How to Play Defense in NBA 2K23?

In the case of basketball, attacking strategies help you to score, while defense strategies help you to stop your opponent's team from scoring. This guide will discuss how to play defense in NBA 2K23 to help you level up your defensive game.

NBA 2K23: Defense Controls

Defensive Controls can be categorized in two ways. The On-Ball Defensive controls and Off-Ball Defensive Controls of which are mentioned below:

1. On-Ball Defense Controls

Here are all the On-Ball Defense Controls:

• Move Player: Left Stick
• Hands Up: Right Stick
• On The Fly Coaching: Directional Pad
• Double Team: Left Bumper
• Intense-D: Left Trigger
• Intentional Foul: View Button
• Sprint: Right Trigger
• Pause: Menu Button
• Icon Pass: Right Bumper
• Steal: X
• Block / Rebound: Y
• Take Charge: B
• Player Swap (Closest to Ball): A

2. Off-Ball Defense Controls

These are all the Off-Ball Defense Controls:

• Move Player: Left Stick
• On-Ball Steal: Right Stick
• On The Fly Coaching: Directional Pad
• Double Team: Left Bumper
• Intense-D: Left Trigger
• Intentional Foul: View Button
• Pause: Menu Button
• Sprint: Right Trigger
• Icon Swap: Right Bumper
• Steal: X
• Block / Rebound: Y
• Take Charge: B
• Player Swap (Closest to Ball): A

NBA 2K23: Defense Settings

Defensive Assist Strength is a vital controller setting that involves the defense speed of your player. It is about how much you want to control your playable character's movements when guarding the ball. If your movements are extremely slow, this might be because of applying it to a higher number. We suggest keeping this setting to 10 or 15 at most. If you are playing the center position, we recommend keeping it to zero or lesser than 10.

NBA 2K23 Best Defense/Rebounding Badges

1. Best Defense/Rebounding Badges: On-Ball

    • Glove
    • Clamps
    • Challenger
    • Interceptor
    • Pick Dodger
    • Menace
    • Work Horse
    • Ankle Braces
    • Chase Down Artist
    • Anchor
    • Rebound Chaser
    • Boxout Beast
    • Off Ball Pest
    • Brick Wall
    • Pogo Stick
    • Post Lockdown

2. Best Defense/Rebounding Badges: Off-Ball/Big

    • Glove
    • Rebound Chaser
    • Anchor
    • Interceptor
    • Brick Wall
    • Boxout Beast
    • Pogo Stick
    • Challenger
    • Clamps
    • Work Horse
    • Chase Down Artist
    • Menace
    • Post Lockdown
    • Pick Dodger
    • Ankle Braces
    • Off Ball Pest

How to get better at defense in NBA 2k23?

Below we have listed the ways you can defend your basket in NBA 2K23:

1. Use turnovers

Turnovers are an essential part of defense strategy. If you can force your opponent players to turn over, it'll benefit your team, and the opponent team will lose the opportunity to score. To do so, you can simply catch the ball halfway.

2. Shadow opponents

Every player will have a defender assigned during a basketball match who will become their shadow for the rest of the match. As you start following a player and observing him closely, he will become nervous and make some mistakes you can take advantage of.

3. Change of exhausted players

It's essential to be attentive to the game because, at half-time, you must notice if the defensive players become tired to change them, thereby maintaining strong pressure against the opponent from start to finish.

4. Stay close to the opponent players

During the game, try to stay close when you are following a particular player. If you stay away from your opponent, they may slip out of your eyes and score a basket. Therefore, keeping one arm's distance from the opponent player is better for taking advantage of every mistake he makes.

Now that we know how to improve defense in NBA 2k23. However, if you are looking for other guides to get some help regarding the game, you can check out here. Or you can buy NBA 2K23 MT from here while enjoying low prices, security, and fast service!