NBA Live 2000 (PlayStation) Contents 1. Controls 2. Legends 3. How to Beat Jordan 4. Bugs and Oversights Controls > Beyond the basics of shooting and passing, one of the most important functions is DirectPass/DirectSwitch. Available in the past couple editions of Live but not utilized enough by the majority of players, the ability to pass to a specific player or switch to a specific defender can be pivotal if mastered. To implement it, hold L1 at any point during a game. You will see icons next to the four players besides the one you are controlling; square corresponds to the power forward, triangle corresponds to the center, circle corresponds to the shooting guard, and cross corresponds to the small forward. If you are already controlling one of these four positions, then the button will instead correspond to the point guard. So, for example, if you're controlling Jason Williams -- a point guard -- then all the icons will correspond with the aforementioned; however, if you're controlling Chris Webber -- a power forward -- then the square icon will correspond with Jason Williams, the point guard. Thus, if you're Webber on offense, holding L1 and hitting square will get it to Williams; if you're on Webber on defense, you can hit square to control Williams and defend the opposing point guard. Remember that you can DirectPass in the air; sometimes a cutter won't start his motion until you've already risen for a shot. Simple enough, but overwhelmingly useful. > If you're handling the ball, tapping triangle will initiate a spin move. Used correctly, this is the best way to free yourself from and get around someone who's guarding you closely on a fast break. > Use head fakes (tap circle) often. There's no better way to start off a drive, get off a three, or free yourself up in the post than by getting the defender up in the air and unable to react. This applies even on Superstar level; with the exception of phenomenal defenders like Gary Payton, a defender will inevitably fall for a head fake if you are patient on offense and get the ball to a player enough times. Remember that on a given touch, only the first head fake matters; if the defender doesn't fall for it the first time, then he won't be falling for it any time immediately after. Pass the ball to another person and have him get it back to you so you can try another head fake. Repeat until the defender falls for it and the lane or three- pointer is open. Legends > The all-time All-Stars are locked in ten different ways, with each being repeated for the various levels of difficulty and all of them requiring the use of default rules and simulation mode. Remember that accomplishing a particular task on Superstar is the same as accomplishing that task on all four difficulty levels. Thus, to save time and avoid repeating tasks, try to accomplish as many of them as you can on Superstar. What follows is a description of each task, the players locked by each, and some notes. * Get a triple-double with a player (Bob Pettit, Dolph Schayes, Oscar Robertson, Bob Lanier, Moses Malone, Grant Hill, Shawn Kemp). Scoring ten points and getting ten assists is pretty simple. The last category -- rebounds, steals, or blocks -- shouldn't be all that bad either, though getting ten blocks is probably more trouble than it's worth. Remember that part of this task -- as well as the others which involve accomplishments in a single game -- is winning the game itself. * Get fifteen steals in a game (Larry Costello, Jerry West, Dave Bing, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton). The biggest concern with this task is foul trouble. Obviously, using a player with a high steals rating will make things a little easier. During the course of the game, swipe whenever opposing players are dribbling or holding the ball toward your player; stay away from jump shooters and the area under the basket to cut down on fouls. * Get thirty assists with a player (Bob Cousy, Lenny Wilkens, John Havlicek, Pete Maravich, Nate Archibald, Gary Payton). This is a little easier if you're using a team with a big-time post player. For example, use Derek Fisher of the Lakers to throw it in to Shaq. A single Shaq head fake will fool most post defenders, even on Superstar level, and leave a lane open for an easy dunk. Repeating the procedure thirty times isn't difficult. * Hit fifteen threes with a player (Bill Sharman, Carl Braun, Hal Greer, Rick Barry, Charles Barkley). Considering that no player has ever hit such an incredible number of threes in a single game -- Brian Shaw holds the record of ten in a game -- it is pretty random that EA came up with this task. Even more bizarre is the fact that accomplishing the task unlocks Charles Barkley, a post player and poor three-point shooter. Regardless, scoring 45 points off threes is simple enough in the realm of video games. Choose a sharpshooter and fire away. * Score twenty points in the three point shootout (Richard Guerin, Sam Jones, Larry Bird, George Gervin, Reggie Miller). This task is self- explanatory -- and nearly impossible on Superstar level. Good luck unlocking Larry Legend! * Win a game of one-on-one against a player with a rating of eighty or higher (Paul Arizin, Wilt Chamberlain, Earl Monroe, Julius Erving, Kevin McHale, Mitch Richmond, (Michael Jordan)). Basketball is a game of matchups, so the strategy for this task really depends on which players you choose for yourself and the computer. If you're using a tall player, put those shotblocking, rebounding, and post-up skills to good use; the shorter your opponent, the easier you can get your jumpers off. If you're using a quick guard, do what you can to drive past the defender (though defense tends to tighten up immensely as you near the end of the game). Be sure to head fake if you can't shake your opponent and are about to take a jumper. Don't shoot a whole lot of leaners or fadeaways -- you really don't need them for one-on-one. On defense, always stay between your opponent and the basket, go for blocks, and crash the boards. Remember, by the way, that the only way to unlock Michael Jordan is to defeat him in a game of one-on-one at the Superstar level using a player who has not been created or modified. Approaching this task is discussed later. * Win a game by at least ten points (Andrew Phillip, Jerry Lucas, Walt Bellamy, James Worthy, Dominique Wilkins, Shaquille O'Neal, Scottie Pippen). Not too cerebral. * Win five consecutive games during the regular season (Harry Gallatin, Elgin Baylor, Walt Frazier, Dave Cowens, Billy Cunningham, Patrick Ewing). Again, no explanation necessary. * Sweep the first round of the playoffs (George Yardley, Cliff Hagan, Tommy Heinsohn, Wes Unseld, Bill Walton, Karl Malone). A one-game round doesn't work here; you'll have to play a best-of-five series to unlock Malone and company. * Win the championship (Bill Russell, Willis Reed, Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Robert Parish, David Robinson). If you don't feel like winning fifteen games, then win four -- set the playoff length to one-game rounds. > Note: Don't be afraid to combine tasks. If you play a game on Superstar level with twelve-minute quarters, it shouldn't be very hard to win the game by double figures while getting a triple-double (forty- five points off threes, thirty assists, and fifteen steals) with a player. This one game would get you a total of 31 legends -- more than half of those available! How to Beat Jordan > This section will outline the strikingly easy-to-implement strategy for defeating Michael Jordan in one-on-one at any level, be it Rookie or Superstar. As a warning in advance, this approach is *not* for those who play Live as if it were real life rather than as a video game (you people know who you are). With that said, here we go... > Select a highly rated three point shooter (i.e. Glen Rice) as your player. Proceed with shooting for possession, and don't worry if Jordan gets the ball first -- if it's winner's outs you can be pretty sure he won't score on every possession and keep the ball for the duration of the game. On defense, do what you can to stay between him and the basket, get a hand in his face when he's shooting, chase after loose balls, and crash the boards. The key is scoring points yourself. Jordan always was an incredible defender and is recognized as such with a defensive awareness rating of 97 in this game. If you get the ball and start trying to drive around him, you'll find that he won't let you -- he's fast on his feet as a straight-up defender. To counter this, *just* shoot threes. Whenever you have the ball up top, refrain from dribbling -- the risk of a turnover isn't worth it -- and launch a straightaway three. If you play solid defense and do this repeatedly, you will win -- Jordan is unable to do much defensively against a three-point gunner in Live 2000. You don't even need to dribble once to defeat him! Bugs and Oversights > When a player goes out of bounds or commits a backcourt violation, a foul will sometimes be called on the nearest defender, even if no foul was actually committed. So, instead of a turnover, the team which had the ball retains possession (or goes to the line for two if it's a penalty situation). This occurs randomly and is especially annoying when it happens at the end of close games. > While it has no effect on the game, any player who goes to the free throw line immediately after a hook shot has been taken will shoot his foul shots with tremendous arc. > Here's a list of Legends notes which is not comprehensive by any means... Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is not the roster of the 70s or 80s All- Stars but definitely should be; George Mikan is missing from the 50s squad. A strong case can be made for the inclusion of Clyde Drexler and Tim Hardaway. One may argue that Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon belong with the 90s team rather than the 80s team.