Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

[GSW]

I wanted to make a thread specifically related to defense for this years NBA Live.

My hope is we can amass some clips and communication here so they can look in to fixing some things next year.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that since these are basketball video games, defense is looked at as boring or secondary, the funny part about this is defense can be a whole game in itself. I would liek to see this reflected in live 17 and moving forward.

I have been playing the demo and too many times i feel as though i cannot affect the game on the defensive end, I felt this way in live 15 as well, and even though it's a demo i have seen nothing that suggests this will be any different.

On ball defense basically feels like two opposing magnets facing each other, forcefields, no real (consistent) in between body up type aggressive defensive animations, on a drive the offensive player gets a speed burst and you get moved out of the way, there is no real respect to angles, or if there is there are no visual cues just invisible boxes pressing against each other.

Paint defense feels pretty much like a hope/wish tactic, i never feel like i can DO anything to stop anyone accept hit the block button and hope i get a block, i cant force baseline, middle, I cant really DO anything except pray.

I don't have all of the answers, but i wanted to start the dialouge. I really feel like the game has a lot of work to do on this end of the court and we should be able to discuss these things, maybe with video clips and constructive conversation all year.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

Great post GSW.

I kind of want to wait until the day 1 patch before I comment so we can be clear on what still needs to be tweaked...

[VinsanityLives]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

It's strange. Sometimes I can create an amazing block that feels warranted and sometimes I can get in my opponents grill and push him around realistically. But sometimes I cant do ANYTHING. Obviously Live Runs defense is unbearable.

They move quickly and nicely react to your movements on D but then they all of a sudden check out and have no strength? Idk it's weird. It's like they have no weight at times.

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[WTF]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

Been on here lurking since 2009 I just want let everyone on here know you can play physical defense in NBA Live 16 don't hold down the l2 button just move the left stick to wards them as their driving you'll see a lot of contact in the game just figured this out today

Try this out GSW. It's how I play too. May not be a fix all til the patches, but I don't have a ton of issues (other than the mile high hook) and I have some good defensive battles.

Also, blocks from behind are definitely more prevalent on the day 1 version, as is smarter help d.

[GSW]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

Try this out GSW. It's how I play too. May not be a fix all til the patches, but I don't have a ton of issues (other than the mile high hook) and I have some good defensive battles.

Also, blocks from behind are definitely more prevalent on the day 1 version, as is smarter help d.

Yea maybe that animation happens *sometimes*, i dont hold L2 at all and i feather the stick.

[GSW]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

It's strange. Sometimes I can create an amazing block that feels warranted and sometimes I can get in my opponents grill and push him around realistically. But sometimes I cant do ANYTHING. Obviously Live Runs defense is unbearable.

They move quickly and nicely react to your movements on D but then they all of a sudden check out and have no strength? Idk it's weird. It's like they have no weight at times.

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Feels like you're playing with angels or ghosts who just float around there is no real sense of weight which makes the "physicality" seem weird.

this is just IMO

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

I don't hold down L2 either, a practice I picked up last year...

but I do when someone is coming right at me....that seems to be the most consistent way to ensure you body them up....and even with that, there are more whiffs then their should be IMO...

[BigTigLSU]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

This was a major issue for me as well... I posted this in the impressions thread see if this helps

"Here is something that may help some 2K people who are truly struggling with the feel of the game but want to give it a chance... and up the contact frequency on both sides cpu and user Ground and air collision... it helped out a lot..."
I maxed them both out at 100 from the default of 50 and I felt like the game played way better

[GSW]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

This was a major issue for me as well... I posted this in the impressions thread see if this helps

"Here is something that may help some 2K people who are truly struggling with the feel of the game but want to give it a chance... and up the contact frequency on both sides cpu and user Ground and air collision... it helped out a lot..."
I maxed them both out at 100 from the default of 50 and I felt like the game played way better

I'll try but honestly why should i even have to do this...and also I cant imagine playing Pro Am online with maxed out players this is going to be ridiculous in like a month.

[VinsanityLives]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

This was a major issue for me as well... I posted this in the impressions thread see if this helps

"Here is something that may help some 2K people who are truly struggling with the feel of the game but want to give it a chance... and up the contact frequency on both sides cpu and user Ground and air collision... it helped out a lot..."
I maxed them both out at 100 from the default of 50 and I felt like the game played way better

I agree upping the contact improves the game a lot but it's still too hectic and non sensical and not enough to make the game worth owning imo.



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[GisherJohn24]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

a little bit off subject, but how do you disable that defense indicator on who you're guarding? That's very annoying.

[GSW]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

how do we defend anything in the paint?

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

This may be the dumbest post ever but I was getting killed last night playing against the Clippers. Couldn't stop them at all.

Then I just decided to try something out.

I started playing off the ball. And it worked. I started getting stops. The CPU started shooting later in the shot clock. And they started taking worse shots than they were before.

I don't think it was a placebo effect either.

I usually switched to a PF or C and let the CPU guard the PG and wings.

I also seemed to be able to get defensive boards better.

It's a strategy that some FIFA players use (playing defensive space in the midfield as a defender).

It's a weird way to compensate for the lack of true defensive abilities and it does take some getting used to.

But it was the only way I could have a somewhat more realistic game because with the rocket lay ups by the CPU (contextual animations that you cannot stop), you're going to give up too many shots that are impossible to stop.

Just my $0.02. But I'll continue to play the demo like this until the slider guys work their magic.

[kobethelegend]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

the one thing i've noticed about live in comparison to the other game we're all use to playing is that, All of the players have a much quicker first and 2nd step.

I dont think i have ever seen a video game, where guys take super long strides like they do in live. what i'm about to tell you is actually true. Those strides are Real life depictions of nba players and how they play. this has not been in that other game. and it wasnt in the old lives either.

they are literally trying to simulate the ridiculous quickness of a nba level player. this is going to take some getting use to.

another thing(s) i noticed. when playing in pro am and i assume this works in the regular game with real teams.

so i've noticed that if you play slightly between the ball handler and your man. (the passing lane). your man is going to attempt to back door you depending on his abilities(hoop iq, athleticism, etc.) if you stand on the baseline. he will just stand at the 3 point line to spread you out. once you pass a certain point trying to inch closer to the paint to help out. it will almost be too late to get back and contest that shot. THIS my friends, is not your daddys basketball video game. This is real life basketball. These nba players are so good, and they shoot so quickly. if you mess around and try to gamble. its a wrap. you will get lit up or pray that the guy misses an open shot. this is why only really good defenders can play that free safety style defense and not get burned to death. shoot, kobe does it all the time. and gets lit up by no name guys in real life doing that.

i noticed while moving and hesitating to get back. kind of feels like baseball when a guy is inching to steal that base. and the pitcher is looking over his shoulder. this is how it is playing off ball defense vs a guy without the ball thats a cpu controlled player.

If you reach on a pg, sg ball handler. its over. You reach i teach. i've been asking for this feature in all basketball video games since since.

this means you cant spam reach and be super successful. you will go into that reach animation while the other guy is blowing by you. its a beautiful thing.

now with that said. obviously i'm so sick of looking at that ridiculous hook shot. lol. i pray thats fixed in the day 1 patch. please be fixed. WTF, dont even tell me it isnt. if it isnt. lol. i want to keep hope alive.

as far as the contact and post defense/paint defense goes. i think its two issues. one, there is some animation issues a lack of physical play at times in the paint. like when guys are stuck under the backboard. they can just jump backwards without you feeling any real contact.

this gives them room to make tight shots.

but the other issue is the camera angles. its so difficult to get a proper angle thats zoomed in ENOUGH to see exactly where your man's feet are planted/body in relation to the offensive player. so this has you thinking you have this guy locked up on the baseline. when in reality you dont. there's actual space left.

[GStera7]

Re: Defense in NBA Live 16 and beyond

Great post GSW.

I kind of want to wait until the day 1 patch before I comment so we can be clear on what still needs to be tweaked...

I own the retail game and I echo this statement exactly.