Help on playing

[Doc Elk]

Hi,

this game is really starting to get me frustrated....no matter what I do, I am not able to stop the CPU from scoring at least 120 points a game.
I am just starting, but the way the CPU scores makes me really mad...
Basically, it is limited to a few different plays.

1. Fastbreaks.
Often, when I miss a shot (or one of 3-pointers gets blocked by the center rushing out or something like this) the CPU will grab the ball, run up the floor and dunk it. My guys just do not seem to care and just trot back as if they had just scored. Also, if I manage to get somebody back - same difference: While the CPU regularly blocks my lay-ups, the opposite just does not work. Happens VERY often.

2. The guards / SF are killing me, even the not very good ones. I am, what they often do is, they run up to my defender (who is guarding them), keep running while they hit my defender, eventually push him away, and then drive for a lay-up. Usually all the other defenders do not really care, but sometimes I manage to get the C and/or PF in there, but again: Same difference. These guys always hit, even with 3 guys surrounding them.

3. When the CPU gets the ball in the low post, usually the C / PF will jusst bump my defender a few times with the shoulder, or just run against the defense and keep running until the defender gets away, and then go in for the easy dunk. Also, guys, like Curry can dunk on offense against Duncan but block anything in close .... not very realistic I think.

Also, the CPU gets insane shooting percentages, often hitting with two defenders guarding and not good guys like T-Mac but guys like Pavlovic whoever that is (scored 21 points on me last game).

On offense:

- Why can't I use lay-ups / dunks after posting? Duncan will then do some crazy Kobe shit and terribly fail on any attempt. Happens all the time....

This is driving me nuts and really lowering my motivation to keep playing. I know I have to really learn the game but I am playing on Starter and still this happens. I used to play 2000 and this was much easier.

BTW, I have already set the "Block sliders" to 0.

Thanks for the advice.

[Mr_Poo]

Oh boy do I know how you feel man. This game is so unrealistic no matter how much you edit it. Ea really made some really gay AI and gameplay. No matter if you set the sliders to action or simulation, the game play still feels the same :S.
I've noticed how the CPU plays and it's pretty much the same all the time. No matter if there is a guy besides them or 2 guys besides them, they still shoot over you and make it about 85% of the time. If you're killing the CPU in score, they make it 95% of the time.

Putting a man infront of a CPU, the cpu some how, has "magical strength" to just slide your guy backwards or to the side and just go in for the drive pushing your C/PF out of the way.

Even when you set up a double-team, on the CPU and you can actually SEE both your guys surrounding him, and the cpu scores a point some how.. The Commentator will just say.. "the double team did not coem quick enough!"

Playing Zone Defense.. The CPU will shoot 3 Pointers about 90% even when you you still got guys jumping towards them or infront of them.

on offense: the cpu will stand inside the restricted circle part and somehow it triggers some gay action.. preventing you from doing a lay up.. or dunk. If you try doign this, you end up getting a defensive foul, which is really gay.

If anything you should stop playing thsi game and just wait for 2006! hopefully the game will make more sense

[COOLmac©]

experiment a few more times on your sliders to have your best results for your taste, never give up too fast

[colickyboy]

Hey Doc Elk,

I'm a noob too. Here are my thoughts:

1a) if you miss a shot, switch your defensive player to a player near half-court (preferably a guard, but sometimes you don't have time to be picky) and then try to guard the offensive player bringing up the ball. I use the button that makes the defensive player spread his arms out (I think it's called the "Box out" button). This causes the offensive player to usually slow down (thus letting your defensive teammates have time to settle in).

1b) if your shot is blocked, there's pretty much nothing you can do b/c no matter who you switch to, you won't stop the fast break.

2) for G/SFs that are killing you, are you using the "Box out" button (makes the defensive player spread his arms out)? That slows down those G/SFs half the time. I play with the Bulls, so when the G/SFs beat me the other half of the time, Curry or Chandler usually do a good job coming to help. Can't vouch for any other team's help defense.

3) I never go mano-a-mano against a C/PF. I usually control a guard on defense and double-team the C/PF. If you control a guard with a penchant for steals, he can usually strip the C/PF. Alternatively, you can control a SF to double-team the C/PF and use the "Box out" button to try to cause a steal without having to actually use the "Steal" button (since SFs typically aren't good stealers).

4) I do use the dunk button after posting up. But I think it depends on your player. I haven't used Duncan so I dunno about him, but I know that Eddy Curry can back down 75% of the centers in the league and then dunk on them. Tyson Chandler, OTOH, fails most of the time trying to dunk after posting up.

Hope that helps...

[Doc Elk]

Thanks for the help, I will try that.

[furious1]

A couple of things:

1) How are your shooting sliders set? I have my CPU long range, medium range and short range sliders set to 45.

2) What game speed are you playing on? If the CPU is getting that many transistion baskets it much be pretty high. I don't see many fast break baskets on 05. I did on 04 but that's a different game.

3) If you are having trouble posting up try tossing the ball into the post, backing down (or trying to), passing the ball back out, then pass it back in. You should find it much easier to repost, backdown and dunk.