Should handedness matter more in NBA 2K18?

[jyoung]

Despite all their years of training and practicing, many NBA players are still significantly better at using their dominant hand than they are at using their weak hand. Player handedness impacts many elements of basketball: dribbling, passing, shooting, layups, dunks, post moves, etc., but basketball videogames continue to ignore its effect on the sport.

If you look at other sports videogames, FIFA has a "weak foot" rating. MLB The Show has different hitting ratings for every batter in the game, depending on whether the opposing pitcher is left-handed and right-handed. Next year, NBA 2K18 needs to make handedness matter. It is a feature that could be easily marketed if the cover athlete was someone who's known for dribbling/passing/finishing well with both hands.

NBA 2K's controls have allowed users to pick which hand they're dribbling with or finishing with for a few years now. But that user decision currently has no impact on the athlete's ability to successfully perform your button commands.

What if every player in NBA 2K18 had different ratings for their weak hand actions and dominant hand actions? This would be a big project for 2K's roster makers to take on, but as detailed as NBA scouting is these days, I believe it would be possible to get reasonably accurate ratings for the entire league.

NBA 2K18's MyPlayer archetypes could also give users the choice of having a dominant hand or being equally skilled with either hand (ambidextrous).

Once this system is in place, it would change how users approach offense and defense in all of NBA 2K18's modes. Proper shading that takes away the ball handler's dominant side would become more important as a defender. And setting up offensive plays that put your scorers on their best side of the floor would matter more.

Here is how I would rate the MyPlayer archetypes:

Playmaker

Ball control -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous
Passing -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous
Speed with ball -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous

Slasher

Driving layups -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous
Driving dunks -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous
Floater -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous
(it's time to give floaters their own rating instead of grouping them together with the shot close rating)

Post Scorer

Post control -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous
Post hook -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous
Standing layups -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous
Standing dunks -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous

Lockdown Defender

On-ball strips -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous

Passing is the only basketball move on that list that doesn't have left-hand/right-hand controls at the moment in 2K17. But if the right joystick passing that's already in the game (activated by holding the right bumper) was altered, that problem could be solved for 2K18.

If you imagine that your right joystick is a clock:

12:00 = two-hand overhead pass (travels slower, higher, and farther than a chest pass)
1:30 = right-hand lob pass
3:00 = right-hand zip pass (a hard and straight pass à la John Stockton)
4:30 = right-hand bounce pass
6:00 = two-hand chest pass (travels faster, straighter, and shorter than an overhead pass)
7:30 = left-hand bounce pass
9:00 = left-hand zip pass (a hard and straight pass à la John Stockton)
10:30 = left-hand lob pass

You could "preload" your pass and turn it into a touch pass by holding the right joystick in the desired direction before the ball hits your hands.

The left joystick would still be used to move your white on-court circle and select your pass recipient, just like any other form of directional passing.

[fluent2332]

Handedness mattered a lot in NBA Live 10 (which was actually a very good "simulation" style game). I used to play my friends in that game and we'd spend 10 minutes before each game scouting the "DNA" (which was Synergy data, the first basketball game to use it, I think). There was data for both individual players and the overall team.

Anyway, the DNA also had separate percentages for things like going left or going right, as well as pull-up jumpshots going left or right, etc. You could see that certain players shot much better when going left or right, or finished at the rim at a higher percentage based on driving left or right. It was really interesting and worked very well in the game.

I remember playing as the Warriors with Reggie Williams during a hot streak of his near the end of the season (the DNA updated daily and the game would reflect what happened in the real NBA). Well, he was money going to his left and pulling up, so if you executed it correctly in the game you would be more successful. Had some very fun times with that DNA system. Wish Live would bring that back to the level that NBA Live 10 had it. That adds a level of strategy that enhances the game tremendously.

[Baebae32]

Definitely in favor. If the game is a sim then all elements of real life must continue to be implemented into the game.

[alabamarob]

Quote: Originally Posted by jyoung

Despite all their years of training and practicing, many NBA players are still significantly better at using their dominant hand than they are at using their weak hand. Player handedness impacts many elements of basketball: dribbling, passing, shooting, layups, dunks, post moves, etc., but basketball videogames continue to ignore its effect on the sport. If you look at other sports videogames, FIFA has a "weak foot" rating. MLB The Show has different hitting ratings for every batter in the game, depending on whether the opposing pitcher is left-handed and right-handed. Next year, NBA 2K18 needs to make handedness matter. It is a feature that could be easily marketed if the cover athlete was someone who's known for dribbling/passing/finishing well with both hands. NBA 2K's controls have allowed users to pick which hand they're dribbling with or finishing with for a few years now. But that user decision currently has no impact on the athlete's ability to successfully perform your button commands. What if every player in NBA 2K18 had different ratings for their weak hand actions and dominant hand actions? This would be a big project for 2K's roster makers to take on, but as detailed as NBA scouting is these days, I believe it would be possible to get reasonably accurate ratings for the entire league. NBA 2K18's MyPlayer archetypes could also give users the choice of having a dominant hand or being equally skilled with either hand (ambidextrous). Once this system is in place, it would change how users approach offense and defense in all of NBA 2K18's modes. Proper shading that takes away the ball handler's dominant side would become more important as a defender. And setting up offensive plays that put your scorers on their best side of the floor would matter more. Here is how I would rate the MyPlayer archetypes: Playmaker Ball control -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous Passing -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous Speed with ball -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous Slasher Driving layups -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous Driving dunks -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous Floater -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous (it's time to give floaters their own rating instead of grouping them together with the shot close rating) Post Scorer Post control -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous Post hook -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous Standing layups -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous Standing dunks -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous Lockdown Defender On-ball strips -- 95 dominant, 75 weak or 85 ambidextrous Passing is the only basketball move on that list that doesn't have left-hand/right-hand controls at the moment in 2K17. But if the right joystick passing that's already in the game (activated by holding the right bumper) was altered, that problem could be solved for 2K18. If you imagine that your right joystick is a clock: 12:00 = two-hand overhead pass (travels slower, higher, and farther than a chest pass) 1:30 = right-hand lob pass 3:00 = right-hand zip pass (a hard and straight pass à la John Stockton) 4:30 = right-hand bounce pass 6:00 = two-hand chest pass (travels faster, straighter, and shorter than an overhead pass) 7:30 = left-hand bounce pass 9:00 = left-hand zip pass (a hard and straight pass à la John Stockton) 10:30 = left-hand lob pass You could "preload" your pass and turn it into a touch pass by holding the right joystick in the desired direction before the ball hits your hands. The left joystick would still be used to move your white on-court circle and select your pass recipient, just like any other form of directional passing.

I think the old 2ks had an off hand dribble rating. I think this would help the most in the post game. Very few guys can finish post moves with either hand. Especially jumphooks, but in 2k every good post guy can torch you with either hand. Makes playing post def harder then it is IRL. Additionally, would like to see an off hand layup rating.


This thread should be sponsored by Drexler, Sprewell and Pat Ewing. Ha

[turty11]

i've been proposing for YEARS that things like layups, dunks, hook shots/fades, dribble moves NEED to have individual ratings/tendencies for dominate/non-dom hand.

there are so many guys who can only do "X" thing with their dominate hand, ESPECIALLY hook shots there is no reason for it to not be in the game.

[fluent2332]

Again, NBA Live 10 had this via Synergy Sports data, and it was great.

Why not just implement more Synergy data for various aspects of the game like this? You can keep ratings but also factor in analytical data.

[ataman5]

Another really good post here. I'm all for them to be in. Fifa had this for a long time for strong foot etc.

[fluent2332]

If you look at the data you will see there is almost always a difference between not only using left/right hands to finish at the rim, but the % of successful finishes also depends on driving left/right. Same with pull-up jumpshots.

Back to my quick example, Reggie Williams at one point was shooting 55% on pull-up jumpshots going left, and at least 10% lower (if not more, can't remember) if he went right and pulled up. If you knew this and studied your team enough you could play on a whole new level of simulation basketball. Same with scouting other teams and opponents. That brain power element.