The NBA 2K League is only a few days away from hosting its first tournament outside of New York.
Not only is this historical feat a reason for considering The Turn must-see TV, but this is also the first time we’ll witness an “archetype ban” format in which each team will get to select a specific archetype to outlaw for the duration of their matchup.
I took a look at how teams have done throughout the first four weeks of the regular season, as well as the Tipoff tournament, and predicted what archetype opponents should consider banning for each respective team.
Note: Although there are similar archetypes at different positions like the pure lockdown at shooting guard and small forward, each will be considered different archetypes during the tournament. So if a team bans the pure lockdown SG, the teams will still be permitted to use the pure lockdown SF.
Pacers Gaming – Shotcreating Sharpshooter SF
Many associate the word “defense” with Pacers Gaming, and rightfully so. However, opposing teams have taken an interesting game plan into their matchups against the Pacers in recent weeks.
It’s sort of a “make Matty beat us” mentality, and although it hasn’t worked yet—as the Pacers are currently 4-0—expect teams to double down on this strategy by taking away a huge part of the Pacers’ offense in the SF shot/sharp.
Swizurk is considered arguably the best sharpshooter in the league, and taking away his best archetype not only forces the Pacers’ hand offensively but also would force WoLF to move to the pure lockdown defender at the SF, which is remarkably slower and unfavorable compared to the pure lockdown at SG, should the Pacers opt to utilize Swizurk on the pure sharpshooter at SG.
Mavs Gaming – Shotcreating Sharpshooter SF
Mo has been a major bright spot for Mavs GG this season. He has really fit in well next to Dimez and is a big reason that the Mavs are currently 7-0 on the season.
All that said, it’s time to force the Mavs to make some offensive and defensive adjustments. The unfavorable pure lock SF will then need to be utilized should the Mavs decide to deploy Mo on a sharpshooting build at SG.
Dimez, albeit one of the better offensive weapons in the league, has yet to prove this year that he can carry 100% of the offensive burden.
Blazer5 Gaming – Sharpshooting Playmaker PG
Mama Im Dat Man. He’s not lying: he’s looking like an MVP finalist again, at the very least. Many would argue he is the current front-runner for MVP altogether.
Needless to say, force someone else on this Blazer5 team to create offensively. If anything, with this move, you are forcing Mama to play on the shot sharp at PG.
Don’t be shocked if he’s still able to produce on that build, but you have to try something to limit him. He’s on fire!
Bucks Gaming – Shotcreating Sharpshooter SF
It’s fitting that Game6Drake changed his name to ARooks this year. He didn’t even give us a chance to get to game six. He’s been scoring with the best of them since the Tipoff.
The Bucks are one of the more cohesive units in the league today, but that doesn’t take away from their dependance on ARooks’ offensive production. Force SlayIsland to be the bucket-getter for this team.
Reiterating the point made above about the Pacers, this would force Chaddynick to play on the slower lockdown position at SF as well, should the Bucks decide to deploy Arooks on a SG sharpshooting archetype.
Kings Guard Gaming – Sharpshooting Playmaker PG
When the news of the “archetype ban” format was first reported, the Kings were one of the first teams to come to mind.
Kings Guard is a team extremely dependant on BP’s offensive skill-set. The sharpshooting playmaker PG is really the only archetype BP has used since 2K implemented dual-archetypes to the MyCareer game mode.
Taking away this archetype solidifies someone besides BP having to score the ball. Although the Kings still have BallLikeSeem, this puts a lot of pressure on him to keep the offense afloat.
Jazz Gaming – Shotcreating Sharpshooter SF
Compete has really turned around his struggles as of late. With a huge win against Warriors Gaming Squad last week, Jazz Gaming has made a case that it has turned a corner.
As an opponent, I still wouldn’t consider them completely out of deep water quite yet. MOAM has really provided a great outlet for Compete offensively.
Take away the safety net, key in more defensively on Gliz in the corner, and really force Compete to score for this Jazz team.
Warriors Gaming Squad – Pure Lockdown Defender SG
BSmoove is currently the leading scorer in season two. It’s time to test this Warriors offense if he’s not hitting his shots.
This move forces the Warriors to play Gradient at the pure lock SF, subsequently moving BSmoove to the SG position at which he struggled in the Tipoff Tournament.
BSmoove and CB13 have had quite the chemistry to date but this move should also force the Warriors to depend on CB13 to score more offensively. He’s known as a great facilitator, now it’s time to see if he can score for this team.
Hawks Talon GC – Shotcreating Post Scorer PF
There are only so many players like Shotz in the league, if any at all. Deploying a shotcreating post scorer at PF would honestly be considered comedy if it were anybody else on the build. But leave it to Shotz to force opponents to actually game plan for it.
Although Rando has exceeded expectations at PG for the Hawks, Shotz scoring at power forward takes a lot of pressure off the backcourt. Force Shotz to play on more of a utility-type build and make the backcourt beat you.
76ers GC – Sharpshooting Playmaker PG
Similar to Mama, Radiant seems untouchable. He heads one of the more prolific offenses in the league. And although the supporting cast has really produced well to date, it’s really time to force players other than Radiant to beat you.
Also similar to Mama, don’t be shocked if Radiant is able to produce at a high level on the shot sharp PG as well. In the meantime, force the Sixers to prove it. Waves to ZDS.
Heat Check Gaming – Shotcreating Sharpshooter SF
Majestic has been very impressive so far this season. But this move is more so a ploy to force Lotty off the pure lockdown SG and forcing JMoneyReps817 to create more offensively.
The Heat considered JMoney a steal when they nabbed him in the third round of the 2019 draft. And although he’s outplaying a majority of the other late-round guards. He would be facing a lot more scrutiny had he actually gone in the top 10 as predicted.
The Heat have a well-rounded starting five, but if they want to win this tournament, JMoney needs to show the talent that many raved about prior to the draft.
Cavs Legion GC – Shotcreating Sharpshooter SF
It’s safe to say that the Legion’s offense lives and dies by Strainer. LYKaPRO looks anything but a vet this season and although the Cavs deploy one of the better frontcourt cores in the league, nobody else really provides any true offensive production.
The great thing about this move is that the Cavs’ players who are potentially mad about that statement now get to prove it wrong!
Or Strainer just continues to provide offense at the sharp SG.
Magic Gaming – Pure Glass C
Reizey hasn’t quite lived up to the billing of a top-10 pick. And even though he has looked better in recent weeks, the Magic have been one of the teams to really capitalize on second chance points.
In the Tipoff Tournament, in which the Magic went all the way to the semifinals, KingCamRoyalty was crucial. With a lot of second chances coming off offensive rebounds from missed threes, this move forces the Magic backcourt to be more efficient this time around.
Raptors Uprising Gaming – Shotcreating Sharpshooter PG
The Raptors were really struggling to find any type of offense prior to putting Kenny on the shot sharp PG. With this move, you return the Raptors to their backcourt struggles and make them see if they can figure it out.
By making this move, you potentially force the Raptors back into trying Doza at PG. At the very least, you force Kenny to prove that he can play on the sharp play PG.
T-Wolves Gaming – Playmaking Sharpshooter PG
With the availability of Hood up in the air, take away the Wolves’ other offensive weapon. Bear is one of the only point guards in the league that prefers the sharpshooting primary PG archetype.
Although JoJo proved he can still put the ball in the bucket on the shot sharp SF, rather than his customary PF position, force him to do it without Bear at his best. The Wolves have had a lot of changes in recent weeks. Take your chances against them bereft of their best offensive weapon on his best archetype.
NetsGC – Pure Lockdown SG
Since adding Shuttles to the lineup, the Nets have had one of the best pick-and-roll defensive duos in the league. To nullify that strength, one of NateKahl or Shuttles needs to be affected.
With the impact he could have on a game—as we saw in the 2018 NBA 2K League finals—the choice is NateKahl. Force Nate to play on the pure lock SF and make others on the Nets defense have to make more decisions due to his slower build.
Lakers Gaming – Shotcreating Sharpshooter SF
Unfortunately the Lakers aren’t a team with many strengths. Kev and Mootyy have provided outstanding performances, but with the Lakers showing so much dependency on Kev offensively, do what you can to hinder him.
In that case, take away the shot sharp SF and force them, by consequence, to also take away the pure lock SG. Kev was still able to produce on the sharp SG but this move forces others on the roster to have to move around as well.
Knicks Gaming – Pure Glass C
As we pointed out in our recent DIMER Playbook release, the Knicks have major backcourt identity issues. Opposing teams should look to exploit those issues at all costs.
That starts with taking Goofy off a build that provides more second chances and support for an ailing unit. Force Goofy to move to a sharpshooting rebounder C where he will be more dependent on his backcourt being efficient.
Grizz Gaming – Sharpshooting Playmaker PG
Although Vandi hasn’t lived up to the draft hype, this move makes Grizz Gaming’s current issues even tougher. Vandi has really struggled to create on offense outside of a few spurts here and there.
This move forces him to have to create on another build like the shot sharp PG. As one of the more underwhelming backcourts, make the cut a little deeper.
Pistons GT – Shotcreating Sharpshooter SF
Think of the Pistons prior to Jaacko’s arrival. This isn’t to say that taking away the shot sharp SF will instantly turn Jaacko into Splashking, but this forces Jaacko to move to the sharp SG while moving the pure lock to SF.
See if Jaacko can score—which, as we’ve seen, is much needed for the Pistons to succeed this season—on a shorter build, while the lock attempts to get stops on an even slower build.
Celtics Crossover Gaming – Sharpshooting Playmaker PG
A huge part of the Celtics’ offense has come from Profusion at SF (not including the failed experiment with Profusion at C). With the belief that they revert back to what worked at the Tipoff —at least deploying oFab at PG and ProFusion at SF—take oFab at the sharp play PG out of the equation.
Some might question why, when ProFusion is the main scoring threat, but a lot of Profusion’s shots come from getting the ball in space while oFab slices through the defense. Take away oFab’s ability to break down a defense and count on that affecting ProFusion’s ability to get open shots.
Wizards District Gaming – Pure Glass C
The Wizards seem to be throwing a million things at a wall and hoping one sticks. It’s unfortunate because nothing seems to work but one thing still remains: Dayfri being a top-tier center.
The Wizards tried to deploy Dayfri at the sharp rebounder C earlier in the season and that’s when he looked most vulnerable. There’s no question how much Dayfri can change a game, but force him to do a bit more outside of the paint by banning his most comfortable archetype.
