Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

[jyoung]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

Once you figure out the right POEs and defensive settings for your style of play, MTO games are very easy to win consistently, even against users who have superior cards.

Just make sure that you have ACE disabled and take the time to learn what each defensive setting does and you'll be going on some big winning streaks. Most people you play online probably have ACE turned on and haven't made any manual defensive adjustments, which makes them very easy to score against.

The only match I've lost so far was the game before I realized that ACE defaults to "on" in MTO and has to be manually disabled every game.

Another easy thing to give yourself an edge is learning some out of bounds plays. You can get your three point shooters wide open looks at the end of games when you need that crucial bucket by running some of the stock out of bounds plays.

[Foldzy]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

Ever since I got Ben Wallace I'm 32-5. Defense really is the key to success, I mainly just switch between the main 3 defenses depending who is on the floor. I find the 2/3 zone is great with Ben at center and solid perimeter D 3/4. The whole key to zone is being fast enough to close out on shooters, 3/2 is great with guys like Bosh/Porzingas at 4/5 as they are fast enough to close on the corners. I also use a lot of man so they can't get comfortable working the zone. I rarely ever use presses or traps

[harryl]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

Another easy thing to give yourself an edge is learning some out of bounds plays. You can get your three point shooters wide open looks at the end of games when you need that crucial bucket by running some of the stock out of bounds plays.

Has anyone figured out a good way to practice out-of-bounds plays?

I think I read somewhere that the only way to really do this is to use a custom roster and assign only out-of-bounds plays to your players, or something like that...I guess, to then use Practice Plays in Play Now 2KU?

[harryl]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

Ever since I got Ben Wallace I'm 32-5. Defense really is the key to success, I mainly just switch between the main 3 defenses depending who is on the floor. I find the 2/3 zone is great with Ben at center and solid perimeter D 3/4. The whole key to zone is being fast enough to close out on shooters, 3/2 is great with guys like Bosh/Porzingas at 4/5 as they are fast enough to close on the corners. I also use a lot of man so they can't get comfortable working the zone. I rarely ever use presses or traps

How do the zones handle when an opponent ISO's their Center, presumably to be guarded by Wallace?

[Foldzy]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

How do the zones handle when an opponent ISO's their Center, presumably to be guarded by Wallace?

How do you ISO against a zone? The wings collapse on a post up and try to strip, I have guys like Kobe and Iggy who can jump in and out real quick

I also find holding and releasing the turbo button while pressing into your man in the post with a guy like Ben can force a lot of misses if you're going one on one, you gotta time your jump with their shot too.

I've also played better since I STOPPED messing with my defensive settings in the menu. I think I was overplaying a lot of players and my D seems a lot more cohesive on auto

[harryl]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

How do you ISO against a zone? The wings collapse on a post up and try to strip, I have guys like Kobe and Iggy who can jump in and out real quick

That was my question. I was wondering what the "extra" guys in the zone do when the opposite side is overloaded. So...they just double, yeah?

I also find holding and releasing the turbo button while pressing into your man in the post with a guy like Ben can force a lot of misses if you're going one on one, you gotta time your jump with their shot too.

Interesting. Don't think I've ever done or noticed anything having to do with that, but will give it a shot. While you have L2 down for Intense D to resist the backdown?

[Foldzy]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

Interesting. Don't think I've ever done or noticed anything having to do with that, but will give it a shot. While you have L2 down for Intense D to resist the backdown?

ya hold L2 and then like pulse R2 and push the left stick into him

zone shuts down the 5 wide PNR cheese pretty fast too.. you just gotta learn when and who to off ball and when to man up, it's a team defensive scheme so don't think you have to onball all the time, I definitely onball to close out thogh

[harryl]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

ya hold L2 and then like pulse R2 and push the left stick into him

Hm. That should basically pulse between regular and intense resistance...maybe that does something concrete.

zone shuts down the 5 wide PNR cheese pretty fast too.. you just gotta learn when and who to off ball and when to man up, it's a team defensive scheme so don't think you have to onball all the time, I definitely onball to close out thogh

I can see that, for sure...shutting down the PnR by basically clogging the center. Do you not encounter guys who are good at passing to the open man off the PnR?

What about skip passes?

Now I'm wondering what is the best sort of player for playing Zone D. I imagine that D IQ is important for adapting to movement and position of the ball. Maybe lateral quickness is not as important as it is with Man D. And maybe what's really, really important is Acceleration and Shot Contest, and Vertical/Height for getting effective close-outs when they try to pass to open shooter.

[thormessiah]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

What setting do you guys use to stop the "pass to center under the basket cheese?" I usually leave it on auto, but would tight or deny work?

[Foldzy]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

Hm. That should basically pulse between regular and intense resistance...maybe that does something concrete.



I can see that, for sure...shutting down the PnR by basically clogging the center. Do you not encounter guys who are good at passing to the open man off the PnR?

What about skip passes?

Now I'm wondering what is the best sort of player for playing Zone D. I imagine that D IQ is important for adapting to movement and position of the ball. Maybe lateral quickness is not as important as it is with Man D. And maybe what's really, really important is Acceleration and Shot Contest, and Vertical/Height for getting effective close-outs when they try to pass to open shooter.

There are definitely guys that know how to beat it but if they prove they can beat it you just come out of it and go back to it in key situations to surprise them.

I only really struggle against these sweaty emerald players who abuse the equalizer. I just played against a guy who ran like an all giant emerald lineup and he had 15+ blocks and steals by the third quarter it was ******** I haven't quit in a long time but my players were basically just handing him the ball

[rambaldi]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

Up to sapphire league I win almost every game and they´re close. When I get to Ruby league, I lose most of my games. Mostly close, but I lose. That´s because I´m not the best player.

However, it seems to me that if you´re in Ruby league with a good lineup (mine is rated 96 overall) you get matched up with 99 lineups (Ewing & Co.) from all leagues up to pink diamond league. (you can´t tell since the league symbol in the loading screen is bugged)

It´s frustating to lose against the same guys again and again.
Here´s my thought:

If my lineup´s rating is high, I get matched up with the best players. (on PC there are not that many players with 96+ lineups)

If I decrease my lineup´s rating I might be able to matchup with other players, since the pool of lineups below 90 might be bigger.

I´ll try that as soon as I´m back in RL. I got demoted to sapphire league after losing two games due to server issues. :-(

Here´s my 89-rated lineup:

Starters: Hardaway - Majerle - Durant - Nowitzki - O´Neil
Bench: Lillard - McCollum - Finley- Simmons- Towns

Am I just not good enough or could my theory be correct? Just beat someone in sapphire league who was on his 2nd prestige.

[NoLeafClover]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

Yeah, I think it's important to note the idiocy of your perimeter players during transition. Like you say, number one priority is to get your rim protector back into your paint. But one really has to note one's guard and be ready to manual him up to the perimeter to contest a pull up three.

CPU has a tendency to leave guards in your paint way too long, even when a big is arriving to guard the paint, the guard lackadaisically goes up to the perimeter.

I've taken to just always setting my defensive settings to "Extend Pressure" on the opponent's PG and playing off ball until they get over half court these days as it ensures the AI never leaves their PG open for those stupid walk up 3s while it sits back in the paint.

It might be a bit cheesy but given nearly every idiot tries to sprint up the court with their PG, it really seems to frustrate and confuse most people. It's the perfect antidote to Curry cheesers too.

[harryl]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

It might be a bit cheesy but given nearly every idiot tries to sprint up the court with their PG, it really seems to frustrate and confuse most people. It's the perfect antidote to Curry cheesers too.

I feel cheesy doing it, but I'm only in Emerald and it's feasible for people to take really long threes with Curry, so I just Extend Pressure on him by default. I only do it with Curry and if I see that my guys are getting back on time, I actually try to go on-ball to defend Curry.

Try. Many times it's the CPU, while I sprint back with my center.

And it's pretty funny to see someone have to go through so much effort just to cross the halfcourt line when MRR or Magic are badgering Curry the entire way.

[Foldzy]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

Am I just not good enough or could my theory be correct? Just beat someone in sapphire league who was on his 2nd prestige.

No you're spot on man, you 100% get tougher matchups with better teams

[Foldzy]

Re: Finally figured out why I was struggling in MTO

this game is such a joke when both teams are running defensive lineups lol it's like watching a 3 stooges episode