How to be a Better 2K Player

[luda06]

Happy Valentines day to all those folks that think they're cute, playing zone defense, chucking up threes, and just being an annoying opponent.

That said, I'm here to drop a few gems about some basic basketball tips that will make you pretty hard to beat in NBA 2K. Hell, this may actually make you a better player in real life. Anyways, dudes beat themselves in 2K. I don't beat anyone. I just let guys make the same mistakes repeatedly.

Playing Defense:

5 Commandments of Basketball Defense - YouTube

Pay attention to Hubie's rule #2 (around :30). No middle. NO MIDDLE. This is important. If this is the only thing you learn by clicking this thread, you're 100 times the better player already. I can't count how many times my opponents just let me drive in the middle of the lane, collapse the defense, throw oops, or kick out for threes.

Alright, so how do you deny the middle of the floor? Easy. Position your defender between the ball and the paint.

Now a lot of things can happen here depending on how good your opponent is. He'll call a play, or pass the ball if he's smart. If he's dumb, then he'll wiggle around in circles trying to bait you away from the middle, shoot, or force himself away from the middle and pull up. That's how you beat yourself. Letting the dumb player bait you into playing his game.

The same rule is applied to post defense. Anticipate a player to drive in the middle of the paint from the post. From there, they have your defense collapsing 9 times out of 10.

This is why those dudes that think they're sweet play zone defense. It virtually packs the middle of the floor with little to no effort at all. Combine this fact with 2K's suction cup defense (w simulation sliders), and poor passing mechanics (you know what I'm talking about), and multiple rage quits ensue.

Contesting shots is easy. You have a couple of options here. Go to options, to controller settings, and turn on auto shot contest to "always". Or if you don't care about that stuff, just push the right stick (pause) upon a shooting player. Contesting post shots require holding the left trigger (or L2) and pressing the Y (triangle) button, OR holding the right stick upwards against less efficient post players. Tip: Shots are also considered contested by a lesser extent, by standing in front of a shooter.

Summary: You'll notice how many bad shots are thrown up and turnovers are created by forcing your opponents away from the middle of the floor. Stay in the middle, force your opponent to the sides, and get ready to contest.

Caution: Do not over-play the ball handler. Do not defend him way beyond the three point line. Do not double team anywhere that isn't close to a sideline. Do not aimlessly reach in. This will result in you getting burned and the defense collapsing.

Playing offense:

Secrets Behind the Top 3 Sets NBA Teams Run on Offense - YouTube

Pause this video at :47. Hell. Watch the video. But seriously, pause the video at :47.

Placing the ball in those four areas of the court will place an immense amount of pressure on the defense. Why? Because if the defense screws up at any of those areas, then they're beat. 2 points. You'll frequently encounter double teams at these areas on the court if you're going up against an inexperienced defense.

Anyways, you probably won't have to get the ball in any of those four areas to beat an opponent on offense. Just continuously probe the defense until a hole opens up in the middle of the floor. Pass the ball around the perimeter a few times, or dump the ball to your best post player. Or do both. Use the whole shot-clock.

If the defender is playing you tight, call for a pick using the B (Circle) button. You can hold the button to call for your screen man to either roll to the basket after the pick. Holding the button even longer will have the man step outside for a jumpshot.

Successfully calling pick plays involves you not looking at the basket. Not looking at your defender. You need to LOOK at whoever is defending the person setting the screen. If he switches, then your screener is open. This is where you can throw an alley oop or regular pass to the cutting teammate to the hoop. If you don't like the passing angle, keep the ball. Don't force anything.

Summary: Use as much time needed to get the ball into the paint, before making any other decisions. The defense dictates what happens next. Don't force up shots.

Caution: Just because you have a star player, doesn't mean you have to use them 100% of the time on offense. If you're playing a 5-6-7 minute game and one player has more than 20 shot attempts, you're cheesing, and you're probably not winning by much if at all. If you have twenty dunks on the fast break, then that's a different story.

The law of percentages:

Sports are games of percentages just like poker, craps, or even Monopoly. Basketball is no exception. 2K is bound by numbers that may or may not portray a realistic representation of these percentages. Player ratings or player grades, in combination with game sliders, hot and cold spots, signature skills, and personality badges. Factor in shot release timings and whether a shot was contested or not, and there's a lot of variables in what would be a ridiculously long math equation. If you like sports, you probably don't like math. And if you like math, then you've probably figured out most of what has been stated.

I like math, but I don't love doing it. So you should hang onto this analogy: shrink the math equation. For example, if you take a shot off the dribble, there's three ratings (shot rating + shot off the dribble rating + signature skill) being calculated, shot timing, location, plus the defense's proximity to the player. However, if you take a spot up jumper that's open, then there are fewer penalties.

If none of that made sense to you, here's one rule. Do not take jumpers off the dribble. Do not stress over shot timings. I've had numerous games where I'm off on shot release timing and nail every jumper. The same is true when the release timing is "excellent". I'm not phased by it. I don't even complain. Why?

The best shooter in the world will only make 50% of his jumpers on average. However a decent post player or slasher can make about 50-60% of his shots on average with several fouls or and-1 plays. Which sounds more effective?

Summary: Emphasize high quality shots on offense. Not shot timings. Location and positioning is key to shooting high percentages. Defenses should force as many dribble pull-ups or contested 3's as possible, even if they're made.

Caution: The law of percentages should be your barometer of how well you're playing the game. Not a end-all-be-all solution to winning every game. If two players of equal skill are matched, the higher rated team will win most games played. If you have the Heat and you're losing to the Bucks, then you're doing a lot of things wrong.

There's a lot of advanced techniques out there that can improve your game, but these will provide the most beneficial support in transforming your game. By the way, I have a 70+win 20 loss record in NBA 2K14 (next-gen). I play primarily online-quick matches, and online friendly games with a few of my friends. I've been playing NBA 2K since the very first iteration until today. It's amazing how time flies huh?

[Rockie_Fresh88]

Good thread . I've been preaching a lot of these defensive tips. Hopefully more people will practice those.

However I disagree with two things:

1Don't shoot off the dribble. It can be effective if done and timed right. If my opponent is expecting me to drive with (Westbrook, Melo, Kobe, Lebron) sometimes a step back jumper or crossover then jumper is very effective if you don't over do it.

2.Jump shot timing. Yeah don't stress over it, but if you play on HOF or superstar or even online it helps to know the releases. Practice those releases on HOF and I swear they will become easier.

Other than that great stuff

[Meth0dz]

Great stuff man. Probs for this one

[xoferg94]

Nice tips, will try some of these out.