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===============================================================================
NBA Live 07 FAQ (PC)
Written by ChaosDemon (chaosdemon007@yahoo.ca)
Version 1.10
Last updated on February 9, 2007
Latest revisions of this document may always be located at:
http://www.gamefaqs.com
===============================================================================
=-----------------=
=Table of Contents=
=-----------------=
I   - Introduction.....................................[0001]
II  - Version History..................................[000V]
III - Game Modes.......................................[0002]
a]Play Now
b]Season
c]Dynasty Mode
d]Playoffs
e]NBA All-Star Weekend
f]1-on-1
g]Practice
h]Slam Dunk School
IV - Game Basics.......................................[0003]
a]Default Controls
b]What's New
c]Offense
d]Defense
V -  Dynasty Mode......................................[0004]
a]The Draft
b]Staff Hirings
c]Training Camp
d]Regular Season
e]NBA Playoffs
f]Off-Season
VI - All-Star Weekend..................................[0005]
a]Rookie Challenge
b]3 Point Shootout
c]Slam Dunk Contest
d]All-Star Game
VII - Offensive Strategy...............................[0006]
a]Get Inside the Paint EARLY
b]Get a "kick-out" of each possession
c]Free Throws Win Championships
d]Pass With Care
e]Shot Selection is Key
f]Capitalize on the Offensive Rebounds
g]Look to the Fast-Break
h]Utilize your Freestyle Superstars
i]Abuse the Pick
VIII - Defensive Strategy..............................[0007]
a]Stay In Front of the Offense
b]Double Team Often
c]Do NOT Abuse the Steal Button
d]Contest Every Single Shot
e]Don't Give up 2nd Shot Opportunities
f]Don't be Afraid to Bring the Zone
VIV - Team Rosters.....................................[0008]
VV  - My NBA Live......................................[0009]
a]Task List
b]EA Store
c]NBA Codes
VVI  - Credits.........................................[0010]
VVII - Legal Disclaimer................................[0011]
-> To find what you're looking for quickly, press CTRL+F (Find) and type in the
set of numbers on the right of your desired destination.  To go directly to an
offensive or defensive strategy, press CTRL+F and the Copy (CTRL+C) and Paste
(CTRL+V) the name from the table of contents.  If you're looking to skip
directly to a team in the team roster section, just press CTRL+F and type in
the city of the team.
===============================================================================
Introduction                           [0001]
===============================================================================
Hello again all, I'm ChaosDemon, and this is the first FAQ I've written
in three years!  Time surely passes at the blink of an eye.  I want to
apologize because I got into the FAQ writing business a long time ago, and the
layout of this FAQ might not be as up to date as some others.
EA Sports is back again with an all new edition of NBA Live.  What's
new this year is the Freestyle Control feature, and it requires a Logitech
Wingman to operate.  It's basically a way for a player to do a fancy pass,
dunk or lay-up.  Another new feature in 07 is the Freestyle Superstars.  This
time, your upper tier players are separated into "Freestyle Stars" and
"Freestyle Superstars".  Stars are obviously the guys that are pretty good, and
the Superstars are the elite of the NBA.
Now in the actual FAQ of NBA Live 07 by EA Sports, we're going to be
looking at the gameplay basics, the Game Modes NBA Live 07 has to offer,
and some comprehensive offensive and defensive strategy (which will
undoubtedly is the meat of the FAQ).  There will also be a team listing section
and some handy information listed there, like key players, team strengths, and
team weaknesses.  Along with that you'll find coverage on All-Star Weekend and
more!
===============================================================================
Version History                          [000V]
===============================================================================
1.15 - 02/09/2007 - Completed roster section with all players listed.  The
starters are listed with their respected overalls.
1.10 - 02/08/2007 - Updated formatting.
1.00 - 01/31/2007 - First version of FAQ.  Offensive and defensive strategy
finished, Dynasty Mode and All-Star Weekend sections completed.  All 30 teams
in the NBA are featured in the rosters section with their respective Freestyle
Superstars listed.  Complete rosters will be added on a later update.
===============================================================================
Game Modes                             [0002]
===============================================================================
Play Now
--------
This mode is pretty self explanatory, this is the easiest way to get right into
the action and get a good feel of the game.  It's also a good way to log some
minutes before starting a Season Mode to avoid a 0-5 starting record.  It's an
exhibition game so it has no proceeding impact.  The default teams for "Play
Now" are the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat.  The default teams are always
the ones competing in the previous year's NBA Finals.
Season
------
This is basically a watered down version of Dynasty.  You can play through one
full season at either 29, 58 or 82 games. Season mode takes you from the
exhibition games all the way to the NBA Finals.  There are many features you
can play with, like mixing up the league with a Fantasy Draft, move teams
around in divisions.
Dynasty Mode
------------
undoubtedly the biggest part about NBA Live, the Dynasty Mode.  This is
basically the Season Mode but it lasts for many, many seasons, the exact number
I'm not sure.  It gives you the opportunity to mould your franchise into the
early 90s Bulls or the late 90s Lakers.  The Dynasty Mode will be covered in
detail later in the FAQ.
Playoffs
--------
If you're looking to take a run at the NBA Championship but not interested in
grinding through an 82 game season, then this is definitely the mode for you.
You can again customize a lot of things, like which teams play.  Playoff
length, and even a Fantasy Draft.
NBA All-Star Weekend
--------------------
This is obviously to emulate the All-Star Weekend of the NBA.  There are four
things to play through: Rookie Challenge, 3 Point Shootout, Dunk Contest, and
of course, the All-Star game.  All-Star Weekend will be covered in detail later
in the FAQ.
1 on 1
------
You ever wonder who would win between Shaq and Kobe Bryant 1 on 1?  Well this
is your chance to find out.  Pick any two players in the NBA and put them up 1
on 1.  When the game starts, the Home Player gets to shoot for possession.
Practice
--------
This is not a game, not a game, we talkin' about practice.  Not a game, not a
game, we're talking about practice, man.  What are we talking about, practice?
You can pick any player in the NBA and practice alone in an empty gym for as
long as you like.  This is a great place to start if you're not too familiar
with the controls.
Slam Dunk School
----------------
Slam Dunk school is a series of three lessons for you to prefect dunking.  It
is absolutely crucial you spend some time in the Slam Dunk School before
attempting the Slam Dunk Competition because it is by far one of the most
difficult things to do well in NBA Live 07.
===============================================================================
Game Basics                          [0003]
===============================================================================
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Default Controls: Keyboard
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-------
Offense
-------
Pass: X
Shoot: D
Dunk: E
Lay-Up: S
Turbo: Left Shift
Direct Pass: Left Ctrl
Superstar Trigger: C
Alley-oop: A
Call Timeout: Q
Pause: Esc
Crossover/Spin Move: Space
Off-Ball R
-------
Defense
-------
Switch Player: X
Take Charge: D
Rebound/Block: E
Steal: S
Turbo: Left Shift
Direct Pass: Left Ctrl
Superstar Trigger: C
Alley-oop: A
Call Timeout: Q
Pause: Esc
-----------
Quick Plays
-----------
Post-Up: Keyboard 1 (above the Q)
Isolation: Keyboard 2
Pick and Pop: Keyboard 3
Pick and Roll: Keyboard 4
=-=-=-=-=-
What's New
=-=-=-=-=-
Freestyle Superstars 07
-----------------------
Freestyle Superstars are divided into two tiers.  "Superstars", and "Stars".
Freestyle Stars are players that are good at either Inside Scoring, Outside
Scoring, 3 point shooting, Dunking (High-Flyer) or Playmaking.  These players
have an arsenal of moves that he can use by pressing the Left Trigger and the
Right Analog stick.  If you have the High-Flyer icon selected, you can do an
impressive dunk, or if you have the Playmaker icon selected, you can do some
no-look passes and stuff like that.  The "Superstars" tier has all the moves
that the "Stars" have, and then some.  Check the Team Roster section for which
players are your "Freestyle Superstars" of 07.
Total Freestyle Control
-----------------------
This is a rather innovative addition to this year's NBA Live.  It basically
gives your Superstars and Stars the ability to pull off some fancy moves with a
combination of the Left Trigger and the Right Analog stick.  There are not only
crossovers, but a combination of Dunks and Fancy passes too.  Whether you make
a dunk or a behind the back pass depends on the Freestyle Superstar Icon your
player is currently in.  For example, if he's currently in "Playmaker" mode,
then he's going to do a fancy pass if you use the Left Trigger and Right Analog
stick.  To do some awesome dunks, your superstar should be in "High-Flyer"
mode.
***Performing Freestyle Control with Keyboard***
Freestyle Control on the Keyboard is slightly easier.  You can perform the
freestyle control by holding on to the "Superstar Trigger" (Default "C" Button
on the Keyboard), and then by pressing one of the following buttons:
Pass Button
Dunk Button
Shoot Button
Lay-Up Button
The variety of moves available depend on which Freestyle Superstar Type your
player is currently in.  For example, someone in "Playmaker" mode will be able
to do a no look pass by holding the Superstar Trigger and then pressing
the Pass Button.  Power guys and High Flyers would be able to do some crazy
dunks by performing this method.  Play around with it in Practice Mode to find
some neat combinations.
The X-Factor
------------
The X-Factor is a random player on each team, who can unlock his "X" by being
involved on the offensive side of the ball.  When unlocked, X-factor players
can change the momentum of the game by draining a ridiculous amount of shots.
However, don't get the impression that just because your player has X-Factor
unlocked he can drain it from anywhere.  He still needs to be relatively open,
just not as open as he normally has to be.
=--=-=-=-=-=-=-
----Offense----
=-=-=-=-=-=--=-
Basic Jumpshots
---------------
Jumpshots are crucial to your NBA Live experience, so it's best that we go over
this first.  Jumpshots are all about room and timing.  If you have both of
those on a jumpshot attempt, chances are it's going to drain.  To perform a
jumpshot, press and hold the "Shoot" button to begin your jump, and when you're
in mid-air and the ball is above your head, release the "Shoot" button.  On the
"catch and shoot", it is very important that you first get set, and are facing
the basket.
There are several ways to create room in Live, the most standard is the Pick
and Roll.  The pick and roll is where you have a larger player, usually a
Center or Power Forward move to your area on the court, stand there, and
attempt to "pick" your defender by having him run into your pick.  Another way
is to drive the basket with an inside scorer and then pass it out to one of the
shooters on the perimeter when the defense is drawn in.  There will be more on
this later.  If you're using a player with a decent crossover, then you can try
and use it to set up an easy pull-up jumper as well.  To do that, simply move
to an area on the court, stand still, press the Crossover button, and then fire
up an attempt.  This method has a mediocre success rate and probably shouldn't
be tried very often.
Fadeaways
---------
Fadeways are a pretty effective way to score with outside shooters if you pull
it out occasionally.  It's not a recommended shot by any means on a regular
basis, though.  To perform a fadeaway, pull-up for a jumper (as seen above),
and move the shooter in a direction away from the defender at the same time.
Fadeaways should be used preferably off crossovers, or when your player is
facing a double-team with the shot clock counting down.  There are plenty of
other ways to score in Live, so you should evaluate your options.
Free Throws
-----------
Free Throws are an important part of Live, and you should always be looking to
capitalize.  To shoot a free throw, first let your player finish his dribbling
animation.  Then, don't press anything and let your player get set.  After
that, press and hold the shoot button, and release it when the ball is just
above his head.
Dunking and Lay-Ups
-------------------
As a new feature in this year's edition of NBA Live, there are now three
different buttons to score a basket.  The first one is obviously "shoot", which
can be used for mid ranged jumpers and 3-pointers.  The second is a "lay-up",
which is a way for smaller guys, usually guards to get the deuce in close-
range.  Someone like Allen Iverson really utilizes the lay-up because he is
undersized, but still has explosiveness and speed.  The third way to score is
dunk, which is obviously where the player you're controlling goes close to the
rim, jumps up, and throws the ball, thus "posterizing" the opponent.
When using someone smaller (6'2" and under), it's usually not a good idea on
the higher difficulties to drive to the rim and try a dunk on Yao Ming.
Instead, go to "lay-up" for a much more high percentage shot.  It's a bit of an
easier shot, and you might also draw a foul in the process.  If you're using a
fast player, and is facing full court pressure (when the defender meets you at
mid-court), you can score a lot of easy points by blowing right past him with
the Turbo button and then dunking or laying it up in the paint.
Quick Plays Explained
---------------------
By default, you can press either 1, 2, 3, or 4 on the Keyboard.  1 for Post-Up,
2 for Isolation, 3 for Pick and Pop, 4 for Pick and Roll.  The Post-Up is where
the players clear up the area directly under the bucket, so your "big man"
(usually Center or Power Forward), will have some room to go one-on-one with
his check (unless the defense brings the double team, which is a huge
possibility).  The Post-Up is usually the easiest way to score, it will be
discussed in depth at a bit later.But basically, you can back into the defender
and either go for a dunk or a lay-up.  You can alternatively kick it back out
if your post-up draws a double team.
The Isolation quickplay is designed to take advantage of mismatches, like if
after a rebound, a Center ends up defending your Point Guard.  If
that's the case, then call for the Isolation and go to work with the Freestyle
Crossovers and such.  Dance your way towards the bucket and get the easy lay-
up/dunk.  It should be noted that in such a big mismatch situation, it is very
probable that your opponent will call for the double team.  If this is the
case, then continue to drive towards the bucket (while protecting the ball, you
can do that by driving without Turbo), then identify who the defender left, and
pass it to him for the easy bucket.
Lastly we have the Pick and Pop vs. the Pick and Roll.  The only difference
between these two plays is that in Pick and Pop, the play is designed for the
ball handler to dish it back to the player who set the pick for a jumpshot.
And on the Pick and Roll the ball handler is supposed to drive all the way to
the hoop for a lay-up or dunk.  These two are effective ways to get open, and
is just another offensive play at your disposal.  Mix them up a higher success
rate.
=--=-=-=-=-=-=-
----Defense----
=-=-=-=-=-=--=-
Rebounding
----------
Rebounding on the defensive end of the court is crucial to the success of any
basketball team.  Any team that gives up an amplitude of offensive boards won't
be winning many games.  To perform a rebound, take control of someone with
size, preferably a Center, and wait under the basket as the the ball is shot.
When it appears that it won't be falling down, position yourself under the
basket and press the "rebound" button.  Keep in mind your timing is very
important here, so make sure you don't erratically press the button hoping to
grab the board.
It should also be noted that on some occasions the CPU is just going to go
crazy and come flying out of no where with five different players to grab the
offensive rebound.  On those situations, there's really nothing you can do
about it so instead of getting agitated, think about how you're going to score
on the other end.
Stealing
--------
Stealing is made much harder this year, but you can still "wing" a few steals
here and there.  You can do that by sort of "turbo-ing" towards the _ball_ and
pressing the steal button when you're about to make contact.  This is a decent
way of forcing a teal, but most steals are going to be as a result of a double
team.  When a player is surrounded by a double team with no where to put the
ball, he's going to lose possession of it and the play will be going the other
way.
Defending the Post
------------------
The majority of the points are going to be scored in the post in NBA Live 07,
so it is very important you know how to defend it and clog the lanes.  When you
see a player committing to the drive, press "1" to call for the "Double Team"
quick play.  This will bring another defender to help you defend the drive, and
if you call it at just the right time: when the offense is in so deep he pretty
much _wants_ to put up a shot, it is often going to an erratic and
unsuccessfula ttempt.
In-depth defensive strategy will be discussed later in the FAQ.
===============================================================================
Dynasty Mode                          [0004]
===============================================================================
Ahh... yes, Dynasty Mode.  This is where the meat of the game is, and probably
where you'd be spending the majority of your time (that's if you can find a way
to get off Slam Dunk Contest).  Anyhow, this section of FAQ is basically a
walkthrough of the Dynasty Mode, and some tips on how to maximize your success.
So let's begin, shall we?
The Draft
---------
After selecting your team and setting your options for your Dynasty Mode, it
will take you right to the 2006 NBA Entry Draft.  After seeing an ESPN Mock
Draft, the CPU proceeds with the picks.  At this point, a good idea is to skip
the CPU picks, because quite frankly, who cares, right?  After skipping the CPU
Picks, it'll take you to your Draft Central Screen.  So anyway, once the CPU
Picks have been skipped or seen, it's your turn.  At the top of the screen
you'll find three team weaknesses and three players you can draft to try and
correct them.  On the bottom, you'll see an ESPN Scouting Report for each
player, which will outline a couple of strength and weakness points of a
particular player.
The weaknesses at the top are fairly accurate for the most part, so you should
address them accordingly.  It should be noted that you are not limited to just
the three players that are in your Draft Central Screen.  By pressing the right
arrow on the bottom of the screen, it'll take you to the rest of the players
available.  Try looking around here to see if you can find any players that
would help your situation that the CPU has overlooked.  One of things is of
course drafting for size.  In NBA Live, most of the points are scored in the
paint, so if you can get a dominate Center or Power Forward, then don't
overlook the opportunity.  The Draft is over after 3 picks or so.
Staff Hirings
-------------
After the draft, you are taken to your GM schedule.  Start by pressing the
envelope on the top right to check out some messages.  It's important you check
this frequently, because there are often important messages from the Owner and
some coaches answering your contract offers. You should receive a message from
your Team Owner on the first day. He talks about the budget he's allocated
for the Staff, and your job of course is to stay within that budget.
Click on the first day (October 7th) and pick "Hire Staff". When hiring your
Staff, it is important to hire coaches that suit your team needs, rather than
just an "A" grade Coach.  "A" grade Coaches carry a very hefty price tag, and
if their specialty is "none", it might not help you out very much.  It is very
important you recognize your team needs, so you know how to divide the money
up.  For example, if your team suffers from a severely lack of strength, but
needs a bit of help in the paint, it is important to spend more money on an
"Athletic" based Assistant than it is for a "Big-Man" Assistant.  When making
your offers, there is some wiggle room for salary, but not a whole lot.  It
should be noted that if you have the money, it might be a good idea to hire
more than one Assistant to improve your team's chances in Training Camp.  After
you've made all your offers click on the next day and press "Hire Staff", then
"Simulate up to and including this day."
After simulating, you will receive a little ring, telling you have new
message.  You can now check if the coaches have accepted offer.  If not, go
back and make another offer.  If they have, then simulate the rest of the
remaining days and enter Training Camp.
Training Camp
-------------
Training Camp is the opportunity to make those coaches you hired earlier earn
their pay checks.  You have the option to simulate Training Camp, but it is not
recommended.  To begin, click on the closest day with the NBA logo, and select
"Enter Training Camp."  This screen allows you to divide up your Assistant's
time.  The three categories are Offensive, Defensive and of course Athleticism.
This is basically another opportunity to address your team's needs.  If your
team needs some offensive help, then devote about 45% of your Assistant's time
to offense, and so on.  You should also utilize your Assistant's strengths, if
he's not much of a defensive guy, there's really no point in spending a lot of
time that area.  After you're satisfied with your results, press the forward
arrow to complete Training Camp and enter the Regular Season.
Regular Season
--------------
Switch the month to November and view your Team Schedule.  Before playing or
simulating any games there are some things that needs to be taken care of
throughout Dynasty Mode:
- Event Scheduling -
This is done by your Assistant Head Coach.  To get to the event Schedule
Screen, click on the right arrow, then GM's Desk, then Team Staff, then Event
Scheduling.  This screen allows you to divide how your team is going to spend
their time for a set number of weeks.  It is recommended to do your scheduling
on a 3-4 week basis, because you never know what might come up that will
require you to address.  For example, maybe your team is suddenly hit with a
bad case of fatigue, then you'd need to up the Days off.  Which brings me to my
next point, and which each event is for:
Team Event: This will increase communication, aka awareness, and give a boost
to team passing and defensive awareness ratings.
Time: 4 Weeks
->Recommended: 10%
Press Event: Improve dunk and free throw ratings.
->Recommended: 10%
Team Practice: Improves team overall, but also decreases Fatigue and Hardiness
(means your players are more fatigued).
->Recommended: 30%
Days off: Increases Fatigue and Hardiness ratings.
->Recommended: 50%
This Schedule gets a good amount of practices in there, but also enough days-
off to recuperate from them and team events.
- Team Chemistry -
Keep an eye on this because it tells you how each player are feeling.
Remember, it is pretty hard to keep every single player on the team happy, so
all we can ask for is to keep our key players happy.  To raise or maintain a
high level of happiness from a player, make sure he's getting a solid amount of
playing time, first and foremost.  A way to keep up the general team chemistry
is to make sure the team is winning ball games.  Also, players that are
generally involved in the game by putting up good numbers are also more likely
to be happy.
Player to player chemistry is developed for the most part by winning ball
games.  Animosity between players are developed through unequal distribution of
the ball, where one player takes more shots than the other player feels he
should.  Team Chemistry is most important in simulated games, but tend not to
play as much of a factor in a gamed played.  Also, putting players on the
trading block will lower overall team chemistry, unless it's already really
low, which means he is seeking a trade.  But you'll know that by checking your
Inbox.
- ESPN Rumor Central -
Rumor Central is located in the Assistant Head Coach screen under Team Staff
and GM's Desk.  You can tell your Assistant Head Coach to research any rumor
reported by ESPN.  The reason you want to do that is to of course, check the
validity of each rumor.  For example, if the rumor says "Kevin Garnett on the
trading block?" this is of huge interest to any team, so naturally you'd want
to follow up on it.  You can do that by pressing "Research" on the bottom of
the screen.  Depending on your Assistant Head Coach's Rumor Research grade, you
will get varying results.  Someone who is A+ at rumor control will not only
confirm if the rumor or not, he'll also find out what the other team is
seeking.  However, I believe Rumor snoops are overrated, because they can't
really do much to help out your team.
- Assistants, Trainers and Scouts -
These are the more important screens in the GM's Desk section of Dynasty Mode.
Assistants are by far the most important of the three, because you can
(depending on how many you have) assign an Assistant to work with any player on
your team.  The most progress is usually made on Rookies.  You can spread the
areas that the Assistants work on by either increasing or decreasing the
percent of "Offense", "Defense", or "Athletic".  Athletic is a focus on
physical aspects of the game, things like Speed and Strength.  You can have an
Assistant work on players for a time period of 1-4 weeks.  Also, it should be
noted that some Assistants have Specialties, along with Areas they have a high
expertise in.  For example, some
Trainers can be used to help speed up recovery times for injured players.  The
effectiveness of trainers of course depend on their grade.  I won't go into
much detail here, because it's fairly straight forward.
You can access the Scouting screen through the GM's Desk.  Once in, you have
two options: either to scout your next opponent or scout the next draft class.
Scouting your next opponent really doesn't have much of an effect if you're
looking to simulate, but if you're playing the game then it's pretty much worth
looking at.  Scouting a player in the upcoming draft class can provide more
accurate information and better projections.  It's definitely worth doing, so
remember to check back at Scouting regularly, especially if you're looking to
run several seasons with your Dynasty.
- Roster Management -
The first thing to note is the "Player Rotation" screen.  It should be noted
that all changes made in this screen is for simulation games only, and they do
not apply to games you play.  For example, to actually put someone into the
Starting Lineup, it has to be done from the "Play Game" screen: where you get
mess around with the Jerseys, Game Settings, and all that.  If you're
simulating through, your star players with Stamina of 90 and better can pretty
much play 80% of the game, that's roughly 38.4 minutes a game at 12 minute
Quarters.
The Inactive List is basically a way to keep players on your team, but they
won't be "dressed" for the game, so to speak.  One would do this obviously to
make room for another player.  Doing this to any player is sure to damage Team
Chemistry, and depending on who it is, he might even demand a trade out of your
team.  Which brings us smoothly to our next point.
That's the Trade Players screen.  This is the place where you obviously trade
players, either by making an offer to a team or by placing a player on the
Trading Block.  Which is a way of telling other teams that you're looking to
deal a particular player so they will make offers to you.  Putting a player on
the Trading Block will lower their Team Chemistry with the team, unless it's
already low and they have demanded a trade out of your franchise.
The Free Agents screen is a place for you to sign some Free Agents.  There
probably isn't anyone on here who can change your team in a drastic kind of
way, as the highest overall player is an aging Gary Payton at 73 OVR.  The Free
Agent pool should really just be considered when you suffer an injury to a
position where you have no depth.
- All-Star Weekend and Trade Deadline -
I decided to slap these two together because they're around roughly the same
time.  For Year One in Dynasty, the All-Star Weekend kicks off on February 16,
2007 with the Rookie vs. Sophomore game.  After that you have the 3 point
Shootout and the Slam Dunk Competition.  Capping off All-Star Weekend is of
course the NBA All-Star Game.  You can choose to take part in these activities,
and check out the All-Star Weekend section of this FAQ for more in-depth
coverage.
Trade Deadline is on the 22nd of February in Year 1 of the Dynasty.  The Trade
Deadline is the last day where you can make trades, so after that your team is
pretty much set for the homestretch to the post-season.  This is a good time to
head over to ESPN Rumor Central and have your Assistant Head Coach research on
some possible trades.  You never know if you can pull off a blockbuster deal
that might not cost you very much (IE a star player wants out of a franchise).
NBA Playoffs
------------
If your team was good enough to finish in the top 8 of your conference, then
you will be legible for the NBA Playoffs.  The path to the NBA Finals begin
here.  To begin the playoffs, click on the "NBA Playoffs" icon on the Calendar
and Simulate up to and including that day.  Then, press the right arrow and
click "Begin Playoffs".  In this screen you can see the playoff picture, and
see the potential teams you can play on your way to the NBA Finals.  Once
you've taken a good gander at the bracket, press "Simulate" until it reaches
your game.  At this point, you'd of course want to "Play".  The default format
for the NBA Playoffs is a best-out-of-7 series.  You can pretty much use any
strategy in this FAQ to succeed in the playoffs, or check the individual team
strategy in the "Team Roster" section of the FAQ.  Good luck.
Off-Season
----------
After the Playoffs are done, it's time to continue with the Off-Season.  You
can take a look at the Finals MVP and all that, and then continue on with your
business.  The Off-Season is basically time to tie up loose ends in your
Dynasty.  Things like re-signing players and coaches rank among the more
important tasks.  The very first thing to do in the Off-Season though is taking
on the Rookies in an optional 1-on-1 game with an automatically selected player
from your team.  This isn't really required, and you should just do it if
you're looking to kill some time.  Otherwise, advance to resigning your
players.
When re-signing your players, you should first evaluate how long you're
thinking about how much longer you're going to be playing.  If the answer is
for a much longer time, then be sure you manage your money correctly and don't
sign many players to lucrative contracts.  If the answer is, "I'm almost
done," then it might be OK just to sign as many high-profile players you can.
Also, it is especially important that you don't resign your whole team during
the Re-signing period.  Be sure to lock up your key players like the Iversons
and Bryants first though.  Let the middle-tier players go first.  The reason
for that is, you might be resigning someone on your team who might not be as
good or even as cheap (money wise) as some free agent.  If there are no better
options, then you can still try and bid for the player you let go, so it's
rather risk free.
The NBA Draft is pretty much the same as the first time around, and signing
free agents has already been addressed, so this takes us to the end of the
Dynasty portion of the FAQ.  I hope you enjoyed it.
===============================================================================
All-Star Weekend                         [0005]
===============================================================================
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Rookie Challenge
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The Rookie Challenge is the part of the All-Star Weekend where the NBA Rookies
try their luck against the NBA Sophomore team.  Which in lame men's terms is
the first year players against the 2nd year players.  There's really nothing
special about the Rookie Challenge, it's just a regular game.  Here are the
team starting line-ups anyway, though:
NBA Rookies (78 OVR)
--------------------
C - L. Aldridge - 71 OVR
PF - A. Bargnani - 74 OVR
SF - A. Morrison - 74 OVR
SG - B. Roy - 72 OVR
PG - R. Foye
NBA Sophomores (86 OVR)
-----------------------
C - A. Bogut - 76 OVR
PF - C. Frye - 76 OVR
SF - C. Villanueva - 78 OVR
SG - R. Felton - 74 OVR
PG - C. Paul - C. Paul
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
3 Point Shootout
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The 3 Point Shootout is one of the bigger attractions at All-Star Weekend.
It's basically in a format where all the players get a chance to shoot 5 racks
of 6 racks of 6 basketballs with one "money ball"  The money ball is worth 2
points, the rest worth 1 point.  Top two after the first round will advance to
the championship round.  You can use any shooter in the NBA.
Controls
--------
Turbo - Pick up ball from rack
Shoot - Shoot the ball
Default Shooters
----------------
D. Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks - 84 3PT Rating
R. Allen - Seattle Supersonics - 90 3PT Rating
G. Arenas - Washington Wizards - 80 3PT Rating
C. Billups - Detroit Pistons - 81 3PT Rating
J. Terry - Dallas Mavericsk - 80 3PT Rating
Q. Richardson - New York Knicks - 79 3PT Rating
S. Nash - Phoenix Suns - 87 3PT Rating
P. Stojakovic - New Orleans Hornets - 85 3PT Rating
The key to having success in the 3 Point Shootout is to develop a quick rhythm.
Your instinct might be to get set line up the bucket and then put it up, but
this strategy isn't going to work here.  You first have to figure out where
your shooter's best release point is, and try to repeat it every time.  I find
I get the best results when I release the ball _right_ before my shooter
reaches his highest point of his jump.  To keep up a quick pace, you should be
repeatedly pressing the Turbo Button right after you release each shot to pick
up the ball and then let it go.  Your first few times through the 3 Point
Shootout might be frustrating, but just keep working at it.  There really
aren't many other tips for this except to develop a quick rhythm and keep it
up.  You'll find the default list of shooters usually put up some ridiculous
numbers like 26 or 27, but it's definitely doable.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Slam Dunk Contest
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Slam Dunk Contest is perhaps the most enjoyable and addicting part of NBA
Live 07, but the learning curve is heavy.  There are over a thousand dunks you
can create, so listing them in this FAQ would be impossible.  Before heading
over to the Slam Dunk Contest, it is absolutely crucial that you go to the
"Slam Dunk School" under Game Modes.  They can teach you how to do it
effectively a lot better than I can, but I'll try and explain the process:
There are about two or three steps in each dunk, depending if you choose to do
a throw.  Then, there's the gather and finally the dunk.  The gather is
basically the "setup" to each dunk or the "jog" the bucket.  First and foremost
move to the spot on the floor where you want to begin.  Then, move towards the
hoop and press a gather button. As soon as the gather animation finishes (it
will be quick) press and hold the dunk button you're looking for, along with
any modifiers.  Don't hold the dunk button for too long, or you'll abort it,
let go if it too quickly and you're going to abort it too.  The game will now
be in slow motion, and when it looks like you're player is ready to throw down
the ball, let go of the dunk button.  Here's a list of gathers and dunks on the
default controls:
Gathers
S: 1 foot gather
D: 2 foot gather
X: 180 gather
E: 180 gather
Dunks:
S: Tomahawk
E: Windmill
X: Clutch (under the leg)
D: One Hand
Here's an example to pull off a fairly basic but beautiful and high scoring
dunk.
180 Clutch (under the leg) Dunk
-------------------------------
(I used Lebron James, FYI)
* Start beyond the 3 point line anywhere on the court
* Move towards the bucket and press "E" to begin the gather
* As soon as you see your dunker hold the ball with one hand above his head,
press and hold "X" to jump and pass the ball under your leg while spinning 180
degrees
* As soon as you see the ball is about to touch your other hand, let go of "X"
To get a high score for this (or any) Dunk, you need to get lots of hang time,
and fluency.  Hangtime is directly related to the amount of space you have to
work with.
That was just one dunk you can pull off, spend some time in the Slam Dunk
School to hone your skills and let the posterizing begin.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
All-Star Game
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The All-Star game is of course where the fans select the top players (in their
view) to play in one big spectacle.  Here are the starting lineups.
Eastern Conference
------------------
C - S. O'Neal - 89 OVR
PF - V. Carter - 87 OVR
SF - L. James - 97 OVR
SG - D. Wade - 93 OVR
PG - A. Iverson - 90 OVR
Western Conference
------------------
C - Y. Ming - 88 OVR
PF - T. Duncan - 91 OVR
SF - T. McGrady 93 OVR
SG - K. Braynt - 97 OVR
PG - S. Nash
===============================================================================
Offensive Strategy                       [0006]
===============================================================================
Go Inside the Paint EARLY
-------------------------
On the opening possessions you're going to find that both teams are going to
miss a lot of jumpshots.  This is just a factoid of basketball, because the
players do not have a good feel of the game yet.  So take note of this and work
the ball inside early in the game get some momentum on your side.  Put the ball
in the hands of your Center or Power Forward and let them back into the
defender (with the Freestyle Control, Power Move) for some easy buckets.  Early
in the game you're going to find that the opponent won't bring the double team
very often, so there are a lot of points to be scored there.
Get "a kick out" of each possession
----------------------------------
One of the most effective ways to score in NBA Live 07 is to establish a drive
to the bucket, draw a double-team and kick it out to a 3-point ace waiting on
the perimeter.  This strategy is usually done by using an explosive player like
Kobe Bryant, and calling for Quick Play #1 - Isolation, then drive towards the
hoop and draw the double team.  At this point instead of going for the bucket
yourself, which would be an extremely tough shot, look for the man who the
doubling defender just left and kick it out to him and fire away.  Even if the
player on the receiving end of the pass doesn't have a 3 point icon, chances
are he'd still drain the shot, granted it's not Shaquille O'Neal you're kicking
it out too.  You can also draw double teams with Pick and Rolls as well.
Free Throws win championships
-----------------------------
Being a good free-throwing team doesn't always guarantee a victory, but it's
not a stretch by any means to say the better free throwing team wins about 90%
of the games.  The best way to draw a foul is to drive aggressively towards the
hoop with "Turbo" and attempt a lay-up.  The importance of free-throws really
doesn't lie on drawing an excessive amount, but more on making the most out of
the opportunities presented.  Free throws can be consistently made simply with
good shooting mechanics.  Gone are the annoying, and on higher difficulties,
often impossible "touch two dots in the centre" days.  The key to making free
throws in 07 is developing a rhythm for each player and releasing the ball
right as it reaches his head.
Pass With Care
--------------
Passing is always a good thing to do in theory, but in NBA Live 07 it can be
quite a hardship trying to distribute the ball around, especially into the
post.  The key is to not be predictable when passing, and don't always do the
pass from PG to C as soon as you're running your half-court offense. Instead,
try and do something to throw the defender off, like pull up for a jumper and
then press "pass" as you're in the air.  This is a good way to keep the defense
honest.  Alternatively, you can try and lock on your target and try a direct
pass.  This is just a way to make sure the ball is going exactly where you want
it to, because sometimes it might be difficult to aim the arrows precisely.
Shot Selection is Key
---------------------
If you're someone who loves to bring the ball down, do a bit of a crossover,
and then pull up for a jumper, this game isn't going to be a lot of fun.
Shot selection is one of the most important keys to a victory, and it's no
different in NBA Live 07.  So why not try something like PG takes the ball
down, dishes it over to the SG, then to the SF in the right pocket, and then
into the C for a post-up deuce.  If you find that you can't get open by passing
the ball around and driving, then it's time to call a quick play.
Capitalize on the Offensive Rebounds
------------------------------------
When you are able to get a second shot opportunity following an offensive
board, it is very important you capitalize.  The obvious reaction after getting
a board is to try and throw it down for the easy deuce.  This however will not
work a lot of the time, because of the number of defenders surrounding the
rebounder.  Because of this, it would be an extremely good decision to pass the
ball to one of the shooters waiting on the perimeter for the trifecta.  If
that's not an option, just kick it out to one of the guards and reset your
offense and call some quickplays (Pick and Roll, Isolation, etc).
Utilize the Freestyle Control
-----------------------------
One of my favourite features of all Live games is the freestyle control.  As
mentioned earlier, it is useful on Isolation plays because it allows you to
dance around the opponent and create some room for a pull-up jumper as well.
The best part about the Freestyle control this year is you don't even need the
Logitech Dual Analog controller to use it.  All you need to do is hold down
Crossover and press any of the movement buttons to perform an And1 like move or
spin.  On a Logitech Dual Analog controller, all you have to do is mess around
with the Right Analog stick.
Look to the Fast-Break
----------------------
After you've made a good defensive stand and have the rebound after a miss,
look for the outlet pass to start a fast break opportunity.  The fast break is
one of the easier ways to score on NBA Live, because it's usually an odd-man
rush (2-on-1, 3-on-1, etc).  When on the fast-break, it is crucial to pass the
ball back and forth, and force the defense to commit to a player.  As soon as
that happens pass it to the other player and get the easy deuce via dunk or
lay-up.  You can also try to a pick and roll from about the key (area where the
free throws are shot), and get a bucket that way.  That way, even if the pick
isn't successful the player who set the pick will be wide open for a pass back
and easy "J".
Utilize your Freestyle Superstars
---------------------------------
Inside Scorer (Ball w/ Bucket)
Power (Fist)
Outside Scorer (Fireball)
High Flyer (Wing)
3 Point Specialist (3)
Playmaker (rotating arrows)
Certain players are good at certain things, and they have icons to indicate
that.  The above is a list of offensive specialist types with their
corresponding icons in brackets.  It is very important to utilize your
freestyle stars and superstars.  For example, it's ideal for 3 point
specialists and outside-scorers to call for picks often to get just a moment of
separation to swish the jumper.  Conversely, if your 3 point specialist is PF
or C like Antoine Walker or Dirk Nowitzki, then it might be a good idea to
utilize the pick and pop.  Call for the pick from Walker or Nowitzki and draw
the defense onto the ball carrier then kick it back to one of those guys for an
easy drain.
It should also be noted that you certain players have more than one ability
their good at, like Allen Iverson, who's a Playmaker, Outside Scorer and an
Outside Defender (more on that later).  If you have a Dual Analog Controller,
you can alter between each icon depending on the situation by holding the Left
Trigger and pressing down on the Right Analog stick.  For example, if you're
Allen Iverson and you're setting up a Pick and Pop, and you're looking to draw
the defense to you and then kick it out for the "Pop", you'd want to have the
Playmaker icon selected.  So press and hold the Left Trigger and press the
Right Analog stick until you see the rotating arrows selected.  This is really
more of an annoying feature if anything.
Abuse the Pick
--------------
The Pick and Roll is one of the most effective ways of scoring in NBA Live 07.
I'm not sure what the reason is, but after you call for a Pick and Roll and use
it to drive to the bucket, the lay-ups and dunks just have a higher success
rate, even if your ball handler doesn't get a lot of separation from the
defense.  Also, the pick and roll often draws a double team or even a bad
switch (C on G).  If your pick draws a double team, the obvious thing to do is
to pass it back to the player who set the pick and fire away.  If it's a bad
switch, call for the Isolation quick play and goto work with your Freestyle
Control.
===============================================================================
Defensive Strategy                        [0007]
===============================================================================
Stay In Front of the Offense
----------------------------
Scoring is made rather difficult in NBA Live 07, so use it to your advantage on
the defensive end of the court.  With any defender, stay concentrated on the
offense looks like he's doing.  Not only does your player in NBA Live have to
be quick to keep up with quick players, you have to be too.  As soon as you see
the offense go to the right, you have to be going in that direction with your
controller just as quick.  If the offense drives, be sure to use the Turbo
button to keep up.  If you don't, the opponent is just going to blow right past