Lockdown the ball and a spot in the standings. Block, steal, and pressure to create the ultimate defense.

Intense-D and Crowding Tips

Press and hold L2 to get into a low defensive stance. Move the Left Stick toward the dribbler to pressure.

Play intense-D whenever you’re on the ball to prevent players from pushing into the box. The lower defensive stance gives the opponent less space to move because your defender almost locks on to the ball, creating more pressure and reducing their options. There’s little room to shoot and even less to break the defense.

Always pressure whenever possible within reason. For example, you don’t need to tighten your defense beyond the three-point line unless you’re in a press due to little time on the clock and a close score.

Intense-D isn’t impenetrable. Players can still juke defenders with the right moves like crossovers, hop gathers, and pump fakes. Stopping the ball isn’t the only aspect of defense.

Block Tips

Press Triangle when near the shooter.

Blocks are the dunks of defense. Most of the satisfaction comes from the timing since blocking isn’t as simple as pressing Triangle. Anticipate shots to get all over the ball and in the other player’s head. Blocking consecutive shots can create a major mental roadblock for some players, making defense arguably more important than offense.

Steal Tips

Press Square when near the dribbler or while in the passing lane.

Steals are another way to shift momentum. Read the competition’s movements to leave them second-guessing their next push. Pressing Square doesn’t guarantee the steal. Defenders need to be within reach of the ball or the pass to snatch the rock. Most steals turn into breakaways for easy points. Look for patterns to retain possession.

Fast Shuffle Tips

Press and hold L2 + R2, move the Left Stick in any direction.

Fast Shuffle to move parallel to defenders across the court. Lead them into the sidelines and away from the center whenever possible. It’s easier to defend players on the sides or corners. The out of bounds line acts like another defender. Plus, there are less places to move the ball when players are against the sidelines, making steals more likely.

Hands Up Tips

Move and hold the Right Stick up.

Hold your hands up to block high passes and get to shots faster. It’s easier to get around players with their hands up, so the move is more effective after players stop dribbling.

Hands Out Tips

Move and hold the Right Stick left or right to defend the pass lane.

Hands out is the low pass version of hands up. Use it to intercept passes and start your offensive. Switch between both variations and avoid falling back on the same consistent defensive strategies to capitalize on defense.

Shot Contest Tips

Move the Right Stick up then quickly release.

Shot contest is like a temporary hands up. The defender briefly reaches for the sky before returning to their default position. The difference is it’s faster than holding your hands up and switching positions. Feint going high, then block low passes or react to stay on the ball.

Onball Steal Tips

Move the Right Stick down then quickly release.

This aptly named steal is more effective when you’re man to man with the ball. Traditional steals are a lot less likely to work onball.

Vertical Contest Tips

Hold the Left Stick away from the shooter and press Triangle.

Guess when the opponent will shoot and take them down. Traditional blocks jump toward the shooter at an angle, while vertical contests are straight jumps for more height. Use the traditional block to stop low shots.

Swat Block Tips

Hold R2 and press Triangle.

Smash the rock away. Swats jump higher than any other block at the cost of speed. There’s a long recovery time so make sure you’re certain the opponent will shoot before going for one. Otherwise, they’ll pump fake and take an open lane to the basket.

Take Charge Tips

Press and hold Circle.

Take advantage of aggressive opponents driving to the basket. Any players dashing into your defender will knock them over and likely get a foul.

Flop Tips

Double tap Circle.

Flops are fake falls used to trick the referee into thinking your player was hit hard. Flop if an opponent is close to ramming you to potentially gain possession. Flop carelessly and you might give the other team an easy lane to the hoop. It’s high risk, high reward.