Teammate grading query

[celtichawk]

This is something that's been frustrating me ever since 2k10 and MyPlayer/Career came out

I'm struggling to keep my avg grading up above a C+, I'll go on streaks of games where I can reel off A+ and B+ without trouble then I'll slump to a C or C- for no reason.

My question is what exactly determines if you get points for/against a grade or not? It seems in some cases to be random...but it probably isn't.

I had this last night against the Clippers My player (a SF) got a hand in a shooter's face yet still get hit with a penalty for apparently allowing my matchup to score (as it was a three ball), then I can do the exact same move on the stick the next possession and get good shot defense. Huh what?

It's baffling me...so how come I can do the same thing on two possessions and get two results, is it timing? On the second possesion I moved the stick slightly earier.

Or, maybe I just don't 'get' 2k's basketball, I taught myself through 2k10 and onwards in myplayer mode but I am only just now, in 2k14, regularly setting screens on offense, though I haven't got the nuances down, I haven't a clue how to do a pick and roll in basketball. Lacrosse yes, hoops no.

[Andrew]

When it comes down to it, the grading system still needs work. It still seems geared to punish the player rather than reward them for good play, with small boosts for good play (or flat out "forgetting" to reward good play) and larger deductions for mistakes, something the grading AI never "forgets" to do.

Putting up big numbers is the easiest way to boost your teammate grade. You will get good grades for challenging shots, though you have to make sure you're right up in your man's face; the game is pretty unforgiving about distances that would still be considered playing your man fairly well by most people's standards in real life. Setting picks, keeping the ball moving and running plays will boost your teammate grade as well.

[celtichawk]

So is it (as I'm thinking) hardcoded into the exe or can it be modded somehow to be fairer?, I always thought that being right up in a shooter's face is a bad idea as they can turn and shoot and leave you stranded though.

I don't get 2K's way of grading the player then. Agreed it's focused on punishing the user and (at least on PC here) the teammate AI leaves something to be desired, I can set the Jazz up for a sht and 4/5 times, no points, easy score for the AI. On that note does difficutty factor into the grading at all?

[Andrew]

As far as I'm aware, there's nothing we can do about it, unfortunately.

I don't think that difficulty factors into the grading at all, as I've seen some pretty big/unfair deductions when playing on easier difficulty settings in the past.

[r3z0nate]

I never seemed to have a problem getting consistent and progressive grades as My Player develops. The easy items to do while your grade is low (D,C,B-) that give you a boost are good passes, setting on-ball screens regardless of a play running and off-ball screens for a play. On D make sure you box out, and yes it is stupid, but stick close to the player you are guarding.

Unless you are driving to the hoop, just scoring with jump shots wont be enough. If you really want to cheat the system you can do triple-threats and double moves to a jumper, layup/dunk or assist. This year has been incredibly frustrating for me. At least with Cheat Engine you could increase the challenge without making your teammates complete fools. Its incredibly hard to get assists in the game because players will simple hold onto the ball long enough to score without an assist. Telling them to shot doesn't even work.

The fluctuations you are talking about could come down to the skills of the player you are guarding, either having a spot up or dead eye skill can negate any hand in the face. The most frustrating for me making a great block only to have the CPU catch it and basically cancelling the points by giving them an offensive board.

[Andrew]

The fluctuations you are talking about could come down to the skills of the player you are guarding, either having a spot up or dead eye skill can negate any hand in the face. The most frustrating for me making a great block only to have the CPU catch it and basically cancelling the points by giving them an offensive board.

Agreed, little things like that need to be cleaned up. I'd like the grading system to better reflect context in general. For example, if you're a guard that gets caught in a bad defensive rotation because of an error by a teammate, you find yourself trying to shut down a much larger player in the post and they score on you, you really shouldn't get an "allowed man to score" deduction, especially if you give it your all.

[benji]

Set picks. Just randomly and constantly before plays, etc.

As a SF you should be able to crash the boards a ton because the AI won't box out if you run in from the perimeter after a shot goes up.

[r3z0nate]

Agreed, little things like that need to be cleaned up. I'd like the grading system to better reflect context in general. For example, if you're a guard that gets caught in a bad defensive rotation because of an error by a teammate, you find yourself trying to shut down a much larger player in the post and they score on you, you really shouldn't get an "allowed man to score" deduction, especially if you give it your all.

That doesn't seem like it would be that hard to implement, although it might get complicated when your player is switching from a SG->PG or SF.. It would almost have to be a sizable disadvantage. I thought you only get an allow man to score in the post if he just completely gets by you for the score, or do you mean the disadvantage is so great you can't even stay with him until he shots?

I still don't understand why there isn't an option to ask to be subbed out. There is nothing worse than being up by 20-30 points and all the stars sitting down except you. It drives me crazy! And seriously, what happened to the option to tell your teammate to shot! Did they think it was too easy to get assists with the dimer skill and the Coach skill.

[Andrew]

do you mean the disadvantage is so great you can't even stay with him until he shots?

Yeah, that's the kind of thing I'm talking about: when you're seriously outmatched because you're covering for a teammate's defensive blunder and you get scored on or beaten to the board because despite your best efforts, size won out.

What's more frustrating is when the game rapidly changes its mind as to your defensive assignment. Again, it happens a lot when there's a bad switch and you're covering for a teammate. You'll be forced to cover someone else (often their man) because they're picking up your matchup, but they'll step away and leave them open at the last second, which leads the AI to think "hey, the user is supposed to be covering that player!" and you get the deduction when the opponent scores, even though you've been doing everything right in the wake of your teammate screwing up in the first place (and indeed, just screwed up again).