How do you utilize your Playmakers?

While I do enjoy the possibilities of the Playmaker ability, I can't seem to utilize it to its full potential or even use it efficiently for that matter. I haven't touched a NBA Live game in a long time. The last NBA game I played was 03 for my PC. Infact, it was babysitting my 8-year nephew (and he beat me, uhm..) and playing 06 on his PS2 that sparked my interest in grabbing 07 for the PC. So perhaps it's my non-existant experience with the Superstar types and all of their uses that's prohibiting me from making good use of the Playmaker.

I've found great uses for the other ones. For example, when I use Marion's turnaround jumper when he's playing in the Inside Scorer style, or Steve Nash's fake-pass and jumper in his Shooter style. However, whenever I seem to try to make a fancy pass with him using the Playmaker ones (I looked at the FSS diagrams posted in the sticky in this forum index), it just seems to be a resulting turnover or a bad pass to someone who's outside the key or not even relevant to the play. So here's my question:

How do you guys use the Playmaker ability efficiently? One obvious use is on a fastbreak. Once I get Steve Nash running down the center and I have Diaw or Bell (for example) crashing on the wings, it's use becomes pretty apparent there, to add a little flare to the play. However, other than that I can't find a suitable use for said passes that edges them above just hitting the direct pass key. Is there anyway to direct the Playmaker pass as to whom it's being passed to? Or is automatic to a certain player that's A) open B) near the basket C) or random? Perhaps the Playmaker passes are just intended to get a little seperation between the receiver and his defender?

Any elaboration or tactics or tips on how to use the Playmaker better and efficiently would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

well, i don't have a very sharp idea but i can tell u something...

1- call a pick and roll, when the other player rolles pass to him, both of the two defenders will go to the man in the post(the man who rolled), then pass it again to the PG and shoot a 3 with him...

PS: This tactic worked with me in live 05 and 06... I used Salim Stoudamire, Kirk Hinrich, Steve Nash...you see... this tactic works better if you're PG is a good 3 pointer...

well, i don't have a very sharp idea but i can tell u something...

1- call a pick and roll, when the other player rolles pass to him, both of the two defenders will go to the man in the post(the man who rolled), then pass it again to the PG and shoot a 3 with him...

PS: This tactic worked with me in live 05 and 06... I used Salim Stoudamire, Kirk Hinrich, Steve Nash...you see... this tactic works better if you're PG is a good 3 pointer...

That's actually a great way to get the passer open. I've done this a few times with Steve Nash to shoot some rocks when I was down a few points. Infact, I usually am always calling plays as I've studied the list (I think it's on page two) of plays and how to set them up and execute them. I drew myself little diagrams of each play just for my own reference.

I mean more specifically, the -tricky passes-, I guess is how you'd say it. When Nash throws it around his back, behind his head, the no looker.. etc etc. Great looking passes with the awe effect, but I'm looking on how to use them decently. Like.. using them on a fastbreak can totally throw off the defenders, but outside of that.. I can't find any solid use of them.

Thanks for the reply. Anyone else?

lebron, what if you dont wanna use your PG or live and die by the 3? Its not a smart game and its why online you can beat most people cuz they get down by 4 and start popping 3s. Sickness...i have yet to get the hang of this superstar...you'd thinkg if you held the trigger and then direct pass it'd do a fancy pass that you could choose but ites not the case *sighs* but yeah i'm just gonna second sick's question and move to the rest of the forum

I generally don't use the Playmakes FSS Abilities unless I'm on a fast break, having a wing player running ahead or beside me, knowing I want to give them the ball the entire time. Then, I'll just use one of the passes to get it to him, and have him go for a dunk. Another time when the FSS passing abilities may become useful (I haven't tried this yet) is in traffic. If you sense the animation where you're doubled and you fumble the ball looming, see if you can sneak a ball into the paint or something.

Ahh, good one bigh0rt! I completely overlooked that potential use for it. Gonna have to try that myself. One time I set up a game where I accidently put my controller on the other team when I wanted to play as the Suns in a Play Now game.

Steve Nash did a really, really nice drive down the left wing of the key and some of my players crashed into the paint. Then he immediately switched into Playmaker style (CPU had him in shooter) and did an amazing behind the head pass back to Bell who was standing in the left corner all by himself. Needless to say it was some of the sweetest looking 3 points I've ever seen. Since that little incident I want to learn how to use the Playmaker ability like that.

Isn't behind the back pass sometimes performed when you're running on turbo and passing to player behind you?

Anyway I don't understand what do you want? Fancy passes around the perimeter? Fastbreaking is were you mostly use those kinds of passes in real life and in Live.

Isn't behind the back pass sometimes performed when you're running on turbo and passing to player behind you?

Anyway I don't understand what do you want? Fancy passes around the perimeter? Fastbreaking is were you mostly use those kinds of passes in real life and in Live.

Put a game on CPU vs CPU. See how effective a good Playmaker using the "fancy passes" really is. Steve Nash is a good example. I'm asking how to use it effectively like that because it puts players out of position and creates some pretty good openings. I find it impossible since you can't direct the Playmaker pass as to whom it's going to.


Take my Steve Nash to Bell example above in my prior post. Need better input than this. Thanks though. Anyone else?

Last edited by Sickness on Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

A question poped up in my head and it could be related - how do you direct an alley-oop pass? I've heard you can do that this year...

AFAIK all you have to do is press the alley-oop button when one of your players has a clear shot to the basket. Fastbreaks, or a mismatch down low are prime examples. I wouldn't attempt doing an alley-oop with someone with a low pass rating though.

Because I've tried it, and Joe-Schmoe that's sitting in the 6th row up got hit in the face with the ball. Amare Stoudemire to Marion was a bad choice.

The easiest way would be to drive the lane on one end, and do that little scoop pass to whoever is inside. Since the controller is already pointing that way.
A hard bounce pass to the oppsite side of the court is also possable, very risky but brilliant when it works.
And, of course, if you have extremely good timing behind the back or around the head to an open player at the gunner's nest just kills. Moving the right analog at just the right time so you hit the correct guy just ain't worth it for me, though.
Not shure if it works the same in '07, but last year throwing a FSS pass gave the reciever a huge boost to their FG rating, a FSS pass into a FSS shot was automatic points no matter how out of position the shooter was.

Not shure if it works the same in '07, but last year throwing a FSS pass gave the reciever a huge boost to their FG rating, a FSS pass into a FSS shot was automatic points no matter how out of position the shooter was.

wow.. i didn't notice that last year. i thought freestyle passing was only for aesthetics.