NBA Elite 11 Video: Quick Clip #4 and #5

[b_ball23]

Will weight, size, strength, and player ratings matter in this game and will the awareness and position defense improve??

[HMcCoy]

I really like the steps towards realistic physics, and I applaud these guys for keeping us abreast of what they're aiming for.

My problem with all these vids is the lack of off-ball awareness. Too many players not directly involved in a play stumbling around doing zombie-like things. Like the guard in vid#2 not boxing out or even recognizing the rebound, or PP swatting at air 3 feet away from the play.

In vid 4, lets skip the fact that theres no way Calderon would be flattened on that deliberate a screen...but even worse, theres no reaction to the free ball handler whatsoever. If the PG would have pulled up, he could have taken a three or an 18-footer with nary a defender within 6 feet. Maybe his jumpshot rating is terrible and they were using the Rondo shift? I dunno, this is still WIP, but until the PG makes a drive towards the basket, none of the defenders even budge towards him until the worst choice, AB, abandons all reason and/or defensive fundamentals and runs to body him up at the stripe? That's a blocking call, son.

Likewise under the basket, two defenders could have made a play on that lob...the guy who picks up the cutter is facing the passer and actually turns away from a ball he could have easily reached up and nabbed, as another defender leaves Peja in the corner and makes a mad dash for the middle of the paint to: Go double the PG? No. Help defend the rim? No. He actually just runs to the stripe in a defensive stance. WTF? And why does Peja leave the corner to follow the defender?

This series continues to make great strides in some areas, but the overall AI continues to be a huge opportunity for improvement, IMO.

[rEAnimator]

Quote: Originally Posted by HMcCoy

I really like the steps towards realistic physics, and I applaud these guys for keeping us abreast of what they're aiming for. My problem with all these vids is the lack of off-ball awareness. Too many players not directly involved in a play stumbling around doing zombie-like things. Like the guard in vid#2 not boxing out or even recognizing the rebound, or PP swatting at air 3 feet away from the play. In vid 4, lets skip the fact that theres no way Calderon would be flattened on that deliberate a screen...but even worse, theres no reaction to the free ball handler whatsoever. If the PG would have pulled up, he could have taken a three or an 18-footer with nary a defender within 6 feet. Maybe his jumpshot rating is terrible and they were using the Rondo shift? I dunno, this is still WIP, but until the PG makes a drive towards the basket, none of the defenders even budge towards him until the worst choice, AB, abandons all reason and/or defensive fundamentals and runs to body him up at the stripe? That's a blocking call, son. Likewise under the basket, two defenders could have made a play on that lob...the guy who picks up the cutter is facing the passer and actually turns away from a ball he could have easily reached up and nabbed, as another defender leaves Peja in the corner and makes a mad dash for the middle of the paint to: Go double the PG? No. Help defend the rim? No. He actually just runs to the stripe in a defensive stance. WTF? And why does Peja leave the corner to follow the defender? This series continues to make great strides in some areas, but the overall AI continues to be a huge opportunity for improvement, IMO.

I think this is all very valid feedback. I appreciate this style of critique very much.

I can tell you there's no way we'll fix all of these problems this year, but we will be able to address some.

Thanks.

[HoosierDaddy]

Surely, there has to be some type of fix that can be implemented for off-ball awareness. Players within a certain distance of the ball jump for the block (see Pierce video) .... I've always thought the help-side defense or even awareness needed some tuning, appears that many of the players just stand around and don't even turn their head to look at the ball or get into position against the ball handler who has beaten their defender. HMcCoy is right, this continues to be an issue. Hopefully something can be done to alleviate some of these issues.

On a sidenote, LOL at the Magic/Bird/Jordan avatar.

[HMcCoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by rEAnimator

I think this is all very valid feedback. I appreciate this style of critique very much. I can tell you there's no way we'll fix all of these problems this year, but we will be able to address some. Thanks.

Cool. I imagine that if the ball is now loose like NHL's puck, the next logical step is a focus on nuetral or idle players awareness and reaction to that ball in space.

Good luck.

[turftickler]

The game looks good, but why is everyone running full speed. There seems to be no variable acceleration; just slow and fast, which is too much of an arcade style game to me. Hopefully, they will address that if they want us to feel the difference between all of the players through weight, momentum, balance, and speed, not just speed.