Some important questions

[Leander]

1. I played vs. Portland, with Andrew's sliders. Portland took only threes and layups. So now mid-range shots although I use Andrew's rosters. Do I have to set plays for the computer so that he doesn't take only boring shots?

2. in dynasty mode why are the player intros left out? 1st game of my fantasy dynasty: Nowitzki footage...great player blabla.
2nd game (with Nowitzki injured): some animations with Camby blocking shots...but no speech of the commentator.

Are there NEVER the player intros like in exhibition mode??? This sucks! In my opinion one of the best moments in a game are the intros! In Live 2003 they were left out (apart from the crappy ones in the finals of the playoffs)...now the intros in 2004 are pretty cool but they are only shown in exhibition mode? Why??? This is again something that EA includes just to annoy US. This doesn't make sense. They just deliberately want to fool us.

[H Rock]

1. I played vs. Portland, with Andrew's sliders. Portland took only threes and layups. So now mid-range shots although I use Andrew's rosters. Do I have to set plays for the computer so that he doesn't take only boring shots?

If you up, say, CPU Long-Range shooting in the settings they should take more threes.

2. in dynasty mode why are the player intros left out? 1st game of my fantasy dynasty: Nowitzki footage...great player blabla.
2nd game (with Nowitzki injured): some animations with Camby blocking shots...but no speech of the commentator.

Are there NEVER the player intros like in exhibition mode??? This sucks! In my opinion one of the best moments in a game are the intros! In Live 2003 they were left out (apart from the crappy ones in the finals of the playoffs)...now the intros in 2004 are pretty cool but they are only shown in exhibition mode? Why??? This is again something that EA includes just to annoy US. This doesn't make sense. They just deliberately want to fool us.

By player intros I presume you mean the PA guy announcing the starting lineups? In that case, they only do that in exhibition games and in the playoffs. During the regular season they just show one player.

[Leander]

1. no, they took many threes. But no mid-range-shots...they either took threes or did easy shots under the basket. But no mid-range shots.

2. Yes, starting lineups. This just sucks. Why did they leave it out for the regular season? This is so annoying.

[H Rock]

1. no, they took many threes. But no mid-range-shots...they either took threes or did easy shots under the basket. But no mid-range shots.

That's just the way it is. You can try putting CPU Mid-Range Shots to high. Maybe that will help.

2. Yes, starting lineups. This just sucks. Why did they leave it out for the regular season? This is so annoying.

Really, I don't have a problem with it. I usually skip it anyway.

[Leander]

This game is so f***ing annoying!!!

Live 2003 was really cool AFTER tweaking.

Now it really hate the passing system. They pass the ball around so slowly. Or when passing the ball during a fast break: the player jumps...catches the ball. Lands...and when I can finally run with him three defenders are already near him.

I post up...I track a defender down...the CPU uses double-team. What next? Of course I pass to my SG who stands behind the three-point-line. The PF or C passes...the SG takes so long to catch the ball...goes for three and... REJECTED. Passing just takes so damn long. The defender can run faster than I can pass. Even if I take the shot and the defender is still in the key he runs towards me player and blocks me...so many threes get blocked although I backed down with my PF or C...CPU double-teamed me...I pass to my SG who is wide open!!! But this damn passing, catching and going for three takes so long that I get blocked.

Then I cannot pass around to find a guy that can go for three. But in contrast to his it is pretty easy to score from downtown...just bring the ball upcourt...run to the line with the PG and shoot...THIS is possible but other shots are not...pretty annoying.

Faking...I really hate it, too. I pump fake...the defender jumps...he IS in the air. I shoot AND the defender is still in the air...he hasn't landed...but when I shoot he BLOCKS me. What the hell? How can someone jump, still be in the air...going down , being in the landing process but jumping again and blocking my shot? Faking and shooting takes longer than jumping twice. This is so ridiculous. The defender seems to fly in the air and wait to block my shot.

And yes, I increased midrange. The CPU still uses freestyle so much...Andre Miller runs around...runs into the key...pro hoop...shot...no matter if my C waits there for him. CPU runs around, uses freestyle, goes for layups...uses pro hoop. Or goes for three...

And when I miss a shot, the CPU gets the rebound. And immediately passes to two guys who are ALREADY near MY key although the PF or C has just grabbed the rebound. SO I cannot defend this and I lost 98-118 and 26 out of the 118 points of the CPU were fastbreak points.

I defend like in NBA Live 2003. There it worked...defending with the PG when the CPU passes. And when someoine is in the key, I play the C and go for blocks...I am NOT bad at this...in 2003 it worked well. But in Live 2004 it is different. Andre Miller uses the pro hoop-stuff...my C COULD block the shot but another guy of the opposite team pushes him and he cannot jump...

This game is so annoying.

How should I run plays?
How should I defend?
Always switch to the defender close to the CPU's player with the ball? e.g. if the PF has the ball, I play the PF, too, if the CPU's PG has the ball, I defend him with my PG? Man to man? In 2003 I used to control the PG during the plays and the C when the CPU is inside the key and ready to take a shot. It worked so well. I was good at blocking, even with tweaked rosters. But in 2004 my strategy doesn't work.

So how should I play on both the offensive and defensive ends?

And is there a solution against this "I back down...player gets double-teamed...my SG is totally wide open!!!! I take the three but I get blocked"-stuff? The passing is so annoying, all this slow crap...

[Leander]

Wow, I won the game 85-84 against the Spurs. Nevertheless strange. It is so easy to hit threes by running to the line and taking the shot. But it is difficult to pass around and get an open shot. Garnett doesn't play well...he averages 4 RPG ... strange. Camby gets 10 RPG but has 33% FG...misses even easy shots.

I have a low FG % but over 50% 3p fg...using Andrew' sliders.