I love 2K. Im 60 games into my Mavs season and love the game to game action. I can get my roster to replicate a lot of what we love about the NBA, but in a video game form.
I just had DeRozan make 12 mid range jumpers on me. I get Giannis facing me up on 20 foot isos and crashing to the hole, not launching 3s. I can barely make a pass against OKC without getting it deflected or stolen. The game animates so beautifully.
But all of this is done through editing tendencies, ratings, plays and badges.
The strategic stuff can't be replicated. This side of the game hasn't had a huge leap in the last 6-8 years. As some evidence, some of the freelances still describe their ideal player fit as JJ Redick and Isaiah Thomas. Here's some of the things we can't do, but should be able to. Feel free to add your own.
*Yeah most of these are on the defensive end.
Make help from the low man more consistent. Even when you set your center to Gap/Leave them, their help defense is very, very inconsistent. I know the players have been programmed with 'eyes'; often they're looking at their opponent in the corner while the CPU drives to the rim.
Rebuild the 'Defensive settings screen'. Gut it. Thrown it out. Start again. So much of it doesn't work. Even worse, it's hard to figure if some of the things work. A lot of it has been in the game for years. For example, there are options to switch screens 1-4, on screens involving the 5, switch off screens, hand offs, bigs, guards, all. Like...what?? Test everything, throw out anything that doesn't work.
Improve DHOs This is more of a gameplay mechanic. But so many teams use a bigs running DHOS out of delay and elbow sets. The guard will flash hard, and the big will screen and drop, pop. Sometimes they'll slip, fake. etc. In 2K DHO's have not really changed in 10 years. Sometimes the giard will cut hard to the big, sometimes they'll kind of walk up, get the ball and just stop. The big does not screen. The settings screen has options of how to handle DHOs. (Over, under, switch) which is completely unnecessary as the DHO mechanic is really ineffective most of the time (Jeebs has some counter examples).
Modernise defenses All teams switch. Maybe not their 5. It's rare to see CPU defenses switch in 2K. Being able to match up hunt can add so much to the game. Do the Hawks allow the switch of Trae? Do they start to double? Do they hedge? This is the modern NBA, and we just don't see it.
I haven't been doubled out of PNR once in 2K25. It is a really common tactic. In years past when Ive seen doubles, there's been no rotation so it's one pass and an open shot.
Also, runinng the same 3 point plays should not result in an open 3 every time. Let's switch on those off ball screens sometimes please.
Improve Match up logic This was introduced in about 2K16. Where did it go? At the moment, 2K defensive match ups are entirely position based. Needless to say, we have to manipulate our own match ups so we feel challenged. Cmon.
Pre-rotate/rotations I don't think this has worked before this year.When I set it for a player and they have the ball on the wing, I do see a help defender pinch in. Then if the guy with the ball moves towards the center of the court, the help defender bizarrely follow him around the court. There very little 'help-the-helper'. That's a common theme. There is sometimes 1 rotation, but rarely 2. When you hit LB/L1 for a manual double, a double will come, but there is no/rare backside rotation.
I just had DeRozan make 12 mid range jumpers on me. I get Giannis facing me up on 20 foot isos and crashing to the hole, not launching 3s. I can barely make a pass against OKC without getting it deflected or stolen. The game animates so beautifully.
But all of this is done through editing tendencies, ratings, plays and badges.
The strategic stuff can't be replicated. This side of the game hasn't had a huge leap in the last 6-8 years. As some evidence, some of the freelances still describe their ideal player fit as JJ Redick and Isaiah Thomas. Here's some of the things we can't do, but should be able to. Feel free to add your own.
*Yeah most of these are on the defensive end.
Make help from the low man more consistent. Even when you set your center to Gap/Leave them, their help defense is very, very inconsistent. I know the players have been programmed with 'eyes'; often they're looking at their opponent in the corner while the CPU drives to the rim.
Rebuild the 'Defensive settings screen'. Gut it. Thrown it out. Start again. So much of it doesn't work. Even worse, it's hard to figure if some of the things work. A lot of it has been in the game for years. For example, there are options to switch screens 1-4, on screens involving the 5, switch off screens, hand offs, bigs, guards, all. Like...what?? Test everything, throw out anything that doesn't work.
Improve DHOs This is more of a gameplay mechanic. But so many teams use a bigs running DHOS out of delay and elbow sets. The guard will flash hard, and the big will screen and drop, pop. Sometimes they'll slip, fake. etc. In 2K DHO's have not really changed in 10 years. Sometimes the giard will cut hard to the big, sometimes they'll kind of walk up, get the ball and just stop. The big does not screen. The settings screen has options of how to handle DHOs. (Over, under, switch) which is completely unnecessary as the DHO mechanic is really ineffective most of the time (Jeebs has some counter examples).
Modernise defenses All teams switch. Maybe not their 5. It's rare to see CPU defenses switch in 2K. Being able to match up hunt can add so much to the game. Do the Hawks allow the switch of Trae? Do they start to double? Do they hedge? This is the modern NBA, and we just don't see it.
I haven't been doubled out of PNR once in 2K25. It is a really common tactic. In years past when Ive seen doubles, there's been no rotation so it's one pass and an open shot.
Also, runinng the same 3 point plays should not result in an open 3 every time. Let's switch on those off ball screens sometimes please.
Improve Match up logic This was introduced in about 2K16. Where did it go? At the moment, 2K defensive match ups are entirely position based. Needless to say, we have to manipulate our own match ups so we feel challenged. Cmon.
Pre-rotate/rotations I don't think this has worked before this year.When I set it for a player and they have the ball on the wing, I do see a help defender pinch in. Then if the guy with the ball moves towards the center of the court, the help defender bizarrely follow him around the court. There very little 'help-the-helper'. That's a common theme. There is sometimes 1 rotation, but rarely 2. When you hit LB/L1 for a manual double, a double will come, but there is no/rare backside rotation.
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