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NBA 2K15: The Park's Scoring Needs To Change


Five feet, ten inches has been my height since junior high. To make up for my lack of size, one trick I often employed in pickup games was to ask the other players if we could score the contest with one-point and two-point shots, instead of the standard two-point and three-point shots. Most people would accept that rule change without any pushback, not realizing that they'd just agreed to give a smaller, perimeter-oriented player like myself a statistical advantage.

Had the other team done a little math before nodding their heads in agreement, they'd see that it was now going to take them a total of 15 inside shots to win a game played to 15 points, whereas I could beat them by making only 8 outside shots. If I could sink just 33 percent of 15 outside shots, I would score 10 points. The other team, conversely, would only register 8 points if they hit 50 percent of 16 inside shots. Statistically, I had the advantage as a perimeter player in these games, even if I was often vertically disadvantaged by half a foot or more.

NBA 2K15 uses that same skewed one-point and two-point scoring system in its virtual parks, which is why you'll meet so many users online (mostly shooting guards and small forwards) whose gameplan is wholly devoted to outside shooting. The Park's unbalanced point system is the primary reason why most offensive rebounds just get tossed back outside, so that someone can heave another desperate prayer, instead of taking the sure and safe put-back layup. It's also why online post players tend to spend entire offensive possessions standing underneath the rim -- holding their private parts like Marshawn Lynch -- until it's time to rise up and grab a rebound, not once attempting to post up, and never even thinking about scoring.

So what would happen if NBA 2K15 adopted a two-point and three-point scoring system, and made each game a race to reach 21 points, instead of a sprint to score 15 points? To revisit the scenarios from the second paragraph, sinking 11 inside shots would earn a win, while alternatively, 7 outside shots would also end a game. The disparity between outside shots-to-win and inside shots-to-win would shrink from 7 (in a ones-and-twos system) to 4 (in a twos-and-threes system). Likewise, shooting 33 percent on 15 long bombs would now produce 15 points, while netting 50 percent of 16 paint shots would yield 16 points. Here, the team that took inside shots would actually outscore the "bombs away" squad by one point, whereas before, the sub-par outside shooting team would have been ahead by two points.

A player's overall shooting accuracy should matter more than his average shooting distance, and clearly, commissioner Larry O'Brien and the rest of the NBA's rule-makers understood this back in 1979, when they decided to borrow the ABL's invention, and set their league's new field goal values at two and three, not one and two.


Member Comments
# 1 Brinkus @ 02/11/15 10:57 AM
What they need to fix is the 7'3" C that are the best at everything, dribbling, 3pt shooting, etc. They should have a cap limit of what each person can do at each height. I'm tired of playing with or playing against 7'0" SF or 6'7" PG, etc. These guys just cheese their way to victory and there's hardly any skill involved. The park hasn't even been fun since like the first couple weeks cause people realized they can make 7'3" C that are 99 overalls and can get every badge. Where is the fun in that?
 
# 2 BellSKA @ 02/11/15 11:05 AM
1's & 2's is all I know for pick-up basketball. I can't even recall many the times I've played 2's & 3's. But I do remember the reason we never played 2's & 3's is because that's too much math for some people. Keep It Simple Stupid helps a lot of people in pick-up games.

I wouldn't refer to you as the Dr. James Naismith of tracking pick-up basketball points.
 
# 3 vito100 @ 02/11/15 12:54 PM
Don't matter either way people will play the same way... Go for more points lol! Get the win faster if you can sink shots, the difference between 1 & 2 is the exact same as 2 & 3... Mentality will not change In my Opinion
 
# 4 JUSTlFIED @ 02/11/15 01:15 PM
Coming up Playing 21 It was 2s&3s, but any Team ball was 1s&2s
 
# 5 BellSKA @ 02/11/15 01:23 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by JUSTlFIED
Coming up Playing 21 It was 2s&3s, but any Team ball was 1s&2s
21/ tip is way different than team ball, but I get what you're saying. The original thread was about team ball.

Man, what if 2K make 21 tip & up to 5 people could play? And only put back dunks knocked the shooter down to zero or 11. That would be fun. Make free throws mean something again.
 
# 6 LD2k @ 02/11/15 01:29 PM
Like the thinking here. I'll def. discuss with team.

Quote:
What they need to fix is the 7'3" C that are the best at everything, dribbling, 3pt shooting, etc.
Believe me, we've broken it down many times with the dev. team. They're very aware and I'm confident this should be the last year you see this type of thing.
 
# 7 iimrampage28 @ 02/11/15 01:52 PM
Well to be fair...the reason people kick out for another three is the ABYSMAL layup system this year. it makes you miss alot of those "safe put back layups"...
 
# 8 snc237 @ 02/11/15 02:48 PM
You think NBA 2k would of taken a page out it the NHL series on how to create a guy for online play. Yeah it's not perfect but it's a heck of a lot better then what 2k is doing. Oh well easy enough fix in the future
 
# 9 jk31 @ 02/11/15 04:27 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by rtkiii
We always played 1-2 point, regardless of height advantages or disadvantages. I find it funny that you think you "tricked" them...it was just always the standard where I played.
Word. Never played pick up basketball with 2's and 3's. Even in practice, we go for 1's and 2's most of the times.
 
# 10 TotesMaGotes @ 02/11/15 04:28 PM
The reason why the ball is kicked back outside in MyPark games isn't so that way people can keep heaving it up to try and land a three it's because if you get the ball down low standing and try to move or shoot or put the ball back up in any way eighty percent of the time it will get stripped because the game rewards those with the button mashing strategy.
 
# 11 Chemthethriller @ 02/11/15 04:37 PM
Playing as a max height C since my first myplayer years ago...

They need to reduce the speed of a max HT center. They also need to reduce the max height of all positions besides C, to make up for the lowered athleticism. Just because Giannias Ante on the bucks is 6'11 3/4s doesn't mean we should allow SFs to be 7'0"

Just quickly looking through the starting lineups, I found the average height for a SF is 80.37 inches, or 6'8" and some change. So Tell me why the average on 2k is probably 6'10-6'11? Only one SF is listed a 7'0", which is Ryan Kelly.

The ability to be a SF that can handle the ball like a PG, and also run the 5 ruins the game in my opinion, PGs should be smaller, Centers should be the tallest because on average in basketball that's how it is.

Now if we wanted to, maybe allow the SF to be 7'0" but reduce his abilities, he can't be the fastest, he can't be this or that... Make the height go into decision making rather than, let me make the guy out.

Source for info: http://www.rotowire.com/basketball/nba_lineups.htm
 
# 12 TotesMaGotes @ 02/11/15 04:37 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by LD2k
Like the thinking here. I'll def. discuss with team.


Believe me, we've broken it down many times with the dev. team. They're very aware and I'm confident this should be the last year you see this type of thing.
What about the 5'9 PG that posterizes everyone on the park? What about the the fact that if someone is already in an animation you can't attempt to block the shot(dunks and lay ups)? What about people just tapping steal and stripping the ball when you get a rebound? What about a game mode for people who like to join up with their friends and play with their MyPlayers but want to play a real game of basketball but don't have a full five to go to the rec center with and don't have half an hour to wait to get two randoms to come join only to have them hog the ball and try to dunk every time down the court without playing any defense causing the experience to be absolutely horrible?
 
# 13 Brinkus @ 02/11/15 05:11 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TotesMaGotes
What about the 5'9 PG that posterizes everyone on the park? What about the the fact that if someone is already in an animation you can't attempt to block the shot(dunks and lay ups)? What about people just tapping steal and stripping the ball when you get a rebound? What about a game mode for people who like to join up with their friends and play with their MyPlayers but want to play a real game of basketball but don't have a full five to go to the rec center with and don't have half an hour to wait to get two randoms to come join only to have them hog the ball and try to dunk every time down the court without playing any defense causing the experience to be absolutely horrible?
Your thinking is spot on too. I prefer the rec but hate that it's 5v5 and can't have any 3v3 or anything. I hate that my friends are flyers and I'm a baller - (allstar) and can't play anywhere but the stage or I lose my stats if i switch. Affiliations aren't great at all. The attribute bonuses are ridiculous, give a bump to shooting when you're already a 99? or athleticism/defense/etc at 99 already? Crew coming back would be great where you could take on other 3v3 guys, 4v4, or 5v5 instead of having to wait or find randoms.
 
# 14 24ct @ 02/11/15 05:34 PM
Nice article but really if the score is 15 play we play all 1s...

If its 21 we play by 2s but if you did 2s & 3s it would serve both inside and outside players. Especially against these teams who only shoot 3s.

There just needs to be an option to have custom games by 1s/2s/3s

And maybe some courts or parks with different scoring rules but I don't feel every game should be to the same score by the same set of 1s & 2s because even tho it's fun, it gets repetitive.
 
# 15 Lord Bonium @ 02/11/15 05:51 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by iimrampage28
Well to be fair...the reason people kick out for another three is the ABYSMAL layup system this year. it makes you miss alot of those "safe put back layups"...
Exactly.

If my 7'3 center (or even my 6'9 pf for that matter) would be able to dunk after an offensive rebound i would do just that, unless of course we need a 2. However, in this game the presence of one 6 footer next to me is enough to make my guy go into a weird/unnecessary contested layup that usually misses. THAT is why most rebounders kick it out.

Also, about posting up. Most don't do it because they immediately get stripped/doubled when they attempt it. Not because they don't want to score...

Finally, not every rebounder stands under the rim cupping his privates. Personally i move around a lot, setting screens and flashing to the basket. I even post up from time to time. Either way, as much as i dislike those who do it, it's 2k's fault for not implementing def/off 3 seconds and making that screen animation impossible to box out against.

And for the love of all that's holy, please 2k give us the ability to box out people who are standing behind the backboard to avoid the 3 sec in the rec.
 
# 16 lekfountain @ 02/11/15 05:52 PM
just before I looked at the bank draft of $9446 , I accept ...that...my father in law could actually taking home money part time on their laptop. . there uncles cousin started doing this 4 only sixteen months and as of now paid the mortgage on there appartment and got a brand new Fiat Multipla . Read Full Report... TRACK-REPORT.ℭOⅯ
 
# 17 jfsolo @ 02/11/15 06:30 PM
I don't play in the park so it wouldn't affect me, but I'm stunned that anyone anywhere in real life agrees to play 1's and 2's. I know that it happens many places, but still it is mind bogglingly inane. No one, at least I don't think anyone would, but you never know, would agree to play 2's and 4's, so that people agree to play 1's and 2's is ridiculous. Basic math skills for the loss.
 
# 18 Tengo Juego @ 02/11/15 07:23 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by BellSKA
1's & 2's is all I know for pick-up basketball. I can't even recall many the times I've played 2's & 3's. But I do remember the reason we never played 2's & 3's is because that's too much math for some people. Keep It Simple Stupid helps a lot of people in pick-up games.

I wouldn't refer to you as the Dr. James Naismith of tracking pick-up basketball points.
You're not tasking anybody with responsibilities of score keeping in a video game, though. The game will do that math for everyone. And if the community can't comprehend simple math and point differential, then wow.

But someone else said it, the score and point values are far down the list of problems with the park.
 
# 19 Detroitfan4life1993 @ 02/11/15 08:00 PM
I'm a 7 ft Center on 2k15 and played in a rec game earlier where I was playing shooting guard! Most of the time I never actually get to play Center because everyone else is taller than me, I can't shoot or dribble so it really frustrates me when I have to play small forward or shooting guard.
 
# 20 nova91 @ 02/11/15 08:45 PM
In games to 11 or 15 we always played 1's and 2's, in games of 21 or more we played 2's and 3's; it also changed depending on if we were playing full/halfcourt.
 

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