[Erithtotl]

Reading through the matchmaking thread (and playing online with my 80-something new build) I realized especially with coronavirus there are probably a lot of new players out there. At the risk of getting flamed let me share some knowledge I've learned playing a lot of rec this year (I'm almost Superstar 3, with %99 of that from rec games, so while not elite, I feel like I've learned a lot as that's like 1000 rec games). I'm sure there are lot more things others can add, please do.

1st teammates and opponents: REP >>> than rating. Learn the rep icons. It takes many hundreds of rec games to get to Superstar 2. It takes over 200 games to get from Superstar 2 to Superstar 3). An 84 ovr Superstar 2 might be on their 4th or 5th build and should destroy a 92 ovr rookie 2.

2nd learn your builds: a lot of the build names in 2K are very misleading. Rebounding wing? That's actually a two way sharp SF, essentially a small ball stretch 4 most of the time. 3 level scorer? Usually also a two way. Paint Beast? No outside shot. Glass cleaning rim protector? Often a two way stretch 5. Offensive threat, scoring machine? Basically slasher/ shooter combos. Playmaking slasher PG? Usually a low (~70) 3 point shot but can have 12 shooting badges, so deadly in the hands of a good player. Take note of who the shooters are in your squad and what position they are at so you can icon to them. If you can, also take note of who are likely the locks/two ways on the other team and watch for them playing passing lanes.

3rd rebounding is king: if your primary big can't board and the other team can, you are in for a long night. But even point guards can box. Instead of leaking every time a shot goes up, find someone to box. You might not get boards but might give a chance for someone else on your team to grab one. Likewise big man, you probably only have 1 playmaking badge and don't need to rack up assists. Throw short rather than default bombing the ball down and picking up 5 turnovers.

One more thing, if you are a guard, don't crash the offensive boards. There are a few exceptions, like big two way guards who invested a lot in rebounding, but otherwise, you need to get back to stop the break, and the odds of you getting an offensive board is way smaller than the odds of your man leaking and getting an easy dunk on the other end.

4th fast break tips: Not every big (especially in the under 93 level) can throw full court outlets. If everyone is sprinting down the floor, think about stopping at mid-court to give them a more reasonable pass. It's also a good way to pick up some assists that way as you then immediately pass it on to someone for the easy finish.

5th defending the break: For goodness sake, if you are a guard, and your team is shooting free throws, pushing your stick back before the final free throw goes up so you are backpedaling, otherwise a missed FT is basically an automatic dunk at the other end.

6th hitting the open man: If you don't pass to the open man / or you freeze out someone, it makes it harder for everyone. Because that open guy's man is no longer guarding him, it means he's playing passing lanes, double teaming, and leaking on the break. If you don't keep the defense honest, you make it harder on everyone. If someone is doing the right thing, playing team ball and getting open, keep throwing them the ball even though they keep missing. Sometimes people just need a few shots to get in rhythm. If a random big is standing in the corner on offense a lot, this is probably because they have a solid corner 3, even if their build name doesn't say 'stretch'. Pass them the damn ball. They may miss a couple but don't give up unless they go like 0 for 5 or shoot against strong contests. Force the opposing 5 to go out and guard them.

7th shooting a ton at a terrible percentage does NOT help your badge points: It's amazing to me how people can't figure this out. Going 5 for 17 is way worse for your badge points than going 4 for 4. So stop it!

8th off screen shooters: When you are down low with the ball (either driving or with a big), you often can't see shooters who are past the 3 point arc. If you can't find an obvious open shooter on a kickout, consider icon/directional passing off screen. It's a waste for a sharp with HOF limitlesss to stand in the corner (better to let a mediocre shooter take that spot) so they may not be visible on screen, but if you don't look for them on kickouts, you aren't taking advantage of their primary skill and losing their floor spacing ability.

9th in the post: If your man is bigger than you, use your mobility advantage. Fake, then move on the jump and shoot from another spot, don't just go right up as pogo stick makes even giants able to 2nd and 3rd jump quickly. If you have a size advantage, post hook is your best option as you can shoot over smaller defenders. Post hooks when you are not engaged in the post (i.e. your man is off you) are also deadly, even by guards.

10th guarding slashers: The instinct is to play way off slashers, but if they pick up speed they can euro past you or dunk over you. Better to jam them outside (run into them with left trigger, press steal once) to force a pickup or a recover animation. They will still get past you some times but this also buys the interior D time to recover.

11th switching: A lot of people on rec don't play with mics. But at least have one handy. If there's an obvious matchup problem, get on the mic and try and get your teammates to switch. For example: paint beast 4 stretch 5 matched up against a rebounding wing 4 glass cleaner 5.

12th AI defenders: IF a shooter's defender goes AI, it can be really hard for that shooter to get open as the AI will never leave them. A good shooter can cheese an AI using step backs or limitless 3s, so don't stop passing to them just because they aren't 'open'. Another option is to provide off-ball screens/back screens to get the shooter open. Likewise if a shooting build is standing well past the arc and their man is below the arc, think about throwing them the ball. With limitless, this can actually be a good shot.

13th screening: if a big is setting ball screens, do not also set ball screens as a guard, instead space the floor. If there are two bigs you can sometimes set a 2nd staggered screen and hope the ball handler uses the double screen, but don't try to screen the same guy as the other big! If the big isn' setting ball screens, guards can set ball screens but they should immediately fade to create spacing and try and find an open shot after contact. Don't stand still and don't run to the basket if the big is already down there. Guards and forwards can and should set off-ball screens. Most importantly, pay attention if someone is setting off-ball screens for you and use them. Don't just park on your one spot on the floor and never move when someone is setting you up for a back door cut.

14th lobs: lobs are awesome in 2k20. People remember how bad they were in 19 and are often afraid to throw them. Even without lob city you can complete mostly open lobs, and with just one badge you can hit some pretty crazy ones with a 80+ passer rating. The real power of the lob is that the receiver doesn't need to bring the ball down or **** it for a dunk/layup. This is key as it doesn't give the defense time to catch up or contest. Very important for finishing bigs who aren't good on the drive. Lobs also let you avoid a lot of the interceptor badge spam you'll see. On a related note, learn to look for cutters and when to throw the pass. Throw when the cutter is even with the defender, not after they have gotten past. By the time the lead pass reaches them they'll be past. If you wait, they'll likely have to wait under the basket for the ball and do a standing layup, giving the defender time to recover.

15th fouls: Remember that you are shooting the penalty the 2nd foul of the last two minutes each quarter. Know the situation! Also just take your finger off square when there are less than 5 seconds on the shot clock. Nothing worse than holding someone for 20 seconds then fouling to give them another 14.

16th moving the ball: Just because someone passes to you doesn't mean you have to shoot. Likewise, if someone passes you the ball, you can pass it right back. If the point guard gives up the ball early, don't ignore them the rest of the possession, you want to encourage them to feel they can give up the ball without getting freezed out.

17th setting up the offense: After a dead ball, don't sprint up the floor every time with the ball. The defense is already set and it takes your big who inbounded out of the play. There's plenty of time on the shot clock. Nothing worse as a big than inbounding, watching the ball get advanced quickly, a bad shot thrown up, and a break coming the other way without you having even made it past half court.

18th 60 ovr: dont' create a raw myplayer and go to rec. Just don't. Likewise, if you are in the locker room and a 60 ovr joins, especially at a key position like center, you can jump out quickly by pressing the PS4 button, and either closing the app (option button, close) or joining a friends session.

19th build advice: Don't create a pure slasher if you don't know your shot. If you can't hit at all, ever, from outside or midrange, you will be a liability. Likewise, don't make a 4 or 5 who doesn't have red (defense/rebounding) as one of their pie slices, or you will get humiliated on the boards. 4s will get stuck at 5 a LOT. IF you want to make a stretch 4 without the 'red' pie, make a big shooting 3 instead and you'll end up at the 4 a lot. Don't make a tiny PG (under 6').

some more:

20th: guard your man: Shooters online will take and make shots the AI won't attempt in MyCareer. Most people can hit corner 3s, and most shooting builds can hit well beyond the arc. Don't lag off thinking you are safe because an AI wouldn't take/make that shot. Also if you don't guard your man most teams can (and should) shut you out on offense.

21st: Inbounding: a lot of stuff here. 1) two guards should stay back to receive the inbound. one quick defender can making inbounding difficult for a single PG and bigs hate being forced to throw a turnover on the inbounds 2) Don't do long inbounds. Much higher chance of a turnover compared to a regular pass 3) When inbounding in an advanced position, remember, you have 5 seconds. Look for cutters as this is often an easy assist. Likewise, if you are a receiver and your man is overplaying this is a great time for a back cut. 4) Bigs, you have a responsibility here as you decide who will bring up the ball and thus who will dictate the play. Pay attention to what the guards are doing. If one guard keeps running up for the inbound but is taking stupid shots and racking up turnovers, inbound to someone else! Don't keep feeding the problem.