My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

[TheRealHST]

There are still many that say that on-ball defense is flawed. I hear them but I don't totally agree.

Stick skills are still a thing in gaming and I believe, that in this case, that is what it all comes down to.

Do you have the stick skills and the patience? Before your on your tirades about the game being broken read below.





Here are a few tips. Hopefully these can help some of you.



1. Don't rely on the "Crowd Dribbler" button too much :

It is a tool, not a solution. It is an aid in your defensive fight but not something that you should use a crutch. You have to know when to use it and when not to. If a speedy dribbler is approaching you and you push down Crowd Dribbler then you are essentially planting your feet. The dribbler will then run around you. Its not rocket science. Its best use is for boxing out or locking up a motionless opponent. Use it sparingly



2. Move slowly:

Sometimes it is best to move slowly to keep a guy in your sights. If you are pushing turbo all over the court on defense then the momentum will hurt you everytime. You don't want to move too slow, its just when following a player around the court I like to walk in spurts.



3. Don't use the Turbo button too much on defense :

I'm most instances you just don't need to use the Turbo button on defense. Your natural speed should be enough. Not using turbo minimizes bad momentum. Of course if you get beat and are trying to chase down a guy then it goes without saying to use Turbo. Use very sparingly or not at all.



4.Use Quick Step/Cutoff ( move in spurts) :

You don't always have to stay with a guy. You don't always have to hug a guy. Sometimes its better to cutoff a guy from certain places that you don't want him to go. For example , I don't want Derrick Rose driving to hole so I will use the angles against him. The con is that this is a give and take situation. I take away him driving to the basket but I give up him shooting from the perimeter.



5. Use Hands Up Defense:

Use it and use it often. It is one of the most underrated tools. (remember these are all tools to aid you not make you invincible)

I found that most times if I lock up on a guy and just simply put up my hands to defend his shoot, then that's enough most times to make him miss. I also like to raise my hands in the passing lanes. This is fundamental basketball.



6. Play One-on-One in the Offline Blacktop:

You have probably never got this suggestion but I think its a good one. This is a great practice for those having troubles. Try to play against a variety of players like the fast PGs, the fast wing guys and big men. Try to build a strategy here before you get in the games. Yes we are talking about practice

[Rockie_Fresh88]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

These work much better in quick match than the park unfortunately But that's when good teammates come into play

[Goffs]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

Oh can join in and suggest something. If you play broadcast view change the defensive right stick to absolute. I find that if it's camera relative when using right stick you tend to move slightly out of position. With absolute all you have to do is press up on the right stick without the slight movement that comes with the R stick.

I've been experimenting which works better.... L trigger automatic vs manual R stick. I swear with R stick defense the CPU you're covering misses shots and with automatic intense D the CPU makes those contested shots.

Sad news is that there no stopping shot clock cheese. They will make that bullshot no matter what.

[TheRealHST]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

Oh can join in and suggest something. If you play broadcast view change the defensive right stick to absolute. I find that if it's camera relative when using right stick you tend to move slightly out of position. With absolute all you have to do is press up on the right stick without the slight movement that comes with the R stick.



I've been experimenting which works better.... L trigger automatic vs manual R stick. I swear with R stick defense the CPU you're covering misses shots and with automatic intense D the CPU makes those contested shots.



Sad news is that there no stopping shot clock cheese. They will make that bullshot no matter what.

I always use the absolute settings. I just wish that I didn't have to set the controller settings over and over every game.

[jfsolo]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

Oh can join in and suggest something. If you play broadcast view change the defensive right stick to absolute. I find that if it's camera relative when using right stick you tend to move slightly out of position. With absolute all you have to do is press up on the right stick without the slight movement that comes with the R stick.

I've been experimenting which works better.... L trigger automatic vs manual R stick. I swear with R stick defense the CPU you're covering misses shots and with automatic intense D the CPU makes those contested shots.

Sad news is that there no stopping shot clock cheese. They will make that bullshot no matter what.

Yes, manual R Stick has been a revelation, and IMO, it does very well stopping shot clock cheese.

I always use the absolute settings. I just wish that I didn't have to set the controller settings over and over every game.

That is strange, because for me it always stays on absolute.

[TheRealHST]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

Yes, manual R Stick has been a revelation, and IMO, it does very well stopping shot clock cheese.







That is strange, because for me it always stays on absolute.

Sometimes it stays set, sometimes it doesn't. I always have to check and make sure.

[RTMG007]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

This does not work online. Especially when they dribble left and right or when they turbo all the way down the court and make your player fall magically

[madmax52277]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

You're tips works fine that's how I play d.
But on superstar sim no matter
how good your d is the CPU force they will and still find a way to score.

I'm starting to give up hope on that level.

[TheRealHST]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

This does not work online. Especially when they dribble left and right or when they turbo all the way down the court and make your player fall magically

It works online its just a lot harder. Online will always be tough because we all have different internet connections I believe.

[TheRealHST]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

You're tips works fine that's how I play d.
But on superstar sim no matter
how good your d is the CPU force they will and still find a way to score.

I'm starting to give up hope on that level.

That's a good thing. I want the CPU to fiercely compete. They do make some wild shot though.

[ViolenceFight]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

This does not work online. Especially when they dribble left and right or when they turbo all the way down the court and make your player fall magically

Left to Right is countered by anticipation. 90% of the people I encounter that try this are boring and easily predictable. Don't turbo after them, and change direction before or with them. This means you have to understand that they are looking for you to over commit to a direction. Mostly the direction change comes right before you catch up with them so they leave you running the wrong direction.

Turboing down court is trickier, but the same basic concept. The trick on defense is to bait them into a cross over and sprint in front of them before the get the direction change. Most people will try to cross you as soon as they get to you, using the right stick. Just anticipate, and get to the spot the cross over will take them and tap L2 to hopefully cause contact.

If they don't use the right stick, and instead use the left stick to change direction...you might want to just try for the chase down. Right stick loses a small bit of momentum, left stick gives you a less pronounced cross over, but retains full speed.

Remember tap turbo instead of holding it when doing the left to right defense. If you hold it, turning on a dime will be too slow do to momentum

[madmax52277]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

That's a good thing. I want the CPU to fiercely compete. They do make some wild shot though.

I agree I like a little fight in the cpu but!

It hearts me to say this superstar sim doesn't challenge
your skills are your competitive at all.

My first game Knicks vs bulls.
I had gasol double team under
the basketball he split the double.
The ball went under wright through the backboard then off the class and he score's.

This not good!
You could play all the best d in the world the CPU will force they will on offense and denfence.

Lol still I love the game.

[Rockie_Fresh88]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

Left to Right is countered by anticipation. 90% of the people I encounter that try this are boring and easily predictable. Don't turbo after them, and change direction before or with them. This means you have to understand that they are looking for you to over commit to a direction. Mostly the direction change comes right before you catch up with them so they leave you running the wrong direction.

Turboing down court is trickier, but the same basic concept. The trick on defense is to bait them into a cross over and sprint in front of them before the get the direction change. Most people will try to cross you as soon as they get to you, using the right stick. Just anticipate, and get to the spot the cross over will take them and tap L2 to hopefully cause contact.

If they don't use the right stick, and instead use the left stick to change direction...you might want to just try for the chase down. Right stick loses a small bit of momentum, left stick gives you a less pronounced cross over, but retains full speed.

Remember tap turbo instead of holding it when doing the left to right defense. If you hold it, turning on a dime will be too slow do to momentum

That's exactly how you guard that anticipation with your hands up for controlled movements!! If he did it once expect it again. It doesn't work on me as much . Now I'm trying to learn how to guard those guys that back up to the half court line and turbo to the paint for and animation (in park btw)

[Vni]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

I always use the absolute settings. I just wish that I didn't have to set the controller settings over and over every game.

Set it from the main menu's options screen. It will save eventually.

[blues rocker]

Re: My tips for playing On-Ball defense (on or offline)

Oh can join in and suggest something. If you play broadcast view change the defensive right stick to absolute. I find that if it's camera relative when using right stick you tend to move slightly out of position. With absolute all you have to do is press up on the right stick without the slight movement that comes with the R stick.

I've been experimenting which works better.... L trigger automatic vs manual R stick. I swear with R stick defense the CPU you're covering misses shots and with automatic intense D the CPU makes those contested shots.

Sad news is that there no stopping shot clock cheese. They will make that bullshot no matter what.

yes...this has been my experience as well. using right stick to contest shots works better than "auto intense D trigger"...right stick seems to make them miss a lot more (even on those bail out end-of-shot-clock shots).

another big factor is dropping down to all star difficulty. your defense seems to actually affect their shots on all star..whereas on superstar they just make it no matter what...this is why i dropped down to all star. on superstar the CPU runs are extreme. too many makes on contested shots to keep their scoring runs alive.