The greatest basketball lineups in the NBA will attribute their success to many things, but few are more important than the team’s defense. Of course, good teams need a strong attacking strategy to come out on top, but the great ones will come at their opposition on both ends of the court.
NBA 2K24 brings about another instalment of the popular sporting franchise, one that pays homage to the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant. With a plethora of game modes to try out, including immersive MyCareer and MyTeam modes, there is something for everyone who shares a love for the sport. Players should get familiar with the fundamentals, especially when it comes to mastering defensive strategies in NBA 2K24.
How To Defend In NBA 2K24
Defense comes in a great many forms in basketball, and not all of them involve direct contact with the ball. To be a good defender, players need to understand the effect that off-ball pressure can have on their opposition, as well as when to use aggressive strategies while avoiding conceding a foul. Players starting out in NBA 2K24, should learn to perform Intense-D, Steals, and Blocks.
Intense-D
The term Intense-D refers to a player taking a more aggressive approach to defending their basket, by applying direct pressure to the ball carrier. This is a common, solid strategy. Closing the distance between attacker and defender will restrict movement, obscure the attacker’s view of the rim and their teammates, and can sometimes force a turnover from the opponent.
To perform Intense-D, hold the L2/LT button on PlayStation and Xbox respectively. While this is held, players can continue to shuffle in any direction maintain the pressure they are putting on their opponent, regardless of the direction they face or move.
To coincide with Intense-D, players may want to further disrupt their match-up by moving their hands upward or outwards to obscure vision and potentially get a touch on the ball, which can result in a turnover. This can be achieved by moving the right stick in the direction they wish their player’s arms to move.
Steals
Often considered a risky play, but one that can definitely pay off if successful, stealing the ball is an effective defensive strategy that can swing the momentum of a match in a heartbeat. In NBA 2K24 this is no different, but players should use this strategy sparingly, as they are more likely to commit a foul than record a steal.
To perform a steal, players will need to be in proximity to the ball-handling player and press the Square/X button or move the right stick in the direction of the ball. This is best done while the opposing player is executing a dribbling move, or in instances where they are off balance. Generally, it is a low-percentage play when the opposition has full control of the ball or is holding it. However, it’s worth attempting if players have fouls to spare and have not tried to steal in a while.
Blocks
Like steals, blocks are a difficult strategy to master, but can turn the tide of a game if performed at the right time. As is the case with steals, there is a good chance that a block attempt may result in a foul, but generally, the chances of success are higher with blocks.
To perform a block, press the Triangle/Y button during an opposing player’s shot attempt. If the jump is timed in unison with the ball-handling player, there is a good chance of it paying off. As is the case with all other statistics in NBA 2K24, the greater the player’s block rating, the higher the chance of a successful play
Blocking can still be an effective defensive strategy even if the player doesn’t make contact with the ball. By pressing the block button, the player is performing a vertical challenge with the shooter. Even if a block doesn’t occur, this challenge will still be a significant obstacle and will have a high chance of putting off the shooting player, except in cases where they make a perfect release.
NBA 2K24 is now available on PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC