Those who pick upNBA 2K22for the first time and try to get into the action quickly are in for a rude awakening and will probably demand a refund. This series has grown in complexity over the years and that means it’s jam-packed with nuanced and difficult to execute moves that take time to practice and perfect.
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Nobody comes into this game and masters dribble-moves, post play, and aggressive defense right away. These things come with time and are part of the learning process. These are some other parts ofNBA 2K22that give players fits at the beginning.
Updated on May 10th, 2022 by Hodey Johns:Any tip that can avoid being the object of scorn online is a welcome one. And there are plenty of places where players can go wrong, especially new gamers in the franchise. It’s a fun and rewarding experience but it takes as much prep work as it does practice. Simply making a cool player and joining a favorite team isn’t just going to make for bad results, it could make for disastrous results, up to and including getting a spot on the bench for an entire career. Don’t let it happen! This list has been updated with a few new tips for anyone that wants to be competent the very moment that their sneakers hit the court.
13Not Spending Enough Time Testing
Oftentimes, rookies get a general feel for a position, accept that it does well enough, and then they go straight to MyCareer. Butevery point guard online has a perfect build. It all comes down to making those tweaks and getting every inch out of the character.
There is no limit to how many times a build can be tested. But once players spend hours, Virtual Currency (VC), and unlock items for that player, there is no getting it back. The process of making a MyPlayer can, and should, take hours.
12Ignoring What The Defense Gives Them
There is nothing wrong withmaking the best three-point shooter to ever walk the earth. But if gamers become too obvious and take the same shot every time, opponents, both human and AI, will figure it out and adjust to stop the shot.
So if this happens, players can either keep trying to shoot and keep missing, or they can drive in for an easy layup. It’s all about reading the defense and doing what they give, not purely playing to player strengths.
11Chucking The Ball
“Chuckers” are an issue in every rec league across the nation. A player on a team will take unworthy shots or drive toward a basket that is completely defended. Eventhe best dunking build possiblecan’t win a battle against triple coverage.
The problem can get worse inNBA 2K22because the other players aren’t physically there to tell somebody to knock it off. Smart shots are the name of the game. Not even the game’s best player shoots when well-covered, and that’s an example that should be followed, not resisted.
10Staying On Man During A Defensive Breakdown
Man-to-man defense is amazing. For players that can fight through the screen, it’s preferable to the alternative, which is switching off. That way, no mismatches happen and the other team’s best player can get matched against a great defender to neutralize him. But even the best plans can go up in smoke.
During fast breaks or when another player gets stuck on a screen, go over and help out. Yes, sometimes that means that the matched player is open for a free shot. But it’s better to do that than allow uncontested dunks and layups at the basket.
9Simulating Games
There’s no denying that playoff games are more exciting than regular-season games. But skipping them is a bad idea. Playing games leads to higher OVR ceilings, badge points, and VC for boosts and attributes. Those three reasons alone should be enough.
Perhaps nothing suffers more than the role-playing element, though. Players that simulate their games will play no better than their player’s OVR. Even at 99, sometimes the AI gives the player a poor performance and it’s all over the headlines. Just don’t do it.
8Lack Of Participation In The Stamina Fight
The scoreboard is a result of what happens on the court. Scoring will happen when players make smart choices employ solid tactics. And one of the best and most overlooked tactics is the stamina battle. Yet it’s also one of the most important.
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An empty stamina meter, in some games, simply slows a runner’s speed down. But inNBA 2K22, it also lowers accuracy, makes them unable to stop post scorers, weakens their screens, and more. Use strength and tight defense and make opponents use their stamina early so they’ll be weaker later on.
7Not Calling Plays
Because the actual gameplay is conducted through a player or team’s eyes, it’s understandable that gamers don’t know that they can be the coach, too. They’re missing out on a system that can give them an advantage on every play.
By using the playbook and calling for a play on court, players can get somebody open on a three-ball, ask for a screen, or change the defense to stop certain players or style of shooting. Teams that always seem to have the upper hand usually do thanks to changing the plays.
6Forgetting To Update Their Animations
Animations are every bit as critical as the attributes that govern them. A layup with an easily blockable animation is straight-up inferior to one that is executed in a safe, expeditious manner. Badges can help, but ultimately if a hand gets on the ball, it’s getting blocked.
This needs to be a process that goes hand-in-hand with progression. At first, the best shots and dribbles are going to be locked behind a statistical barrier. As the player gets better, these animations should be updated consistently.
5Joining Online Modes Too Early
Fresh after making a MyPlayer and hopping online, there is a tidal wave of minimum-level players that hit the hoops and attempt to compete against online players. Take a guess at how well these minimum-level players do against a level 99 that has been putting in work?
Besides just losing, it upsets other teammates, and rightfully so. They are expected to pick up dead weight on their team and likely lose the game before it begins. It wasted everyone’s time and burns a lot of bridges. Level up a few times before going online.
4Playing MyTeam Without Playing MyCareer
MyTeam is a fun mode that can be ridiculously expensive for players that want to use the best of the best cards. Getting the VC for a pack that will greatly help the team happens very, very slowly during these games. Thankfully, MyCareer is far more liberal with handing out VC.
The VC earned in these games is not tied to MyCareer. Use this mode as a cash cow, playing a few games, earning several thousand VC in the process, then cash in with MyTeam. Player wallets will be grateful for this tactic.
