Badging Thread

[lexxon11]

Re: Badging Thread

Need help with Bernard King.
What's the best way to use him?
How should I badge him up?

[Nickstank]

Re: Badging Thread

That's another thing that's been surprising to me, harryl...people really don't run a lot of plays or even freelances that can function as plays (like Flow Motion Cuts). Most people I've played mainly try to score in transition, out of the PnR or taking advantage of the bad AI interior pass defense. I run plays at least a half dozen times a game, and it almost always takes the opponent by surprise. I've only experienced a handful of instances where my opponent recognized a play was happening and switched to manually control an off-ball defender to snuff it out.

As for Harden, you're totally right about his size and strength making him a much harder player to push around than a Curry or a Lillard. I actually ran him at the 3 for awhile because of his strength and he did fine there. I haven't run into many people who are both proficient in the post and committed to using post play consistently, and that number shrinks even further if we're talking about post play from the 1-3 positions. All of that played into my decision not to put any defensive badges on him. If someone is committed to exploiting him and proves to be very effective at it, I can always switch the matchup or bring Marion (or Wallace if I'm feeling cheesy) off the bench. I think those occasions will be few and far between, and Harden will always be getting buckets.

[isdatyt]

Re: Badging Thread

Has anybody ever tried Rim Protector on a guard? I'm loving this diamond Gary Payton but he seems to give up driving layups. Would equipping Gold RP give him a better at the rim contest ability? Cancel out RL & Acrobat badges?

[Nickstank]

Re: Badging Thread

Has anybody ever tried Rim Protector on a guard? I'm loving this diamond Gary Payton but he seems to give up driving layups. Would equipping Gold RP give him a better at the rim contest ability? Cancel out RL & Acrobat badges?

I started putting Rim Protector on perimeter players more after seeing a few people on here recommend it, and if you have the badge slot to spare you definitely should. It'll help against those drives and in the post.

[Scramz718]

Re: Badging Thread

Has anybody ever tried Rim Protector on a guard? I'm loving this diamond Gary Payton but he seems to give up driving layups. Would equipping Gold RP give him a better at the rim contest ability? Cancel out RL & Acrobat badges?

Yes it should work on guards too but it only demotes gold badges to bronze. HOF level would cancel badges out and demote HOF ones to silver.

[harryl]

Re: Badging Thread

I think, for a PG, Rim Protector is mandatory for a high-level endgame sort of player like DI Payton. Have to be able to make him as stiff a defender against Magic and Oscar post-ups as possible. Against DI Payton post-ups, as well. Or any other guard/wing that someone might run at PG and post up with.

I'm not sure what, if anything, counters Acrobat, Relentless Finisher, and Difficult Shots. But Rim Protector will counter the post badges, I think also buffs block odds, and I've always assumed it might also do a bit of a nerf to shot odds. But maybe not.

DI GP comes with 19 badges, so it shouldn't be hard at all to rationalize Rim Protector.

Off the top of my head, I'd say, for this GP

1. Rim Protector
2. Deep-Range Deadeye
3. Limitless Range
4. Brick Wall
5. Hustle Rebounder
6. Bruiser
7. Dream-Like Up & Under
8. Post Spin Tech

Not necessarily in that order.

I think I'd rather put the post badges on him than Deep Deadeye and Limitless. If you want one of those outside badges, then I'd ditch Hustle Rebounder...probably for Deep Deadeye.

[GrimaceZ7]

Re: Badging Thread

I think, for a PG, Rim Protector is mandatory for a high-level endgame sort of player like DI Payton. Have to be able to make him as stiff a defender against Magic and Oscar post-ups as possible. Against DI Payton post-ups, as well. Or any other guard/wing that someone might run at PG and post up with.

I'm not sure what, if anything, counters Acrobat, Relentless Finisher, and Difficult Shots. But Rim Protector will counter the post badges, I think also buffs block odds, and I've always assumed it might also do a bit of a nerf to shot odds. But maybe not.

DI GP comes with 19 badges, so it shouldn't be hard at all to rationalize Rim Protector.

Off the top of my head, I'd say, for this GP

1. Rim Protector
2. Deep-Range Deadeye
3. Limitless Range
4. Brick Wall
5. Hustle Rebounder
6. Bruiser
7. Dream-Like Up & Under
8. Post Spin Tech

Not necessarily in that order.

I think I'd rather put the post badges on him than Deep Deadeye and Limitless. If you want one of those outside badges, then I'd ditch Hustle Rebounder...probably for Deep Deadeye.

Doesn't the official description for Rim Protector specifically say that it lowers shooting attributes for the player being defended?

[harryl]

Re: Badging Thread

Doesn't the official description for Rim Protector specifically say that it lowers shooting attributes for the player being defended?

One of the descriptions is:

"An elite-shot-blocker who intimidates those around the rim, causing interior shots to be less effective."

So, as is often the case, it's vague and open for interpretation. It could nerf shot odds and/or buff block odds. I think consensus is that it at least buffs block odds. And we all know that it counters some badges, so the questions is...is this badge countering the "causing interior shots to be less effective," or is there also a nerfing of shot odds?

To me, the countering of badges is enough.

[Bubba13laze]

Re: Badging Thread

The Payton also needs relentless finisher, which you left off the list. When I get home from work I will be picking up Payton. I will likely badge him as following:

Relentless finisher, limitless range, deep range deadeye, bruiser, rim protector, and hustle rebounder.

Also.. Why put brick wall on a pg? I can't think of any of my sets involving my pg setting screens..

[harryl]

Re: Badging Thread

The Payton also needs relentless finisher, which you left off the list.

Doh. Good catch. I always forget something.

I will likely badge him as following:

Relentless finisher, limitless range, deep range deadeye, bruiser, rim protector, and hustle rebounder.

I think that's sound. I would still urge you to play for a while before committing those outside shooting badges and also Hustle Rebounder.

Get a feel for his post game. If you use it heavily, I really think they produce more for you than the outside shooting badges. But this is all about your play style.

And with Hustle Rebounder...I still think you're maybe going to get one or two rebounds more per game. Probably right around 1.

I think that Brick Wall, especially because he has very good strength, albeit at 180lbs.

Also.. Why put brick wall on a pg? I can't think of any of my sets involving my pg setting screens..

There are plays and freelance actions that will have guards set off-ball screens. You can ensure that specific players will set the screen(s) by initiating/calling for action/play with a specific player.

If you call Quick 2 Flow (EDIT: Quick 2 Swing, actually) for, say, your SF while PG has ball, he passes to your PF at top of the arc, who then passes to the opposite wing to your SG. Then the PG and PF run to weakside corner to set a double-pindown for your SF while your SG has the choice to drive or pass to the SF who will be running along contour of the arc to the top of it.

And there are plenty of freelance actions in various systems that will have these sorts of off-ball screens.

[GrimaceZ7]

Re: Badging Thread

The Payton also needs relentless finisher, which you left off the list. When I get home from work I will be picking up Payton. I will likely badge him as following:

Relentless finisher, limitless range, deep range deadeye, bruiser, rim protector, and hustle rebounder.

Also.. Why put brick wall on a pg? I can't think of any of my sets involving my pg setting screens..

Quick 2 Swing, the best 3pt play in the game, has the PG setting a pick if the PG is the one with the ball when the play is called for a wing. I put Gold Brick Wall on Stockton when I got him and he would pancake people.

[Bi00]

Re: Badging Thread

I think that Brick Wall, especially because he has very good strength, albeit at 180lbs.

The good people at NBA 2k labs didn't find any effect of strength on effectiveness of screens.

[Bubba13laze]

Re: Badging Thread

Doh. Good catch. I always forget something.



I think that's sound. I would still urge you to play for a while before committing those outside shooting badges and also Hustle Rebounder.

Get a feel for his post game. If you use it heavily, I really think they produce more for you than the outside shooting badges. But this is all about your play style.

And with Hustle Rebounder...I still think you're maybe going to get one or two rebounds more per game. Probably right around 1.

I think that Brick Wall, especially because he has very good strength, albeit at 180lbs.



There are plays and freelance actions that will have guards set off-ball screens. You can ensure that specific players will set the screen(s) by initiating/calling for action/play with a specific player.

If you call Quick 2 Flow for, say, your SF while PG has ball, he passes to your PF at top of the arc, who then passes to the opposite wing to your SG. Then the PG and PF run to weakside corner to set a double-pindown for your SF while your SG has the choice to drive or pass to the SF who will be running along contour of the arc to the top of it.

And there are plenty of freelance actions in various systems that will have these sorts of off-ball screens.

I've been using the Ruby Payton for months and am very comfortable with him. Deep range deadeye I don't need, it's more of a luxury. But limitless is a must. There's many times in my Ruby I catch it for a wide open 3 with him and miss it because he's a step behind the line. If I could have got limitless on the Ruby I would.

My reason for hustle rebounder is because I notice it is a very effective and helpful badge at any position. Even on a pg who may only be in position to get 1 or 2 boards a game.. I find having hustle is clutch is swaying the tides in your favour on 50/50 balls. With that in mind, I don't have hustle on my Ruby currently and I notice occasionally Payton will get a couple clutch offensive rebounds for me in very close games.

I don't think I need any post move offense badges on him but that's just my playstyle the way he fits in my rotation and lineup chemistry. I see the benefit of post badges on him for somebody else who utilizes him different than I do in their offensive scheme.

The only other badge I was pondering is posterizer. In previous years of 2k Payton could dunk. In 2k14 I used his diamond as my starting pg all cycle and he definitely was a stronger dunker. The thing is, his Ruby this year never attempts dunks. The diamond has the same dunk stats and tendencies as his Ruby. Likely he won't attempt to dunk and I will leave poster off. But if the increase in his vertical, strength, and other athletic stats causes him to start attempting dunk animations he will get duffed a lot. It's almost better if he doesn't dunk.

My amy Iverson has low dunk but attempts dunks all the time and duff's them off the rim. Someone like him poster would help on. If I were to add 5 badges first I will leave deep range deadeye off and see after a hand full of games if Payton attempts any dunks. If no dunks, I'm going deep deadeye. If the increase in athleticism forces him to start dunk attempts I will go with poster.

[harryl]

Re: Badging Thread

Quick 2 Swing, the best 3pt play in the game, has the PG setting a pick if the PG is the one with the ball when the play is called for a wing. I put Gold Brick Wall on Stockton when I got him and he would pancake people.

Doh...I meant Quick 2 Swing, not Quick 2 Flow. If one wants to delve deep into the play, I think the way to optimize it is to make sure that: 1) the shooter obviously has high 3-point ratings, quick release, and optimally can also drive off the catch, 2) the two screeners both have Brick Wall, 3) the penultimate pass recipient, who holds the ball, is a driving/post-spin threat and has Dimer.

This is the play I've been getting kicks calling for Jianlian Yi. If he's guarded by a traditional, slow big, then his guy just cannot get past the screeners to contest his shot, so either he's open or someone rotates and that guy's assignment is open.

[harryl]

Re: Badging Thread

The good people at NBA 2k labs didn't find any effect of strength on effectiveness of screens.

Whoah. I missed that installment. Just looked at it. Very interesting. Weight matters, apparently, which makes sense. Surprising Strength supposedly does not.

But their experiments still attest to the utility of the badge.

I've been using the Ruby Payton for months and am very comfortable with him. Deep range deadeye I don't need, it's more of a luxury. But limitless is a must. There's many times in my Ruby I catch it for a wide open 3 with him and miss it because he's a step behind the line. If I could have got limitless on the Ruby I would.

This makes sense to me. I would only choose something else because I think that I will get more utility in a relative sense. But I think Limitless makes sense for any perimeter guy who can shoot threes at least solidly, because of that "need to let it fly when two steps behind the line, before contest comes."

My reason for hustle rebounder is because I notice it is a very effective and helpful badge at any position. Even on a pg who may only be in position to get 1 or 2 boards a game.

Yeah, I get that. I think it's useful. It's just that, in this specific case, I think I would have Payton set a half-dozen screens during the course of the game, fairly easily, and I think that Brick Wall would then have slightly more impact than Hustle Rebounder if the latter only nets me 1 or maybe 2 more rebounds per game for Payton.

I don't think I need any post move offense badges on him but that's just my playstyle the way he fits in my rotation and lineup chemistry. I see the benefit of post badges on him for somebody else who utilizes him different than I do in their offensive scheme.

Sure. I don't want to tell you how to play or pretend I know what's best for you. Just generally urge people to post up with Payton. I have had times when his Ruby is downright dominant in the post, with that UA post shoe to get his Post Fade to 92 and a smaller boost to his Post Control.

My amy Iverson has low dunk but attempts dunks all the time and duff's them off the rim. Someone like him poster would help on. If I were to add 5 badges first I will leave deep range deadeye off and see after a hand full of games if Payton attempts any dunks. If no dunks, I'm going deep deadeye. If the increase in athleticism forces him to start dunk attempts I will go with poster.

If you want to get as systematic as possible in testing, create a custom roster with the regular roster GP edited to match this Diamond MyTeam GP. And play Scrimmage with him with and without Posterizer. Can also test variance if you boost his Dunk ratings with a shoe.

I don't feel like I'd want to devote badge and shoe just to get him to dunk even consistently, but maybe the results will surprise you.