How do you play defense?

[jonmchugh007]

I saw a thread about the offensive side so I'd make a thread about the defensive side. So how do you play d in the game? I'm an average 2Ker. Been getting pretty good using the Isomotion and the post moves and what not. Struggle to play defense.

I play man to man only. Haven't tried zone. I always control the player who has the ball. I haven't really messed with coach match-up settings because I don't know who to deny ball, who to double team, who to sag-off, or who to play tight etc etc. How do you know what to do for each guy? Do you play zone? Do you only control one man the entire trip down the floor and don't switch?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

[yuriz09]

Quote: Originally Posted by jonmchugh007

I saw a thread about the offensive side so I'd make a thread about the defensive side. So how do you play d in the game? I'm an average 2Ker. Been getting pretty good using the Isomotion and the post moves and what not. Struggle to play defense. I play man to man only. Haven't tried zone. I always control the player who has the ball. I haven't really messed with coach match-up settings because I don't know who to deny ball, who to double team, who to sag-off, or who to play tight etc etc. How do you know what to do for each guy? Do you play zone? Do you only control one man the entire trip down the floor and don't switch? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

If your doing an association, just check on the team your scheduled to play. Just visit your opponents roster to see who is good at this and bad at that. Zone defense is rather easy to use and can potentially lead to your team mates picking off a lot of pass's the CPU will try to do. Try 3-2 Defense if you get bored with man to man and see if you like it.

Having a player set to Play Tight can cause issue's if they get screened.
I have not had to double team any player yet. ( I assign a preferred defender )

[mixmasterjeff]

I only play man d in association with the bulls. I also only control the pg 99% of the time.

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[NEOPARADIGM]

The secrets to defense are as follows:

1) Play the whole floor + ball, not just your man. Yes, you are ultimately responsible for the player you're assigned, but you're also expected to play an implied zone against the other four players you're not guarding - or, namely, the ball. (This basic point is why I'm not in favor of switching guys during a defensive sequence.)

2) String perfectly-timed actions together. Just as three, four or five well-timed passes will almost always get you an open look, layup, or dunk, stringing together multiple well-timed plays on defense almost always results in a stop. The whole thing is sequential and cumulative, actually: there is a major difference in how the game responds to your input after you've made ten straight well-timed plays versus those times when you haven't timed anything properly since the first quarter.

Which ties directly to:

3) Don't make mistakes. Timing is everything. Weak steal attempts, jumping for a rebound when the ball's still on the rim, setting up for a charge when the guy's already past you, falling for pump fakes, etc. Don't do it. Ever. Make your best effort to time everything as perfectly as you can. (If you do make a mistake, attempt to recover. You have more time than you think. Once you do recover, don't make another mistake!)

4) Lots of L2. Learning precisely when and how to effectively use L2 can be tricky (I really don't think I have it down yet), but there's no question it should be used frequently.

[eDotd]

Good stuff, NEO.

Like yuriz said, look at the other teams roster and their ratings to see which players you want to play tight on, sag off of, etc. Usually you want to play tight on shooters, that way you force them to beat you off the dribble or find another way to get a look at the basket as opposed to just rising up in your face and hitting a jumper. Deny ball to players you don't want to get the ball or when you want to make it hard for them to get the ball. Sag off of players who aren't great shooters or players that you want to keep on the perimeter (rondo).

Something else that is overlooked is that no matter how good your D is you will get beat. Numerous times.

Just don't get frustrated. If you forced the offense into the shot you wanted them to take and they still made it, live with it and come back down on the next possession and try again. Too many guys get frustrated when a guy makes a miraculous shot when in reality you should live with them taking that shot. Instead of moving on to the next possession guys press start with the quickness and look for a slider to lower.

Don't be afraid to play off-ball D. I'm not sure why some people look at off-ball D like it's the plague, but if you want to play effective D you have to play some form of off-ball D, IMO of course. The AI cannot read your mind so it doesn't know what position you want your guys in. It doesn't know if you want to trap, switch or show and get back on pick and rolls. You'll probably always get beat on any downscreen plays where wings pop up to the wing, resulting in wide open looks.

[CougarMVP]

Thanks for the update everyone!

[KingV2k3]

Check this out:

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...-settings.html

I'm having a tough time with the D this year...

I'm running a Cavs Association and they usually have a glaring mismatch at SF (no sh*t) and often times, another one somewhere else...

I tried to run zone a couple times (to take the pressure off individual matchups) and it was a disaster...

Last night I stuck with a 2-3 for the second quarter and the Pistons started to shoot airballs, turn it over in the paint and throw ally oops into the 3rd row...

When they came back after the half it was like they discussed it n the locker room and went with a all smalls perimiter attack and killed the zone...

I went back to man and hung on for the win...

My next strategy is to run the 2-3 AFTER the half to combat the inevitable 3rd quarter CPU burst by "confusing" them anf then going back to man when it stops working...

The above might be a one time thing, but I'm going to look into it more...

Other than that:

I play "on ball" until the shot goes up and then rely on the AI to handle the work under the boards, which I seem to only mess up...

I try to keep track of who's coming off the screens and play that lane to force a secondary option...

I "sag off" a point guard who's always driving or running a pick and roll (see video)...

I only double for a while, if that guy is killing me...

I "L1" double on occasion when they are deep in the shot clock...

That's all I've got...

Cool thread, OP and participants!

[B Easy]

Defense has always been an issue for me. In the past I've clicked off to whoever has the ball and that strategy works in terms of me contesting shots by the CPU. I've also had it back fire on me many times when I get crossed up or just plain blown by (pause).

Everyone is right though, you had to mix in a form of contesting shots and off ball D to be effective. Also the CPU will go on runs out of nowhere. I find myself getting a decent sized lead by half time, mid way thru the 3rd quarter or even the 4th quarter I coast a bit and next thing you know the CPU is making everything in the gym.

You have to play basketball for 48 minutes or else you'll pay. Always be focused on D.