Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

[DarthRambo]

In a way I do. Now, I know irl coaches emphasize certain things during a game. However, it doesn't physically, or literally "boost" the players attributes. If anything, it only boosts their hustling and energy in the game(IRL).

In this game, I pretty much always pick defense(as most do I am sure). And it obviously gives ur players a boost. I assume it raises their defensive awareness, possibly lowers the cpus offensive awareness as well. I'm to the point where I think I'm going to make it a rule of my own not to use these. I'll call my timeouts during a run by the cpu, but won't use these anymore and see what happens. Does anyone feel like this or am I going too far into it??

Also, I've decided for another rule, just to flick the right stick on FTs and let the "real %" take over for real, cuz I make pretty much EVERY free throw at 100 difficulty setting. And I play with Orlando so that should NOT be happening.

Anyways, what or how do you guys feel about using the points of emphasis? Do you use them, why or why not?

[infamyice]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

It depends on play style and whether the user uses player lock or not.
Using POE with player lock, helps team defense and help-defense, I noticed that since 2k10 post-patch. And it's very useful IMO. But if you're playing with all the players on the court, then POE is no use. Only POE selection that works with/without player lock is rebounding. Ball Control & Defense is mainly for player lock in my experience. but to answer your question, "is it cheating?", no it's not. My motto is, "if it's in the game, it's not cheating."

[ffpp]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

Actually, I don't believe that it is either cheating or completely unrealistic.

Cheating it is not because I would assume the AI-controlled team to use it too - based on the current score, time in the game and maybe a current run or streak by either team.
So you are just balancing this out and this little boost alone is not even that much of an important factor. The bigger factor is that a little boost might lead to a great play which in turn ignites a run for your team or ends an offensive streak by your opponents or something like that.

And it is not really unrealistic because in some abstract way, getting hyped up and putting more effort into your game will actually give you a boost of strength or speed. Not because you're *physically* able to do more now, but rather because you will push your own limits a bit further.
If you talk about shooting ability on the other hand, than you could argue that a point of emphasis leads to more concentration, or making a player, idk, 'remind' himself again what helps him make shots in a way. Or 'get into the zone' or whatever you want to call it.

What I'm trying to say is that performance on the court is not only a matter of your physical abilities and skills but also of your mental state to put all this together when it counts. And a 'point of emphasis' by the coach can maybe help you with that latter aspect.

[RumbleCard]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

I use it and like it. Rebounding and defense are pretty much all I use

[Golds]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

I haven't seen any hard evidence that it actually boosts the players game ratings. If anything, I see it just increase the composure of your team. I only use this when I take a timeout after the opponent starts an offensive run or I'm losing rebound battles, but rarely do I actually see a clear advantage or cheat from it.

Here's how I look at it. It's not cheating because IRL coaches emphasize points in timeouts, and in turn, the players focus on those points. So if you choose to focus on rebounding, the players will work hard to rebound or realize they aren't boxing out....If the coach emphasizes defense, he'll point out mismatches, where players can be aggressive, cheat/read on passes....So in 2K, if you choose defense and then the next play your guard steals a pass...well, isn't that like if your coach said "XXX always passes to the right wing walking up court, try to cheat up to intercept the pass," and it worked?

[BATMON]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

Its not cheating.
If your coach isnt a Crash Boards All Game type of guy in his strategy, he has the option to emphasize it at a certain time in the game to. There's nothing wrong w/ that.

I use Ball Control alot to decrease/prevent turnovers.

I still dont understand Shot Selection.

[aloncho11]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

IMO it is not cheating. It is the game's way of "the coach talk" to a team. Totally valid as in real life.

[homeycool]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

I think if the computer teams use it, then it's not cheating. But if the computer controlled teams don't use this feature, then it gives you an advantage that the computer does not have, so in a way, you're cheating the computer. With that said, there are many "built in" cheats that the computer uses that we don't have access to, so I'm sure it all evens out.

Does anyone know if the computer controlled teams use the feature or not? The only way I can think to test it (besides have a dev tell us one way or the other) is to switch teams after timeouts and call another timeout to see if the computer team emphasized anything.

[DarthRambo]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

I think if the computer teams use it, then it's not cheating. But if the computer controlled teams don't use this feature, then it gives you an advantage that the computer does not have, so in a way, you're cheating the computer. With that said, there are many "built in" cheats that the computer uses that we don't have access to, so I'm sure it all evens out.

Does anyone know if the computer controlled teams use the feature or not? The only way I can think to test it (besides have a dev tell us one way or the other) is to switch teams after timeouts and call another timeout to see if the computer team emphasized anything.

Ya, I would like to know if the cpu uses it as well. Cuz if not, then its def cheating imho. I've pretty much decided not to use them. Example, last game I was down 35-19 in 1st qtr. I used defense emphasis with like 3min to go. Score at the end was 38-32. Just seems fishy to me. It DOES obviously boot attrbutes somehow, and I'm going to guess LOWERS offensive attributes for cpu. During the stretch at the end I saw a lot more missed open shots by cpu, more blocked shots by me. I got most points in transisition. It seemed even like the cpu def awareness was lowered along with their offensive.

So I'm just not going to use them anymore, it just doesn't feel right or fair when I do. It may not be cheating, but it def doesn't seem or feel fair to me at all. And I'm not sure what u mean, but I don't see any "unknown cheats" the cpu uses either so..

[DrFatSides]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

I like this feature beacuse I feel it adds to the realisim of the game. During a T.O. a coach is going to tell his team to tighten up the D if the game is close. I would like to see this taken one step further by having the coach pick a play for the team to run. Maybe somthing that the team had been running well in practice?

[BATMON]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

I like this feature beacuse I feel it adds to the realisim of the game. During a T.O. a coach is going to tell his team to tighten up the D if the game is close. I would like to see this taken one step further by having the coach pick a play for the team to run. Maybe somthing that the team had been running well in practice?

Good Idea. An Out Of Time Out/Crunch Time Playbook.

[P-Dub]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

Take it even further and allow the user to design a play during the timeout.

I use it and sometimes I feel that it backfires. I don't believe that it is cheating because I don't see an obvious exploit by using it. I try to emphasize on what the team wasn't doing well for the last few minutes.

If I am turning the ball over, ball control. I support it by changing the tempo and increasing the run plays or fast break slider. If I am shooting a low fg%, I choose shot selection and do the same thing but may adjust them differently. Giving up offensive boards, rebounding. I then lower help defense and fast break so my players will box out better. I choose defense when I am giving up easy buckets or have a lead late in the fourth. I lower help defense, and increase the pressure slider, and lower the crash boards slider so they get back on defense.

[44drob]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

Its not Cheating IMO

[jeremym480]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

I don't think it's cheating because I assume the CPU uses it, as well. I can't really tell a difference though. Either way I still pick Defense 95% of the time

[Mos1ted]

Re: Do you feel like using "points of emphasis" during timeouts is cheating??

Take it even further and allow the user to design a play during the timeout.

I use it and sometimes I feel that it backfires. I don't believe that it is cheating because I don't see an obvious exploit by using it. I try to emphasize on what the team wasn't doing well for the last few minutes.

If I am turning the ball over, ball control. I support it by changing the tempo and increasing the run plays or fast break slider. If I am shooting a low fg%, I choose shot selection and do the same thing but may adjust them differently. Giving up offensive boards, rebounding. I then lower help defense and fast break so my players will box out better. I choose defense when I am giving up easy buckets or have a lead late in the fourth. I lower help defense, and increase the pressure slider, and lower the crash boards slider so they get back on defense.

I consider myself a vet at this game (I've owned every 2K since 2K2), but I never thought to make gameplan adjustments that coincide with the Points of Emphasis. No wonder I wasn't really seeing a difference. As they say in the old Guinness commercials, BRILLIANT!