observations 5 games into my franchise (on hardest, no sliders yet. )
1. Computer is MUCH better at shutting down penetration on the fast break. This was one grip i had last year, it was far to easy to take it right to the cup with a guy back. This year they cut you off and make either take a layup from the side of the tin or pass it off. Also, your teamates chasing you do a better job of reading when thier defender is to overcommited to the break and spotting up behind the arc.
2. Much better computer offense this year, instead of standing around while the PG has the ball, which they did far to much last year, the computer will rotate and run weak screens, as well as pick and roll/pops. the computer is also MUCH smarter on the fast break. last year the computer had one move "im going stright to the tin, feel free to take a charge. who cares that its 3 v 1? im not passing"
this year, the computer will look for people spotting up/ pass off to a teamate with a better lane
3. franchise is much improved, the whole website interface that links you impressive highlights, box scores, injury news, trade rumors, ect is great. To much last year, franchise felt like your team was the focus, and you barley saw the other players in the NBA. now if kobe has ripped off 3 games ina row where he's done something great, i'll see a story about it. if a team is shopping a guy, i'll see the "arrtest on the block?" rumor story. its awesome.
4. the ability to edit the incoming draft class= long overdue and welcome.
I didn't have a lot of tiem to play last night since i was back and forth with the debate, but i did get in a couple games of 21, a 2 v. 2 game, and a fantasy draft.
One thing that really stood out is the the game is A LOT faster. Dribbling moves were easier to control last year, but very rarely did they actualy get you anywhere. I was playing with Rodney Stuckey and was amazed at how quick and deceptive the dribbling moves are. It will take some getting used to...
Another observation - it's a lot harder to play defense on mismatches. In my 2 v. 2 game, i was playing with Stuckey and Kevin Love versus Russell Westbrook and Yi Jianlian (i know, weird teams),a couple of times I was forced to D up Westbrook with Love and he just abused me. i loved it though, in last years game you simply hold down left trigger and all of a sudden Dikembe Mutumbo is stride for stride with Allen Iverson.
fantasy Draft results: OKC Thunder
C - D. Howard
PF - K. Love
SF - Peja
SG - R. Fernandez
PG - Barbosa
Can't wait to bomb threes and throw down foolish dunks on the computer.
yea, i noticed this too and was pleased. I had to D up deron with rondo, and the computer used his size and strength advantage to get closer to the bucket. I also had to defend lebron with mcants on a switch with pierce, and he took me to the cup for one and the foul.
I love how they changed lock on defense so that you can click with the other stick to shade a certain way. I also like that the computer isn't blind to it anymore and that its, as you said, alot more fair now. so much for the days of defending CP3 with perk
the afore mentioned matchup between rondo and dwill, i stared shading him to go to his left, sicne he went that way 3 times to the tune of 2 assists and a blow buy, and he faked left, crossed right to the open side and went right by me. I was pleasently stunned that the AI was that smart.
going off that point, the computer is a much better drafter this year. One of the main gripes i had was that the computer overlooked everything but the overall rating of a player in recent years.
As i mentioned in a post above, i create 4-5 friends of mine and let them get drafted. i create them as like, low to mid 70's guys with alot of potentail. in previous drafts, they always were around until thier ratings got called.
Not so this year, after my first 3 picks i went to SF's and looked for one of my creates that i knew was a 71 to come off the bench and groom to be good in a few years. Thier were plenty of 85ish SF's left. Imagine my suprise when i saw that th player i wanted had been drafted.
also, my fantasy celtics draft roster (which i intentiaonaly undershot, wanted to build a bit.)
PG Rondo
SG macants
SF pierce
PF Derek lee
C dalembert
bench
gomes
house
TA
r. evans
Turif