2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

[jattnanga]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

IN GAME CLIPS

I've had a few people ask for in-game action so I thought I'd go ahead and record something.

This is on Superstar Sim with Default Rosters with the Freelance changes noted previously.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UR6BkTTn83k" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>

This is all some organic 1st half action against the Blazers in a Play Now game.

There is some good, some bad and some ugly but hopefully this gives a look into how to make the playbook as life-like as possible.

Notes:

• I probably relied on too much pick and roll and wasn't creative enough in terms of reading the spacing in transition and either calling an action or selecting a particular type of pick and roll from the playcall menu.
• I was looking to post jimmy a lot because I liked the matchups against the blazers.
• It was late in the night when I recorded this so don't mind the unnecessary update required pop-up and any rusty d-rose moments.
• This video is just showing a few different actions, but there are many toys to play with in this playbook, if you're in a MyLeague or MyGM..you can sort of gameplan what you are going to look to run more often (outside of quick and pitch which are always going to be there) based on particular match-ups against particular teams.
• I went fairly simple with play selection and stringing things together because that is where the Bulls offense is thus far, it is a work in progress and they are not yet close to having a full flow so that is reflected in the video. Less is more for them right now as they are still learning the offense.

[elementz09]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

IN GAME CLIPS

I've had a few people ask for in-game action so I thought I'd go ahead and record something.

This is on Superstar Sim with Default Rosters with the Freelance changes noted previously.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UR6BkTTn83k" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>

This is all some organic 1st half action against the Blazers in a Play Now game.

There is some good, some bad and some ugly but hopefully this gives a look into how to make the playbook as life-like as possible.

Notes:

• I probably relied on too much pick and roll and wasn't creative enough in terms of reading the spacing in transition and either calling an action or selecting a particular type of pick and roll from the playcall menu.
• I was looking to post jimmy a lot because I liked the matchups against the blazers.
• It was late in the night when I recorded this so don't mind the unnecessary update required pop-up and any rusty d-rose moments.
• This video is just showing a few different actions, but there are many toys to play with in this playbook, if you're in a MyLeague or MyGM..you can sort of gameplan what you are going to look to run more often (outside of quick and pitch which are always going to be there) based on particular match-ups against particular teams.

So setting Play Calls to Auto probably wouldn't be a good idea huh?

[jattnanga]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

So setting Play Calls to Auto probably wouldn't be a good idea huh?

I can't say its a bad idea because having some action is better than no action at all.

However, I would recommend calling plays manually and getting quick, pitch and a couple of others down so you have you a decent arsenal to work with.

I know the playbook here has 48 plays in it (which can be overwhelming), but if you can get 6-8 actions down you'll be in good shape and it shouldn't get too stale as long as you are pushing the ball hard in transition off of missed baskets.

Then as you get more comfortable you can begin to add more to your base of go-to actions and eventually you can pick certain actions going into games based on matchups or even coming out of timeouts to look to get something specific.

[STLRams]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

I love that you have Rose and Butler not having ISO plays. 2K defaults playbooks for each team have alot of ISO plays set for alot of the guards. It seems like the teams offense play better and flow better when not setting the guards play types to ISO as on the of play types. I wish you were doing this type of write up for all of the teams.

[jattnanga]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

I love that you have Rose and Butler not having ISO plays. 2K defaults playbooks for each team have alot of ISO plays set for alot of the guards. It seems like the teams offense play better and flow better when not setting the guards play types to ISO as on the of play types. I wish you were doing this type of write up for all of the teams.

Yea ISO plays kill the gameplay whether its for the user or even for CPU teams. Also it something you can always do manually so unless you really want a specific play, its a more natural game of basketball without them.

I know a lot of us may still be waiting for the right roster to start our MyGM/MyLeague but at the very least go in and edit out some of those iso plays for players to make the game more enjoyable.

For example the Suns have ISO plays for bledsoe, knight and pj tucker who are all in the starting lineup. So when you play against them its brutal because the CPU will make 5 or 6 change of direction moves at times and eventually get off a shot within 8 feet of the rim..very unrealistic.

In terms of doing more teams, I wish I was too but it really takes a ton of time. Roughly 3 to 5 full days to watch tape of the teams, identify the closest actions to real life in the game, then test all of those plays and weed out any of the awkwardness, then to record each of the actions and edit the videos before uploading to youtube. So if I was to do all 30 it would take months because I wouldn't want anything to be inaccurate.

My goal with doing the Bulls and the Magic was to give the community a look at what these two teams would be running offensively this year because their offensive systems are brand new, unique and emphasize team play and flow rather than looking for specific players all game or just calling sets from the sideline like some of the other teams with new coaches (Nuggets, Thunder, Wolves).

[gabri3l3]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

I just played a game vs Lakers and all I have to say that for the first time it felt super smooth; all the plays I tried are quick and meaningful. I feel the best way to have flow in the offense is memorize a couple of plays for the featured players in the Bulls offense (mostly Butler, Mirotic & Gasol) and then go from there and improvise a bit.
Nikola was my favorite guy to play with: pick & pops, drives from the top, post ups, handoffs.

I particularly loved all the handoff action that has become such an important play in most NBA playbooks.

Maybe I missed something setting up the playbook but I have all the pick n roll plays in the 5th or 6th page when I scroll in game. Wouldn't be better to have them in the first pages?



p.s.: It would be great if you did other teams too but I understand that is very time consuming!

[jattnanga]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

I just played a game vs Lakers and all I have to say that for the first time it felt super smooth; all the plays I tried are quick and meaningful. I feel the best way to have flow in the offense is memorize a couple of plays for the featured players in the Bulls offense (mostly Butler, Mirotic & Gasol) and then go from there and improvise a bit.
Nikola was my favorite guy to play with: pick & pops, drives from the top, post ups, handoffs.

I particularly loved all the handoff action that has become such an important play in most NBA playbooks.

Maybe I missed something setting up the playbook but I have all the pick n roll plays in the 5th or 6th page when I scroll in game. Wouldn't be better to have them in the first pages?

Nice to hear you've found the info helpful!

As far as pick and roll plays go, they are the least meaningful in terms of the offense flowing so they are relegated to pages 5 and 6.

Manually calling pick and rolls will be the easiest way to get more pick and roll into your offense particularly in transition or immediately after a play completes with no advantage gained.

Check out the game clips I posted in this thread to see where pick and roll fits into how the Bulls are running their offense.

That being said, many of the plays regardless of what "category" they are in (low post, midrange etc) have a ball screen as a part of the action so they are not truly always plays to get butler a midrange jumper or pau in the post, but just a way to get the ball in their hands in a position to put pressure on the defense to get a good shot for the team.

If you choose to run a special pick and roll play, you can quickly click over to those pages as you bring the ball up court and should have it called before crossing halfcourt once you get comfortable with where everything is located, but the offense is really about spacing and ball movement and then you fall back into pick and roll.

Beginning a possession with lets say a double drag screen in transition can really stagnate your flow if you are unable to get something good out of that initial action, so thats why pick and roll plays are later in the playbook.

[gabri3l3]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

Nice to hear you've found the info helpful!

As far as pick and roll plays go, they are the least meaningful in terms of the offense flowing so they are relegated to pages 5 and 6.

Manually calling pick and rolls will be the easiest way to get more pick and roll into your offense particularly in transition or immediately after a play completes with no advantage gained

That being said, many of the plays regardless of what "category" they are in (low post, midrange etc) have a ball screen as a part of the action so they are not truly always plays to get butler a midrange jumper or pau in the post, but just a way to get the ball in their hands in a position to put pressure on the defense to get a good shot for the team.

If you choose to run a special pick and roll play, you can quickly click over to those pages as you bring the ball up court and should have it called before crossing halfcourt once you get comfortable with where everything is located, but the offense is really about spacing and ball movement and then you fall back into pick and roll.

Beginning a possession with lets say a double drag screen in transition can really stagnate your flow if you are unable to get something good out of that initial action, so thats why pick and roll plays are later in the playbook.

Ok thanks... I now understand why.
Great stuff

[KwiLL23]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

Under Play Initiators for Nikola and Cameron, it would be set to no right or just no for Cameron and yes for Nikola since he's able to handle the ball better?

[jattnanga]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

Under Play Initiators for Nikola and Cameron, it would be set to no right or just no for Cameron and yes for Nikola since he's able to handle the ball better?

It really comes down to whatever you feel like works better for how you play.

The basic criteria for me is whether or not that player is capable of advancing the ball up court. So for Niko, I would say yes. And for Cameron, I would say maybe because he is versatile but doesn't look as confident against top NBA level competition.

The advantages to having the bigs as play initiators are:
- They can initiate a playcall (obvious)
- If they get the def rebound, everyone gets out and runs the floor because no one is waiting around for the outlet
- there are less awkward in bounds after makes where players have to run back to in bound the ball because it makes the 1 and 2 eligible to inbound the basketball (so you can pass it right back them as happens so often in actual basketball)

Disadvantages:
- Very occasionally you only have a big in the backcourt waiting to bring the ball up court.

[KwiLL23]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

It really comes down to whatever you feel like works better for how you play.

The basic criteria for me is whether or not that player is capable of advancing the ball up court. So for Niko, I would say yes. And for Cameron, I would say maybe because he is versatile but doesn't look as confident against top NBA level competition.

The advantages to having the bigs as play initiators are:
- They can initiate a playcall (obvious)
- If they get the def rebound, everyone gets out and runs the floor because no one is waiting around for the outlet
- there are less awkward in bounds after makes where players have to run back to in bound the ball because it makes the 1 and 2 eligible to inbound the basketball (so you can pass it right back them as happens so often in actual basketball)

Disadvantages:
- Very occasionally you only have a big in the backcourt waiting to bring the ball up court.

Thanks for this!

[kolkmania]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

Is there a way to manually change the order of the plays? I have them in correct way set as "Mid-Range, Handoff, Guard Post up, P&R ball handler", but the direction arrows don't match right now.

[jattnanga]

Re: 2K16 Bulls Playbook: An In-Depth Look

Is there a way to manually change the order of the plays? I have them in correct way set as "Mid-Range, Handoff, Guard Post up, P&R ball handler", but the direction arrows don't match right now.

The direction arrows appear differently in the playbook menu when editing a roster or adding/editing the playbooks within a roster.

The directions are posted are as they appear in game.

A silly flaw in 2K to not have them line up as they should, but in-game/scrimmages the posted play directions appear as listed in the original post.

The only other thing that would alter the order or plays not appearing is if you don't have all perimeter players as play initiators as that would remove certain plays for those players.

Hope this answers your question.