Freestyle Pass

[JasonLin]

I just came up with this idea about freestyle pass. The basic idea is to totally control the pass by using right analog stick. Hold the Icon Pass button to enable icon pass and freestyle pass, using right analog stick to pass in any direction, or even perform a behind the back pass, fake pass or no look pass. So we can drive into the paint and quickly pass the ball into any teammates' hand. Even in the mid-air, we can still enable freestyle pass by holding the Icon pass button. I think this would add more depth and fun to the game, players can do more exciting plays.

[EGarrett]

I like that. Great idea for how to do it also.

When I play 2004 now the only highlight I care to make is a nice pass, mainly because everything else is too easy. I burn to throw a no-look pass with Magic Johnson and that could actually make it work.

Of course, maybe passing and offensive awareness would be a factor also.

[Colin]

And that way a players passing rating would have an effect, for example if you're using Cezary Trybanski and try a no look it would fly into the stands. I wouldn't use it for every pass though since it would mean holding a button then hitting the analog and would take longer.

[JBalfour4]

Good idea man, Kidd will be able to pass behind back, or do some kind of trick pass. That would really make the game fun! Off the back-board passes too!!!

[matmat8]

It sounds really cool. There would have to be a good pass rating system.
This could actually happen with the analogs stick like you said, but holding the right analolog and the actual pass button is pretty hard, and then to use your left hand you have to let go the left analog which moves your player.
A half of circle backwards could be the behind the back pass and so on...

[Gripni]

NBA Courtside 2002 had that. You used the right stick to control what player you passed to. You passed to the player in the direction of the stick. You couldn't do fancy passes with it, but it's the best passing system I've ever used.

[JasonLin]

Yeah, analog stick pass is in NBA 2K3 as well, but just basic stuffs. It doesn't work perfectly but it's better than just pressing the pass button anyway.

[LiveRules15]

it would be impossible... you couldnt hold down the pass button and move the right anolong stick while moving a player.

How about... you old the pass button and the tap or rotate the left analog stick to pass.

[Colin]

NBA Courtside 2002 had that. You used the right stick to control what player you passed to. You passed to the player in the direction of the stick. You couldn't do fancy passes with it, but it's the best passing system I've ever used.

If you press pass and hold the d-pad or left analog in a direction in NBA Live you pass in that direction, I don't see how it's different.

[dnztravis]

I really like that idea maybe one of the EA SPORTS people may pick up on this. You explained perfectly to. Then they can put in player pass factor in.

[Metsis]

Again, people recycling my ideas... I like the idea that you could do different types of passes, but mid air fancy passing will be impossible in Live 05 atleast... There you control the shooting while in air with the right analog stick and I don't see how this would make it possible for you to suddenly change to passing mode while in air.

I was back then thinking more about a system where you could choose the type of pass you'd make. A direct pass, a bounce pass or a lob pass. So that if a player was covering the passing lane you could go with the lob pass to get it over the defender. Or if the player you'd be passing to was in the low post and a defender hot on his tail, you could put a bounce pass to get the ball to him more safely...

Something needs to be done... Live 2004 still has guys intercepting passes that in reality cannot be intercepted. Like the fast break lob pass... The pass is usually direct in Live 04 and if there's a player on the line of the pass he can intercept it. In reality you always do a lob pass when you are passing that long. There is just no way of doing a direct pass that is half court long, gravity makes sure of that. You can stop the lob if you are right next to the player that makes the pass or right next to the guy who will catch the pass. But half way, no way...

Andrew migth remember this idea of mine... Doing fancy passes, well I would limit them to the players with high passing ratings.

This will be in the game sooner or later and in a form or other... NBA Live has had the direct pass system for quite some time. Don't remember which year implemented it, but in Live 2003 it was pivotal to use as all the players had sticky armpits which sucked in the ball.

[Alcoholic]

Yeah I hate how they can intercept fast break lob passes. Theres also the factor of momentum and these guys can jump high to intercept while doing a quick turnaround and such... One of the biggest things I hate about the passing is that there are VERY RARE lead passes for fast breaks. You don't see guys stop and jump high to catch the ball. You see them run with it and let it bounce so it goes right under their hand.

[dnztravis]

The thing I really want also is a give and go pass button. Say you are DALLAS running the floor and instead of you using the off ball button and trying to switch while your driving. You press a button that will pass to the closes or a teamate who is wide open. Then the teamate would pass it back for you to get an easy drive layup/dunk. this can also work out in Alley Opps and quick passes to other teamates.

[Colin]

If you hold down the pass button you retain control of the player that passed and can run a give and go that way. At least that's what I've heard, I never actually use that.

[gut]

I was back then thinking more about a system where you could choose the type of pass you'd make. A direct pass, a bounce pass or a lob pass. So that if a player was covering the passing lane you could go with the lob pass to get it over the defender. Or if the player you'd be passing to was in the low post and a defender hot on his tail, you could put a bounce pass to get the ball to him more safely...

YES ~~~ !!

it's very annoying when you want to lob the ball to your men but get intercepted because it pass directly.

however, the control would be much more complicated (remember there will be more and more features every year)

[Metsis]

YES ~~~ !!

it's very annoying when you want to lob the ball to your men but get intercepted because it pass directly.

however, the control would be much more complicated (remember there will be more and more features every year)

More features yes, but this wouldn't have to be anymore difficult then that. The great passers could do behind the back passes or one-handed passes or passes off the back board while the barely average passers would do just the basic passes... The free style passing system will more likely be implemented before this, but I'd like to see this as it would be possible to do with the keyboard without any analog sticks.

I've done the following a couple of times in real life... These are basically bounce passes with a twist. I make them look horrible and easy to intercept, but alas, it's a trap. If you put a good spin on the ball and make a bounce pass just right, you can pick off the defender guarding the guy you are passing to. I've had one guy almost land on his face with a pass like this. And ofcourse the guy who the pass was intended to had an easy score after that. With the bounce pass you can really change the balls direction at the bounce.

BTW how many of you have had the "Matrix" effect happening to you on the bball court??? I've felt it a couple of times and man can you create then. You are on a roll... I remember this one time when I had the ball at the threepoint line top of the key and one of my mates was slashing through to the inside and was going to run between two defenders. Well I just rammed a bounce pass that seemed to climb up my mates leg just as he was going between the players. The defenders rammed into each other, my mate on the otherside with the ball made an easy bucket. The defenders were looking in great disbelief and asking how did the ball get to the guy. I said that the ball went between them and they wouldn't believe me. Man that was a great feeling... It all seemed to be happening in slow motion.

[EGarrett]

I was back then thinking more about a system where you could choose the type of pass you'd make. A direct pass, a bounce pass or a lob pass. So that if a player was covering the passing lane you could go with the lob pass to get it over the defender. Or if the player you'd be passing to was in the low post and a defender hot on his tail, you could put a bounce pass to get the ball to him more safely...

You could use the amount of pressure on the pass button to decide it. Lightly tapping it would do a lob, pressing it hard would do a chest pass. That's the system they use in Madden and ESPN. The bounce pass might require something extra.

As for fancy freestyle passing, it wouldn't be that difficult...

You simply press L2 (or whatever your direct pass button is)...then use the freestyle stick.

Tap Left/Right = No-look pass to the nearest teammate on your left/right
Tap Up/Down = No-look pass to the nearest teammate in front or behind you

Roll down to left or down to right = Behind-the-back to the nearest teammate on your left/right
Roll left to down to right or vice verse = No-look behind-the-back to the nearest teammate on your left/right

Click the stick (R3) = Off-the-backboard pass to the nearest player behind you (or back to yourself if there's no one close enough, like And1 or Tracy McGrady in the All-Star game)

Roll left to up = Lob pass to the nearest player on your left
Roll right to up = Lob pass to the nearest player on your right

Roll up to left/right = Pete Maravich/Rafer Alston hand-winding touch pass (move your hands all around the ball, then tap it to the nearest defender on left right)

The no-look pass "freezes" a defender for a second, meaning he can't jump into the passing lane.

The behind-the-back pass is extremely hard to intercept, and can cause defenders to leap into the wrong passing lane (if your pass rating is high enough or their defensive awareness is low enough)

All of this stuff, of course, depends on your player's passing rating. I'd say if a player's pass rating is below 70 he can't perform any of these passes...70-75 he just can do the no-look passes, 75-80 can do no-look and behind the back. 80-85 can do all the passes except the no-look behind-the-back combo and the winding touch pass...85-90 everything except the no-look behind-the-back...and 90 and above can do everything.

It's a lot to write but it's really not that complicated if you think about it.

[Gripni]

NBA Courtside 2002 had that. You used the right stick to control what player you passed to. You passed to the player in the direction of the stick. You couldn't do fancy passes with it, but it's the best passing system I've ever used.

If you press pass and hold the d-pad or left analog in a direction in NBA Live you pass in that direction, I don't see how it's different.

It's very different. With NBA Live, you have to hold a button down and use the movement controls to pass. Most of the time passes go to the wrong person. In NBA Courtside you could pass while you are moving. You don't have to use the pass button. You can hold the pass for as long as you want so if you push the stick in one direction and then you change your mind you can hold it there and shoot. It's completely different and a lot better.

[Littlejor]

Yeah that's cool

I want to see those pointguard giving out pin point passes with style

I also want to see a bounce pass that can be intercepted by the opponent if not properly executed....

[#12]

How about hold L3 and move the right analog stick to pass.

[Jay-Peso]

I think anything like that woud be great. I like the freestyle pass idea because you will have the ability to choose your own pass instead of a random pass.