Most NBA 2K21 players, especially beginners, don’t spend enough time thinking about defense. Many prefer to only practice offense. Scoring flashy baskets feels good, but building the skills to become one of the best defenders is just as satisfying and arguably more important.

A powerful offense might blow past you, however if your opponent doesn’t let you move around at your own pace, then the game can start to feel frustrating. Learn how to defend to keep the momentum in your favor throughout every quarter.
Here are some tips for how to improve on defense, shutdown your opponent, and block more shots.

Six tips to improve

Block smart

Blocking shots isn’t as simple as pressing Triangle. Mistime your attempt and you might accidentally foul the opponent or fall for a fake. Pay attention to their habits and mix up your timing to consistently pressure the other player.

Press up on the right stick to put up your defender’s hands. This method is less likely to block shots, although you won’t risk fouls. Alternate between the two tactics for a tighter defense.

Time steals

Stealing is all about timing. Attempt to steal (press X) at the wrong time and you’ll trigger an animation that allows the offense to pass you. Either condition your opponent to dribble to the same side a number of times or pay attention to their tendencies to anticipate the best time to steal. After a successful steal, you might have to mix-up attempts to snatch the rock a second time against more skilled players.

Stealing also comes in handy when you want to take possession and run down the clock.

Switch players strategically 

One of the biggest sports game tropes (dating back to Ice Hockey from the NES days) is switching constantly to the player closest to the ball. That’s not really necessary in NBA 2K21 because the AI is at a level where the defender will do a decent job of covering the person with the ball. 

Don’t switch randomly. Wait until a player is in a good defensive position before you change characters (hands up with a close guard on the ball). If you switch too early or haphazardly, a good player will take advantage and go for a quick dribble move. 

If the AI keeps getting juked, then you’ll need to take control. When a rival player is going for a shot, switch to the man guarding him. 

Press R1/L1 to switch to the man closest to the rim when the opponent is going to go for a shot, giving you a better chance of rebounding.

Tighten the defense 

Good defense means matching your opponent's movements. Press L2 to get low and square up against them. The L2 plus right stick up combo works better than the triangle, which is more of a blunt force instrument. The key is to pay attention to what’s happening on the screen, and then react or anticipate. 

Box out for rebounds

To box out for rebounds, hold L2 to play defense, which will help either a teammate or yourself get the rebound. Grabbing rebounds is crucial for controlling the score, and boxing out an opponent means your smaller, faster players can move in and grab the rebound when they get the chance.

Turn on Defensive Communication

2K games have a number of settings to aid players during matches like Defensive Communication. This setting will turn on an indicator that warns you of fast breaks and screens. You can turn it on in the Team Communications menu, which is located in the Coach Settings menu under Game Plan.

Dribble over to our other article on blocks, pressuring, and steals for more tips that will increase your chances of winning prizes in the Open Series.