Just some quick defensive suggestions

[OkayC]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

I wanna ask, does the cpu still guard you really well. I noticed last year no matter who was guarding you, you would have a hard time blowing by them, even if i was derrick rose being guarded by steve nash, i still had more difficulty than i should blowing by him at a consistent basis. I find that even bad defenders play the best of defense, and since i haven't gotten 2k14 yet, i wanna know if this is still the case. I would also like to know if your teammates still look clueless on D, or if they actually play good defense based on there defensive rating, or if they play good defense at all.

[zmcman1]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

I started getting better at defense once I broke my old playstyle from previous 2k games. Mainly by not using the right stick this year because as another user pointed out, there's a bit of a delay to it in 2k14. I found it essential to playing good defense out on the perimeter last year, but absolutely worthless this year.

I struggled the first few games, but now finding defense to be a lot easier just using the left stick and not the LT/RS modifiers. .I'm really only seeing LT/RS being truly helpful once the ball gets down into the paint. LT also helps at cutting off someone driving.

Otherwise, just stick to playing defense on the perimeter with the left stick for a while and see if you improve.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

Would you say that the crowd-and-ride defense doesn't work anymore and you pretty much have to anticipate, cut off, and commit? That's not so bad if my bigs weren't being somewhat useless and their guards so good at finishing.

Oh, and I fully expect Lee to be terrible at help defense, but Bogut should be a monster in there. I haven't seen one block by him yet. That doesn't seem right.

I would definitely agree that its more about anticipation this time around....which actually makes shading worth doing this year....I am not sure whether it is because I inherently switch when I am beaten...but I am not having much trouble with help defense...I just had a 4 block game with TD....(2 from the CPUs help D as a matter of fact)

Also I hardly use LT at all unless I am in the post...you just can't react quickly enough when holding it IMO ....defensive assist at above 100 IS my LT....gives you a lot more freedom while not sacrificing as much reaction time...

[Sundown]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

I would definitely agree that its more about anticipation this time around....which actually makes shading worth doing this year....I am not sure whether it is because I inherently switch when I am beaten...but I am not having much trouble with help defense...I just had a 4 block game with TD....(2 from the CPUs help D as a matter of fact)

Also I hardly use LT at all unless I am in the post...you just can't react quickly enough when holding it IMO ....defensive assist at 100 IS my LT....gives you a lot more freedom while not sacrificing as much reaction time...

Yeah, I'll try to anticipate and shade into help more. I'm hoping I don't have to up defensive assist or help D settings just yet. I'll touch the latter eventually but would like to play adequate defense without it at least.

One thing I do like is that CPU bigs will score easily over smaller guys. This wasn't always the case, at least with sliders I was using.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

Yeah, I'll try to anticipate and shade into help more. I'm hoping I don't have to up defensive assist or help D settings just yet. I'll touch the latter eventually but would like to play adequate defense without it at least.

One thing I do like is that CPU bigs will score easily over smaller guys. This wasn't always the case, at least with sliders I was using.

Do you think I mean sliders when I say defensive assist?

Just want to clarify

[Sundown]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

Do you think I mean sliders when I say defensive assist?

Just want to clarify

I know you mean the Defensive Assistance settings under Controller Settings. Would just like to have some success on default (and manual contest since it's apparently the 2K sanctioned default setting this year).

[TheRealHST]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

Use your defensive settings!!

A lot of people don't use em.

I always use mine. It doesnt make sense to not use them. They are there for a reason and in real life, teams adjust, so in the game we should too. Somewhere in another thread complained about a opponent making threes...well...thats what settings are for. To stop it

[TheRealHST]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

I have to re-learn defense all over again. I just can't guard the ball. Not the CPU anyway. I won the one user game I played. I played DRose yesterday and he torched me. Paul George did too but I had Klay Thompson on him. I'm tempted to just play offball but I want to improve my on ball skills.

Thats how it should be. This new gameplay is making gamers take the time to do things right. So many gamers were used to getting by on exploits (Not you) now they have to actually think

[TheRealHST]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

The one thing I didn't really spend much time using was shuffle feet RT LT. That could be part of the problem will need to experiment some more on that.

• I think a good time to crowd is on some of the pivot foot animations and late in the shot clock. I wouldn't be surprised if my cam view is messing me up as well.
• I do get the "riding" animations or diverting animations sometimes but I think position is most likely very sensitive.
• They programmed the CPU to be aggressive on drives for attackers off the dribble. I did much better giving CP3, Jennings, space when they have a live dribble and predict the direction

Ive never used this either. I will now

[raiderphantom]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

I saw that in the control menu. What does the shuffle feet do exactly?

[TheRealHST]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

I don't know if it's just that the offensive AI has been improved, but I'm not seeing the improved defense vs CPU in 2K14.

I was playing as the Warriors against the Rockets on Allstar Sim, and:

Intense-D contest is no longer default. I tried to play without any auto-contest (since it's apparently frowned upon and the new default), and I'm just not able to contest very well, partly because--

RS hands up D has a major delay. It takes like 1 second before the hands come up when you're in certain animations. Sometimes it feels like you can't even get a hand up to half-contest even though you know the shot is going up.

LT no longer seems very useful, and causes me to get burned constantly, even with a lockdown defender like Igoudala. Actually I get burned with or without LT. Meanwhile, CPU has no problem staying in front of me and affording minimal penetration.

Harden constantly gets penetration, and so does Lin. Some of this is expected, and I actually *like* that the CPU ball handlers feel more explosive and dangerous. It seems that they rarely get stuck dribbling the shot clock out, which is great, but --

I'm not seeing very good help interior defense from the AI. Bogut is getting no blocks, and paint defense is usually out of position or just ends up fouling, not much different from 2K13 before sliders. Iggy has difficulty picking up players going to the hole, and most of the "physicality" I'm seeing is my guys getting dunked on.

RS hands up doesn't seem to do as much in the paint. Maybe this is by design, but again, it makes it feel like paint defense isn't really there.

The CPU offensive rebounds still seem ridiculous. Not only from Asik and Howard, but from Harden and Lin as well. Maybe because my guys are out of position after trying to contest, but it's the only thing I can do to prevent easy buckets (which often come anyway).

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, or many things wrong, but I was playing pretty decent positional defense (using EccentricMeat's slider set) in 2K13. It's just strange that in a game advertising much improved defense, I'm getting destroyed more than ever on that end. It's starting to become frustrating already.

Any tips besides turning on auto-contest and that sort of thing?

The only advice I can give you is to work harder on defense. Again, this game is going to force you to think about what you are doing wrong. Alot of it is basketball common sense. The defense is improved on my end, so this is a individual problem you are having. For example , Im not having any problem with rebounds. I know how to box out and time it right. You just have to keep at it :wink:

[TheRealHST]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

I saw that in the control menu. What does the shuffle feet do exactly?

Its about cutting a guy off from driving/staying in front of him. They teach guys to do this in real life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDhHu6YxmFo

[ffaacc03]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

I saw that in the control menu. What does the shuffle feet do exactly?

I dont have the game, so take it cautiously ... I think it leans your defender so you give either the right or the left (to the off hand is recommended) ... on real life, its purpose is to try and get the offense go where you are giving them more space but this ultimately is to have them meet your teammates help d instead, you limit their drives options ... this was present on past versions and sounds like a great complementary feature to the apparently improved defensive rotations.

[BOS617]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

But I feel when I am not holding LT, my player is flat footed. Holding LT is the only way I can get him into a defensive stance.

[Sovartus]

Re: Just some quick defensive suggestions

Okay Gentlemen,

Here are a few tips to help you with on ball defense.

1. Use LT only to make small adjustments and to make sure you don't overrun the ball handler when guarding or closing out.

2. Learn to use LT + RT to help you keep up with the quicker players like Derrick Rose. (you don't hold RT very long, only as a sort of speed burst to keep from getting beat)

3. If you are holding LT to make small adjustments or body up a guy in triple threat, make sure you let go of LT as the ball handler drives by you to make the stop.

4. Instead of moving left or right to cut off a ball handler try moving backwards first to maintain position and then beat him to the spot. (you want to make sure you are positioned between the man and the basket at all times to prevent further penetration)

5. Shade ball handlers to the help side of the floor or into congested areas with help defenders but still be ready to react to penetration. (like real basketball try your best to prevent ball handlers from getting into the middle of the floor or driving the lane lines)

6. Make sure you go into your defensive settings and set double teams to "on drive" for guys who are getting into the paint on you. (just know 2K's rotations are jacked so if you aren't careful, good passers will pick you apart)