Zone Defense - Back and better than ever

[Biizz713]

I was very hesitant to create this thread because I was scared it would cause more harm than good, but in the last few days i've started to run into zone defenses more and more to the point where I figure I might as well say something.

You might not have come up against it yet, but just wait until more people start to catch on. Not only is the 1-3-1 defense back, it's more effective than it's ever been. Firstly, plays break easier than ever so if your idea is to run horns plays to beat the zone good luck with that. You can try "Get Shooters Open" and "Space the floor" plus "4 out 1 in" offensive settings, it won't help you much.

Players still randomly cut around for no reason when they are open, players will move (towards the defense) when you pass them the ball causing turnovers. Once I even saw my PF running in circles on the low block. Defenders can still guard the wing and the corner at the same time. Big men in the paint can still somehow contest what should be wide open corner 3's.

So what's the solution? My first suggestion would be take the 1-3-1 zone out of the game, period. It's not a defense you see in the NBA and the only reason people use it is to exploit the game. The next thing to fix would be plays breaking. There is no reason why a play should be canceled because of something the defense does, this has been a problem for a long time and I don't understand why. Thirdly, increase the court size or decrease player size. There simply isn't enough room on the court. Passing, while slightly improved, still needs to be faster. My last suggestion is there needs to be some kind of "drive and kick" offensive setting where your shooters spot up and don't move NO MATTER WHAT!!!! I'm so tired of watching wide open 3 pt shooters cut into the defense, that should NEVER happen.

Here's hoping this isn't still an issue in NBA 2k15.

[Go Miami]

When I first played NBA 2K14 on November 22nd and the following week some of these problems didn't exist. You wouldn't get hung up in animations when you wanted to pass the ball and your teammates didn't run into the defense when you went to pass them the ball. The floor spacing also seemed better. You could also drive into the lane and cause the defense to rotate and find an open shooter.

Somewhere along the line when they patched the game these things disappeared. I would like to know why.

[Antonioshellz]

If you select the SPACE THE FLOOR offensive set it will keep your shooters around the perimeter. Also running some type of Horns set will put your wing players in the corner for an open shoot against the 1-3-1 or at least cause some type of rotation by defense.

[DatGD12guage]

Quote: Originally Posted by Go Miami

When I first played NBA 2K14 on November 22nd and the following week some of these problems didn't exist. You wouldn't get hung up in animations when you wanted to pass the ball and your teammates didn't run into the defense when you went to pass them the ball. The floor spacing also seemed better. You could also drive into the lane and cause the defense to rotate and find an open shooter. Somewhere along the line when they patched the game these things disappeared. I would like to know why.

COSIGN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DatGD12guage]

Quote: Originally Posted by Antonioshellz

If you select the SPACE THE FLOOR offensive set it will keep your shooters around the perimeter. Also running some type of Horns set will put your wing players in the corner for an open shoot against the 1-3-1 or at least cause some type of rotation by defense.

Everybody gives this same one strategy as if this is going to help like nobody knows the corners are open WITHOUT running a play. Nobody is going to run three point plays and shoot 3's all game and win for the most part. This d actually wants you to shoot 3's, it forces turnovers, and shuts down the paint.

space the floor actually does not keep the unwanted cutting from happening for some reason(maybe b/c of plays running) its really switching your offense to patient.

My advise is "DO NOT" look to beat the 1-3-1 by shooting threes ppl setting you up dude straight up LOL.

The best thing I've found to do that works is make sure your offense is 3 out 2 in not 4 out 1 in b/c there's only one man protecting around the hoop and all they do is scramble him around, he is constantly out of position, torch him with two men down low!

Which means when your at the top of the key just be patient, "KEEP YOUR PASSING ICONS UP" and just slowly roam the top of the perimeter from side to side and you will see for one how one of your big men will become open and plus you will see how he is moving his defense.

RUNNING 3 POINT PLAYS IS "NOT" GOING TO BEAT 1-3-1 and you will not have wide open corner three's all the time especially if someone knows how to close out good enough so if you look to shoot three's its just going to slow your offense when your not open and you will end up taking a forced bad shot in the end of the shot clock or throwing a bad pass on the perimeter looking for three's.

Their trying to fake you out with this 3 point strategy dude. I think the ppl who say that play 1-3-1.

[DatGD12guage]

Just slowly move from side to side with your point guard at the top of the perimeter to see how his d is moving so you will know WHEN and WHERE the open spots will be, always hold and keep your passing icons up and adjust accordingly b/c im telling you right now if you do not know that and try to attack the 1-3-1 on the fly you are doing yourself more harm b/c the corner three is not the only open spots when the 1-3-1 d is on the move.

You have to be patient and run a slow offense against this sxxx d

[Antonioshellz]

Quote: Originally Posted by DatGD12guage

Everybody gives this same one strategy as if this is going to help. Nobody is going to run three point plays and shoot 3's all game and win. This d actually wants you to shoot 3's, it forces turnovers, and shuts down the paint. space the floor actually does not keep the cutting from happening its really switching your offense to patient. My advise is "DO NOT" look to beat the 1-3-1 by shooting threes ppl setting you up dude straight up LOL. The best thing I've found to do that works is make sure your offense is 3 out 2 in not 4 out 1 in b/c there's only one man protecting around the hoop and all they do is scramble him around alot so he is constantly out of position. Which means when your at the top of the key just be patient, "KEEP YOUR PASSING ICONS UP" and just slowly roam the top of the perimeter from side to side and you will see for one how one of your big men will become open and plus you will see how he is moving his defense. RUNNING 3 POINT PLAYS IS "NOT" GOING TO BEAT 1-3-1 and you will not have wide open corner three's all the time especially if someone knows how to close out good enough so if you look to shoot three's its just going to slow your offense when your not open and you will end up taking a forced bad shot in the end of the shot clock or throwing a bad pass on the perimeter looking for three's. Their trying to fake you out with this 3 point strategy dude. I think the ppl who say that play 1-3-1.

You don't necessarily have to shoot the corner three and yes I forgot to mention that 3 out 2 in is better than the 4 out 1 in set.

Like I said I use the Horns set to pass to the corner to cause a rotation by the defense to find an opening. I have ran into plenty of 1-3-1 defenses and patience is the key to beating it.

Also, the SPACE THE FLOOR set is perfect IMO because your AI teammates react to wherever the ball is on the court so you have to read and react. That's just my two cents.

[DatGD12guage]

Quote: Originally Posted by Antonioshellz

You don't necessarily have to shoot the corner three and yes I forgot to mention that 3 out 2 in is better than the 4 out 1 in set. Like I said I use the Horns set to pass to the corner to cause a rotation by the defense to find an opening. I have ran into plenty of 1-3-1 defenses and patience is the key to beating it. Also, the SPACE THE FLOOR set is perfect IMO because your AI teammates react to wherever the ball is on the court so you have to read and react. That's just my two cents.

Exactly what im telling mufs. I actually use space the floor but I make sure I couple it with patient offense for the most part unless I turn run plays to zero or sum b/c it still will sometimes make players do unpredictable and unwanted things like run away from the ball on the perimeter b/c they are trying to stay from being to close to the passer for spacing purposes.


When I play against man to man I can mix it up more but against 1-3-1 I play it real strict on the movements, gotta be in that 3-2, patient, space floor b/c you dont have to move much and do all the cutting and setting picks to cause a screw up in that d if you know how to play it.

Never the less I still hate playing against it LOL b/c of the animations and gameplay flaws it exploits its just sxxx d man bottom line.