I decided to write this up because I feel alot of the little things go unnoticed in this game. Da Czar does a great job of breaking them down, so here's a few more things that I've picked up while playing the game that definitely come in handy
On defense:
Always play as the PG, rarely should you switch. Why's that? For one, it will create the most accurate representation of the NBA game. The AI is programmed to compete against itself and create realistic situations and stats, so that's exactly what you'll see, with a cushion of hustle and intangibles on either side. Let your CPU teammates guard their men, even if they are terrible defenders more often then not you will play as good of defense as your team would in real life.
Stay away from lock down D. Not entirely, but here's the situations where it should be reserved for.
1. When the shot clock is winding down. Remember, you're playing as the PG so this only counts if the PG is controlling the ball in this situation. You can use lock down defense since the PG will most likely need to shoot the ball, you'll be able to get the hand in the face and make it a very tough shot to hit.
2. When you are trying to slow the opposing team's momentum. Runs play a VERY important part in this year's game (I'll get to that in a minute), and knowing how to defend them is 3/4ths of the battle. When the computer is on a run, if you score a basket pick up the opposing PG full court and pressure him the whole way. This will slow them from getting into their offense and create an advantage for you. Sometimes you can get a turnover which leads to an easy basket.
3. When the PG is driving on you. Use the lock down defense when he is near the foul line and trying to drive past you. If you manage to stay in front of him you can stay on lock down and force him back to the 3 point line, where you will want to ease off the lock down defense and play normal defense again. Anytime the PG is near the basket or lower then the foul line, you'll want to keep a hold of the lock down defense button.
This will keep you from getting burned in one on one situations where the PG would normally pass the ball, but you're playing so tight that he can drive past you and create. Half the battle on defense is stopping the other team's PG from driving. Not only does your defense collapse, but defenders can switch off, perimeter players can make backdoor cuts, and all sorts of bad things happen when the PG drives. He DOES NOT have to get all the way to the basket to burn your defense, once he gets to the foul line or better he has a good chance of picking you apart.
4. When you want to 'reclaim' the man you're guarding. If you see your SF guarding the PG and you want to switch, run to the PG and tap the lock down defense button. This will tell your SF that you want to guard the ballhandler and he will run back to his man. Only do this when you are close to the guy you want to guard already, not when the players you're guarding are on opposite sides of the court (use common sense).
That should cover the lock down defense and when to use it. Remember, DON'T SWITCH! Let your teammates handle their business. Keep a small cushion on the PG when he has the ball, just enough to contest the shot if he should take it, but relaxed enough to stop him from penetrating.
Another defensive tip: When playing off the ball with PG, play in a position that would be acceptable in real life. If the PG you're guarding is on the wing, and the ball is in the opposite corner, you should be sagged down to the foul line extended, to help on a possible blow by on the bassline, or anything else happening on that side of the floor. When the ball is swung around again, you should already be in good position to get back to your man in time.
On Rebounding:
Since you're controlling the PG, you're going to want to have big men on the floor that can rebound. DO NOT crash the boards with the PG if he is not skilled rebounder in real life. This is very important, because often times if you run after the ball with the PG you're going to get in the way of your big men trying to board the ball. Often if you crash the boards, a wing player, either the SG or SF, will recognize that you are down there and they will not attempt to crash the boards themselves. This will lead to you looking like a fool for letting the CPU get offensive rebounds when they shouldn't have, all because you wanted to run to the ball. Again, use common sense, when you are NATURALLY in position, go for the board. If you're out near the 3 point line, let your bigs do their job.
I can't stress this enough, because I've noticed so many times that if I try to run in with Louis Williams when a shot goes up, I end up getting down low and my other players EXPECT me to grab the board, when in reality I had no chance. So the opposing team's SF or SG swoop in and grab an offensive board that they should have never had.
Overall tip - recognize the PG you are controlling. Recognize the team you are using. Know them inside and out, strengths and weaknesses, what players are capable of doing what, KNOW YOUR WHOLE TEAM.
Not only will that create a more realistic representation of the rebounding game, but the stats will obviously come out like a real game as well.
TO RECAP:
1. Always use the PG on defense, no switching.
2. Don't crash the boards unnecessarily with the PG you're controlling.
3. Give the ballhandler a small cushion on the perimeter.
4. Use lock down D sparingly, only when appropriate.
On stopping the back-door cuts:
This is huge, and took me awhile to realize. The backdoor cuts happen more often when the opposing team is on a run. Your players get demoralized and the other team is juiced up looking for easy baskets. In order to stop excessive back door cutting, you must A. stop the computer from going on runs, and B. properly guard the opposing team's PG on defense. It's really that simple, you will see those ridiculous backdoor cuts almost stop completely if you follow those simple guidelines. Here's why:
Runs are a HUGE part of the gameplay in 2k8, and are damn near genius in programming. The AI naturally will play better when on a run, as will you when your team is on a run. Sometimes the CPU will just blow you out in a ridiculous fashion and it almost seems unfair, why? Because you never stopped their run. You never got them out of the flow of their offense. When ANY team's offense is in full force and flowing, they can and will blow out the other team on the court (see the recent Lakers/Suns game). Stopping the CPU runs is not just about your defense being solid, nope - it's about your offense being efficient too. Here's how offense plays into it:
You MUST be efficient on the offensive side of the ball. Runs start when teams turn the ball over, force bad shots, and generally do not play well on the offensive side of the ball. To be efficient on offense, RUN PLAYS! Learn your playbook. Understand which plays set up which players and when to run them. Understand what is a good shot and a bad shot. Just because you are wide open with 19 seconds left in the shot clock does NOT make that a good shot. In fact it's a bad shot, because you should be making the other team work on defense. On offense you should work the ball around, play deep into the shot clock and get a high percentage shot.
What's a high % shot? Recognize the mismatches that are to your advantage. Mismatches in the real NBA are so subtle that you might miss them if you aren't paying attention, it's not always a PG guarding a C. Antawn Jamison guarding Dalembert in the post is a mismatch, Dalembert should be getting the ball almost every time down. Jamison guarding Shav Randolph in the post, believe it or not is a mismatch. Sure, Shav's post game leaves alot to be desired, but he's the bigger man, and Jamison isn't exactly the premier post defender. More often then not you will be able to bully your way in with Shav and get a high percentage shot over the top of Jamison. Plays like this are so important because it gets your role players involved in the game in situations where they can be effective.
So dump it down to your mediocre PF if he has a size advantage. The size difference means he can back them down 3 feet away from the basket and shoot a little hook. If you miss, oh well, it's still a high percentage shot.
Andre Miller being guarded by Antonio Daniels is a mismatch. Why? Because Dre Miller can post up Daniels and bang on him down low. To quote Kenny Smith "Miller has a decent enough post game down low where he can get it done.". And it's true. Utilize your players and teams strengths at every chance given. Run the PG Postup play if you have a PG who can post up (obviously), and is being guarded by a smaller man. Again, you can more often then not back them down and get a good shot off, or kick it back out to a perimeter player for a pump fake that leads to an open mid range J.
That's the next thing, pump faking. Every pump fake you make should not lead to a seemingly 'wide open' layup attempt. It seems like gamers get excited when the man jumps at their fake and they attempt to run as fast as they can to the basket and throw it down. It's not gonna happen like that most of the time, the help defense will make you force a tough layup, and then you'll be on here whining about how there's too many missed layups
. No, but really, if they bite on the fake, take one step past them and pull up for the open mid range jumper. Another example of a high percentage shot. The opposing big will attempt to close out on you sometimes which will also lead to easier offensive rebounding.
If the D does collapse when you attempt to drive past a faked out defender, you'll notice both the big man and the other defender will attack you, this means someone is open. If you were running a 2 man game with the SG and SF on the wing, then when you drive with the SG and the 2 defenders collapse, you can kick it out to the SF for an open jumpshot. Use icon passing combined with the left stick 'lead' passing. You have to be quick, but when you get it down you can not only open up the outside shots for your shooters, but you can define exactly where you want them to shoot from by leading them with the left stick.
If you're still reading this thesis by now, you should really stop and just go to bed. If not, there's more tips coming up.
DO NOT shoot shots early in the shot clock. Even the Jet will reprimand you for doing so. "That shot was a judgement call, blah blah blah". And it's true. As silly as it sounds, listen to what the commentators have to say while you're playing, they drop gems of sound basketball advice that can be directly applied in the game. Early shots give the CPU incentive to try and run and gun against you. They lead to fast breaks going the other way, etc. Yeah, sometimes you can be effective with the quick shot, but use good judgement. If you are trying to play catch up in the 2nd quarter, you should pass on that shot and work the ball for a better shot, since this will help slow the computer's run down at the same time.
By playing efficiently on offense you will slow the game down and stop the computers runs. It's all about getting high percentage shots. An easy shot in the post will stop the opposing team's run and the crowd noise dead in its tracks. Another defensive stop or 2 , with another few great offensive possessions and all of a sudden you are right back in the game, and the crowd has been completely taken out of it. If the crowd's not in the game, that means their team is on the other end of the momentum shift, take advantage. You'll notice the other teams will start shooting jumpers more, no more superman plays. All of a sudden those cuts are no longer there and they're shooting contested jumpshots. This is because they came back down to earth when you started dominating the game and the clock with your efficient offense.
I guess this is a good start. Sorry for the long *** post but I felt I had to post it if it could help people enjoy the game more, or help their game out. Using these tips I can come back from 15 point defecits and win games if I am really on the ball. Trust me, the stats will be spot on and the game will so closely resemble a real NBA game that it will shock you. But overall these are just some of the things that help you win basketball games. I will post more when I get more time and if anyone is interested
On defense:
Always play as the PG, rarely should you switch. Why's that? For one, it will create the most accurate representation of the NBA game. The AI is programmed to compete against itself and create realistic situations and stats, so that's exactly what you'll see, with a cushion of hustle and intangibles on either side. Let your CPU teammates guard their men, even if they are terrible defenders more often then not you will play as good of defense as your team would in real life.
Stay away from lock down D. Not entirely, but here's the situations where it should be reserved for.
1. When the shot clock is winding down. Remember, you're playing as the PG so this only counts if the PG is controlling the ball in this situation. You can use lock down defense since the PG will most likely need to shoot the ball, you'll be able to get the hand in the face and make it a very tough shot to hit.
2. When you are trying to slow the opposing team's momentum. Runs play a VERY important part in this year's game (I'll get to that in a minute), and knowing how to defend them is 3/4ths of the battle. When the computer is on a run, if you score a basket pick up the opposing PG full court and pressure him the whole way. This will slow them from getting into their offense and create an advantage for you. Sometimes you can get a turnover which leads to an easy basket.
3. When the PG is driving on you. Use the lock down defense when he is near the foul line and trying to drive past you. If you manage to stay in front of him you can stay on lock down and force him back to the 3 point line, where you will want to ease off the lock down defense and play normal defense again. Anytime the PG is near the basket or lower then the foul line, you'll want to keep a hold of the lock down defense button.
This will keep you from getting burned in one on one situations where the PG would normally pass the ball, but you're playing so tight that he can drive past you and create. Half the battle on defense is stopping the other team's PG from driving. Not only does your defense collapse, but defenders can switch off, perimeter players can make backdoor cuts, and all sorts of bad things happen when the PG drives. He DOES NOT have to get all the way to the basket to burn your defense, once he gets to the foul line or better he has a good chance of picking you apart.
4. When you want to 'reclaim' the man you're guarding. If you see your SF guarding the PG and you want to switch, run to the PG and tap the lock down defense button. This will tell your SF that you want to guard the ballhandler and he will run back to his man. Only do this when you are close to the guy you want to guard already, not when the players you're guarding are on opposite sides of the court (use common sense).
That should cover the lock down defense and when to use it. Remember, DON'T SWITCH! Let your teammates handle their business. Keep a small cushion on the PG when he has the ball, just enough to contest the shot if he should take it, but relaxed enough to stop him from penetrating.
Another defensive tip: When playing off the ball with PG, play in a position that would be acceptable in real life. If the PG you're guarding is on the wing, and the ball is in the opposite corner, you should be sagged down to the foul line extended, to help on a possible blow by on the bassline, or anything else happening on that side of the floor. When the ball is swung around again, you should already be in good position to get back to your man in time.
On Rebounding:
Since you're controlling the PG, you're going to want to have big men on the floor that can rebound. DO NOT crash the boards with the PG if he is not skilled rebounder in real life. This is very important, because often times if you run after the ball with the PG you're going to get in the way of your big men trying to board the ball. Often if you crash the boards, a wing player, either the SG or SF, will recognize that you are down there and they will not attempt to crash the boards themselves. This will lead to you looking like a fool for letting the CPU get offensive rebounds when they shouldn't have, all because you wanted to run to the ball. Again, use common sense, when you are NATURALLY in position, go for the board. If you're out near the 3 point line, let your bigs do their job.
I can't stress this enough, because I've noticed so many times that if I try to run in with Louis Williams when a shot goes up, I end up getting down low and my other players EXPECT me to grab the board, when in reality I had no chance. So the opposing team's SF or SG swoop in and grab an offensive board that they should have never had.
Overall tip - recognize the PG you are controlling. Recognize the team you are using. Know them inside and out, strengths and weaknesses, what players are capable of doing what, KNOW YOUR WHOLE TEAM.
Not only will that create a more realistic representation of the rebounding game, but the stats will obviously come out like a real game as well.
TO RECAP:
1. Always use the PG on defense, no switching.
2. Don't crash the boards unnecessarily with the PG you're controlling.
3. Give the ballhandler a small cushion on the perimeter.
4. Use lock down D sparingly, only when appropriate.
On stopping the back-door cuts:
This is huge, and took me awhile to realize. The backdoor cuts happen more often when the opposing team is on a run. Your players get demoralized and the other team is juiced up looking for easy baskets. In order to stop excessive back door cutting, you must A. stop the computer from going on runs, and B. properly guard the opposing team's PG on defense. It's really that simple, you will see those ridiculous backdoor cuts almost stop completely if you follow those simple guidelines. Here's why:
Runs are a HUGE part of the gameplay in 2k8, and are damn near genius in programming. The AI naturally will play better when on a run, as will you when your team is on a run. Sometimes the CPU will just blow you out in a ridiculous fashion and it almost seems unfair, why? Because you never stopped their run. You never got them out of the flow of their offense. When ANY team's offense is in full force and flowing, they can and will blow out the other team on the court (see the recent Lakers/Suns game). Stopping the CPU runs is not just about your defense being solid, nope - it's about your offense being efficient too. Here's how offense plays into it:
You MUST be efficient on the offensive side of the ball. Runs start when teams turn the ball over, force bad shots, and generally do not play well on the offensive side of the ball. To be efficient on offense, RUN PLAYS! Learn your playbook. Understand which plays set up which players and when to run them. Understand what is a good shot and a bad shot. Just because you are wide open with 19 seconds left in the shot clock does NOT make that a good shot. In fact it's a bad shot, because you should be making the other team work on defense. On offense you should work the ball around, play deep into the shot clock and get a high percentage shot.
What's a high % shot? Recognize the mismatches that are to your advantage. Mismatches in the real NBA are so subtle that you might miss them if you aren't paying attention, it's not always a PG guarding a C. Antawn Jamison guarding Dalembert in the post is a mismatch, Dalembert should be getting the ball almost every time down. Jamison guarding Shav Randolph in the post, believe it or not is a mismatch. Sure, Shav's post game leaves alot to be desired, but he's the bigger man, and Jamison isn't exactly the premier post defender. More often then not you will be able to bully your way in with Shav and get a high percentage shot over the top of Jamison. Plays like this are so important because it gets your role players involved in the game in situations where they can be effective.
So dump it down to your mediocre PF if he has a size advantage. The size difference means he can back them down 3 feet away from the basket and shoot a little hook. If you miss, oh well, it's still a high percentage shot.
Andre Miller being guarded by Antonio Daniels is a mismatch. Why? Because Dre Miller can post up Daniels and bang on him down low. To quote Kenny Smith "Miller has a decent enough post game down low where he can get it done.". And it's true. Utilize your players and teams strengths at every chance given. Run the PG Postup play if you have a PG who can post up (obviously), and is being guarded by a smaller man. Again, you can more often then not back them down and get a good shot off, or kick it back out to a perimeter player for a pump fake that leads to an open mid range J.
That's the next thing, pump faking. Every pump fake you make should not lead to a seemingly 'wide open' layup attempt. It seems like gamers get excited when the man jumps at their fake and they attempt to run as fast as they can to the basket and throw it down. It's not gonna happen like that most of the time, the help defense will make you force a tough layup, and then you'll be on here whining about how there's too many missed layups
. No, but really, if they bite on the fake, take one step past them and pull up for the open mid range jumper. Another example of a high percentage shot. The opposing big will attempt to close out on you sometimes which will also lead to easier offensive rebounding. If the D does collapse when you attempt to drive past a faked out defender, you'll notice both the big man and the other defender will attack you, this means someone is open. If you were running a 2 man game with the SG and SF on the wing, then when you drive with the SG and the 2 defenders collapse, you can kick it out to the SF for an open jumpshot. Use icon passing combined with the left stick 'lead' passing. You have to be quick, but when you get it down you can not only open up the outside shots for your shooters, but you can define exactly where you want them to shoot from by leading them with the left stick.
If you're still reading this thesis by now, you should really stop and just go to bed. If not, there's more tips coming up.
DO NOT shoot shots early in the shot clock. Even the Jet will reprimand you for doing so. "That shot was a judgement call, blah blah blah". And it's true. As silly as it sounds, listen to what the commentators have to say while you're playing, they drop gems of sound basketball advice that can be directly applied in the game. Early shots give the CPU incentive to try and run and gun against you. They lead to fast breaks going the other way, etc. Yeah, sometimes you can be effective with the quick shot, but use good judgement. If you are trying to play catch up in the 2nd quarter, you should pass on that shot and work the ball for a better shot, since this will help slow the computer's run down at the same time.
By playing efficiently on offense you will slow the game down and stop the computers runs. It's all about getting high percentage shots. An easy shot in the post will stop the opposing team's run and the crowd noise dead in its tracks. Another defensive stop or 2 , with another few great offensive possessions and all of a sudden you are right back in the game, and the crowd has been completely taken out of it. If the crowd's not in the game, that means their team is on the other end of the momentum shift, take advantage. You'll notice the other teams will start shooting jumpers more, no more superman plays. All of a sudden those cuts are no longer there and they're shooting contested jumpshots. This is because they came back down to earth when you started dominating the game and the clock with your efficient offense.
I guess this is a good start. Sorry for the long *** post but I felt I had to post it if it could help people enjoy the game more, or help their game out. Using these tips I can come back from 15 point defecits and win games if I am really on the ball. Trust me, the stats will be spot on and the game will so closely resemble a real NBA game that it will shock you. But overall these are just some of the things that help you win basketball games. I will post more when I get more time and if anyone is interested
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