Anyone who watched the 2010 NBA playoffs can learn a lesson from the Phoenix Suns and their highly entertaining brand of basketball. The Suns can flat out play, with gorgeous passing, pinpoint shooting and fancy dribbling. It’s often poetry in motion, and it has made Phoenix a fan favorite in the NBA. Still, like years before, the Suns failed to reach the final, and defense was once again their undoing. Steve Nash, Amare Stoudamire and the rest of the Suns put the ball in the basket plenty throughout their series with the Los Angeles Lakers, but they just couldn’t get stops on the defensive end of the court. When all was said and done, the Lakers advanced in six games, primarily because they played great defense when it mattered most. Phoenix, on the other hand, watched from home once again, all because they couldn’t.

First, it’s important to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your team on the defensive end of the floor. Take a look at your starting roster and determine the best defensive match-ups, along with potential issues your squad may deal with, depending on the opposition. Is your point guard slow moving laterally, meaning he will struggle to contain speedy players like Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul and Deron Williams? If so, you may want to consider switching your shooting guard onto the opposing point guard, using your poor defender on a weaker opposing player. On the other hand, you may have undersized big men, meaning your guards will have to keep themselves between their men and the basket. If your center is a shot blocking force, you can try the opposite strategy. Instead, identify your center on the court and force the opposing ball handler to dribble towards him. In this case, an open lay-up will often end up spiked back towards the shooter. So, what’s the underlying theme? Understand your roster, identify match-ups and adjust accordingly.

Another important defensive tip is to box out opposing players and avoid giving up offensive rebounds. This is absolutely vital, because giving up rebounds means giving your opponent extra possessions, a sure recipe for disaster. Think about it – you might shoot at a higher percentage than the other team, but if you take less shots, it can still end with a loss. When a shot goes up towards the rim, make sure every player on your squad has found their man and keeps them away from the ball. Not only will you avoid giving up easy baskets inside, you’ll also be able to start the fast-break by passing the ball quickly up the court. In this case, defense leads to offense in the form of an easy basket, once again demonstrating the importance of both getting the stop and getting the ball back.

One other defensive factor to discuss is the choice between playing man-to-man or zone. In man-to-man defense, each of your players guards one opposing player, following them around the court during every possession. On the other hand, zone defense means that each player is responsible for guarding one spot on the floor.

To make sure this happens, make sure each of your players puts a body on their man when the shot goes up. Resist the urge to sneak down the court for a chance at scoring, because that decision can easily backfire. If you leave your man too early, they will simply grab the ball for an easy put-back basket. Think about it – every extra rebound that your opponent gets during a game is an extra shot opportunity, and a much better chance at victory. For that reason, you must pay extra attention to rebounding.

Basically, use your zone at times, switching with man-to-man. By playing great defense, you will improve your chances of coming out on top in NBA Live 10, especially when you battle tough opponents in the online world. Use these tips, grab your PS3 or Xbox 360 and start gaming!

The writer is a game reporter. Playing in different sports Xbox Live games tournaments, he writes tips on the subject of the best xbox video game walkthroughs that he revealed himself.

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