NBA 2K9: Tips to Improve Your Offensive Game

[asu666]

I feel like it's too easy to drive to the basket in NBA 2K9. It seems like they toned the lock-on defense from 2K8 down too much. In 2K8 I could drive to the hoop if I executed the right ISOMOTION move at the right time. Now I just need to wait for the defened to slight shade me one way or the other and I'm gone.

[Radja]

great FAQ. i agree completely. in fact, it helped me to realize i call too many plays. i called them about 75% of the time. i hope people listen to what you wrote. too many people don't try to play the game the way it is meant to be played and then scream i can't make 3 pt shots.

i play with the kings so your section on knowing your players cannot be emphasized enough. for instance, with spencer hawes i can have a decent post game. but when i use shelden williams, he will miss the most wide open shot, i cannot trust him. but at least for me, he gets rebounds. kenny thomas is almost useless to me because he doesn't do anything i can use consistently offensively and he is marginal at D.

the fact that there are those types of nuances make the game one the best sports video games i have ever played. as soon as my xbox is fixed i am going to take an evening to just play several games.

[kenzil]

good post.

[X*Cell]

great post, especially the one about using your mid-range game. It certainly puts the defense in a predicament. I can only speak on behalf of user games because I don't bother playing the computer, but usually your opponent will fear the all-out drive and sag off. Trying to drive 100% to the basket will force you to play a guessing game... either you get blocked, or your player pulls off a sick in-air layup that goes in or you get fouled... but when it's clutch time... better believe you will get blocked.

So... what do you do when you aren't confident in hitting threes or none of your players are hot enough to do so at a good percentage? You take those open mid-rangers. 2k9's engine has fallen in love with open two's. ANYONE and their brother can hit one, especially the players with quick releases (this happens to be centers too go figure). This will help you catch fire and open up your 3-point game, and really... you will be racking up so many 2-point possessions that you will be surprised at how much you are owning the other team.

Don't trust Chris Paul with these shots. His freaking shot release is sloooowww.

For my conclusion I leave you with this... Everytime I take lots of mid-range jumpers, I get really hard to stop. If someone has a block, I can just pass mid-air to someone cutting the lane... It's a win-win. When I abandon this style of play... that's when I start losing. Using your mid-range, and winning has a direct correlation.

[elprez98]

Re: NBA 2K9: Tips to Improve Your Offensive Game

Don't trust Chris Paul with these shots. His freaking shot release is sloooowww.

I disagree. CP does wonders with a nasty mid range pullup. Everyone is so afraid of his driving and dishing skills I get the easy midrange pullup at will.

But as far as the post is concerned. Good post.

[Po Pimp]

Re: NBA 2K9: Tips to Improve Your Offensive Game

I'm the guy who wrote the article, and I just wanted to address a couple of the comments. Everyone else, thanks for the feedback.

Most teams wish they could both run plays and run and gun like the Jazz, not sure what the comment meant but it sounded a bit snarky

I wasn't taking a shot at Utah. What I meant was Utah is simply a team that likes to run plays. They don't do a lot of freelancing...Sloan has them playing disciplined offense.

I actually like watching Utah play. Look at the school I represent. I'm probably the one dude who makes the argument that Deron Williams is just as good as Chris Paul.

Depends on which roster set you are using. Defaultly 2K doesn't know much about players skills outside of the superstars (and those are inflated)

Trust me, I know the game has flaws, but really, the point of this article was to give players some basketball fundamentals. Like u said, if they were to download someone else's rosters or sliders, their old tactics wouldn't work at all. Its like Larry Brown always talking about "playing the right way." Of course u may lose a game here and there, but playing the right way gives yourself a chance.

[Maal]

All of this is irrelevant if your playing online, everyone can score, even Kwame Brown.

[KwameTheGreat]

Re: NBA 2K9: Tips to Improve Your Offensive Game

So I'm a troll for wanting the camera in there on day one. Ok Fan boy. I have a game to sell you for 59.00 that will be released with out the camera that makes the game virtually unplayable online for two months. Hey idiot. I only play online. So this game has sat in it's case for two months. I'm still playing 2k8 online just to get my basketball fix. There are other things i would rather do with my money than lend it to 2k for two months. I'm glad your laughing because 2k has been laughing at all of us suckers who ran out and brought a broke game. With people like you the gaming industry will continue to rip us off. After this I will never buy a game on the day it's released. When more of us do that they will learn to release a game that actually works and is worth the money they charge. Either you are a 12 or just a complete idiot. Only you know the answer.

I see you became a friend of Steve. Dickeater.

12 size t-shirt? At least we know who the complete idiot is.

[bowdown2shadi]

Re: NBA 2K9: Tips to Improve Your Offensive Game

12 size t-shirt? At least we know who the complete idiot is.

Wow, what a way to bump a 4 month old thread... calling somebody an idiot.

[Rng43]

I guess Nathan Marshall has made his point, that the offense should be fundamentally run like this. you shouldn't criticize him over the fundamentals of offense. And i love that bit about mid-range shots, its a lost art.