Official NBA 2K9 Playbook Thread

[Kruza]

I've decided to create a new thread which deals specifically with playbooks from NBA 2K9. Like last year, if anyone has something to add on about plays or have a different of opinions on things and stuff for certain teams, please do so. This thread is not only for what I have, but for everyone.

On the top of the list I’m going to start with four teams that I’ve become very familiar with after playing online and offline with them in various modes since I got the game. These teams are the Hawks, Jazz, 76ers and Clippers. After these teams, I’ll list plays for teams under people’s request in the order they’re posted in this thread. Now it’s time to get started.

First up: Hawks

Kruza

[jewelz1132]

Great..Cant wait for the 76ers

[Kruza]

Here are the Hawks. Starting lineup:

PG – Mike Bibby
SG – Joe Johnson
SF – Marvin Williams
PF – Josh Smith
C – Al Horford

I thought about starting Zaza Pachulia at C so I can slide Al Horford over to PF and Josh Smith to SF like in NBA 2K8. However, Visual Concepts has rightfully upped Josh Smith’s rebound rating from last year, so he can do more than hold his own as starting PF despite being smaller than the typical NBA big man. So the lineup stays the way it is. Now for the plays:

Flash Bang (1-4 High set)
Now this is a very cool play to run for this team that has options for three players who has an opportunity to put the ball in the hoop. First, Bibby has the ball at top of key. JJ stands in the left corner, Williams stands in the right corner, Smith stands at left elbow and Horford stands at right elbow. Next, Horford moves up near arc to set screen for Williams, who moves around this screen along arc to the right wing. Then Williams pauses, turns around and heads back along arc toward the top of key. After setting the screen, Horford goes down to right block. Then JJ makes a backdoor cut to basket around the same time. Now Bibby has the choice of passing the ball to Big Al in the post, or to a cutting JJ. A great situation that put both guys in prime position to score from where they would catch the ball, and the user controlling Bibby cannot go wrong with considering either option. Plus there is an option for Bibby to either shoot off the dribble or to drive to the basket after coming off that screen set by Big Al early in the play. This is a highly recommended play for Hawks users that should be a staple to their half court offense.

SG Wing Iso (1-4 High set)
This is an Isolation play for the Hawks main man, JJ. Bibby has the ball at the top of the key. JJ stands at left corner, then move to left wing area after going around screen set by Williams. Fisher then passes the ball to JJ at left wing. And from here JJ can go to work on his man. He also has the alternative option of shooting on the catch. Simple play, yet this one should obviously be a staple for Hawks users since this team has such a talented one-on-one player like Mr. Dynomite.

PG Double Lane (1-4 High set)
This is a cool play to get a shot opportunity for Bibby and JJ. Bibby has the ball at top of key. JJ stands at left corner, Marvin stands at right corner. And Smitty and Big Al stand at left and right elbows, respectively. Bibby moves over to the right side of the court and passes the ball to Marvin, who had moved over to right wing. Smitty and Big Al moved down to the low left and right block, respectively. JJ moved next to Smitty on the left block. Next, Al moves up to set screen for Bibby near the arc after Bibby passed the ball, and Bibby moves down to right block area. JJ and Smitty set a double screen for Bibby on the left block. Bibby goes around the double screen, runs a tight curl around to the right side of the free throw line, then receives a pass from Marvin at that spot for a catch-and-shoot opportunity. Big Al moves to the right corner, and JJ moves to top of key behind the arc. If Bibby doesn’t take the shot at the FT line area, he kicks the ball back out to JJ then moves toward the left wing area behind arc.

SF Pitch (Baseline 2 set)
This is a nice play to run that features the guards. Bibby has the ball at top of key. JJ stands at right wing, Williams stands at left wing behind arc, Smitty stands at right baseline and Al stands at left baseline. Marvin goes over to set screen for Bibby at top of circle while Smitty sets screen for JJ at right wing. JJ cuts to the basket, then turns around past Smitty’s screen and heads to right corner. Bibby dribbles around Marvin’s screen to get to right elbow. And from here, Bibby has the option to take pull-up midrange jumper, drive to basket (or throw up a runner/floater in the lane), pass to JJ at the right wing for a catch-and-shoot 3, or to Horford cutting to the basket.

PG-PF Pick & Roll (Flex 2 set)
Nothing but a typical P&R play here. Bibby has the ball on the right side of the court behind arc. JJ moves from right baseline area to left wing around a Horford screen set on the left block. Smitty is standing at left elbow, then goes over to set a screen for Bibby on the right side of the court near the arc. From here it’s standard P&R basketball between Bibby and Smitty, with JJ and Marvin spotting up on the wings.

PG-C High Screen Roll (Flex 3 set)
In this play Bibby stands on the left side of the court behind the arc. Horford comes over to set a screen for Bibby in that area. Then this play can be treated like a typical P&R play as Big Al rolls to the basket. Bibby can shoot off the dribble well and is also capable of making runners/floaters if he has to look for his shot.

Guard Pick & Fade (Flex 3 set)
This is a 2-man Pick & Pop play Involving the guards. Bibby has the ball on the left wing of the court behind the arc, while JJ is standing at left corner. JJ goes over the left wing area to set screen for Bibby. Next, Bibby dribbles to left baseline. while JJ spots up at left wing. This is a useful play showcasing the skills of both guards.

Baseline Stack (Motion 5 set)
This is a nice play that gets plenty of shot opportunities for JJ, Marvin, and Bibby along with Smitty early in the sequence. Bibby has the ball at top of key. JJ stands at left wing behind arc, Marvin stands at right wing behind arc, Smitty stands at left baseline and Big Al stands near right block. Smitty and Horford both move over to right side of baseline to set screens for Marvin, who moves around the staggered screens to opposite (left) wing. Bibby dribbles to right side of court, then passes the ball to JJ, who moves to top of key. JJ then passes the ball to Marvin at left wing while Bibby moves to right corner. After setting screen, Smitty moves over to left block. Marvin dribbles to left side of court behind arc, while JJ moves along arc to right side of court. Then Marvin passes the ball to JJ standing at right wing behind arc. Horford goes over to set screen for Marvin at left side of court near arc, then Marvin moves to left corner. JJ passes the ball to Bibby at right corner, then moves to top of key. Horford moves to right block, while Bibby dribbles up to left wing and passes the ball back to JJ at top of key. Bibby goes over to set screen for JJ at top of key. Then JJ dribbles along the arc around screen to right side of the court. And Marvin moves along the baseline to opposite (right) corner around staggered screens set by Smitty and Horford.

One early alternative option for this play is that on his first touch of the ball Marvin can look to dump the ball into the post to Smitty, who stands on the left block. There is also a catch-and-shoot opportunity early for Marvin before considering passing the ball into the post. JJ and Bibby will also have a few catch-and-shoot chances coming for them up as the play progresses. And near the end of the play sequence, JJ has an option to take a pull-up midrange jumper or take it to the basket after coming off Rondo’s screen. This is a great play to run once the user has gotten down all the intricacies of what’s going on in every sequence.

Next: Jazz

Kruza

[Scott]

Would love to see Dallas & Chicago

[PsychoBulk]

Great stuff Kruza enjoyed this thread for 2K8.

Pistons would be much appreciated

[Joey P]

Miami please. Thanks in advance.

[Jeffx]

Knicks please - thanks in advance!

[BobbyColtrane]

Kruza after reading your thread last year it totally changed how i thought about the game. this year i started breaking down the plays right away.

My request - the Spurs. and if i had a 2nd request it would be Detroit.

Thanks for your insight you really helped me enjoy the game last year!