Playing defense...

[thefunnyone]

Hey you guys! Am I the only one or does it seem like the cpu's players move SO fast it's almost impossible to play defense against them? I mean I can't even follow them with my eyes, how am I supposed to do that with my controller? It's so friggin annoying that they flash around on the court like.. I dunno, Superman? The moves are nice, but c'moooon!!! Where do you see guys moving this fast in real life? "It's in the game"???? Bull...

[thefunnyone]

Anyone? Am I just a sucker who can't play????

[mana]

Try the rosters from James and RealBlade, Also try to set up offensive play for your team and cpu team, I notice if you don't rush your shot and take dynamic play off the cpu team, they run less fastbreak. I am able to get around 100 per game in 12mins quarter in season. Runs pick/postup/screen to create/find open man, use the clock and don't run fastbreak like crazy. Hope it helps.

[thefunnyone]

Thanks mana, it does help! My problem is that I just can't seem to keep my lead, they ALWAYS (again, ALWAYS!!!!!!!!) come up with 3 pointers and fastbreaks and junk like that, and I ALWAYS miss easy layups and dunks. I mean I set up nice plays, I have a clear shot, with no defense around, and still, my players miss the dunk and other easy shots like that, just so the other team can come closer. I remember that in 2001 there was an option called "keep scores close" or something like that, that you could turn on and couldn't win by 40 points. It seems like in this game it's always on, and NO matter what you do, you'll end up having a close game. It would be fine, but it's always a close game, in real life sometimes teams win by 10 points and such, and not 2 or 1 points 10 games in a row. Now where can I get that roster update?

[bubba]

One thing that i find a little off is the speed in which Kidd and Kittles change direction when handling the ball. By that i mean, not using the crossover or any other freestyle move, just a simple change in the direction they're headed.

Like when i'm controlling Fisher on defense trying to stay in front of Kidd. I'm standing off him so i have some time to react when he drives, but he just runs around in all directions like someone set fire to his jersey, unrealistically and constantly changing his direction in a snap. Maybe it's a demo thing, maybe it's a Kidd thing or maybe i'm just seeing things, but i think that a drastic change in direction shouldn't be so instantaneous and should incur some sort of brief transitional animation or something.

btw, i'm still playing the PC demo, see my Location for explanation

[cocobee]

Honestly, whatever happened to just playing the game and learning it. Everyone's always looking for a quick fix. Play the game for a week and then try to tweak it, some of you guys want tweaked rosters out of the box.Learn to play defense--geez!

Does anyone here play basketball in real life, because then you'll have an understanding of what you need to do. I usually like to control the guy nearest the ball, and if he passes me--i'll switch with the guy near the middle of the lane for help--sometimes I get there sometimes I won't. But, I'm here to tell you that it's possible to play defense without tweaked rosters.It seems like some of you guys want to already start winning by like 20, where's the fun it that.

[thefunnyone]

Dude, I am real happy for you, but I've been playing with the NBA series since... I dunno, 95 maybe, and I DO play basketball in real life, but the CPU's offense has nothing to do with real basketball offense. I mean c'mon, where do you see guys change direction, run and move about THAT fast? Sure thing I'll get a hang of it, but I want a realistic basketball game, and not a reflex-training program.

[eddienghs]

I also found that I am getting used to it after playing for a few days. Now I am able to take the chance to pass the ball to the weak side when the CPU is trying to double team my players on the strong side. One thing about the game, which is quite realistic, when your player is wide open, I find that it is quite easy to score. So for the offense, open shot can always give you easy basket.

But for the defense part, I also find that it is quite difficult to do good defense. When I switch to the PG and try to guard the CPU key-man, I find that CPU can easily pass me (either by pick-and-roll or just do some quick moving or crossover). When I switch to the C and wait for the rebound, it seems better but still cannot do a good defend (since CPU may score and I will have nothing to do then)...

Does anyone have good idea about how to do good defend?

[cocobee]

Dude, I am real happy for you, but I've been playing with the NBA series since... I dunno, 95 maybe

this is not like other live series, this is a whole new engine.It'll take some time to get use too.It's not even anywhere close to 2001. It's a whole new game.

Sure thing I'll get a hang of it, but I want a realistic basketball game, and not a reflex-training program.

and this might be the wrong game for you then, try this for "realistic basketball"
http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/categories/p ... _id=222669

and after you return Live use the extra money and buy the ultra realistic "Starting 5" game.

[thefunnyone]

lol!!! I'm no manager, I wanna plaaaay!! But thanks for the tip!!!

[cocobee]

I knew you'd like that

[bubba]

It's not that i want "tweaked rosters out of the box", my issue was with the CPU's strange ability to change direction so fast, that the crossover becomes obsolete. I feel that it slightly upsets the balance of the game. I've been playing the demo religiously (almost an unhealthy amount) since the day it was released. Of course i'll get used it ... in fact, i already have.

I don't mind it when the CPU uses a nice pick or a nice crossover or just simply out-runs me and gets past me, in fact ... i love it when any of that happens It's just when they get by me using the run-around-in-all-directions-at-the-blink-of-an-eye method that raises my concern. Just because i voice that concern doesn't mean i'm looking for a "quick fix". Nor does it mean i "already wanna start winning by like 20", that was an assumption on your part ... and you know what they about assumptions

[BrotherJRB]

Cocobee this the same damn gameplay engine as Live 2001!!!!

All they did to get fast breaks was let the SG/SF run faster than the defense!!! These are not fastbreaks simply the CPU having an extra boost of energy(your CPU players have it to) they still have the damn super catch up speed against you. There is no logic or filling lanes it is the same damn crap EA has put out in previous Lives......the engine may have been tweaked but it is not new.

jr

[Krower]

I do not like the fact that the computer has so many fast breaks and alley oops as well. I do agree after playing more I will get the hang of it though, but would be nice to have rosters fixed. If anyone can inform me of a good site for updated rosters, I would appreciate it greatly. As to the post earlier about wanting to win by 20 points and a quick fix, well I would like a quick fix, but I actually enjoy losing games, makes it realistic and you have to think about changing your game plan, unfortunatly you can't change agains all the fast breaks the compute gets, I do admit I am not the best at calling plays so that would probably help a bunch. My main concern though is having updated rosters with skill changes. Oh and can someone help me with this...... I have dial up modem and a good computer, but my online gameing is often slow. any help to make my ping better??? thanks

[Dv-Us-1]

Try this...pick a position and try to stick to that particular player/position and play to the role of that position. If you are currently the Pg, Sg, or Sf and are are going for an OFFENSIVE rebound or are othewise OUT of position the CPU (and most good humans) WILL run the break on you (if u do not get said offensive rebound). If a shot goes up its the back courts job to get back on defense. I dont have this fast break problem everyone speaks of. Now if we wanna talk about unrealistic Fg% thats another story....

[cocobee]

sorry if I offended anyone, I guess it's different strokes for different folks--

but I LOVE THE GAME!!

[sirjam]

When the computer gets a rebound, hit the white button that is the last man back button and it works real well to cut down the breaks.

[mana]

Like CoCoBee said earlier, if you actually play real b-ball, you will know what to do in game. If you actually set up a play and get open, get a quality shot. Froce/rush shot turn into fastbreak. So far with the new roster, cpu rarely run the PG/SG combo after I miss. CPU will run the break if:

you rush/force your shot
you turn the ball over, ie: across court pass between cpu guard

Fastbreak can be stopped. Most of the cpu fastbreak are generated by PG. Like in real ballgame, after turnover, miss, all guards must go back and take their men. CPU PG would slow down if you stay in front of them after miss. Put your hand up and stay in front of the cpu, the chances of the shot going in is lower if you stay with your man and have your hands up. Play def, don't lost your men, help out and don't take one or two dribble and fire a three would give you a realistic game.

[thefunnyone]

I think the offensive part of the game is actually better than ever. I still wish the cpu's defense would be better, setting up plays almost always gets you an open man. But I guess with the tweaked roster updates, it won't mean an automatic 2 points, right?

I still think that the speed of the game is pure crap though. I really don't know what EA's thinking...

[DK]

I really can't see what everyone’s problem is.
I play 8 min all-star, fouls maxed, all rules on, fatigue, arcade.

In my last game against the Pacers using the Celtics they shot 38% I shot 44%, I won 97-85, both teams had over 20 ft attempts, both teams had about 17 turnovers and 10 blocks, we both put up about 25 3s Pacers made 6 I made 7, both teams had over 30 rebounds Celtics had 42 Pacers had 34.

I only saw about 5 fast breaks from the CPU the entire game and I was playing zone most of the game which is very prone to be beat by the break.

I try to play like the real Cs, lots of 3s and usually when Walker brings the ball up after a rebound I take the 3 with him (just like real life), or I iso Pierce and drive to the hoop and try to get fouled.

My only problem is that I kill the CPU on the O boards about 15-3 a game but otherwise I'm enjoying the game very much.

BTW I play with original rosters the game shipped with because how are you supposed to start a franchise with messed up and tweaked down ratings and then when the rookies come they are completely different from the regulars, also the way edited ratings will produce weird stats in franchise.

[thefunnyone]

Aight, I have one more question. And I'm asking the serious gamers out there, the ones who play on Superstar and try to play the realistic basketball. Do you have CPU assistance on or off? I just played a game with that sh*t off and I simply destroyed the cpu. I played againts the Lakers, I was with the Kings, and the score was 120-86. And I didn't even do the fastbreak crap, I tried setting up plays.

[mana]

96-83 LA GS

allstar

FG%, block 3p% are all close to realistic. I have tried CPU assist, the game seems easy with the CPU assist on. I have tried the superstar lvl but is it me or the cpu start cheating everytime they are losing!!! Now I am back playing on all star. I am used to the game now and able to play a realistic game and stop most computer fastbreak from happening but I still hate the CPU AI.

[ningtong88]

I still don't get it, how come your guys's scores are that low, mine high like sh*t.

[francis820]

i'm playing 10 minute quarter sim and i average over 120 per game, bad thing though coz my opponents average is about 118-199. very close games i tell u...

[joemimic]

I also get nice games on all star, i've beaten the teams i should beat Memphis Cleveland and Miami (I'm the Kings) and I pulled away from the Blazers late in the 4th when they started jacking up 3 pointers