NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

**OrlandoTill** · 08-30-2017, 05:35 PM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

Originally posted by imdahman

The only quibble I have is when he mentions not playing a player outside of their primary/secondary roles.

This is a small concern for me because of the move to 'positionless' basketball, and the fact that there are players who can routinely play and guard 3 or more positions, and play at those 3 or so positions.

Obviously I'm holding out to see how it truly affects things, but I do want to take full advantage of players who are able to play and defend multiple positions. I want it to be a factor in deciding to take one player over another.

He does acknowledge that there is a shift to positionless basketball, but then goes on to stick to the old primary/secondary position... there has be a feature to note and promote players who can guard 1-5.

They have taken steps in trying to make it so you can play how they are in real life without breaking competitive balance. You don't need to put LBJ at PG to let him bring the ball up the court. Putting LBJ at PG basically makes using traditional PGs moot as an opponent in a competitive sense. You don't need to put Giannis at C to make him guard the C for outlet advantage(defensive settings). They want to give you the feel of positionless while making the game fair.

**Crossover1** · 08-30-2017, 05:49 PM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

Originally posted by Kstat

Because I have eyes. You should try using yours.

Originally posted by GoDucks1224

Haha. The irony.

You both have points but they can solve this by adding a third position option. It doesn't need to be used, just like the secondary, and it will allow the guys who are versatile to move into another position without taking an artificial hit.

**Goffs** · 08-30-2017, 08:17 PM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

OG ic you're still around can you talk a bit about ball tracking when going up for a block. I want to know how much more effective it is.

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**JoFri** · 08-30-2017, 08:28 PM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

Nice blog. Many thanks, OG.

(1) Just wondering, if I set Leave Him for two wing players and Double on Catch on a dominant post player like perhaps, Gasol, which one will AI leave? Based on proximity? Does Defense IQ attribute play a part?

(2) We know how double team work, and many times the off side defender will have to guard two positions - the paint and the 3-line, and to make a judgement call to help more interior or outside paint. If I set No Threes as POE, I suppose off side defender will lean towards the 3-line instead of the paint? In 2K17, its always the paint.

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**Rip4ever** · 08-30-2017, 08:42 PM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

Originally posted by GoDucks1224

Lol yeah sure.

Nah, what's laughable is you assuming guys can't guard someone because they're outside their position.

Can't guard != isn't as effective at guarding.

No one and I mean NO ONE can guard all 5 positions equally effectively. To do so would defy physics.

Despite what we tell our wives size does matter.

**ch46647** · 08-30-2017, 09:07 PM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

Did OG explain team (default) defensive philosophies. It sounds like each team has a default defense they play through ACE. How will we know what the team defensive philosophy is set to if we do not make any manual defensive setting adjustments?

DJ · 08-30-2017, 11:23 PM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

Originally posted by WTF

I can't even tell you all how many times i've read this blog, and watched the videos now. I can't wait to see all of this in action.

Glad I'm not the only one.

**hesko** · 08-30-2017, 11:51 PM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

boost!!!! now all we need is some "get skinny" split the dribble animations from ball handlers that do such a thing and some, but not a lot of fancy alley-oop animations that could be done in game if players are on a fast break with a teammate ala blake and jamal crawford style.

**Impetuous65** · 08-31-2017, 11:04 AM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

delete Msg

**Johnnythelegend** · 08-31-2017, 11:17 AM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

This blog got me more excited and hyped than DaCzar's. Not because it is better or i don't know what, i just think that defense had more room for improvement and needed it more than offense. I hope for a huge jump in that part this year, let's hope it will execute as planned

**strawberryshortcake** · 09-01-2017, 03:25 AM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

5 out isolation concerns; Cheese tactic?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq_qI3mN71Y&app=desktop

@5:30 mark, looks like it was user vs user running 5 out isolation all the time. The only reason the defender clamp the paint was because the user switched defender, but other than that all the teammates stayed home at the perimeter. If you also take notice of the original defender that the user controlled decided to go back out and guard the perimeter at the very end. This just seems like a strict programmed situation rather than defenders "reading and reacting" to the situation at hand.

If 2k18 has supposedly removed the "sticky-ness" of on ball defenders, wouldn't this be a cheese tactic? This is why I was so concerned about Da_Czar offensive blog regarding isolation.

"Isolation (Iso vs poor; Iso vs average; Iso vs good; Iso vs elite). This is a subtle layer of sophistication that enables scorers to be more aggressive and increase their touches even for plays that were not initially ran for them.

Don’t be surprised to see the top scorers in the league wave off a play because they like their chances of scoring against their current match-up.

We also use this to run a check for non-isolation players, who may have a decided post-up advantage, and allow them to break a play to go beast mode on their matchup."

When I think about defending the isolation play, I'm thinking the ball handler is looking to drive the paint first and foremost. That's his strongest mode of attack. And because of this, I figured the defense set up to clamp the paint is the most appropriate method.

Clamping the paint doesn't mean immediately congesting the paint. The following 2 NBA gifs is essentially being a 5 out isolation play, the defenders are cheating towards the paint, but still aware of their assignments on the perimeter. Pistol stance ready to defend the perimeter but also ready to defend the paint. All the NBA defenders are almost straddling the edges of the paint rather than sticking to their man on the perimeter like how the above 2k18 footage has them positioned. Even straddling the paint area, they are in position to recover if necessary.

I was hoping to see more of this type of defense (cheating, anticipatory help defense) for 2k18.

**King Ken** · 09-01-2017, 04:19 AM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

Originally posted by strawberryshortcake

5 out isolation concerns; Cheese tactic?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq_qI3mN71Y&app=desktop

@5:30 mark, looks like it was user vs user running 5 out isolation all the time. The only reason the defender clamp the paint was because the user switched defender, but other than that all the teammates stayed home at the perimeter. If you also take notice of the original defender that the user controlled decided to go back out and guard the perimeter at the very end. This just seems like a strict programmed situation rather than defenders "reading and reacting" to the situation at hand.

If 2k18 has supposedly removed the "sticky-ness" of on ball defenders, wouldn't this be a cheese tactic? This is why I was so concerned about Da_Czar offensive blog regarding isolation.

"Isolation (Iso vs poor; Iso vs average; Iso vs good; Iso vs elite). This is a subtle layer of sophistication that enables scorers to be more aggressive and increase their touches even for plays that were not initially ran for them.

Don’t be surprised to see the top scorers in the league wave off a play because they like their chances of scoring against their current match-up.

We also use this to run a check for non-isolation players, who may have a decided post-up advantage, and allow them to break a play to go beast mode on their matchup."

When I think about defending the isolation play, I'm thinking the ball handler is looking to drive the paint first and foremost. That's his strongest mode of attack. And because of this, I figured the defense set up to clamp the paint is the most appropriate method.

Clamping the paint doesn't mean immediately congesting the paint. The following 2 NBA gifs is essentially being a 5 out isolation play, the defenders are cheating towards the paint, but still aware of their assignments on the perimeter. Pistol stance ready to defend the perimeter but also ready to defend the paint. All the NBA defenders are almost straddling the edges of the paint rather than sticking to their man on the perimeter like how the above 2k18 footage has them positioned. Even straddling the paint area, they are in position to recover if necessary.

I was hoping to see more of this type of defense (cheating, anticipatory help defense) for 2k18.

This is needed. I was Ersan Ilyasova and I guarded Durant three feet past the three point line. I stuck to him like glue. In real life, I saw this play out as a Hawk fan. It ALWAYS resulted in an easy bucket for Durant.

**Armor and Sword** · 09-01-2017, 07:29 AM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

Dear god in heaven.

After reading the MyLeague blogs, the AI blogs........2K18 is going to be in my PS4 Pro.....lord.

Console Sports Simulation standard is being unleashed!!!!

And they have the 96-97 Heat.......SOLD!!!!!!

**strawberryshortcake** · 09-01-2017, 09:39 AM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

Isolation defense

NBA (vs) NBA2k18 (vs) NBA2k14

Spoiler tag contains more content. NBA2k14 spoiler tag contains added screenshot and 2 sets of video (Rookie and HOF isolation defense). Entire post includes screenshots, gif and video examples of isolation defense.

Even though we currently only have limited 2k18 visual gameplay without knowing about the difficulty level, I believe NBA2k14 replicates NBA isolation defense better. I ran a test run on both Rookie and Hall of Fame yesterday for NBA2k14. The difficulty level doesn't determine defensive positioning at all. And thus, I can hypothesize that the isolation defensive positioning for 2k18 (albeit a small sample size) can be found at any level, ranging from rookie to hall of fame.

NBA isolation defense

Spoiler

2k18 isolation defense

Spoiler

2k14 isolation defense

Spoiler

Rookie

**Thetruth9012** · 09-01-2017, 09:58 AM

Re: NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

Is matchups matter this year ?

If im using Celtics with kyrie at PG vs Warriors is klay will be guarding me or curry ?

NBA 2K18 AI Improvements Blog From Scott O’Gallagher

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