NBA 2K23: Best Defensive Settings Guide

Defense in NBA 2K23 is referred to as defensive strategies used to prevent the opposing team to score points. Do you want to beat the opponent easily by not allowing them to score? We have a saying; Defense is the best offense. Read below to find out the best Defensive Settings Guide in NBA 2K23.

Best Defensive Settings Guide

How well you defend can be greatly affected by your defensive settings. If there’s one thing that we can all agree on, offense is overpowered in this game. There’s no other way to match that but to have the best defense as you possibly can. If you want to start getting those blocks and steals numbers up, and ultimately keep the opposing team from scoring, make sure to read on and change the coach game plan with these settings:

On Ball Pressure: Change to Smother (ALL) – this option will make your defenders crowd their matchup as closely as possible which is great if you want to pressure the opposing team more.

Off Ball Pressure: Change to Tight (ALL) – it has to be on the Tight option so the opposing team doesn’t get any space. If you put it on the Deny Ball option, opposing team will keep on backdoor cutting you for days. If you put it on Moderate option, there will be open shooters on every corner. You don’t want that.

On Ball Screen: Change to Switch (ALL) – you will need to switch. In case you didn’t know, you cannot be running small players in this game anymore. Height is basically key to winning. With the Switch option turned on, you’ll have no problem having problems with height. You also make sure that you get the best matchup for your defenders every time especially on the pick-and-roll.

Force Direction: Change to Automatic (ALL) – It has to be both and automatic. If you put the Middle option on, opposing team will go baseline. If you turn on Baseline, then opposing team will go middle. You don’t want them doing that, you need to have both.

On Ball Screen (Center): Change to Automatic (ALL) – similar to the previous explanation about On Ball Screens, turn this to Automatic. Doing so will make your centers react smarter to pick-and-rolls.

Hedge: Change to Automatic (ALL) – turning this option to Automatic will make your defenders much smarter at adjusting. The hedge setting effects pick and roll defense – specifically how the guy guarding the screener defends it. For guys that are good at driving, you usually want to put a ‘hard’ hedge on them. This option just does that.

Hedge Center: Change to Automatic (ALL) – similar to the previous one as well, turning this option on will make your centers smarter at defending and adjusting.

Stay Attached: Change to Yes – this refers to the your defender’s hedge defense. Turning this on will make your defenders react and pressure pick-and-rolls much better.

Off-Ball Screen: Change to Go Over – the opposing team will be calling plays. You’ll want to go over not under or they’ll easily get catch-and-shoots.

Double Team Perimeter: Change to Manual (ALL) – you don’t want your defenders randomly double teaming unnecessarily. Turning this to Manual will prevent that from happening and lets you have more control.

Post: Change to Automatic (ALL) – you don’t want your defenders doing the other options. You want your defenders to be as flexible as possible.

Double Team Post: Change to Manual (ALL) – again, you don’t want the compute deciding when to double teams for you. Turn this to Manual to prevent that from happening.

Switch Rules Off Ball: Change to Auto (ALL) – again, you want your defenders to be flexible in terms of reacting to this type of offense.

Pre-Rotate: Change to No (ALL) – you don’t want this turned on. If so, you’ll see the opposing team having open shooters everywhere.

Screen Help Rules: Change to No Help – this is a 2K stable and has been for years. Always go for the No Help option. Having help will let the opposing team taking advantage of your defenders. If that happens, there will be open threes everywhere and you don’t want that.

Drive Help Rules: Change to No Help – again, same explanation. You don’t want the opposing team to take advantage of your defense.

NOTE: For the other options not mentioned, keep in mind to keep them as is. Also, set all the setting with the “No Help” option to No Help so you’re not left with a disadvantage.

This is our Best Defensive Settings Guide for NBA 2K23. Also, if you don’t find the settings we suggested fit for your desired results, you can always try to mix things up and experiment. With that said, this settings guide hopefully helps you out in getting your defense in shape!

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