How exactly do you block using smaller players?

[Jthe24]

I've gotten nearly everything all figured out for live to play realistically, except getting smaller guards to get their share of blocks. For example, Iverson small guard that plays the passing lanes usually. How is he able to keep his fouls low, while attempting enough blocking enough jump shots from smaller guards (that come once in a blue moon). I've played through 30 dynasty mode games, and I've yet scored a single block using him.

Is there a trick for smaller guards to get blocks against smaller guards? or rather normal guards in general?

[asgsjb]

I don't know of any trick to this. Live '05 is very sensitive to height. Small guards will not get blocks often, if at all...even against smaller guards. Same holds true for forwards and centers...you can get more blocks with a 7'5" center with iffy block ratings and who is a stiff in the actual NBA than you can with a 6'10" center with great block ratings and who is a blocking force in the actual NBA. As an example, you can block better with a 7'5" rookie center than you can with Ben Wallace (6'10", I believe). As another example...because of his height and strength, Curry is a defensive force in Live '05, while he is a huge defensive liability in the NBA.

So, going back to Iverson, because he is short, you are unlikely to get many blocks, if any, from him despite playing him against that rare shorter guard. Maybe if he was playing Mugsy Bogues (man, he was short!)...but not against other guards. :)

[Jthe24]

thanks for the quick reply, now that'll help me pick a team that'll have more realistic results in game.

[asgsjb]

My pleasure. The height thing also works well from the other vantage-point...the taller your players, the less they will get blocked. My favorite PG's are 6'3", my SG's at least 6'6", my SF's at least 6'8" or preferably 6'9" or 6'10", my PF's at least 6'10" or preferably 6'11" or 7', and my C's 7'0" if not more.

For example, Barbosa (6'3"), Wade (6'4") or Hinrich (6'3")...even Jaric (6'5")...at PG.

Kobe (6'6"), Childress (6'8"), Welsch (6'7"), LeBron (6'8"), Stephen Jackson (6'8") or Redd (6'6") at SG.

Josh Smith (6'9"), Deng (6'8") Prince (6'9"), or Walter McCarty (6'10") at SF.

Jefferson (6'10"), Okafor (6'10"), Chandler (7'1"), Gooden (6'10"), Gasol (7'0"), Chris Anderson (6'10"), Dwight Howard (6'11"), and Stoudemire (6'10") at PF.

Ilgauskas (7'3"), Bradley (7'6"), Ming (7'6"), Harrison (7'), Kaman (7'), Mihm (7')and Haywood (7') at C.

Of course, that's just height. You obviously need to look at other factors other than just height. So if you want a good PF, for example, and you are deciding between spending $4.8M on a 7'1" Chandler (64 FG, 76 dunk, 84 Inside scoring, 77 off.reb., 60 strength, 95 def.reb. and 88 block) or spending $12.06M ( alot more) on a 6'8" Brand (69 FG, 79 dunk, 87 ins.scor., 75 off.reb., 85 strength, 78 def.reb. and 81 block), despite Brand's greater strength, Brand's lack of height and weaker defensive rebounding and block numbers as well as cheaper price may make Chandler a better PF for Live '05 even though you'd pick Brand in a second in the actual NBA. Similarly, you might wiser having a 7'0" Brendan Haywood as compared to a 6'9" Ben Wallace, despite Wallace having a 94 block rating as compared to Haywood's 84 block rating...Haywood's height makes up for the difference and he will get you a ton of blocks.

Also remember that when getting dynasty points and doing training, you can improve offesnive, defensive and conditioning skills, but you cannot change height. So if you take Chandler over Brand, you can work on developing Chandler's strength so it matches Brand's...but you could not develop Brand's height if you had him. So place some focus on height and I think you will be well served.