NBA 2k14

[TCrouch]

Question for the experts. With my SG I've got my on ball defense at the cap, which I think is 90. I have my quickness up in the high 80's and I can get around the court really, really well. Overall I can defend pretty well, but then I decided to try out a back-to-the-basket Center.

I can score like Shaq with the post-up moves and really take it to guys with hooks and dunks, but I CANNOT play defense for crap. I'm not talking about the post defense where you try to defend them backing you down, but I'm struggling with just staying in position. Seems the animations take me a good 2 or 3 meters out of where I wanted to go, and then I give up open passes for dunks to the opposing center. I try to simply play off a bit and cut off angles, but they run right by me anyway. With a 7'2" monster in the paint, you'd think this wouldn't be a problem. But does anybody have any tips for the My Career style of playing 1-on-1 defense?

I see lots of tips on playing general defense, but I haven't seen a really good tutorial on when to use the LT to try to lock them up, when to back them off--do you use the R stick to try and quickly slide across into lanes or guess where they're going, or how to time those defensive rebounds, etc. It seems to be a hell of a lot of fun on offense, but on defense I'm just stuck there with my finger up my nose as they take me to school.

[Bakes]

I was drafted by the hawks later in the first round. After averaging 19pts off the bench about half way through the year I still haven't been able to crack the starting lineup and asked for a trade. I had some contenders interested in me and picked out 3 teams that looked promising. Well, apparently the hawks gm could give 2 shits about that and I ended up getting dealt to the last place Memphis Grizzlies where I still come off the bench. They gave Mike Miller, and a first and second round pick for me. Oh well, time to start some trouble in Memphis and get shipped off again.

[greggsand]

I was drafted by the hawks later in the first round. After averaging 19pts off the bench about half way through the year I still haven't been able to crack the starting lineup and asked for a trade. I had some contenders interested in me and picked out 3 teams that looked promising. Well, apparently the hawks gm could give 2 shits about that and I ended up getting dealt to the last place Memphis Grizzlies where I still come off the bench. They gave Mike Miller, and a first and second round pick for me. Oh well, time to start some trouble in Memphis and get shipped off again.

My guy I'd on the jazz. I'd die to be traded!!!

[greggsand]

I was drafted by the hawks later in the first round. After averaging 19pts off the bench about half way through the year I still haven't been able to crack the starting lineup and asked for a trade. I had some contenders interested in me and picked out 3 teams that looked promising. Well, apparently the hawks gm could give 2 shits about that and I ended up getting dealt to the last place Memphis Grizzlies where I still come off the bench. They gave Mike Miller, and a first and second round pick for me. Oh well, time to start some trouble in Memphis and get shipped off again.

My guy is on the jazz. I'd die to be traded!!!

[Bakes]

The option to request a trade came up about half way through the season during one of those meetings with the GM where he asks you how things are going. Then a game or 2 later he asked me to select my top 3 destinations from a list of teams that were interested in me. Another game or 2 later and I was traded. I'm not sure if something specific triggers that meeting. I was in good standing with the team at the time.

[TCrouch]

For what it's worth, I toiled away on the bench for 35 games in Philadelphia before they finally put me in the starting lineup. I was routinely the best player on the court, but I played good little soldier and accepted the GM's recommendation that I stay on the bench even though the coach wanted to put me in--I was supportive of teammates, stayed out of trouble by not going out, etc.

My career player is like the Peyton Manning of basketball. He's a PR robot. Now if I could just learn to play like the Peyton Manning of basketball, I'd be in even better shape. My Sixers have toiled to a 37-24 record so far, which is acceptable but not exactly dominant.

[Sudz]

I ended up on the Sixers (earlier games led me to be on the TWolves, Hawks and Jazz, but I started over after the draft) as well and am about 10 games in and am the 6th man. Part of me wants to be dealt, but I'd hate to end up someplace crappy. (crappier than Philly is tough, but possible.)

[Bakes]

What difficulty and quarter length are you guys using in mycareer? I've had quarters set to 12min but think I might scale it back now that I'm playing more. Hope it doesn't throw the stats out of wack.

[Inuyasha]

I'm addicted to myTeam now. It's like EA's FUT but more simplified. It's very challenging. Took me about 6 games just to get my first victory.

[Leebo33]

After so many years of gaming, rarely do experiences feel "new" anymore. If anything, skipping all of the career stuff in NBA of past years made this one feel completely fresh, and totally immersive.

I feel the same way. I decided to give this a shot after reading the posts in this thread. I hardly ever play the career modes (except a little bit in The Show), but this one really has me hooked. I was picked by Portland and I've worked my way up to 6th man in the rotation after a handful of solid games. I am building myself as a power forward with a mid range game that can run as that's the style I play in real life (when my knees allow it as I inch closer to 46). I like the variety and as corny as it sounds it does help me imagine really being out there and there is a great sense of reward when I set that pick, box out, position perfectly for the offensive rebound, or have the correct spacing on the floor that opens up someone else. The solid AI of my teammates really helps too.

[Brando70]

In my Bulls franchise, I decided to start with a healthy Rose since that's how he began the season. About a dozen games in, he tore his MCL and was done for the season. I figured I'd press on and see how I could do, but a couple games later, Noah went down with the same injury. I started a fire sale and traded Boozer and Deng, but it's almost too depressing to continue.

[fanatic]

Just a quick question about the Career mode...

Do you play the whole game - same camera angles as usual - but only control your player? If so, what happens when you are on the bench? Thanks!

[TCrouch]

Default camera was different (for me, at least). I play with sort of a broadcast camera normally, and it was a north/south camera in my player mode.

When you go to the bench, you literally watch from the bench. You can move the R stick left and right to look around, or it focuses on the play if you don't do anything. You have the option to hit a button to sim to your next shift.

[Bakes]

I think the my career default camera is "turbo". You can switch it to whatever you'd like though.

[fanatic]

Thanks guys...sounds like a great mode.

[Inuyasha]

any tips on playing D? I am playing on PRO default. Getting killed every game.

[Aristo]

any tips on playing D? I am playing on PRO default. Getting killed every game.

Same here.

[Sudz]

Has anyone had any issues with the wrong GM/coach reactions happening when you select certain responses?

I did say I had a beef with Jason Richardson (f*** that clown nose BS) and ended up telling the GM that I'd let it go...next thing I know the "trade me right f***in now" cutscene/dialog starts playing.

[Brando70]

any tips on playing D? I am playing on PRO default. Getting killed every game.

I have not been consistent yet, but I think you are better laying off the intense D button until someone is ready to take an action (like if the shot clock is running down). It's easier to keep the ball handler in front of you if you are moving without holding L2. At the same time, I like holding L2 down when I think the player is about to take a shot because it will contest the shot and can help you from biting on pump fakes.

Also, if they get on a roll and an opposing player gets hot, call a TO if you can. It does help cool them down.

[Bakes]

Agreed - try not to overuse the intense D trigger and also don't go for too many steals. You get stuck in that animation for a second and can be easily blown by. Same thing with the intense D. It ends up being more useful guarding around the perimeter (auto shot contest). If you hold the trigger when someone is trying to go to the basket it does slow you down a bit and make it easier to beat you with speed to the hoop.

One thing I've had success with is blocking shots. I try to block most things around the rim and I've had success even with my 6'4 shooting guard who has like a 20 shot block rating. Hitting the button just as they begin their shot/layup animation seems to work well.

[TCrouch]

Yep, laying off intense D helps (I asked about defense tips earlier and nobody had a thing to say, screw you guys!!!) as I've discovered--but my other best friend has been going into the options and setting "contest shot" to "always" instead of intense D. That way I can just focus on staying in front of a guy and if they take a shot, I always contest it. I don't have to use intense D at all.

I can shut guys down with my SG, but I still suck with a Center.

[Inuyasha]

thanks everyone for the tips.

where do you find the instruction manual in the game for next gen? or is it not in the game? I know on 360 it was. can't seem to find it in all the menus.

[ScoopBrady]

I think you press what used to be the select button but I could be wrong.

I have only played three games in myCareer mode. My first game I hit the A button to skip and it gave me the choice of celebrating with my team or stay on the bench during a timeout. I didn't see the court. My second game I didn't see the court. Finally in my third game I got in with 8 minutes and finished the game. I had 4 points and held Kobe off the scoresheet but apparently played shitty with a B- grade.

Is this how everyone's career starts? Just curious if it is a little different for everybody or if it is scripted. Kind of takes away replay value if that happens all of the time. But I guess the point is to stick with one career.

[Pete1210]

I have only played three games in myCareer mode. My first game I hit the A button to skip and it gave me the choice of celebrating with my team or stay on the bench during a timeout. I didn't see the court. My second game I didn't see the court. Finally in my third game I got in with 8 minutes and finished the game...

Is this how everyone's career starts?

Yes.

[Leebo33]

Yeah, I'm 17 games in and there are a few scripted moments that are a bit annoying. However, it doesn't take long to see your minutes increase and I'm already the 6th man with almost as many minutes as the starters. I had a great game last night where I had 13 rebounds in the first half, but only ended with 15. I ended up 1 assist shy of my first triple double. We lost and someone tweeted that I was looking to pass too much rather than score, which was probably true as I was forcing passes and had 5 turnovers.

The concept of VC and having to be online is dangerous in theory but in practice right now it hasn't impacted me in this mode yet. In 8-10 hours of play in this mode I haven't had any connectivity issues. I use the companion app so I'm getting 1.5-2.5k in "free" VC every day.