Freestyle Moves and the Jumpstop(pro-hop) Basics

[Guest]

This is for people who are new 2 freestyle or having problems in 04.
I was on Easo with Live 03 chatting about LIVE 2004 when subject came around 2 freestyle, talkin about what it was and how it worked
"u just move ur analogue from side 2 side and it does stuff" was 1 comment, another was "freestyle is just a cheap way 2 score" tell that 2 SKIP.
This years version is very dependent on User freestyle, i know there where alot of ppl who do not understand or use freestyle. 2003 was full of bugs and cheap ways 2 score, steal and win games and i hated them all.
The main thing u have 2 remember about FS is 1 movement with ur analogue stick is only the 1st part, the real effect is what u do once ur there. Example
1st part= right analogue left or right will bring the player up into a position where he can change direction, from this position u can power dribble left or right
2nd part= to change direction and create an unbalanced defender, simply pull the left analogue in other direction, ur player will accelerate faster then anything u can do with the turbo button, the defence will be RECOVERING and vunerable 2 a jumpshot, layup, dunk or dish.
Court and player positions are vital, if ur trying 2 break down ur defender whilst ur PF posts up ur likely 2 drive right into a dbl team.
Nothing is luck or random when it comes 2 FS, precision and timing is everything, its also the only way 2 really master 04.

There are 2 different offensive and 1 main Defensive style in 04

GuardMoves- Quick crossover, direction change, shot fake whilst keeping ur dribble alive, spin move, cross fake left & right, all basic fast break crossover from last year
BigMan a lot harder and less than the guard moves, i have not really got ne 2 add, all they have done is removed the ability 2 perfom certain guard moves like shot fake whilst keepin dribble alive. change of direction(u can do it but they add an extra dribble so its slow and pointless) 1 vital move added is 2 the bigmans jumpstop(prohop button)
instead of an actual Jumpstop u perform a 2 step spin move(Shaq style) in the direction u want move, string this together with a hookshot or a dunk 4 an easy 2.
Defense not much 2 say about this, last year getting low and active on the right analogue was a sure way of getting that clutch steal, they have made it very difficult this year. Pull down 4 defensive position and slides, push right 2 try steal with left hand and left 2 try steal with right, the cpu protects the ball very well and makes steals very difficult, push up to raise ur hands in the air, however if u move u will lower them until u remain still again.(in 03 u could move full speed with hands straight up in the air, or push up and down on analogue and flap ur wings) Defence is not about stealing the ball its about making the offence as uncomfortable and pressured as possible so they will take bad shots and miss.
Jumpstop(prohop) the more i use this move the more bad shots i put up, prohop 2 the basket is easy, u can split the D or create space in a forward movement, stringing together prohop and a basket can be very touchy, if the D is tight u will force the shot with 2 hands and get blocked, miss or get called for charge. I have found if u get deep in the lane ur team mates will move for rebound, so rather than force the shot, i chuck an Oop. Another prohop move is the step back(opposite direction on right analogue) which can create enough space 2 give u time for a decent shot.

U cant play 04 the same way u played 03, i dont think they should have called it NBA Live 2004, they should have killed the Live series off. I played Live since 05 on ma snes, when i play this game it doesnt feel or play like previous lives, IMO its without doubt the best Ball sim on ne format ne time.
I am going 2 make a file with pics that will list every freestyle, defensive or offensive move within the game, ne help would be welcome.
If anybody wants 2 see how i use freestlye, ur welcome!!

[Colin]

shot fake whilst keeping ur dribble alive

What move are you talking about?

1 vital move added is 2 the bigmans jumpstop(prohop button)

That's called a drop step or power dribble, when you use it in game they always double dribble since EA didn't put in a version of it for off the dribble where you only use one hand instead of two.

[Guest]

Up on right analogue- there is no actual ball fake in this move, the animation is crap, the head raises when the ball is pulled back. At 1st i thought it was another crossover. The movement is forward and back, if u rls out of the move, u can only go forward.
Ur right it is a Dropstep

[Ymakino]

Nice post

[Colin]

Up on right analogue- there is no actual ball fake in this move, the animation is crap

The animation is perfect, it's just a pull-back dribble, people who don't have blinding quickness use this to get by defenders in real life. One would make 2 pull-bakcs then change direction and sprint, this way your defender is moving forward while you start to move towards him.

Edit: it's only the pull-back when standing still, otherwise it's a handy-dandy spinmove.

[Guest]

Up on right analogue- there is no actual ball fake in this move, the animation is crap

The animation is perfect, it's just a pull-back dribble, people who don't have blinding quickness use this to get by defenders in real life. One would make 2 pull-bakcs then change direction and sprint, this way your defender is moving forward while you start to move towards him.

Edit: it's only the pull-back when standing still, otherwise it's a handy-dandy spinmove.

Pull back dribble???????????
ITS A FAKE BASED ON AN ACTUAL MOVE(REAL LIFE) u move forward with the ball. as u step back cross it back 2 ur shooting hand, as the ball rolls back u bring other hand up to it square to the rim(shot fake position), head up as if u gonna shoot, defender goes up 2 block shot, u blow by him for the lane. In the real world its very difficult 2 do with out carrying the ball which is why the actual fake in the game is crap. Look closer there is a head fake , eyes to rim each time u do it.
If it was a rocka step(pull back dribble???) which its not, there would still be a change of direction otherwise its a pointless.
HandyDandy spin move?? Since when can u perform a spin move from a standing position? Its a spin move when out and runnin or movin with turbo stuck, which has nothing 2 do with what i was trying 2 do with this post. INSTEAD OF WASTING UR TIME TRYING 2 BE SMART WHY DONT U ELABORATE ON NEW ADDITIONS 2 THE GAME THIS YEAR.

[Colin]

Since when can u perform a spin move from a standing position? Its a spin move when out and runnin or movin with turbo stuck

I usually read a post before I comment on it, I said "it's only the pull-back when standing still, otherwise it's a handy-dandy spinmove." Think about it, other than standing still...that means when you're moving, which is when you do a spinmove.

Your whole post is relativley pointless as there's a nice little video over at a site called easports.com. It has a thing of players doing freestyle moves while the controller is shown so you can see what does what (Video link) That video just goes into more detail (In fewer words) about it and also others aspects of the game.

[Guest]

Just because ur moving does not automaticaly mean up will be a spin move. Why have u only quoted half a sentance. The idea was a hands on detailed explaination of all the freestyle method(videos r useless everybody watched em long time ago). I wanted a complete breakdown of every aspect,
Fastbreak(which would bring spinmoves into play, seen as spinmoves have been tone downed this year 2 make it harder 2 use in the paint)
short, med, long range J
Post moves, dunks, last second shots, ETC
Its for gamers new 2 Live, not just 04, but 03 as well, READ the 1st line of the post.1500 games online(03) not 1 of those games did my opponent use/understand freestyle.

ABOUT MY ORIGINAL POST
Its the start(basics, core elements) its not a DETAILED explanation and neither are EAsports. The idea was other ppl(experienced users) would post there styles and methods.
IN FEWER WORDS
This was my short version It is way to long, i wouldnt read it if it was not my own.

[tubesocksshakur]

Actually,

I think this is an excelent post. I would love to see the full explanation of all the different freestyle moves. The videos at EA are good, but I don't think they tell you everything. I am trying to learn how to use and combine some of the moves.

[Colin]

Why have u only quoted half a sentance.

Because it was the only part about what I was commenting on. Why would I quote your whole post to comment on half a sentence.

I guess I'll just be quiet since back in Live 03 those videos made me understand almost everything (and they're even better and more detailed this year), and told me how I could underrstand everything. If I'm not mistaken it says try them out on your own in practice mode. That is what the mode is there for, had anyone else even thought to go into practice mode and just hit the analog to one side and see what it does? If anyone actually learned a lot of stuff from your post (other than new names for moves) they haven't taken any time on their own and are lazy people who want the easy way out. Sorry tubesocksshakur, but did you try it out in practice, see what it did when you were on the move? In triple threat? Bye.

[Guest]

Im not wasting ne more time with u, TALK ABOUT MISSING THE POINT.
Ur qoute was irrelivent, the rest of the sentance delt with ur following post.
Learn 2 read.
u cant perform a freestyle spinmove from a standing or walkin position u have 2 be moving at speed, normaly on a fast break, which had absolutly nothing 2 do with my post or ur reply. Also a spin move is 1 movement or button press, thats why everybody know how 2 do this, Its in the manual (as well as FS moves). The manual and the Ea Clips do not show/tell/explain the best methods for breaking down ur defend 4 the dunk or creating enough space 2 hit from deep.
Renamed, like PROHOP, cos i use that 1 every time im warming up. In Basketball everything has an alternative name, Eg , layup or fingerroll, dunk or throw down. This post does not require a reply, i have asked no questions.
Please stop going around in circles. I would like 2 read how u use freestyle effectively and what u have found are the better moves within the game!

[Colin]

Please stop going around in circles. I would like 2 read how u use freestyle effectively and what u have found are the better moves within the game!

Alright, I guess I will.
Wing play: When in triple threat I only use about 4 different moves. I jab left then go left, I jab left then go right, and the opposites. Just hold the left analog right then hold the right analog (or D-pad, if you use it for control like me) in the oppostie direction and press turbo. This works if you've got a decent wing player going against a guy who isn't a Ronicide on defence. If you use that for a few plays and get some buckets go the way you originally jabbed. So instead of holding the left analog or D-pad the opposite direction hold it in the same direction.

Dribbling stuff - If I'm already dribbling I will usually use a quick double cross, this consists of moving the ball to your off hand and quickly back. If the ball is in your right hand move the freestyle stick to the left then wait maybe a quarter of a second and move it back across to the right. This can frequently shake the dfender on it's own. If not do the first move and press it the right then over, this will give you a hesitation cross when you sort of hold the ball in your right hand then go. Once you're passed you man using a spin move you can usually get around secondary help, pulling up for a short 10 footer in the lane or putting the ball down once more and going up strong can easily get a foul or bucket. My short chart in the game is almost always just shots inside 15 feet.

Post Play - I use the raptors (minus Davism who was traded to Bean Town for LaFrentz) so post play is not a big priority for me, but last year Tim Thomas dominated the post for me and this is what I did. I would get the ball in the post, face up, give a shot fake and go. This year I would face up (pressing down on the right analog if memoery serves) pump fake then put a power driblle down and go up. This only works from the block since otherwise you'll probably be to far away. I also only suggest this with players like Tim Thomas or Kevin Garnett. For a Shaq type strength player give a quick fake to one side in post up (right or left on the right analog) then press the post up button and go the opposite direction. Depending on how far away from the hoop you are, you can dunk, shoot a jump hook, or put a power dribble down and go up for a dunk.

Defence, I only use freestyle on defence to put my hands up, the steal button is much more efficient for me, but if you are to use it, press it to the right to steal with your right hand, and left to steal with your left. WiggleYourBigToe (how'd you think up that name ) You saidleft steals with right, it doesn't. It may look like that due to camera angle, it does for me since I use baseline high. In the Live 03 manual it says right steals with right, left steals with left. It doesn't say anything in the 04 because 03 went into more detail since freestyle was new.

Done.

[Colin]

It appears my keen freestyle intellect had silenced you. Yes! *pumps fist*

[goncales]

how to do crossover

[Colin]

depends many croosovers, if you have a freestyle compatible controller for the pc, or have it for a console. Just tap the freestyle stick to the direction of the opposite hand (eg. if it's in right, tap to left) to get a between the legs, if you want to go in front of you move the freestyle up and over to the left (if ball's in the right hand) in one motion. For behind the back move it down and to the left.

[ask1]

Yes! *pumps fist*

Hehe, how "Jordanesque"

[Guest]

It appears my keen freestyle intellect had silenced you. Yes! *pumps fist*

Ur post is exellent, problem is theres urs and theres mine but no others. I have given up on this thread now!!!

On another note, after reading u post i looked at freestyle defence(left/right thing) and i noticed that players will favour a side, i assume because of the hand that they use. When u get the proper movement with the correct hand u get a very quick swipe at the ball, i have not mastered it yet, but i always get the ball whenever i do this. Has ne 1 else noticed the stance on D?

[TechnoNRGKid]

what if you dont have a analog stick on your controler?

i have one controller that does, but i have no xp drivers for it,and stupid interact doesnt provide em.

its a phat hammerhead fx controller too

live shows how to use em, but it dont work.

[TechnoNRGKid]

Eh, i just installed windows 98se on a multi boot of xp, just so i can use the 9x driver set i have for my hammerhead fx controller. i love this controller that much.

ill use this OS for this game specifically.

[Guest]

ur post Belongs in TEC. Thread is regarding moves and such, run a search b4 u post

[TechnoNRGKid]

i always run searches, thats how i found this post.
i solved my own problem anyway.

[Bassman58]

This is a good post. I found it helpful. Don't be disappointed because others can't keep on topic or don't post. Some people may have not added to this post because you covered it well.

[Guest]

i always run searches, thats how i found this post.
i solved my own problem anyway.

So why have u posted it here when it belongs in Technical along with the other Joypad threads, its fucking annoying

[TechnoNRGKid]

cause i found this post and wasnt gonna search to any more, i got better things to do than search all day.


Its annoying, thats your problem, deal with it.
Be glad someone bumped your post.

[Jackal]

Anyways guys, forget bout it.

I dont use freestyle all that much, it's just too easy to score then. Same with the prohop button. Tiring after awhile. I use the crossovers only when needed.