Defense, please help! (updated)

[Leander]

I have some problems with right stick defense. Sometimes my player raises his arms when I push the stick up...no matter if the intense D trigger is pressed or not. Sometimes, he is only able to raise his arms without intense D pressed. I even had about 30 seconds in which I could not use the right stick at all (my player mode). Is this a bug? I keep doing the same moves but sometimes I am able to defend, sometimes not.

[Andrew]

I've never experienced any issues like that. Which controller are you using?

[Leander]

XBOX360 controller for Windows, wired.

[Andrew]

It could be related to that then, either a driver or configuration issue. As I said, I've never had any issues with my Logitech dual analog PC gamepad.

[Leander]

Thanks. I think it was my mistake...I am not used to the different stances, controls, animations. And if there was still a problem it could have been due to me playing MyCareer mode with a mod enabled...the draft interview had some flaws, the displayed team did not match what the GM said (interview: Chicago Bulls, "Hi, I'm GM of the Celtics..." etc.). Anyway, seems to work now.

I play for the Mavs now and had a great start against the Lakers...they kept assigning me to Kobe although I'm a PG...and once I had to guard Dwight Howard, got dunked on and my grade dropped (allowed man to score) LOL.

[Andrew]

I know what you mean. Unfortunately, they didn't do much with that in NBA 2K14 current gen either. Hopefully, the next gen game features better grading logic for MyCAREER.

[Leander]

What's the best way to play MyCareer? Is there a way to change the sliders? I couldn't decide if I want to be a PG or PF (PF seemed to be more difficult) so I started two careers. Gettings assists as a PG is easy but I can't score, can't make shots. After the draft I dished out some assists (pretty unrealistic...only x minutes a game and so many assists) but couldn't do anything apart from that. As a PF I had 10 points and 6 rebounds in the pre-draft game (4 offensive rebounds...as the cpu didn't care and let me grab my teammates missed shots)...got drafted by Orlando, I get 7 minutes per game, get some rebounds here. Scoring is much more difficult than in the pre-draft game...and I don't know how I am supposed to impress the coach as I don't get the ball often...and most of the time my teammates go for layups, play run and gun style...and they hardly miss shots..the FG% is way too high...is this mode broken in general or how should I change the settings etc.?

I know it's not about right stick defense anymore..maybe we should rename the thread.

[Andrew]

I find that playing as a guard is more fun. You'll find the ball in your hands a lot more if you're a point guard, so it's probably the position to be if you want to get the most out of the mode. I'd recommend building up your dunking rating though, so that you can get a few easy baskets and keep your field goal percentage high. It's not sim to be looking for the dunk so often, but to be honest a sim approach is not always best when it comes to MyCAREER. Setting good screens, keeping the ball moving and making defensive stops is a good way to boost your grade and impress the coach, though big numbers certainly don't hurt either.

As far as I'm aware, the only way to change sliders in MyCAREER is to use trainers or the cheat engine. I don't bother with that stuff, as you do run the risk of messing up your saved file.

[Leander]

Thanks. I'm still playing both careers, 2 games as PG, 2 games as PF. My FG% as a PG is good now after spending some time in the gym to learn my A shot release. The press conference is annoying to a funny point. There are 3 or 4 different types of interviewers, each with a few copies of him/herself. lol The replies are often misleading. I had a mediocre game and was asked how comfortable I am with it. I replied that I was not content with my performance. I think the reply was "I good have done better"...but after chosing this reply I went on "I could have done better...if I got more minutes. Coach doesn't give me minutes although I am sooo awesome etc." lol Of course the media didn't like my reply and I didn't either.

Edit: the defensive assignments are hard to follow. Sometimes I am already in the right position and the opposite player I am about to guard is approaching...then he is next to me but suddenly the blue "who to guard" circle switches to another player who just dunks and I get the bad grade.

[Andrew]

I know what you mean. I tend to go with the D answer (humble/team-oriented) and that serves me well most of the time.

The last second defensive assignment switching is definitely one of the most frustrating aspects of grading in MyCAREER. It feels like the CPU is always looking for a way to deduct from your grade. Your teammate switches for no reason, forcing you to cover for them? They'll leave your man and you'll get a bad defensive grade. Covering the player you're supposed to be guarding? For no reason whatsoever, you're suddenly responsible for someone else's defensive lapse, resulting in a bad defensive grade. Sadly, there's no improvement to that in NBA 2K14 current gen.

[Leander]

Sometimes two players have the blue circle around them and I don't know whom I should guard. Or I'm following the opposite PF with my PF...their PG runs by and although I am still next to the PF I'm suddenly assigned to the PG...who passes to the PF...and shortly before he scores the assignment is switched back to the PF and I am the bad defender. LOL

Anyway, I'm making the best out of this game mode.

How long is a season? 82 games or fewer if I play all "next games" and not only the key ones?

Game 6, Dallas @ New York (I'm a Mav): I feel I've won a "watch two NBA teams play prize". Both teams run and gun, go for layups and I can just watch with my jaw dropped. 2k doesn't want us to be part of a team in my opinion but we should ball-bog our way through the limited minutes. Normally, a low-rated substitute with 9 MPG is happy to support the other players but he is certainly not supposed to be the go to guy with superstars out on the court. Yet the couch says I should make more out of my minutes and I am supposed to drive to the basket with mad isomotion skills or get some assists. If I just get 4 points and 4 assists and 1 steal without a mistake I get only a C as usual.

Then I decided not to care much. There's Nowitzki on the team and Marion but forget them...it's isolation all the way for the great rookie PG with a Nike contract after 5 games and an overall rating of 65.
I dribble around, can't call a play as I'm switched to SG at the moment. No, I won't pass the ball to the PG as I need some good moves so my fans buy Nike shoes. I dribble for 20 seconds on the right side of the court, pass the ball to Marion before the shotclock expires. He is forced to take the three and doesn't make the basket...but hey, it is still "good ball movement". Yeah right...

I'm wide open...medium distance. I take the shot but hey, it's bad shot selection.

New York misses...we grab the rebound, I get the ball...fast break! I am too afraid to drive to the basket because the CPU might be too fast...so I stop at the 3PT line during a fastbreak (!) and take the three. I miss. Doesn't matter because it's a "good shot selection".

Another situation...I throw an alley -oop-pass to Kaman to slam it home...he misses the dunk which is his fault...but of course I am the one with the bad pass.
I guard Carmelo only close to the 3PT line on the left side. Kidd (still on the Knicks) throws an alley-oop and Carmelo magically races and flies in for the dunk...damn, I am such a bad defender. No matter I only get 9 MPG.

Let's see what happens next...

[Andrew]

It's 82 games. Playing key games only allows you to simulate games, however.

[Leander]

I started playing quick matches with Albys' All Star sliders. I played two games with my custom team (my favourite players -> a good lineup) vs. a custom team with bench warmers and free agents of the default roster (with ratings of 65 or below).
My team: Howard/Nowitzki/Jamal Crawford/Nash ... M. Gasol/Ibaka/W. Chandler/N. Robinson/Rubio/K. Love/D. Lee
Their team: Kanter/the Swedish PF/J. Moon/.../J. Pargo ...

Jamario Moon and Pargo scored almost 80% of their points...and my problem is that I simply can't play or don't know how to play D. The PG just drives to the hoop with crossovers and scores... J. Moon either went for three or if I guarded him at the line closely he drove by.

My problem is that the other team's offense is way too quick. I can't switch players so fast. In two games I did not get a single block despite Howard, Ibaka etc. on the team. If I contest a shot it is a foul but most of the time I'm too far away.
The backdoor passes are annoying all the time. Guard the PG? He will pass the ball to another player who goes for the layup after quickly running into the paint. If I don't guard the PG he will score from outside. I can only control one player at a time...the CPU either scores from the outside if I control the PF or C in the paint...and if I control the guard their PG passes to somebody who is always one step ahead...quickly switching to the defender is too slow and I can only get a foul.

What should I do? How should I defend to get more blocks and steals?

Albys' sliders are great but still I get too many offensive rebounds as the CPU is too lazy.

[Andrew]

Usually it's a case of increasing the sliders as desired, though the blocking game is definitely better in NBA 2K14...especially since you can actually block dunks.

[Leander]

I played another two games with the same sliders and settings. I didn't have a chance in the first game (custom team vs. custom team) but I lost the second game in overtime (Clippers vs. Hornets). The game was great and a different experience. Maybe the gameplay with custom teams and random playbooks is different.

[Leander]

Played the first two games of my association with Albys' RR roster 10 and his All Star settings.

I don't have problems on the offensive side but simply can't guard the CPU most of the time. What am I doing wrong? Sometimes I get steals and blocks but that's it. My teammates are just too stupid to do anything or I don't know how to adjust their behaviour on the court.

Do you control the assigned defender of the CPU teams ballhandler and switch between your players as the CPU passes the ball around OR do you always control just the PG or PF for example and let your teammates do what they do on their own?

Example 1: I score. The other team inbounds the ball, throws a cross-court pass to their power forward who stands alone under my basket. My players are still running back (my team just scored 2 seconds ago). What am I supposed to do there? It's impossible.

Example 2: I shoot, I miss. The other team grabs the rebound, throws a pass to the PG who is about in the center of the court. He rans towards my hoop like mad...I chase him as soon as I've pressed the button to switch my defender...but the PG has a better position and has another advantage (reaction, timing, speed). I can't do anything.

Examples 1 and 2 happen a few times a game and I could live with them but example 3 is what upsets me the most!

Example 3: the PG of the CPU team has the ball. Option 1: I guard him with my PG, sometimes with tight D, sometimes without. I am not the best defender but it works ok. Problem: the CPU team's other players run plays, run around, get open BUT my CPU teammates only walk around. So the CPU PG passes to another player who either takes the open shot or - if I manage to guard him with the assigned defender - he passes the ball to another player who is open. The CPU has control over its players...they run and get open and outsmart my defenders. They are simply faster than mine. And of course switching defenders manually takes more time.
Option 2: I don't guard the active ballhandler but control the best defender on my team for example. Doesn't work as the CPU PG makes some easy points as soon as I don't actively guard him.

Normally, it would work fine if my CPU defenders actually weren't lazy...but they are...they are always slightly slower and don't react to the CPU team's playcalling.
It is just me and I can either guard the ballhandler or control an offball-defender but I simply can't controll of five players on my team!

Any suggestions?

Here are the team stats of my games:

[Andrew]

I've mostly played MyCAREER in NBA 2K13 over the past year but whenever I'm controlling the whole team, I tend to switch defenders and guard the player with the ball. As you noted, you can't always trust your CPU teammates to perform as well as you'd like.

[Leander]

Of course I can't always trust them...but the fact is I can hardly ever trust them. After watching a lot of Youtube videos it seems they are supposed to play like that with my "auto" settings. You have to choose manual D calls and change the pressure to tight D. I'll spend some time with these defensive settings.

What I don't like is that the best D is unrealistic. There are tutorials how to defend in online play: you should only control the best defender, move him around the court unrealistically...have your CPU defenders do the work. You should not go for steals, you should not jump to block a shot...

[Leander]

Ok, played a game with defensive settings NOT set to auto. -> tight D, deny ball (off ball), double team: never etc. ... the game was really different, I had 11 steals in the first half (but none afterwards) and led by 10 points till three quarters of play. I lost in the fourth...by 7. Yet it was way better than the three games before that (I lost by 20 all of them).

Anyway, there's a huge difference between "auto" and settings the different options as recommended by this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD8X1rlMdbc

Oh, and I read that a 1-3-1 zone is the best...and the other strategies don't work well or are even flawed.