Can't play #%#%$^ defense in this game!

[Spree#8]

debiler, you're not the only one. I miss a ton of great shots with good releases also. I could understand it not going in sometimes, but this is ridiculous. I'm playing My Player and my guy is a 3PT Specialist with 85 Shot 3PT rating and a high 3PT tendency. Pretty much every shot I take is an open look and I do get the green release, resulting in A or A- shot quality (it's almost always one of these two). Yet I'm shooting 27% from downtown. All-Star, sim sliders. Realistic? Nah, not really. With such ratings, green release and barely ever taking shots with anyone contesting them, I think I should be knocking down ~40% rather easily. That happens in other modes, too. As for the CPU shots, hands up don't really make them miss either for me, but a jumping contest does. Of course, the problem with that is that the CPU does a hundred pump fakes per possession in this game. Anyway, I handle myself alright defending the jumpshots, but inside it's a nightmare. They regularly make shots rated D or lower, sometimes even with a foul. And if I don't foul, they don't miss, despite having a hand in their face and/or having to double clutch or something.

Like kicking the ball out, for example. There is absolutely NO defender next to my shooter, who is waiting at the 3pt line. But when I decide to get the ball to him, as soon as I press the button (although the player with the ball needs about 1sec to react to my command), a defender starts sprinting to the arc. That's just not right. As long as there is no visible indication that a pass will come, defenders shouldn't be able to anticipate that.

Couldn't agree more. The CPU is ALWAYS a lot more ready for what you're about to do than your teammates or even the ball handler himself, who takes a split second to react. That's not a new issue in 2K12, it's been there before.

The fastbreaks are just sad. Any attempt of a pass will result in your guy somehow managing to pass the ball right into the lone CPU defender. While driving, I get bumped after every step I take, no matter if the defender is 5 times slower than me or not, I can't get past him. I, however, can't create contact for nothing. Trying to bump, there's a higher chance of the CPU guy dropping the ball and you getting a random steal than you actually bumping him.

Scoring inside is also a pain. They just can't get it right, can they? Every 2K game it's either way too easy or way too hard for the player (CPU will always find a way). I like that there's contact and fighting inside, but the CPU players don't get called for any fouls when they hammer me. The same exact animations are a foul on one end but great defense and bad shot selection on the other. I find post moves to be the only way of getting some points anywhere near the hoop in 2K12. I was able to pull off a few nice ones lately.

And don't even get me started on the defense again. I'd prefer having 4 mannequins as my teammates, then the CPU would at least have to move to get open. Now the teammates just randomly move away from their assignments, giving them free open shots.

I'm almost ready to give up on this game until 2K can be bothered to release a patch. I'll try what Pdub suggested above though, hopefully it improves the experience a bit.

[JWL3]

I feel ya debiler. I'm the OP and your gripes are almost exactly the same as mine. A real pity too, cause I thought the game speed and balance was perfect in 2k11. I've played every single NBA game since Lakers v. Celtics, NBA Showdown94, Live 95-2007 or whenever they cancelled it, 2k9-12. And each game was dominant in some way - too many offensive rebounds, not enough assists, ridiculous steals, slow passing, isomotion/cheesing too dominant/not dominant enough. And I thought 2k11 was the perfect balance.

Every year, there's an adjustment period. But this year, I think it's just a bad gameplay thing. Defense is just dominant on the CPU side and just shoddy on the control side.

[fjccommish]

I'm beginning to suspect scripted play.

I don't know if people remember but in old versions of NBA Live, there was scripted or at least pre-determined plays. In versions where a game could be saved mid-game, the same thing would happen no matter how many times you reloaded and played out the game. There was also a noise, something like a rubber band spring kind of noise, that would sound just before dunks (at least on the PC version.)

I have just replayed, 12 times, the same game from mid way through the 2nd Q. It's me, the Bulls, vs the Pistons. The Pistons get hot every time around mid 3Q, close the lead I have (5-10 points), then open up a 10 point lead by the end of the 3rd.

In one game a Piston missed a shot on a foul, but the basket still counted for 2 points. The next play Brewer (I play locked as PG so he was under PC control) took a pass at the free throw line and ran straight to the baseline and out of bounds. Similar weird plays kept happening until the lead was 10 for the Pistons.

[_Steve_]

Some situations seem to be scripted. It happens very often to me that the CPU seems to know whether a shot will fall or not. Very short time before the ball goes through the ring the CPU sometimes stops boxing out/ fighting for positions and goes back...

[mpac]

I completely agree. There are times that CPU seems to score everytime while i cant make any fg, even if it is a wide open layup or an open jumper. Sometimes it's quite scripted where you need to lose at times hehe. A bit obvious in 2k12.

[deihatein]

That scripted play is the reason I am not playing 2k12 that much. Just when you though you are getting hot, the CPU will then get on a 20-2 run and you will miss every shot, have a hard time getting to the rim and foul like crazy that will result for the CPU to have 10-15 FTA in a quarter

[JWL3]

I don't think it's so much scripted play as it is the dominance of streaks. If you're on a cold streak, the only way to bust out of it seems to be to use a 99 dunker on a fast break in a 1 on none situation. It's that ridiculous. Wide open jumpers - brick. Layups - missed. And before you know it, you're now 20 points down.

[debiler]

debiler, I came up with a workaround for the delayed passing. I believe it makes the game a bit more fun, too. It only works in association mode, though. Turn the game speed up to 65, then lower the player speed to 45 or 40. This is done st the controller select screen by pressing the post up/block button. Unfortunately, 2k has never put this feature in the gameplay options.

It speeds up all the animations, while slowing the movement speed back to normal. Much more responsive game, but smaller shot windows for perfect releases.

It worked! Everything is much more fluent now. The timing on everything (passing, blocking, stealing, reaction on D, even shot release) is way better. It feels... natural. Thanks so much! I'm stll trying to find my style on offense, but things are finally looking up!

Just bumping it again. Since I made the adjustment, all the other problems are almost gone, too. I can't believe it. Although my adjustment was Game Speed: 50, Player Speed: 35. Seriously, everyone. Try fiddling with that setting!

I don't think it's so much scripted play as it is the dominance of streaks. If you're on a cold streak, the only way to bust out of it seems to be to use a 99 dunker on a fast break in a 1 on none situation. It's that ridiculous. Wide open jumpers - brick. Layups - missed. And before you know it, you're now 20 points down.

When that's the case, first thing you gotta do is call a Timeout. It really interrupts both the CPU streak as well as your dry spell. Also, what I do in such situations is get the ball inside and force the opponent into a foul. Freethrows snap the streak, too.

[JWL3]

I'll give it a try. Found the Game Speed setting. But where's the Player Speed setting? Is it called something else? User Quickness?

[Patr1ck]

Read my original post, it tells you exactly where to find it. And no, it is not quickness slider.

[JWL3]

We tried to hit the reb button at the controller select screen but no option for player speed comes up. Preferred Position/Shot Stick/Total Control/Right Stick Passing/Defense, etc. etc. No Player speed.

I have the PC version. This is not just for Association mode, is it?

[Patr1ck]

Only for association mode, but with t search or cheat engine you can change it in any mode. I would show you what offset but my computer won't even post right now and I am posting from my phone.

[JWL3]

Pdub, when your computer is up and running again, please let me know how to do it. I'm up to my eyeballs in frustration over this game.