Everyone talks about offense, but defense is quite needed in 2k25 as well!

[jrose57]

As per captioned topic, AI defense doesn't know how to find the right guy to match up, like they only follow positions, PG guards PG, SF guards SF, etc. there was a 2K before that can do this, but then it stopped (anyone can advise which series was it?), another thing is noticing mismatches and then double teaming, especially during the switch from PnR situations, this part is terribly done in previous 2Ks including 2k24. I wish these two main issues are solved in 2k25.

[vetmin]

Two things I've wanted for a long time (please tell me if there's already a way to do this) are:

1. The ability to assign an optional defensive position (or multiple of them), so that—for instance—you can run LeBron as your point guard but have the game understand that he should be guarding a forward on defense. If no defensive position is assigned, the game would default to player's general position(s) for both offense and defense as it does already.
2. A 'Hide on Defense' toggle that triggers some sort of matchup logic that tries to reassign the player to guard the weakest offensive player within his position range (like maybe a SG with 'Hide on Defense' will defend whichever opposing guard is worse offensively).

I get that, for yourself as the user player, you can make these sorts of tweaks in each game using the matchup interface, but I wish it could be handled at the roster or gameplan level.

[VictorMG]

I think 2K just needs to get more of a handle of basic team help defense. That'd be a huge step in the right direction. I've seen people say good things about help defense in 2K24, but (and admittedly I haven't played it very much), I don't recall seeing it, even with the Help Defense global and coaching sliders turned almost all the way up.

[m29a]

Yes, this needs attention. They can add all the fancy dribbles and offensive moves, but if the core fundamentals on the defensive side are still at times completely nonsensical then it doesn't matter.

Nothing ruins my immersion more when the AI isn't programmed to be able to understand height+weight mismatches, as well as when to aggressively provide help off of weaker offensive players.

[sirdez]

Quote: Originally Posted by VictorMG

I think 2K just needs to get more of a handle of basic team help defense. That'd be a huge step in the right direction. I've seen people say good things about help defense in 2K24, but (and admittedly I haven't played it very much), I don't recall seeing it, even with the Help Defense global and coaching sliders turned almost all the way up.

Logical help defense would also hopefully mean CPU perimeter defenders could be more realistic, as opposed to the insane way they stick to you and recover in 2k24.

I'd imagine it's an incredibly difficult thing to code though.

[VictorMG]

Tidbit from Kevin Cruz. I'm liking this dude more and more every day. He's really in touch with the community, and he's honest about what's gotten better, what's gotten worse, and what's stagnant.

[jrose57]

CPU's defense on 2k25 is better than 2k24, like more oftenly CPU will notice mismatches and when the player is hot, they would double team and help out, BUT so disappointed about CPU not doing dynamic defense still, like what a waste of such a great game that the offense is so much fun this year, the CPU will only, put the PG on their team to guard my Luka, I wish CPU would put the best defender, to match up...

[VictorMG]

Quote: Originally Posted by jrose57

CPU's defense on 2k25 is better than 2k24, like more oftenly CPU will notice mismatches and when the player is hot, they would double team and help out, BUT so disappointed about CPU not doing dynamic defense still, like what a waste of such a great game that the offense is so much fun this year, the CPU will only, put the PG on their team to guard my Luka, I wish CPU would put the best defender, to match up...

To be honest, I'd just make Luka a SF/PF. I don't really see why he's a PG but LeBron isn't.