Hardwood Tips

NBA 2K6 is out and about and causing a stir of appreciation from original Xbox® and Xbox 360™ players, but like any game, there are those that could use a helping hand. Whether you're a veteran looking for an extra edge or a casual gamer that needs all the help you can get, these tips should help get you on your way.

Flash in action.

Take the Charge
Just like football games online, there are always a couple of ever-present strategies your opponents will use, and constantly slashing into the lane is one of them. There's a reason why this strategy doesn't work every time in real-life basketball, though, and you can stop this nonsense short by perfecting your "take the charge" technique. When you see someone dive into the lane, switch off to a defender down in the paint, position yourself in front of the charger, and press the B button. If your feet are set and you're outside the arc under the basket, you'll draw the charge.

Context-Sensitive Stealing
The art of basketball theft is no longer a one-button affair. Use the right stick to instinctually swipe at the ball, but you can't just press the stick in a random direction. Couple things to bear in mind:

• If someone spins or turns past you down in the paint, press down on the right stick to swipe down on the ball as they go up for the shot.
• If the player with the ball is in front of you, always press in the direction of the ball (e.g. to the right if it's in their left hand).
• Don't reach from behind. You'll get called for the foul more often than not.
• Defend the passing lanes. If you have a non-shooter locked down on the perimeter (e.g. they already picked up the ball and can't move), lay off them a bit and guard the passing lanes. Press in the direction of the ball as it's passed, and you'll have a good shot of intercepting the ball.

Not in my lane.

Power Block
Ben Wallace may command the power of the 'fro, but he's also got phenomenal defensive game to back it up. Thus, when you see the Big Aristotle rumbling down the lane for a power dunk, you're going to want to meet him at the rack with all you've got. When you have these moments to prepare, make sure you hold down the right trigger before pressing Y to block. This enables the Power Block, giving you a better chance at thwarting the shot.

Dual Control
This feature is new, but it's crucial for success. All great teams have great movement, but much of that movement is controlled or generated by the floor general (usually the point guard) seeing the floor, and then directing traffic. This is what Dual Player Control allows. Press Y to select the player you want to direct, and then use the D-Pad to point him in the right direction. A couple of tips for general use:

• Drive and Kick: Take a good shooting player out from the interior and direct them outside. Then, drive the player you're controlling into the lane. You'll likely draw a double team and the attention of other opponents. Sling a quick pass out to the shooter you just pulled out to give them an open shot.
• Clear Out: This is especially good for high-quality one-on-one players (e.g. Ray Allen, Dwyane Wade—yes, that's spelled right). Take the one-on-one player off to a corner around the three-point line, and then direct all your players over to the other side of the basket. This creates a "clear out," and lets you work your magic against your defender with less chance of a double team.
• Post Up: If you see a low-post player hanging about on the perimeter, direct him towards the basket and lob the ball inside for a quick low-post move.

Swipe that ball!

Like most sports games of late, NBA 2K6 is getting closer and closer to the real thing, so good videogame basketball strategy is the same as good strategy in the sport itself. With a marriage of good basic b-ball knowledge and an understanding of the game mechanics, you'll be well on your way to greatness.

Note: All screenshots from NBA 2K6 for Xbox 360.

Article by Alex McLain