on PC without cheaters I would definitely play it on PC