Make shot contestation matter in basketball games!! - Mos1ted's Blog

Mos1ted's Blog

Make shot contestation matter in basketball games!!

Posted on September 12, 2009 at 09:21 AM.

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One of the most skewed aspects of basketball video games is field goal percentages. Players use field goal percentages as the main determining factor when deciding if a game is considered "sim" or not. The one thing that is missed when you only look at field goal percentages is how evaluating how each shot played out. Was every shot clear path dunks and layups or open jumpers? Of course if they were, then that leads to higher field goal percentages.

Now, I'm not a guy who likes to fool around with sliders. I find it frustrating personally because I never find a set that I can stick with. Whenever I think I found that sweet spot, something happens in a game that forces me to go tinker with sliders again. I think a lot of that has to do with how differently each and every game plays out in video game basketball. There's going to be games where some 60 rated PF is going to put up 20 and 10. It happens in real life and it should happen in video game basketball...occasionally.

The thing that hampers my experience most though in basketball games is that I can take that 60 rated PF and have All-Star caliber performances day in and day out because of how easy it is to score in those games if you really force the issue with a single player. Defense is seemingly irrelevant, especially around the paint. See NBA 2K9 for an example of this.

NBA 2K9 set a good foundation for future 2K games, but it had glaring flaws that made it the most frustrating NBA 2K experience to date for me. Probably the most glaring issue (and I'm sure most would agree) is your defense didn't matter; CPU players were going to score unless you blocked the shot (at least it seemed that way). Whether you were 10 feet away or right in their grill, if you were facing a good shooter, he was going to make his shots. It's like the game simply used ratings to determine shot success and not anything else. The fact of the matter is, is that there are many factors that go into shot success: players shooting ability (obviously), fatigue, proximity to the basket, but most importantly, defensive presence.

Because of the partnership that 82games.com has with NBA 2K10 this year, I decided to browse around the site to see what 82games is all about. I came across this interesting article that was composed during the 04-05 season. In the article, they scouted the Sacramento Kings and paid close attention to their shot success that season versus various defensive pressures. They separated the defensive pressure into 4 categories: wide open, open, contested, and heavily contested. Here's the link so you can see what data they came up with: http://www.82games.com/saccon.htm

As you can see, the players were pretty consistent hitting wide open and open shots, but their success varied dramatically when compared to contested and heavily contested shots. It's no secret as to why; a wide open shot is easier to make than a contested shot. I remember when I was in 9th grade. I decided to go out for my JV basketball team. I was a short kid, around 5'7 or so. I wasn't the fastest guy. I couldn't dribble. I wasn't the strongest guy, but I made the team because I could hit open jumpers. My playing time was sparse that season. In fact, I didn't score a single point and ended up quitting the team midway through the season. The guy starting over me could also nail the 3, but he could also create his own shot and finish inside - skills that I didn't possess back then. Had every shot I attempted in tryouts been contested, I doubt I would have made the team. Everybody looks like a hero when you give them room, but how do they perform with a man all in their face?

That's what separates a Kobe Bryant from a Shannon Brown. I want to see contested shots really effect field goal percentage this year in my basketball games. If I'm staying between the ball and the basket, and I'm getting a hand up whenever my man shoots, reward me for my efforts. Of course, I don't expect every shot to be a miss, especially when going up against Kobe/Lebron level talent, but even those guys should still miss more often than not when their shots are heavily contested.

As of this blog, I have yet to play either Live or NBA 2K, so I don't know if either game has nailed this aspect of defense, but if so, thanks in advance to the development teams from finally addressing my main frustration.

Comments

# 1 RayAllen20 @ Sep 12

If you play the Live 10 demo you will have perfect field goal percentage. Shots are hard to make and you have to work for every point. And im not talking about missed lay ups. To get good results your going to have to play 8-12 minute quarters to get around 75-100 points. It is very realistic. Also for shot contesting if you hold y you will contest without jumping and if you press y youll attempt the block.