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dhoff-I notice you train shot blocking which, frankly, I am trying to avoid.

Does the rest of the PF/C training slow down if shot blocking does not keep relative pace?

To be honest, I don't know. I actually haven't completely followed through with what I wrote - I started off trying to balance things, but as time has gone on, I've placed more of an emphasis on inside scoring and rebounding. This is mostly due to do with the fact that a number of teams in my league have strong outside games, so cranking up inside defense and shotblocking won't help me as much against them as cranking up my team's ability to score inside and grab boards.

I know there has been some noise in global about how shotblocking is or isn't a useful skill and how it contributes to salary. I have only skimmed the conversations, so I don't know what the consensus is (if there is one).

I also don't know the SB level affects the training speed of other skills - I doubt anyone has strong evidence one way or the other, mainly due to the fact that there are quite a few variables to control for (height, sublevels, the impact of other skills), training speeds were changed a little under a year ago, and then with the new staff system, trainer levels are now different.

(Finally, for what it's worth, I've recently transitioned somewhat from the C/PF training business to work on SFs instead.)

ah, that's right, each training has an impact on a variety of other skills to a lesser degree, yeah?

So having done a couple weeks of outside shooting, I could switch to pressure training to up their defense, then go to pressure, and then go to maybe one on one or passing?

I've just noticed that not all training areas will allow for me to focus on just wingmen :/ Oh well, I'll be creative :)

Do you really 'let coach decide'?

I always play 'Strictly Follow Depth Chart' - I find you get much better control of training minutes.

I'm curious to learn what others stick to. Surely we all know our players better than the coach? Do you find you end up with accurate numbers this way?

ah, that's right, each training has an impact on a variety of other skills to a lesser degree, yeah?

Well, there are two things going on.

1. Most training regimes improve a couple skills - for instance, jump shot training will improve a player's jump shot, jump range, handling, and driving. (The speeds differ widely.) An unofficial list, with speculative speeds, is in (381.1).

2. Being good at some skills will help a player train more quickly in complementary skills. (See paragraph 6 in [link=BBWeb/rules.aspx?nav=Training].)

I think you're talking about #1, and I was talking more about #2.

So having done a couple weeks of outside shooting, I could switch to pressure training to up their defense, then go to pressure, and then go to maybe one on one or passing?

Yeah, I think that would be good. As you noted, you need to pay a little attention to which positions you need to have your trainees in, but otherwise, that's a good approach as you get started.

Do you really 'let coach decide'?

I always play 'Strictly Follow Depth Chart' - I find you get much better control of training minutes.

I'm curious to learn what others stick to. Surely we all know our players better than the coach? Do you find you end up with accurate numbers this way?

I do. I started out with it and figured out how to balance training minutes pretty well, and so I've stuck with it. As I wrote, I might use SFDC if I need to ensure someone gets all of the playing time in a scrimmage or something, but otherwise, I haven't had problems.

Granted, I have pretty good balance between my starters and backups in most of my positions. If I start player A over player B in one league game and then start player B over player A in the second game, I quite often wind up with each player getting at least ~45 minutes.

I can see now why training C/PF is easier for newer users :) More training regimes that focus directly on those positions!

Switching to a skills vs tactics question: at what point is it good to decide which way to play the ball (outside focus or inside focus)? What are the criteria for deciding? Is it better to play normal focus if there really isn't a significant advantage one way or the other? And finally, how do I evaluate what tactics to use against an opponent?

I can see now why training C/PF is easier for newer users :) More training
regimes that focus directly on those positions!

Definitely. The game engine also used to favor teams with strong inside games, so it was pretty much a no-brainer. However, when outside tactics were given more of an emphasis, people who had been training guards could make a ton of money. I haven't been too active on the market lately, but I assume that great guards will still command more money than great inside guys.

Switching to a skills vs tactics question: at what point is it good to decide which way to play the ball (outside focus or inside focus)? What are the criteria for deciding?

I think it's probably similar to deciding whether to play AOW, AIM, or normal in hattrick. If you've got a significant advantage in one sector, then you can focus there to maximize that.

Is it better to play normal focus if there really isn't a significant advantage one way or the other?

I'm not really sure. If you play an outside focus offense, for instance, that will help your outside ratings and hurt your inside ratings. And vice versa. Thus, if, for instance, your team's offensive ratings are identical to your opponent's defensive ratings, then maybe it makes sense to focus inside or outside to strengthen that particular area? I think it's hard to say, especially without knowing more about how the game engine actually works. Others may disagree.

And finally, how do I evaluate what tactics to use against an opponent?

Well, at its most basic, if your opponent's offense is strong in one sector and weak in another (relative to your defenses), then I'd play a tactic to support your defense in his strong sector. And if your opponent is particularly strong in a defensive sector, then I'd focus on attacking the other sector. There are also matchups to think about - if you've got a shutdown defender, maybe try to play him against the other team's big scorer.

Is there a particular upcoming opponent that you're trying to decide on tactics for?

Is there a particular upcoming opponent that you're trying to decide on tactics for?

Yeah, my next opponent, never lose (53413). It's one of the few human teams in the league. I think it's a new team, but his flag collection would hint otherwise.

He plays a 2-3 zone for defense, has high rebounds, and plays push the ball. He's got a really strong center and a few decent PFs. He gets an outside scoring rating of pitiful (high) and an inside scoring rating of awful (medium). I'm wondering if maybe I should play a 2-3 zone to shut him down on the inside.

My next match following is a bot, so I'm wondering if I should play this one with normal intensity and then TIE the next match. My enthusiasm is at 8 right now.

The flag collections are kind of screwed up - they don't always erase the previous owner's flags.

He's a new team. Hasn't logged in since either of the games he's played. I would assume that he'll play the exact same lineup and get similar ratings. (They'll be a bit different with new game shape, but not radically different. They'll also be a bit different with him being away instead of home.)

I'd say that he's pretty much equivalent to a bot. (I'm too lazy to check, but he might have players playing out of position - like a PG in at C - just like bots often do.)

thanks, I thought he was :)

I'm still going to go after him pretty strongly though, putting out some good players to shut him down. I think I might try an outside focus for offense. With several skill pops I've got some SF and SGs with respectable jump shot and jump range. In one of my matches I was able to get an inept outside scoring and inside scoring rating, so I might change my mind.

Should I TIE this one since I have homecourt advantage?

Should I TIE this one since I have homecourt advantage?

Hard to say. In my first season, I lost to my fair share of bots. :)

With some enthusiasm in the bank and home court, I think that you're probably safe with a TIE. No guarantees, though. Bots here aren't as easy to defeat as they are in hattrick.