Game:

NBA 2K23 (2022)

Duration: 28:00

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1

This was a fun one. Aside from the early first quarter hiccups that are almost expected at this point, our group really hit our stride from the closing seconds of the 1st quarter and then on. The team make up for this game was essentially 3 bigs, 1 wing and 1 guard. So rebounding wasn't going to be an issue at all especially because we ran a 2-3 zone. The lack of cohesion in the beginning was really attributed to the pace we were playing at. I think we always want to establish our actions early, but we eventually figure out that we are exponentially better when we slow the pace down, shout out to Smokey for reminding us. It felt like a rout even when the other team cut our lead to 4 early in the 3rd quarter. It just seemed like we were on auto pilot after we established our Zone defense up to that point. Then when we decided to flip the switch we quickly got the score back up to a comfortable margin.

This was is a good one to upload cause it's JohenSauces first REC win in 2K23, so I'm glad we got it in the way that we did, but also that his rebirth build contributed a lot to getting this win.

Here's a couple of player notes:

- Joe: Joe's build this year is not the rugged build we all grew to love in 2K22, but it fits his growing playstyle. He is still that interior scoring presence, that will constantly taxed the interior defense of our opponents with his constant slashing to the rim. But unlike last year where is was just constant cutting, Joe has a more nuanced approach, it just an art form now. Case in point, our possession at 10:21 was initially meant to be a quick three that was capitalized off on a leaked out from a missed free throw. The other team's defense snuffed that out with good transition defense and it became about looking for the best shot. Everyone on the squad got their hands on the ball to try and find an open perimeter shot, and when that wasn't there, Joe, like clock work was open for the base line cut and the easy uncontested dunk.

- Ronnie: Is just our default option 1. This year he just knows how to put himself in a position to score. Whether it's the perimeter shooting from the wings and corners, the base line slashes, or leak outs for the easy bucket; Ronnie is always quick to establish himself as a primary scoring threat. When that happens and the defense starts to key in on him, and his constant movement around in our half court possessions warps the opposing team's defense and allows the rest of the team to score from every where else. I think that really drive's the other team's crazy is that they can send an honestly good contest at Ronnie and he'll still green his shot from distance. The break away for the back board oop to himself is just icing on the cake (25:05).

- Sauce: At level 90, his rebuilt center is already starting to look like a monster. And if I'm being optimistically honest, it's showing Sauce's growth from last year as well. Sauce's tendencies from 2K22 are still present in this year. I think the reason we pushed from him to get back on 2K23 is cause he does so many of the little things that helped free up scoring opportunities for everyone else. Sauce still sets off ball screens that help shooters break away from defenses for open uncontested shots. His growth this year is his cutting, from the off ball screens. When that's synced up with Joe's cuts and Ronnie's cuts, we'll be able to consistently tax the other team's interior defense for the full 24 second possession. Defensively Sauce is already an interior deterrent. And this is without any real badges or understanding how to get himself into the correct position to defend properly. So the fact that he registered 3 blocks is amazing. It should also be of note that the other team's dunk attempts that clank off of the rim due to Sauce's contests don't register as blocks, but are as effective, and there were a couple of those in this game.

Smokey: Smokey is one of the guys we starting squadding up with this year, and is a welcomed addition to any of the squads we run with. In this game, with Sauce at center, Smokey brought out his PF, hence the title of the video. Aside from the jokes and the good times, Smokey knows how to play his part. He's got one of those do it all builds and it was on full display in this game. A lot of what he does is from the wings, most often the right wing. But he does everything from there on offense. Whether it's popping a perimeter shot, or dishing to an open shooter, he rarely makes a bad decision from that position. I think that's why I initiate most of my early actions whether it's a pass for a shot to Ronnie or a pass to Joe on the cut. I know almost instinctively, if those don't become options, I can kick it to Smokey on the other side of the court and he has the basketball IQ and decision making to make the best play off of what he sees in that moment and you see a lot of that in this game.

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