why do i always lose in 2nd half?

[starks1903]

i play on all star 12 min quarters. first half i m fine but in the 3 rd quarter cpu always makes a run like 10-15 points and i m done. is this game scripted i feel like it.

[Noof]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

Turn off clutch factor in your settings, it'll help stop those late runs.

[I Djm]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

i play on all star 12 min quarters. first half i m fine but in the 3 rd quarter cpu always makes a run like 10-15 points and i m done. is this game scripted i feel like it.

i know exactly how you feel. cpu always scores in the paint no matter what. if your talking my player you just gotta pray your team comes through. if you talkin other modes try other defensive settings like locking down the paint constant pressure stuff like that

[scoonie05]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

It's hard coded in the game. You can't stop it.

[THEone86]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

Rarely Happens to me. You guys must just be terrible at the game.

[I Djm]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

Rarely Happens to me. You guys must just be terrible at the game.

in my player its almost impossible to stop.

now outside of my player i agree you have to make adjustments to stop them.

[Spanky]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

Practice, man. We're talkin' 'bout practice. Not a game, practice.

[Strangerstake]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

I also have encountered these runs and it really frustrating but all i do is keep my cool and not make silly turnovers or i dont try to just get one of my players going... like if i am the heat and my opponent is on a big run and covering up my lead i would look to slow down the game since these runs usually start with fastbreaks and try to find an open eddie house or chalmers for a three and not force the ball inside... i play on pro/sim with 8 min quarters and it seems pretty fair .. and after the patch we dont have to even deal with those contested threes by the cpu... i think if you just keep your cool and play the game like how you would in reality, these runs could be easily stopped...

[Sovartus]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

i play on all star 12 min quarters. first half i m fine but in the 3 rd quarter cpu always makes a run like 10-15 points and i m done. is this game scripted i feel like it.

This is the "adaptive A.I." everyone begged for. The game isn't scripted guys, the cpu is making adjustments to what you are doing. If you aren't making adjustments to your gameplan, you will get punished. What you have been doing up to that point worked, now, it doesn't. Just like real basketball, at halftime, the coach made adjustments to what happened in the 1st half and now you need to change something.

If you keep using the same moves, players to score, plays, and so forth you will probably loose. The cpu seems to make these adjustments during Timeouts, between quarters, and the most noticable is at halftime.

[MetroGwapo]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

The problem is, your stupid AI teammates keeps chasing the ballhandler even though you've set the play to man-to-man leaving a free 3 point shooter open. Case in point, in the Pippen challenge, I've focused on Gary Payton with Ron Harper to deny Shawn Kemp the ball but the AI controlling Michael Jordan leaves Hersey Hawkins wide open to hurt me with 3s.

[ILLSmak]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

I don't think the computer gets superhuman. There are some times the computer does crazy stuff. But mostly the computer just goes hard. they stop messing around and start attacking the rim. And start playing better D. In a way, I guess you can call it realistic because teams do make runs.

So, it's not like they are necessarily cheating, it's more like they go up a difficulty level at times. but on the other hand, there are times when the computer plays like absolute **** and nobody complains about that. lol

-Smak

[Sovartus]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

The problem is, your stupid AI teammates keeps chasing the ballhandler even though you've set the play to man-to-man leaving a free 3 point shooter open. Case in point, in the Pippen challenge, I've focused on Gary Payton with Ron Harper to deny Shawn Kemp the ball but the AI controlling Michael Jordan leaves Hersey Hawkins wide open to hurt me with 3s.

Go into your defensive settings and set Hersey Hawkings to Deny Ball and MJ will stay with him. MJ will not help but that is what you want him to do. If your teammates are chasing the ball handler, it sounds like you are pressing the "focus on stars" button or you may have your double team slider too high in your coaching profile.

[Sundown]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

I don't think the computer gets superhuman. There are some times the computer does crazy stuff. But mostly the computer just goes hard. they stop messing around and start attacking the rim. And start playing better D. In a way, I guess you can call it realistic because teams do make runs.

So, it's not like they are necessarily cheating, it's more like they go up a difficulty level at times. but on the other hand, there are times when the computer plays like absolute **** and nobody complains about that. lol

-Smak

Isn't going up a difficulty level just because they're down or we're at the 3rd quarter the definition of cheating? It feels artificial and scripted, and doesn't happen like the more random, free flowing runs that occur in the NBA. It's the antithesis of sim because runs are happening for the wrong reasons-- simply because the CPU has decided to stack the odds against you in order to win the game.

It'd be fine if the CPU played well in stretches if it wasn't so predictable when those stretches happen regardless of your performance. I get frustrated when the CPU makes an huge run in the 1st quarter but I know that's partially my fault for losing concentration and partially because momentum is a bit too strong in the 2K series. But it becomes much less tolerable when I can consistently expect one in the 3rd quarter and possible the 4th if I'm up.

We would also have a problem with the CPU playing terribly in predictable stretches for no reason whatsoever, especially if it would consistently lose games that way. We don't have a huge problem with CPU having cold stretches precisely because they seem to flow out of what's happening in the game, are somewhat random, and aren't "scripted". This doesn't seem to be the case with CPU 2nd half runs.

[RogerBlack]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

I don't think the computer gets superhuman. There are some times the computer does crazy stuff. But mostly the computer just goes hard. they stop messing around and start attacking the rim. And start playing better D. In a way, I guess you can call it realistic because teams do make runs.

So, it's not like they are necessarily cheating, it's more like they go up a difficulty level at times. but on the other hand, there are times when the computer plays like absolute **** and nobody complains about that. lol

-Smak

OK. Try this.

Then come back and let us know what you think.

1. Play a few games Online.
2. Use any team NOT called the Thunder, or Heat.
3. FOR SEVERAL POSSESSIONS... AFTER HALFTIME... PLAY A 3-2 ZONE DEFENSE.


If the game is close in the 2nd half... you will LITERALLY will have to 'fight your controller' to make your Big Men:

1. Rebound. or even attempt to Rebound.
2. Defend their proper zone area.

After a few defensive trips during crunchtime, just watch as your CPU-controlled Bigs will start to lineup on the same (weak)side of the court... away from the ballhandler. (Remember, you are supposed to be in a 3-2 zone, right? Why are BOTH of your bigs standing in 'single file' on one side of the court? HHhmm??)

So this should be your biggest "hint" as to what usually happens next...


Play after play.... you will see your opponent use a Superstar to skate by your perimeter defender...

AS THE CPU CLEARS THE PATH.
MAKING IT EASY FOR THEM TO SCORE, IF THEY CAN GET PAST ONE MAN.

In a 3-2 zone, if a Superstar ever 'turns the corner' on your perimeter defender (as you play 'on ball' defense)...while the CPU controls either one of your big men...

YOUR OPPONENT WILL SCORE. EVERY TIME.

BECAUSE THE CPU-CONTROLLED BIGS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO GUARD THE PAINT WILL RUN AWAY.
OR WILL BE CAUGHT BADLY OUT OF POSITION. WITHOUT FAIL.

ESPECIALLY IF YOUR OPPONENT USES LEBRON OR DURANT.

Are these guys online really THAT good?!?!?
Maybe. But they also have 'lots of help'.

Good gamers only need a 'split-second' or two... to score.
So any missteps by your CPU teammates will get exploited.

Use slow motion instant replays and THE VERY FIRST THING YOU WILL SEE..

- The moment your opponent 'turns the corner' and bypasses your perimiter defender... the CPU reacts by taking a few steps away from the ballhandler. (which pretty much provides a 'clear path' to the bucket imo)

- or you will see... your CPU teammate will collapse deep into the restricted area of the paint... instead of stepping forward to meet the ballhandler OUTSIDE of the paint. Like how a real 3-2 zone works. (i.e. If one man gets beat, the next man 'steps up' to stop the ball.)

This happens all too often... regardless of your 'slider settings'.


You may find it ironic...
- how your all your passes can be deflected instantly... on offense.
- but the CPU bigs provide your opponents with a 'clear path' to the bucket... on defense.

Now as you fight the 'loss of responsiveness' of your controller... plus scramble to reset the 'defensive settings' you swore you just made a minute ago, during the next few timeouts... you may convince yourself that the 3-2 zone is totally ineffective against all the wild 'dunk poster' highlight footage that you will struggle to stay out of, late in the game.

[Whaaaazuuuuup]

Re: why do i always lose in 2nd half?

^^Very true!! 2k had me fooled for a minute making me think I was that bad. But then the scripted plays of CPU off/def being able to do what hey need to do to win the game. It's ridiculous!!...