ridiculously hard

[m12]

What is it about the game this year that it is so freaking difficult. I've been playing since 01, also on all-star or superstar level, and it's never been this difficult. Is it this stupid RPG "chemistry" bull or what? Because i'm getting blown out by the Kings by 20 points on Starter level, and there isn't a damn thing i can do about it. They get a foul called on me almost every time they penetrate, they fast break every time I miss anything but a bunny shot, they make every open shot period, they outrebound me by 10+ (and that has never happened to me before). It's ridiculous, I had to go to double OT just to beat the Blazers. Now before you say "you just suck", well I'm an experienced player who's played on all of the levels, and it's never been anywhere close to this hard, so I want some real answers as to what the heck is going on here. because right now this is the most frustrating sports game i've ever played.

[Donatello]

I sucked at it too, to be completely honest. Got my ass beat on everything but rookie. Uninstalled and refunded already, though (not because I sucked at it, but because IT sucked. lol).

[Tyx]

I rocked at Superstar level on NBA Live 06, but the first time I tried LIVE 07 on Starter I lost. I nearly lost on Rookie.

You have to try hard, I practised and I can play Superstar level now(but never as good as Live 06).

[Its_asdf]

I'm struggling to keep up with the computer on superstar, simply because every time the CPU controlled point guard 80% of the time gets two free throws after driving in the lane. If the patch fixes that issue, I don't think that I'll have that hard of a time.

[Jing]

same... I am having a really hard time with the superstar. I use to blow out teams on the highest level in 06, but its like the complete opposite here

[m12]

yeah, it's completely retarded, Dan Dickau scored like 20 points on me, barely missed.

charges are non-existent too. Every time I sit my feet when someone drives, my guy gets knocked down and no call. Every freaking time, it's absurd. Yet if I try to block the guy, I get called for a foul (or my CPU teammates get called). It's complete b.s. you have to play a flawless game in order to win.

i wonder how much the chemistry feature has to do with that, because i'm playing with Minnesota and the chemistry started out quite low. But in order to get it up I assume you have to win, but you can't win until it's up. Catch 22.

[JohnnyLi]

I played on Superstar and did moderately well on it when I played 06, but in 07, I also lost a few of my first games on the Starter level

Right now, I am on All-Star and am doing moderately well :/ Doing worse than when I played Superstar on 06 though

[Anthony15]

I beat The T-Wolves with Nuggets on Superstar, but it was damn hard too, havent played the game since a few days after its release, probably lose if i play rite now.

[Oznogrd]

my advice is to tweak your sliders to make the play calling a bit more fair. I had to jack up the charging/blocking to 85 to make it seem like a fair game was occurring.....I think i also heard somewhere that the timing on jumpers is different this year, which has been giving me hell. If i'm not near the key, i can only shoot with superstars...(tmac, hinrich etc.) Its really starting to piss me off

[biamax28]

yeah...it is so hard but ive beated the dallas just "once" at a superstar level with the maimi, but after another game and another i can't beat the dallas again, and i try to create a player with a ratings of 99%, and its no use,just the same and it's even getting harder to beat the dallas mavericks.....

[Marquis]

I like that this year it is more difficult to win, but yeah sometime it is becoming ridiculous when the opposite team just make all the shots and almost imposible to win

[samson]

yeah i made a thread about how hard the learning curve is.

when i first got it i lost my first 3 games!

but once i got use to the movements everything was kool.

then i started my dynasty.................

i had to play the suns in the 1st game of my season, and i got wooped on !

i tried and tried again to win but could not stop nash and the big guys from rebounding.

i lowered the level to superstar, and learned how to control the pace of the game and went on to win.

i think once you get the hang of how your players rotate and move on the court
you'll be able to create scoring runs and box out on the glass.

i now play on all-star.

the games are still close, and i rarely get a huge blowout, but now i know how to win.

and thats the most important thing!

[Zoom]

This year is awesome in that it's hard to win games now.

If they get rid of the PG domination.... and the other team plays as a team and stuff, it will so much more fun and challenging...

however, this all comes to a point where for example, the cpu scored 12 straight points on me and didn't seem to miss a shot in a 1:30 span in the 4th quarter... really pissed me off cause this wouldnt happen in real life

[dragonkillerg]

it is okai on superstar i mean i lose and win its just ridiculous how i have an open kobe and i shoot a 3 n i miss -.- yet here comes mobly dribbling down the court n hits a shot with odom on him <-- wtf!
i mean its easy once u get used to the games now the games are usually now won by atleast 8-10 points

[m12]

dragonkillerg: No kidding, that happened to me way too much. Garnett would miss a dunk and then Dan Dickau would make 2 threes in a row.

I also hate how if the computer tips a pass and it goes out of bounds, they get the call. It's absurd.

[Zoom]

Maybe try to play defence, I've had stretches where i've stopped the cpu simply by playing defence and staying in front of the cpu player... it's a tough challenge though.

[Num33Baller]

I can run with the PC on superstar. Some games I win, some I lose.

[m12]

I do play defense. In 2006 I used to hold opponents to 5 point quarters all the time (on allstar and superstar levels). In 2007 it's nearly impossible to hold the opponent to below 60 or 70 points (in 5 minute quarters). It's really an offensive game this time.

I usually play defense by playing with the best shot blocking big on the court. That doesn't work so well here because they don't block shots that often and get called for fouls too much. But maning up is even more worthless as you can never stay completely in front of your man, he'll always get past you if you wants to just by continuing to go forward. So I do play with a big, but it's not all that effective. The most effective methods seems to be just to be in their face when they take shots. Going for blocks is most likely getting you called for a foul.

[nets4life]

to win on superstar and all star you need to have a good shot blocker (inside stopper would help) and wait until their pg strides into the paint then block that shit! Also you need a scorer who can either drain the outside jumper or draw the foul. If you need some more help put the user block slider up a bit or change some other sliders

[Patr1ck]

Wow, I am the complete opposite. I haven't played a game on a lower difficulty setting that All-Star. I had some good games, very realistic team stats. Now I'm playing on superstar. Last game I played I controlled a single digit lead for most of the game, then the cpu came back in the 4th and took the lead, but I came back down the stretch. I won the game when they left Corey Maggette open on the wing, I passed himthe ball, drove and dunked with 0.7 seconds left. Too bad the cpu didn't get a shot off after that, even after calling a timeout and taking it out at half court. The game before that, I lost by over 20, I was 0-18 from 3 point land, most of the shots were taken when I was trying to comeback.

I usually stick to that inside out game, penetration or post-ups and try to find a wing man open. I take advantage of the freestyle abilities on offense and defense anytime I can. If you have a Power player, you can dominate the game just by getting him inside the charging circle and using a power move.

I am pretty good at taking charges, although a few of them end up being blocking fouls. Whenever you see the cpu get an offensive board, click the switch player button and then hold the charge button, if the cpu is close to the basket, its an easy charge because they will most likely go right back up with a layup/dunk.

For the PG domination, I would click double team as soon as they would inbound the ball. It did leave other players open, but I would call double team on them, too. It definitely cuts down on the automatic 2 points form PG penetration.

[Terp]

First time post, but I feel I have some tips I could add.

Perhaps I need a little disclaimer: I was forced to put shot control from human to cpu since I've become terrible at timing the release point. In NBA Live 04 (I found this my favorite and played it through 05 and 06) I had mastered the jump height, but it has changed so I play with it CPU controlled.

Tip 1. Find a PG you feel comforatable guarding with. It may be an unexpected bench player rated in the 60s but some guards don't let the PG drive past.

Tip 2. If an opponent's shot s imminent, switch to a guard so you can let the comp automatically make your bigs crash the boards and you can clean up with a guard.

Tip 3. The most important one. Don't settle for "bad" quarters. Take a look at your shooting stats by quarter and you will see big disparities. For the quarters you outscore the opponent, up the tempo even more. For those you flounder in, use the entire shot clock.

Tip 4. Don't settle for the jumper. Either get a dunk or a WIDE open three. On every posession you can at least get in the paint so use that to your advantage.

Tip 5. Draw charges. This is the most sure way to get turovers on the other team. When the computer is fast breaking and you have only one man back, ignore guarding the ball and run right for your basket. Beat him to the area, hold still with the charge button OUTSIDE the no charge zone, and wait for him to run into you. EA forgot to allow the computer to do a pull up jumper so they always slam into you.

[Oznogrd]

Terp,
Tip 1: The PG domination bug, while i believe does exist, doesnt always occur. For instance, i had a game earlier where the PG truly passed. Now the SG still put up like 20 something on me, but it wasnt the PG. I think better advice is to have inside stopper big men, because if you do, if the PG burns you, it just gets swatted. If you're playing a guard-emphasis style game you'll have a tougher time

Tip 2: i actually get more rebounds using my PG than using my big men usually so good call

Tip 3: very good advice however just make sure you dont get caught in a double team animation w/ 2 seconds on the clock....the CPU seems to just wait for that situation

Tip 4: Dont settle for the jumper if its not wide open. The midrange game is a lost art but if used correctly can win championships

Tip 5: Yup, just jack up the slider for calls or they'll just bowl over you every damn time, getting a free dunk. However there are many times i will not be touching the analog stick or any button but the take charge button for 3 seconds, i will get knocked across the court (usually my PG is my fastest player so he's always back) and i'll get either called for blocking or no call....once the CPU realizes i'm out of its way, they slam it....

My newest tip: The timing is different this year as i've stated many times as have many others. For smaller players (only people i've shot jumpers with, i need to go work with dirk and some big men to find out their timing) i've been releasing just after the peak of the jump (rather than at the peak as is custom in the old games and real life...) and my percentages have gone WAY up. I jumped from about 20% 3pt shooting to about 40%

[Zoom]

Just wondering if you guys use the play calling and stuff?

I find it really effective! After free throws or when you score, call a 2-2-1 Full Court Press... if you miss, call a 2-3 zone or something... I find those two sets real useful and if the cpu is adjusting to them, start calloing other plays like a half court trap or a man on man defence. For me, I love to play the zone cause for me, the PG always passes then. That or he will shoot and miss the three

All of that plus playing defence has helped me limit Earl Watson to 1-8 in 12 min quarters... Deron Williams shot a ton more but still missed a lot... 4-21...

Still, I found that I could work with stopping the other team

On offence, calling plays is good too and helps a lot. Will be itneresting to see what you guys think!

[samson]

finding the open man works wonders !

it helps alot when you have a good 3 point shooter, cause you can rake in alot of points and score some big assist.

upping the tempo when you out score the other team in the previous quarter is also the way to go.

adding a coulpe easy buckets and getting stops and the denfensive end will build momentum and help create 11-2 runs and scoring droughts for the other team.

while i will also admit the the pg bug doesn't also show its face, the shooting gaurd has become a huge problem.

stopping this guy has become a mystery, but perhaps double teaming might work.

does any one have a good defensive set to help out this problem?

jumping with in face denfense helps, but not all the time.

[e-mat]

Yeah, this game is harder than Live 06 but I wouldn't actually call it hard. I love how this year you can win by playing good defence. If my shots aren't falling I am still able to win sometimes emphsizing D. Scores are mostly in the 90-100 range for both me and the cpu in my dynasty (12min quarters; Superstar level). The lowest total was the last game against Utah when I held them to 74 I believe. Cpu rarely drops 100 on me. I play with Houston and have a 25-8 record at the moment.

And the pg domination isn't really a big issue. At the beginning it was but not anymore. Even if he scores more than 20 it usally goes with poor percentages. The only time when I couldn't stop the opposing team's pg was against the Suns when Nash torched me for about 40 on something like .80% FG. Note: it wasn't from penetrations, he was making impossible jumpers and threes. I got blown out by 20 or so in that game. And no, Yao doesn't block 10 shots per game, he averages less than 2. So basically if you stay in front of the pg (and it is possible), he won't be able to go into the lane.