I really want to like this game...

[bcgudely]

So, I can admit I'm not the biggest basketball fan on the planet. I loved NBA 2K back on the Dreamcast, but didn't really play it much after my Hornets moved away.

Really started to get more into the NBA again this year. I've played a few of the games in the series on the newer platforms, but not until 2K10 have I really sat down with the game and tried really get into it.

So I rented 2K10, and it looks great, the presentation is amazing, NBA Today is awesome, and I'm getting really pumped. What ensues is the most frustrating experience I can remember having with a sports game.

I know basketball is about moving the ball to get a good look. I watch my Bobcats do this all the time. It's how they play. So, I try it, but I can't find good shots without running any kind of plays. My AI friends don't seem to be very good with the whole improvisation thing. So, I try to run plays, but they only work some of the time.

Half the time my guy won't get on top of the circle to start the play because he's hopping back and forth from behind it to in front of it. When guys set screens half the time they never work and the play is blown..there's 5 seconds to shoot, and I get a bad look or a turnover.

On top of this, half the time when I run a perfect play, somebody like Kobe misses a layup. It seems like I can't hit shots after the first 5 possessions in this game. Again, maybe it's a frustration issue, I don't know.

But the CPU seems unstoppable. I'm using some sim sliders from the slider section and playing on All-Pro. But I was having these issues with Playmakers pro sliders... and the difficulty feels identical. The other team is just unstoppable. I have no idea how to play defense. If the opposing player wants to blow right by me, all he does is go to the basket. I have no idea how to deny space like the CPU denies me.

Are there any type of pointers you basketball vets can offer me? I used to play the sport both organized and pickup. I understand the basic strategies and the positional responsibilities of each person on the floor. I just don't understand how to play this game, I guess... and it's incredibly frustrating because I really want to like it.

[billyboy316]

I feel your pain and I am in the same boat. I really enjoy this game at times but then other times the little things just bug the hell out of me too much and I have to turn it off.

I am having the same issues with running plays as you are with my Bulls. The game just doesn't seem fluent at all so it is hard to get a guy on a spot.

There just seems to be a lack of fundamentals for this game. For example I noticed a lot of the time when I am not running a play Taj Gibson will be spotting up for a 3pointer instead of working the post!! GRRRR lol. Also I was on a 2 on 1 fast break with Rose while Noah trailed and what did Noah do? He stopped at the top of the key instead of trailing to the basket!! Another thing that bothers me is when a big man like Howard or Shaq don't go up strong in the post. Instead they will do some crappy jump, twist body to awkward position, then shoot some half *** layup/shot and 9/10 times will miss.

I have tried many sliders and it seems like the first game goes great but then the next few games just start to piss me off again.

[Pitfighter87]

Man that really sucks guys.Cause my experience is AMAZING!!Try setting your playbook up to play your style of basketball.The thread on playbooks here is pretty good.Also what I like to do(I took this from chris smoove)is have my play calling on Auto(ONLY ON OFFENSE)and show all play art.Its all in the coach setting.The play will automatically be set up from your playbook and call all the plays you pick so there really isnt a bad play ran.I score 80% of my points off plays which are pick and rolls screens,fades,isolationsand 60% of that is jumpshots.The game isnt perfect right out the box but with a little tweakin here and there its IMO the top sports game out there.Also I havent had any trouble with the big men doin stupid things in the post.Honestly I hate playin Shaq and Dwight cause they always back me down and jam in my face or knock me down in th paint and just bulldoz me.And get this IM PLAYIN ON DEFAULT SLIDERS!!Well thats just my two cents try thhe playbook tweakin out and set your plays to auto and see how that worls for ya.

[VDusen04]

I'll throw just a couple of things out there and see what sticks.

1) In lieu of running full plays, you may want to try holding B (or circle on PS3) to call for a pick or screen on offense. Again, holding B makes a teammate come set a pick, then he rolls to the basket. Tapping B will have your teammate run up, fake a pick, then roll to the basket. And holding I believe L2 and B makes a teammate set a screen then spot up for a jumpshot. I find "B" picks to be a healthy alternative to playcalling.

To make pick-and-rolls as successful as possible, it might help to learn how to direct pass. On offense, I think (don't hold me to this) R1 brings up icons above all of your teammates heads. On 360, A always represents the point guard, B the shooting guard, Y the power forward, X the small forward and R1 the center. It may sound difficult to remember, but once this passing becomes habit, it is much easier to pass to who you want, when you want.

2) I'd give a nice solid gander to the game's tutorials (I believe found in "Game Modes" then "Practice". There's a tutorial for ballhandling (learning how to perform dribble moves) and post play (perfecting moves in the post). Also, there's just a general shootaround where you can just work at getting a healthy grip on the game itself.

3) On defense, if you are struggling terribly at covering the ball-handler, perhaps you may want to give guarding someone off the ball a try. When you're covering someone beside the ball handler, it seems to be a little easier to cut down on the point guard slashing you up every time down the floor.

Also, I believe there's an option in "Controller Setup (?)" called "CPU Defense Assistance" or something similar. I slid this meter all the way to zero. At default, it seems to pull your defender from where you often wish to go, like a magnet.

4) Think about trying an even lower difficulty to start.

For someone who has not played a basketball game in quite some time, I believe you may have an extended adjustment period, but the comfort level will undoubtedly rise as you continue to play. It's just a matter of getting used to how the video game itself works.

[dopeboy206]

I feel you bro except I am a big basketball fan. I really want to like this game but I can't. I loved 2K8 but eversince 2K9 my love for 2K went downhill. This games feels unresponsive. I hate the movements and player control is horrible. Online play is not fun at all. Bad server and no lobby's. WTF is that? I hate playing random people on quick match. I want to be able to see their record and their DNF%.

[bcgudely]

Thanks for some of the tips guys. I'll try em out later. I just got MLB 2K10 so, my Xbox is kind of crowded right now :P

But yeah, I always feel like playing NBA 2K, and I load it up and it's so much fun until the first few possessions, and I'm down by 10 points and nothing's going right lol.

Any more tips would be greatly appreciated.

[bearschicago]

Quote: Originally Posted by bcgudely

Thanks for some of the tips guys. I'll try em out later. I just got MLB 2K10 so, my Xbox is kind of crowded right now :P But yeah, I always feel like playing NBA 2K, and I load it up and it's so much fun until the first few possessions, and I'm down by 10 points and nothing's going right lol. Any more tips would be greatly appreciated.

Just to make sure, do you have the patch? Consoles got 2 patches. Do you have the latest one?

[bcgudely]

Yeah, I patch every game I get, cause I'm always hooked into Live.