TOP SELLER OFFERING
CHEAP FIFA 23 COINS CONVENIENT FAST SERVICE
Use the best store and enjoy 24/7 professional service. Our staff are always stand by!

Welcome to the
Leading NBA 2K MT Market We Have Best Offers
All cheap products sold on UTnice.com are obtained manually, you can always buy with confidence!

Best Store Providing
100% Secure MUT Coins Instant Delivery
Here you can get the lowest price and safety guarantee, use coupon code to get more discounts!

CHOOSE THE GAME
Our service covers a variety of popular sports simulation games, please choose your favorite game.
CHOOSE THE GAME
Our service covers a variety of popular sports simulation games, please choose your favorite game.
CONVENIENT
Whether you use PC or mobile device to access the UTnice, you can easily place an order in just a few steps.
FAST
We have an efficient order system and delivery team that can complete orders in time frame.
SAFE
The entire process will be completed in a 100% secure environment, your privacy is well protected.
CHEAP
We have rich stock and a steady stream of supplyment, can provide reasonable price.
HELPFUL
Our professional online customer service will answer all your questions, welcome to consult.
TRUSTED
Our Trustscore is very high on Trustpilot , only trusted sites can do.
METHODS OF SECURE DELIVERY
If you want to buy risk-free coins, the best choice is to use the safe transaction methods from UTnice. Follow the steps behind and you will get coins in a safe way.
FUT
NBA 2K
MUT

You need to follow the instructions of our system. Fast, safe, but manual.
CHOOSE THE OFFER
First, choose the FIFA game and the console you are playing. Then choose from the offers on the page according to the amount of FIFA Coins you want to buy and your budget, then you can click the Pay Now button to go to the checkout page.
CHOOSE THE OFFER
First, choose the FIFA game and the console you are playing. Then choose from the offers on the page according to the amount of FIFA Coins you want to buy and your budget, then you can click the Pay Now button to go to the checkout page.
SUBMIT AND PAY
Please fill in all the required account information on the settlement page, including Origin Email(Web APP), Password, and valid Backup Codes. Our staff will log in to the account and gradually transfer the FUT Coins you purchased to your account.
FAST DELIVERY
Do not log in to your FIFA account or use the FUT Coins in your account during the order delivery process, otherwise the order delivery may go wrong. If you have any questions about your order or order status, please contact Live Support.

You need to follow the instructions of our system. Fast, safe, but manual.
CHOOSE THE OFFER
First, choose the NBA 2K game and the console you are playing. Then choose from the offers on the page according to the amount of NBA 2K MT you want to buy and your budget, then you can click the Pay Now button to go to the checkout page.
CHOOSE THE OFFER
First, choose the NBA 2K game and the console you are playing. Then choose from the offers on the page according to the amount of NBA 2K MT you want to buy and your budget, then you can click the Pay Now button to go to the checkout page.
SET CARD PRICE
Please prepare player cards for for the MT trade in advance and set their Buy Now Price to the amount of NBA 2K MyTeam you want to buy(Maximum 100K), the more MT you want to buy, the more cards you need to prepare. (Use OVR 88+ Red Cards and the trade will be easier)
UPLOAD AND PAY
Fill out all required information correctly on the checkout page, including contact information, player name, player rating, Start Price, and Buy Now Price. After confirming that all information is correct, please complete the payment.
FAST DELIVERY
Our delivery staff will buy your cards in the Auction House so you can get the 2K MT. Please note that the Auction House takes 10% transaction fee, which means you will get 90% of the MT, we don’t cove the trade tax.

You need to follow the instructions of our system. Fast, safe, but manual.
CHOOSE THE OFFER
First, choose the MUT game and the console you are playing. Then choose from the offers on the page according to the amount of MUT Coins you want to buy and your budget, then you can click the Pay Now button to go to the checkout page.
CHOOSE THE OFFER
First, choose the MUT game and the console you are playing. Then choose from the offers on the page according to the amount of MUT Coins you want to buy and your budget, then you can click the Pay Now button to go to the checkout page.
SET CARD PRICE
Please prepare player cards for coins transfer in advance and set their Buy Now Price to the amount of Madden Coins you want to buy(Don’t set Buy Now Price to the Max Value of the card but 10% less than it), the more Coins you want to buy, the more high-value cards you need to prepare.
UPLOAD AND PAY
Fill out all required information correctly on the checkout page, including contact information, player name, player rating, Start Price, and Buy Now Price. After confirming that all information is correct, please complete the payment.
FAST DELIVERY
Our delivery staff will buy your cards in the transfer market so you can get the Madden Ultimate Team Coins. Please note that the Auction House takes 10% transaction fee, which means you will get 90% of the coins, we don’t cove the trade tax.
NEWS AND GUIDES
UTnice.com is a good place to get the latest news and helpful guides about sports simulation games. Stay tuned for more latest information.
FUT
NBA 2K
MUT
The concept of playing an NFL game on Christmas Eve sounded a lot better to Jay Feely when the schedule came out in the spring than it did as the holiday season approached.
It was 2010, and Feely was kicking for the Arizona Cardinals, who were 5-10 and going nowhere. They were playing host to Dallas, likewise stuck in the mud at 5-10.
With Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, the NFL has front-loaded the schedule with 11 games on Christmas Eve, and - as on Thanksgiving - three on Christmas Day, including Denver at the Rams. The Chargers play at Indianapolis on Monday night.
Here's a closer look at some of the most memorable Christmas Day NFL games:
Eagles 23, Cowboys 7 in 2006
It was a far different Christmas Day experience for Philadelphia quarterback Jeff Garcia in 2006, when he guided the Eagles to a 23-7 victory over the Cowboys in Dallas. That Monday game capped an unprecedented run for the Eagles, who beat all three NFC East opponents on the road in consecutive weeks.
That Dallas win was the capper. Not only did the Eagles beat the hated Cowboys, but also they spoiled the day for spotlight-stealing Dallas receiver Terrell Owens, who had been with Philadelphia the season before.
As he left the field, a gleeful Garcia delivered a line on national TV "Merry Christmas, Philadelphia" that secured him a permanent spot in that city's sports lore.
Philadelphia was 5-6 at Thanksgiving before tearing off five wins in a row to clinch the NFC East. They beat the New York Giants in a wild-card game before losing at New Orleans in the divisional round.
As with other quarterbacks, Garcia's relationship with Philadelphia fans was, well, complicated. They loved him after that three-game run, but were less enthusiastic about him when he first replaced the injured Donovan McNabb in mid-November. The Eagles lost their first two games with Garcia under center.
"I was able to play for the Niners and Cleveland and Detroit, and you see the passion in fans," Garcia said. "But you go to Philadelphia and it's just a different experience. It literally is love-hate. Fans there thought the season was over when Donovan went down."
It took Philadelphia fans a while to warm to Garcia. At the beginning of December, when the Eagles were playing host to Carolina in a Monday night game, Garcia was crushed by a tackle and lay writhing on the field. In his agony, he heard the crowd starting to cheer because his backup was warming up on the sideline.
"I almost was somewhat happier being on the road for those three weeks knowing that, when you're on the road, you have to be a road warrior obviously, but you know everybody's against you already," Garcia said. "At home, I didn't know if they were with me or against me. There's nothing like playing at home when your fans aren't in favor of you."
That all changed as the Eagles started stacking wins in December, and especially with that Christmas Day game.
Bears 24, Packers 17 in 2005
The Bears traditionally had difficulties against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, so in Chicago this is a major Christmas memory. The Bears won at Green Bay, 24-17, intercepting four Favre passes and sweeping the Packers for the first time since 1991.
Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly remembers that game for an entirely different reason. His daughter was born the day before. He was there for her birth, then rode north to Lambeau Field with the team doctor.
Mannelly played that game with the blue-ink footprint of his newborn daughter stamped on his forearm.
"I was tired as can be from not sleeping," he said. "Then fortunately we won the game and won the division. I don't remember a lot from the game, but it was just a great Bears-Packers memory and my favorite Christmas ever."
Cowboys 37, Cardinals 13 in 1995
Christmas fell on a Monday in 1995, too, when Dallas played at Arizona and pounded the Cardinals, 37-13. Troy Aikman threw for 350 yards in that game, which secured home-field advantage for the Cowboys throughout the playoffs.
The Cardinals were heading in the opposite direction. It would be the final game for coach Buddy Ryan, who started heading up the tunnel before the clock expired so he was nowhere to be found for the traditional postgame handshake.
There was plenty of dysfunction in the Cardinals organization at the time, including a fistfight during a Friday film session between a practice squad defensive lineman and a starting linebacker that spilled over into the locker room Saturday.
Footage from that game was used in the film "Jerry Maguire," and the on-field scenes with Cuba Gooding Jr. were shot at halftime.
"We were told there was a Hollywood movie there, we weren't told it was what would become Jerry Maguire,'' former Cardinals center Ed Cunningham recalled. "We had no idea it was a Tom Cruise movie. It was only when the movie came out that it was like, ‘Oh, my God.' "
More memorable for Cunningham was teammate Larry Centers establishing an NFL mark for receptions by a running back with 101 for the season.

The concept of playing an NFL game on Christmas Eve sounded a lot better to Jay Feely when the schedule came out in the spring than it did as the holiday season approached.
It was 2010, and Feely was kicking for the Arizona Cardinals, who were 5-10 and going nowhere. They were playing host to Dallas, likewise stuck in the mud at 5-10.
With Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, the NFL has front-loaded the schedule with 11 games on Christmas Eve, and - as on Thanksgiving - three on Christmas Day, including Denver at the Rams. The Chargers play at Indianapolis on Monday night.
Here's a closer look at some of the most memorable Christmas Day NFL games:
Eagles 23, Cowboys 7 in 2006
It was a far different Christmas Day experience for Philadelphia quarterback Jeff Garcia in 2006, when he guided the Eagles to a 23-7 victory over the Cowboys in Dallas. That Monday game capped an unprecedented run for the Eagles, who beat all three NFC East opponents on the road in consecutive weeks.
That Dallas win was the capper. Not only did the Eagles beat the hated Cowboys, but also they spoiled the day for spotlight-stealing Dallas receiver Terrell Owens, who had been with Philadelphia the season before.
As he left the field, a gleeful Garcia delivered a line on national TV "Merry Christmas, Philadelphia" that secured him a permanent spot in that city's sports lore.
Philadelphia was 5-6 at Thanksgiving before tearing off five wins in a row to clinch the NFC East. They beat the New York Giants in a wild-card game before losing at New Orleans in the divisional round.
As with other quarterbacks, Garcia's relationship with Philadelphia fans was, well, complicated. They loved him after that three-game run, but were less enthusiastic about him when he first replaced the injured Donovan McNabb in mid-November. The Eagles lost their first two games with Garcia under center.
"I was able to play for the Niners and Cleveland and Detroit, and you see the passion in fans," Garcia said. "But you go to Philadelphia and it's just a different experience. It literally is love-hate. Fans there thought the season was over when Donovan went down."
It took Philadelphia fans a while to warm to Garcia. At the beginning of December, when the Eagles were playing host to Carolina in a Monday night game, Garcia was crushed by a tackle and lay writhing on the field. In his agony, he heard the crowd starting to cheer because his backup was warming up on the sideline.
"I almost was somewhat happier being on the road for those three weeks knowing that, when you're on the road, you have to be a road warrior obviously, but you know everybody's against you already," Garcia said. "At home, I didn't know if they were with me or against me. There's nothing like playing at home when your fans aren't in favor of you."
That all changed as the Eagles started stacking wins in December, and especially with that Christmas Day game.
Bears 24, Packers 17 in 2005
The Bears traditionally had difficulties against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, so in Chicago this is a major Christmas memory. The Bears won at Green Bay, 24-17, intercepting four Favre passes and sweeping the Packers for the first time since 1991.
Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly remembers that game for an entirely different reason. His daughter was born the day before. He was there for her birth, then rode north to Lambeau Field with the team doctor.
Mannelly played that game with the blue-ink footprint of his newborn daughter stamped on his forearm.
"I was tired as can be from not sleeping," he said. "Then fortunately we won the game and won the division. I don't remember a lot from the game, but it was just a great Bears-Packers memory and my favorite Christmas ever."
Cowboys 37, Cardinals 13 in 1995
Christmas fell on a Monday in 1995, too, when Dallas played at Arizona and pounded the Cardinals, 37-13. Troy Aikman threw for 350 yards in that game, which secured home-field advantage for the Cowboys throughout the playoffs.
The Cardinals were heading in the opposite direction. It would be the final game for coach Buddy Ryan, who started heading up the tunnel before the clock expired so he was nowhere to be found for the traditional postgame handshake.
There was plenty of dysfunction in the Cardinals organization at the time, including a fistfight during a Friday film session between a practice squad defensive lineman and a starting linebacker that spilled over into the locker room Saturday.
Footage from that game was used in the film "Jerry Maguire," and the on-field scenes with Cuba Gooding Jr. were shot at halftime.
"We were told there was a Hollywood movie there, we weren't told it was what would become Jerry Maguire,'' former Cardinals center Ed Cunningham recalled. "We had no idea it was a Tom Cruise movie. It was only when the movie came out that it was like, ‘Oh, my God.' "
More memorable for Cunningham was teammate Larry Centers establishing an NFL mark for receptions by a running back with 101 for the season.

Think of how many times a 50/50 ball gets tossed in Madden NFL 23. 99% of the time, this will be an incomplete pass or an interception. the odds are so poor that gamers try hard to avoid the circumstance at all. What if, for these handfuls of tossups, the receiver came down with the ball? In that situation, players would be much more open to taking risks in Madden NFL 23. For some players, it's hardly even risky. Elite wide receivers can jump higher than those who cover them, resulting in an edge that pros will abuse until they either win or their opponent quits. So today I would like to introduce some good recivers you can use your team in Madden 23.
Justin Jefferson - 96 OVR
Justin Jefferson was second only to Cooper Kupp in terms of yardage last season and somehow only given a 93 OVR. Call it the annual football rumor mill in full effect, but it seemed like everyone know this was going to increase. Jefferson uses every tool a receiver has, between speed, route-running, hands, and toughness. The young player is already an annual lock to make the Pro Bowl. The Vikings are the toast of the NFL so far with Jefferson setting the tone every chance he gets.
Cooper Kupp - 97 OVR
When predicting where the top-rated players would rank up, Kupp was a consensus 99. He started the year at a 98 to the outrage of his fans. The Rams, in the middle of a significant backslide, have struggled and Kupp's rating has also fallen to a 97.
Although Kupp led all receivers in every category last year and nearly broke every single-season record that exists for wide receivers, ratings are often based on how the team does more than the individual player. Before his injury that may be season-ending, Kupp did lead the league in receptions, so that should count for something going into next year.
Tyreek Hill - 98 OVR
When comparing this year's Madden to last year's, some things will change and others will stay the same. Tyreek Hill had a bit of both as his team went from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Miami Dolphins but his speed and acceleration are still a perfect 99. Apparently, some experts figured that most of Tyreek Hill's success came from Patrick Mahomes. Halfway through the year, even with injuries to the starting quarterback, Hill has still been the most productive wide receiver. At this rate, he should be in the 99 OVR club sooner than later.
Davante Adams - 99 OVR
At some point, experts began to look at all the MVP awards for Aaron Rodgers and thought to themselves, "How is this guy still completing so many tight passes?" The answer to their question? Davante Adams. When it comes to hands and route-running, he's almost without equal.
That's why Adams got slapped with the perfect 99 OVR this year, the only receiver to get the designation. He's continued his amazing streak for the Raiders. The team itself has been putrid, but they can't blame that on their stud receiver who is doing everything he can to win games.

It's very easy to go wrong in Madden NFL 23 when it comes to Ultimate Team. For every one person who makes it big, there are tens of thousands who go broke and get mired in the middle of the pack. Few games require the quantity of warnings that should come with Madden Ultimate Team.
But does that mean this mode should be sworn off forever? Not at all. There are ways for beginners to enjoy putting together a solid squad that takes on challenges. There is enjoyment in Madden NFL 23's Ultimate Team mode that won't have gamers taking out a second mortgage.
Log In Daily
Rewards add up over time. Logging in for a pack here or a card there might never net the best cornerback on the field, but, when sold or added to a collection, the totality of these cards can indeed produce elite talent and decent number of MUT 23 Coins.
Logging in every so often will lead to a stagnant team. That may be fine for some players, but those who are looking to satisfy the itch for the next upgrade will need to be consistent. Upgrades won't happen every day, but every day is another step along the path to the next better card.
Start With The Solo Objectives
Although the chatter around Ultimate Team is going to be based on the multiplayer matchups, beginners should start (and perhaps end) with the solo challenges. Doing the challenges takes players with their starting players and slowly upgrades the entire team. It's something like a tutorial that has real bonuses. Going into matchups without doing these solo challenges first is just asking to be defeated. Maybe gamers who like the challenge could find some value in doing this, but there is little sensible rationale for such a move.
Test Out New Playbooks
Although there are strong opinions about what the best and worst playbooks are, this really comes down to personal taste and team consistency, which vary in so many ways that delivering specific advice is impossible. Trial and error is the best way to figure out what works best. Those who have incredible linebackers will find that having two ILBs and two OLBs on the field at once is best, so more of these plays works well, for example. Keep an eye on the average yardage per play and target playbooks that have those idea formations.
Use The Generate Best Lineup Button
Before really digging into the cards and understanding which ones are better, new players have a very easy tool to use. Even pro players will use this 'Generate Best Lineup' button and make adjustments from there.
Going into the game without the best defensive linemen available makes for a really embarrassing and easily rectified mistake. There may still be some tuning up to do after getting the best OVR in each spot, but this is an efficient way to have a great team going into each challenge.
Switching A Player Out Of Position
Here is a strategy that allows new players to field a team that can compete with the pros. Click each position and see if there is somebody who can do it better. Especially when players have a few fantastic offensive linemen, they can interchange guards and tackles pretty easily. If players plan on blocking only with tight ends, toss some linemen in there. Or if their tight ends are going to be mostly receiving, replace them with wide receivers.

If you ask me how about the Madden 23 a few month ago, I would like to declaim that Madden NFL 23 has potential to become one of the most popular games in EA Sport's catalog, but currently that popularity is decaying. Though the reason could be complicated, lots of people still believe that Madden 23 player rating is the root of this problem.
Aforementioned issues could be witness via the data since Madden 23 was released on August 19, 2022. Just almost three months after its release, the game has an audience rating of 2.9 stars out of 5 possible. On Steam, the game has a 6/10 rating. Some complaints are the high card prices, limited customization, and clunky playability. However, the main one that has been carried out for some years now is the Madden 23 player rating. It has gotten to the point where player community is discussing whether the rating matters.
A player rating is determined by real-life stats and is supposed to reflect a player's real capabilities. Ideally, these ratings change based on what's happening in the NFL but that doesn't seem to be the case. Players that are injured or underperforming do not get a substantial drop in their ratings. Players that are performing above expectations do not get boosted.
The point is, even if the player ratings were adjusted in a timely method, the game doesn't seem to reflect or really take into consideration the ratings. The animation algorithm benefits the Superstar and X-Factor abilities far above the player ratings, which make deeming ratings more useless.
So, Who are the 99 OVR players in Madden 23? In Madden 23, only four players ave a 99 OVR.
*Aaron Donald, Defensive Tackle for Los Angeles Rams
*Davante Adams, Wide Receiver for Las Vegas Riders
*Myles Garret, Defensive End for the Cleveland Browns
*Trent Williams, Offensive Tackle for the San Francisco 49ers. Willimas has retained his 99 Madden 23 player rating despite being inactive for a couple of weeks due to an ankle injury.
Despite the players' loud and frequent complaints, EA Sports seems to be happy with how the rating works and are not planning on making big changes in the near future. Which can also be explained in financial aspect, the rating system can be a good attractive part of the coming up new card. Image that, if there will be a brand New 99 OVR Rceiver on next updates, can you stop yourself for preparing MUT 23 Coins for its packs or auction house trading? which would make a high KPI on the latest financial report. I think that is why EA insist that.
Christmas has long been the marquee day of the NBA regular season. The slate of games showcases the league's best teams and brightest stars and franchises.
The Christmas slate is also one of the biggest narrative drivers of the year. And those who tuned in to the Lakers during their 124-115 blowout loss to the Mavericks in Dallas on Sunday witnessed a tragic reminder of the manner in which James' Hall of Fame career appears to be ending in Los Angeles.
James scored 38 points (on 13-for-23 shooting) against Dallas, one shy of his season-high set against the Spurs on Nov. 26, adding six rebounds and five assists in his record-breaking 17th Christmas Day game. When he checked out at the 2:32 mark of the fourth quarter, the Lakers were plus-2 in the 34 minutes he played and minus-18 in the 12 minutes he sat.
Team's Issue
Individual plus-minus isn't always reflective of the story of a game, but in this case, it was. Without Anthony Davis, who is out indefinitely with a stress injury in his right foot, the Lakers simply don't have much of a chance when James is off the floor. They have lost four straight games - allowing at least 124 points in each loss - and are 1-4 since Davis' injury, dropping to 13-20 overall and 13th in the West.
The final score wasn't indicative of how close the game actually was for much of the second half. And with four more games left on their five-game road trip, they are in jeopardy of plummeting further down the standings.
When asked if he believes the Lakers are resilient enough to climb out of their predicament, James offered a bluntly candid assessment.
James, who has occasionally voiced concerns with the roster throughout the season, has become increasingly critical in recent postgames sessions since Davis' injury.
"Reality is, without AD, we lose a lot of length, which we don't have already," James said. "So we have to make up in ways that, without AD, is very difficult, very challenging. So, I think at one point we had a lineup of I think (Austin Reaves) was the tallest guy on the court. So, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out."
James has been direct about the team's lack of shooting and size. There's been subtle jabs at the team's collective talent as well. The subtext to his messaging, of course, is that the Lakers' roster could benefit from a much-need upgrade from the front office via a trade (or two). And it's difficult to disagree with James' judgment or his application of pressure.
James' Dilamma
After a slowish start, James is surely doing his part, scoring 30-plus in seven consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NBA.
He continues to break and set records with an unprecedented longevity. Among many notable examples to choose from this season, he has already passed Magic Johnson in career assists, and will likely pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list within the next month and a half.
But James' 20th season, much like his 19th, is essentially being wasted on a seemingly lottery-bound Lakers squad. There have been glimmers of optimism, but like last season, the team has largely underachieved relative to the expectations set forth in the first two seasons of the James-Davis partnership.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who trends glass-half-full in most instances, acknowledged the "tough circumstances" James, in particular, is facing amid the team's struggles.
"Phenomenal," Ham said of James' play. "My hat's off to him. He competed his ass off. It's tough times right now, tough circumstances. But at the end of the day, you know, we just have to keep mashing forward. He's the prime example of that. Just his ability to come out game after game after game and put up the type of performances he's putting up, really try to coach and teach guys in the process of being in the floor, playing with them. Throwing ideas our way. Allowing himself to be coached.
"A lot of guys in that position, everyone doesn't allow themselves to be coached. My hat's off to him. His leadership has been showing."

Christmas has long been the marquee day of the NBA regular season. The slate of games showcases the league's best teams and brightest stars and franchises.
The Christmas slate is also one of the biggest narrative drivers of the year. And those who tuned in to the Lakers during their 124-115 blowout loss to the Mavericks in Dallas on Sunday witnessed a tragic reminder of the manner in which James' Hall of Fame career appears to be ending in Los Angeles.
James scored 38 points (on 13-for-23 shooting) against Dallas, one shy of his season-high set against the Spurs on Nov. 26, adding six rebounds and five assists in his record-breaking 17th Christmas Day game. When he checked out at the 2:32 mark of the fourth quarter, the Lakers were plus-2 in the 34 minutes he played and minus-18 in the 12 minutes he sat.
Team's Issue
Individual plus-minus isn't always reflective of the story of a game, but in this case, it was. Without Anthony Davis, who is out indefinitely with a stress injury in his right foot, the Lakers simply don't have much of a chance when James is off the floor. They have lost four straight games - allowing at least 124 points in each loss - and are 1-4 since Davis' injury, dropping to 13-20 overall and 13th in the West.
The final score wasn't indicative of how close the game actually was for much of the second half. And with four more games left on their five-game road trip, they are in jeopardy of plummeting further down the standings.
When asked if he believes the Lakers are resilient enough to climb out of their predicament, James offered a bluntly candid assessment.
James, who has occasionally voiced concerns with the roster throughout the season, has become increasingly critical in recent postgames sessions since Davis' injury.
"Reality is, without AD, we lose a lot of length, which we don't have already," James said. "So we have to make up in ways that, without AD, is very difficult, very challenging. So, I think at one point we had a lineup of I think (Austin Reaves) was the tallest guy on the court. So, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out."
James has been direct about the team's lack of shooting and size. There's been subtle jabs at the team's collective talent as well. The subtext to his messaging, of course, is that the Lakers' roster could benefit from a much-need upgrade from the front office via a trade (or two). And it's difficult to disagree with James' judgment or his application of pressure.
James' Dilamma
After a slowish start, James is surely doing his part, scoring 30-plus in seven consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NBA.
He continues to break and set records with an unprecedented longevity. Among many notable examples to choose from this season, he has already passed Magic Johnson in career assists, and will likely pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list within the next month and a half.
But James' 20th season, much like his 19th, is essentially being wasted on a seemingly lottery-bound Lakers squad. There have been glimmers of optimism, but like last season, the team has largely underachieved relative to the expectations set forth in the first two seasons of the James-Davis partnership.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who trends glass-half-full in most instances, acknowledged the "tough circumstances" James, in particular, is facing amid the team's struggles.
"Phenomenal," Ham said of James' play. "My hat's off to him. He competed his ass off. It's tough times right now, tough circumstances. But at the end of the day, you know, we just have to keep mashing forward. He's the prime example of that. Just his ability to come out game after game after game and put up the type of performances he's putting up, really try to coach and teach guys in the process of being in the floor, playing with them. Throwing ideas our way. Allowing himself to be coached.
"A lot of guys in that position, everyone doesn't allow themselves to be coached. My hat's off to him. His leadership has been showing."

The most exciting Christmas game, stars were out in full force in Game 2 of the NBA's Christmas Day slate as LeBron James and Luka Doncic put on a show in the Dallas Mavericks' 124-115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite his best efforts, James could not help the visiting Lakers hold onto their early lead, as the Mavericks blitzed them offensively during the third quarter. Dallas put up a historic 51 points, a Christmas Day record, which proved to be too much for Los Angeles to overcome.
While Doncic will receive the bulk of the headlines following his near triple-double performance of 32 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, the Mavericks All-Star had plenty of help on the offensive end as Christian Wood and Tim Hardaway Jr. combined for 56 points in the win. On the other end of the spectrum, LeBron put up the type of superstar numbers we've grown accustomed to seeing over the years finishing with 38 points, six rebounds and five assists but the rest of the Lakers' roster did not offer him enough support to get the job done on the road. With the win, Dallas improves to 18-16 on the season while Los Angeles falls to 13-20.
Mavericks Explode in the Third Quarter
Things couldn't get worse than what the Mavericks did in the first half against the Lakers. They shot 39.5 percent from the field and 22.7 percent from 3-point range, and fell behind by 11 points to a Lakers team that was without Anthony Davis. Based on how poorly things went in the first two quarters, Dallas was bound to turn things around, but no one could've predicted the 51-point outburst the Mavericks laid on the Lakers, using a 20-5 run to go up 82-65 with two minutes left in the third quarter.
By the end of the third frame, Dallas was up to a 94-75 lead, and the 51 points they totaled was not only a Christmas Day record, and tied a Mavericks record for most points in a single quarter, but it was also the highest point total in a single quarter this season. It all happened thanks to nine 3s, four of which came from Tim Hardaway Jr. who scored 16 of his 26 points in the third quarter. Doncic also joined in on the third-quarter fun, scoring 13 of his 32 points during those 12 minutes, and dishing out six assists in the process.
It wasn't as if the Mavericks were doing anything dramatically different stylistically in the third quarter, it was just as simple as guys knocking down shots. That's been the story for Dallas all season long. When this team gets cooking from 3-point territory, they're difficult to beat. The Mavericks generate the second-most wide-open 3s this season, but in terms of making them, they're in the middle of the pack at 38.1 percent, which ranks 15th in the league. The first half was the version of the Mavericks that don't hit their wide-open looks, while the third quarter was a drastic swing in the other direction with nearly every shot going in. It's not sustainable going forward, but it's a positive sign that Dallas can and turn things around in the middle of a game and see players like Reggie Bullock, who have struggled heavily, get out of a slump.
LeBron James vs. Everyone
We already knew James was going to have to do it all for the Lakers to have a chance in this game, because without Davis on the floor there isn't much depth behind their two stars. But still, LeBron outscored the four other Lakers starters who combined for just 32 points. Russell Westbrook tried his best to offer some help off the bench, going for 17 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Austin Reaves had a quiet 16 points, but when you have no other starters score in double figures you're not going to win many games. Especially when the team shoots 32.1 percent from 3-point range, a long standing issue for the Lakers this season. L.A. ranks 26th in the league in 3-point percentage, and they shot just a hair below their season average, proving that once again this team desperately needs shooters to compete in the West. Even LeBron went 0 of 4 from deep, but when he's doing everything else on offense, that's just a small blip on the radar.
There was some hope in the first half, when the Lakers were shooting 53.5 percent from the field and sending double teams to Doncic every trip down the floor, which forced every other Mavericks player to put up points, which they struggled to do. The Lakers worked up a 14-point lead on two separate occasions in the first half, but once Dallas started catching fire from deep out of halftime, L.A. just didn't have the weapons to keep pace.
It's the latest example for Lakers fans to use to show GM Rob Pelinka that this team needs to make one or several moves, if they want any chance to make the playoffs, or even the play-in tournament.
Christian Wood Showing Why He Is in the Starting Lineup
For the sixth-straight game, Wood was in the starting lineup for the Mavericks, and it was perhaps his best game in a Mavericks uniform. He finished with 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, four steals and two blocks. It was a complete performance on offense, and he even had several key defensive possessions, showing that he's more than willing to put in the effort on that end of the floor. Wood had 15 points at halftime, which was a prime reason the Lakers lead wasn't bigger than it already was, and he continued his strong play out of the break as well.
It was the perfect timing for Wood to have such a dazzling performance, given he's now eligible for a four-year, $77 million contract extension. Wood's in the final year of his contract, and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but if the Mavericks want to keep the big man past this season, signing him to a contract now may be the better option, because if he continues to improve the price will only climb. And given how things went with Jalen Brunson, where Dallas could've offered him a contract extension midseason but passed on the opportunity, only to lose him to the Knicks as an unrestricted free agent last summer, they may not want that to happen again if their plan is to keep Wood past this season.

Christmas is stuffed with five NBA games on the calendar. The action will be around the clock from 12 p.m. ET all the way to 10:30 p.m. ET. It's safe to say you'll have plenty of time to catch the games while being wrapped up in warm blankets, drinking hot chocolate and having new presents in your presence.
The ten teams taking the hardwood are the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics. But among the five games, which ones will make for the best viewing under the bright lights? Let's rank them all, from least exciting to most:
5. Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks
You can see the line of thinking from the NBA here: LeBron James vs. Luka Dončić. Fans will jump to TV screens to see two of the most prominent players in league history go head to head again, especially after they put on a show in their 2020 Christmas matchup.
But it's now 2022, and though both James and Dončić are having great seasons on an individual level, the quality of the teams are not exactly on par.
The Lakers have improved as the season has progressed thanks to Anthony Davis hitting new heights, but the rest of the roster hasn't been consistent enough. Dallas continues to rely solely on Dončić to shoulder the offensive burden and not adding another star to help is still holding the franchise back. Beyond the James/Davis vs. Dončić factor, there's not much here in the second game of the day.
4. Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
Beyond the top-two teams, the Eastern Conference is wide open, particularly in the middle of the pack. Two teams that are gradually gaining some momentum are the 76ers and Knicks, and they've already met once this season.
Despite Philly's triumvirate of Joel Embiid, James Harden and Tyrese Maxey all dealing with various injuries throughout the season, they've managed to float above .500. The Knicks haven't been all that convincing after the Jalen Brunson acquisition, but Julius Randle's recent form has the potential to take the team to a new level if he can sustain it.
The teams last met on Nov. 4 when the Knicks won 106-104 despite Embiid and Harden missing out. The rivalry will add another chapter to its story at Madison Square Garden on Christmas as the first game of the day.
3. Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets
Unlike the Eastern Conference where there have been clear favorites to top the leaderboard, the whole Western Conference is wide open, making this game an intriguing one.
The Suns and Nuggets will meet for the first time this season on the last game of the day. Phoenix, fresh after topping the conference last year, hasn't looked as dominant this season with an injury to Cam Johnson and Jae Crowder wanting a trade all playing a factor. Devin Booker is playing like a first-ballot All-Star candidate, but Chris Paul hasn't been pulling the strings as usual.
On the other side, Nikola Jokić finally has help on both ends of the floor. Along with The Joker, seven Nuggets are averaging double-digit points as they try to sort things out on the defensive side. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are still integrating themselves after missing last season due to injury, but this matchup will reveal who is the stronger side between two potential No. 1 seeds in the conference.
2. Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors
The drama gets real when the Grizzlies head to the Bay Area to meet the Warriors for the first time since the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals when the Dubs won 4-2 in six games.
Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and the young Grizzlies gave Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and the veteran Warriors fits all series that led to intense trash talking in what has become a random yet interesting rivalry.
Golden State has regressed during the early parts of the season with Curry carrying the load and not getting as much help from elsewhere, but you never know when the Warriors will storm up the ladder. Memphis is still winning games despite injuries to Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. just coming back to action after missing the start of the season. The fourth game of the day should be a feisty one in the Bay.
1. Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics
The third game of the day will no doubt be the best. The Bucks and Celtics are the top-two teams in the Eastern Conference and have played like true title contenders all season long, just like they did last year when they met in the conference semifinals.
Boston eventually got the edge with a Khris Middleton-less Bucks before falling short in the 2022 NBA Finals, but now both teams should get a healthy crack at one another in their first meeting of the new campaign.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown continue to dominate as a formidable one-two punch with Malcolm Brogdon proving to be a fantastic addition as the sixth man off the bench. The Bucks have steamrolled through teams with Middleton playing just five games so far after missing the start of the season due to injury.

The NBA has been synonymous with Christmas Day for nearly eight decades. The 2022-23 campaign will mark the 75th edition of the NBA on Christmas Day. Every year dating back to 1947, there has been at least one NBA game played on Dec. 25 to keep us entertained during the holiday season with ESPN or ABC televising each matchup. That annual tradition will continue this year with five star-studded games on Christmas. So, which teams are playing on NBA Christmas Day 2022?
The Dec. 25 action will tip off on ESPN as the Knicks host the 76ers (noon ET). The next three games will air on both ESPN and ABC, with the Lakers visiting the Mavericks (2:30 p.m. ET), the Celtics hosting the Bucks in a 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals rematch (5 p.m. ET), and the Grizzlies making their Christmas Day debut when they visit the Warriors in a 2022 Western Conference Semifinals rematch (8 p.m. ET). The Christmas Day schedule will conclude with the Nuggets meeting the Suns in Denver on ESPN (10:30 p.m. ET).
Below are some notable facts and figures about both this year's Christmas Day games and some tidbits from Christmas Day games past.
Details on Christmas Day games
The NBA will showcase five games on Christmas Day 2022 for the 15th year in a row, and we’ll see a ton of familiar teams and players that are regularly featured on primetime during the holidays.
To start us off, the red-hot New York Knicks will host the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden. Both teams have rebounded from slow starts and find themselves near the top of the Eastern Conference standings as we inch closer to 2023.
Next up The best player of this generation will face his potential successor as their teams scrap for a spot in the play-in scenario! That last phrase wasn't part of the plan for James and Doncic, but that's the reality for the Lakers and Mavericks as the season nears the midway point. Nevertheless, it's a marquee viewing experience when two of the league's premier talents match up, one in his 20th season and the other 23 years old. Doncic has matched up with James, one of his idols while growing up in Europe, eight times, with the Mavs winning only two of those meetings..
The middle game is by far the most intriguing matchup of the day, as the The Bucks and Celtics will meet for the first time since their seven-game series in the second round of last season's playoffs, during which Boston prevailed en route to an appearance in the NBA Finals. Milwaukee and Boston appear on a collision course once again. The teams own the two best records in the league, and both will have a key player available in this game who was absent during that playoff series. The Bucks will have one of their best perimeter players back on the court for this matchup after Khris Middleton missed all of last year's playoff series, and the Celtics will have big man Robert Williams III anchoring their defense after a left knee injury in Game 3 forced him to miss the final four games of the series.
The night slate begins with the Golden State Warriors hosting the Memphis Grizzlies. This would be a fascinating point guard matchup between Stephen Curry and Ja Morant, but Curry won't be suiting up due to a shoulder injury.
Which Team is the King of NBA Christmas Day?
Over the 74-year history of NBA Christmas Day games, no team has been featured more than the New York Knicks. The Knicks have played 54 games on Dec. 25, while no other team has played more than 48. Although New York has played the most games on Christmas, it doesn't hold the record for the most wins.
That title belongs to the Los Angeles Lakers, who are 24-24 in 48 Christmas Day appearances. The Knicks have 23 wins, and the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings each have 18 wins.
Today, we are going to show you how to create movement in your build-up with 5 important mechanics. Using these mechanics will allow you to control your whole team as if you were conducting an orchestra and your build up will go to another level. Without further ado, let's start with the first mechanic.
1. Making Players Run
Be static and don't move too much. They become easier to defend in that case. You need offensive runs from them, which allows you to create new passing stations and opportunities. Not only creating new chances, they might also take the attention of the Defenders to the new danger zone and unbalanced defense. Therefore, you need to make your players run properly. If you want to trigger a manual run from a player off the ball, simply point him out with your left analog, stick and tap the L1 button, you will realize that his body language will change immediately and he will start sprinting forward.
This mechanic will mostly come in handy, if there is some space behind the defensive line receiving the ball. Here, I see a potential free space behind the defensive line and decide to go for a run with my Midfielder by quickly targeting him with the left stick and tapping L1. While I wait for him to complete this run, I create the perfect passing angle by running diagonally and deliver the ball to him in the end.
You can also use this mechanic while the ball is traveling, which makes your attack more flowing. Because you give your AI controlled player a pre-movement even before you complete your pass in the first place and you prepare your next passing opportunity by making him run. You simply have enough time to analyze your other players positioning while the ball is traveling.
Here, I pick Jarzinho as my potential receiver. If you also want to have this player, you can use your FUT 23 Coins to get him. Point him out with the left analog, stick tap L1 and he starts sprinting forward and receive the ball in the free space because of the movement I gave to him. And he finishes off the attack.
2. Directed Runs
The main problem with the triggering manual runs with L1 is that the players only run straight forward. If you only use the L1 button, you will see that they do not change direction while running.
And this can sometimes deny the potential of the attack in that case. We recommend a similar executed but quite more advanced technique, which is the directed runs. This mechanic forces your player to run while you manually choose his running direction, at the same time to be able to execute it. Point out your intended runner again with your left analog, stick briefly, tap L1. But this time also flick the right analog, stick into the direction you want him to run.
Let's demonstrate. Here as my Winger is making a run towards the opposition box. I know that he will run a bit more towards his side, if I only use the L1 button to make him run. So, I decide to trigger a directed run. Tap the L1 button while pointing him out with the left analog, stick and right afterwards, push the right analog, stick slightly towards the goal. With this, his running lane gets changed, which allows me to adjust my angle better and scored the goal.
3. 1-2 Passes
So, we sorted out triggering runs for AI controlled players. But what do we do if we want to start a run and create some movement with our initial player?
Well, the one two passes are exactly what we need in that moment. If you hold on to the L1 button while passing to a teammate, your passer will start running forward after sending the ball out. You can explore the space in front of him and create dangerous opportunities, especially when the opposition defends carelessly.
In this position, I have the idea to make my initial passer run forward, so I quickly send the ball to a teammate while holding on to the L1 button. My initial passer starts running and I observe his run waiting for the best moment to pass back to him and score the easy one versus one against the keeper.
One important reminder about this particular move is that you don't need to pass the ball back to the first player immediately. Once you send the pass out with this method, his run will be obvious. So to take away the attention from him passable to another player, who can find your initial passer in the end.
This will also allow him to complete his run once I in initiate the one-two pass, my polarity starts running but the new passing lane is blocked by two players. Therefore, I decide to pass the ball to the central player, who can then deliver the ball to my initial player with a better angle. So passing the ball to a third player opens up a new path and also gains some time for the run.
4. Calling Players Back
Creating runs should be crystal clear now. But there is also the fact that not every run is as efficient as we hope they to be. So, sometimes we've got to cancel those runs and even make those runners come back to our ball drippler to receive the ball in a better spot. Therefore, we use the R1 button, which cancels the runs and calls back those players, who are targeted. The targeting system works as same as before you point out the desired player with your left analog, stick and then tap the R1 button to make him come back towards you.
This mechanic works like a charm whenever you're intending passing station remains behind of an opposition player reducing the distance will increase the likelihood of your player receiving the ball because mostly you will get rid of the Defender by coming close. And this will increase your passing rate in a tight situation in front of the box.
I want to pass the ball to Ginola but I'm not sure if he will receive the ball successfully since he has a Defender on his tail. So, I point him out with the left stick, tap R1 and call him towards my passer just a bit to make sure he receives the ball without pressure. A step over or afterwards allows me to score the goal because I created enough space for them just by moving him closer.
Combining both initiating runs and calling back players can also create space. As an example here, I initiate a one-two pass with my wing back and he starts running forward. With this run, he will be dragging at least one of the Defenders with him. However, canceling the run with R1 button will get him back while the Defender still goes away to the potential danger zone with those two mechanics together. I just created some space out of nowhere.
5. Player Lock
Last but definitely not the least, we are going to mention the expert Player Lock technique, which allows you to lock onto a single player off the ball.
You can activate the Player Lock by pressing the L3 and R3 buttons at the same time on your current dribbler and using the right analog, stick switching allows you to hop between players while this is activated. Once you log on to your desired player, you can move him around freely. However, as you can already recognize, you will lose control of the original dribbler. So, be really careful with it. Activating the player lock like this, allows you to do the exact movement with the player off the ball and you can actually get really dangerous with it.

Today, we are going to show you how to create movement in your build-up with 5 important mechanics. Using these mechanics will allow you to control your whole team as if you were conducting an orchestra and your build up will go to another level. Without further ado, let's start with the first mechanic.
1. Making Players Run
Be static and don't move too much. They become easier to defend in that case. You need offensive runs from them, which allows you to create new passing stations and opportunities. Not only creating new chances, they might also take the attention of the Defenders to the new danger zone and unbalanced defense. Therefore, you need to make your players run properly. If you want to trigger a manual run from a player off the ball, simply point him out with your left analog, stick and tap the L1 button, you will realize that his body language will change immediately and he will start sprinting forward.
This mechanic will mostly come in handy, if there is some space behind the defensive line receiving the ball. Here, I see a potential free space behind the defensive line and decide to go for a run with my Midfielder by quickly targeting him with the left stick and tapping L1. While I wait for him to complete this run, I create the perfect passing angle by running diagonally and deliver the ball to him in the end.
You can also use this mechanic while the ball is traveling, which makes your attack more flowing. Because you give your AI controlled player a pre-movement even before you complete your pass in the first place and you prepare your next passing opportunity by making him run. You simply have enough time to analyze your other players positioning while the ball is traveling.
Here, I pick Jarzinho as my potential receiver. If you also want to have this player, you can use your FUT 23 Coins to get him. Point him out with the left analog, stick tap L1 and he starts sprinting forward and receive the ball in the free space because of the movement I gave to him. And he finishes off the attack.
2. Directed Runs
The main problem with the triggering manual runs with L1 is that the players only run straight forward. If you only use the L1 button, you will see that they do not change direction while running.
And this can sometimes deny the potential of the attack in that case. We recommend a similar executed but quite more advanced technique, which is the directed runs. This mechanic forces your player to run while you manually choose his running direction, at the same time to be able to execute it. Point out your intended runner again with your left analog, stick briefly, tap L1. But this time also flick the right analog, stick into the direction you want him to run.
Let's demonstrate. Here as my Winger is making a run towards the opposition box. I know that he will run a bit more towards his side, if I only use the L1 button to make him run. So, I decide to trigger a directed run. Tap the L1 button while pointing him out with the left analog, stick and right afterwards, push the right analog, stick slightly towards the goal. With this, his running lane gets changed, which allows me to adjust my angle better and scored the goal.
3. 1-2 Passes
So, we sorted out triggering runs for AI controlled players. But what do we do if we want to start a run and create some movement with our initial player?
Well, the one two passes are exactly what we need in that moment. If you hold on to the L1 button while passing to a teammate, your passer will start running forward after sending the ball out. You can explore the space in front of him and create dangerous opportunities, especially when the opposition defends carelessly.
In this position, I have the idea to make my initial passer run forward, so I quickly send the ball to a teammate while holding on to the L1 button. My initial passer starts running and I observe his run waiting for the best moment to pass back to him and score the easy one versus one against the keeper.
One important reminder about this particular move is that you don't need to pass the ball back to the first player immediately. Once you send the pass out with this method, his run will be obvious. So to take away the attention from him passable to another player, who can find your initial passer in the end.
This will also allow him to complete his run once I in initiate the one-two pass, my polarity starts running but the new passing lane is blocked by two players. Therefore, I decide to pass the ball to the central player, who can then deliver the ball to my initial player with a better angle. So passing the ball to a third player opens up a new path and also gains some time for the run.
4. Calling Players Back
Creating runs should be crystal clear now. But there is also the fact that not every run is as efficient as we hope they to be. So, sometimes we've got to cancel those runs and even make those runners come back to our ball drippler to receive the ball in a better spot. Therefore, we use the R1 button, which cancels the runs and calls back those players, who are targeted. The targeting system works as same as before you point out the desired player with your left analog, stick and then tap the R1 button to make him come back towards you.
This mechanic works like a charm whenever you're intending passing station remains behind of an opposition player reducing the distance will increase the likelihood of your player receiving the ball because mostly you will get rid of the Defender by coming close. And this will increase your passing rate in a tight situation in front of the box.
I want to pass the ball to Ginola but I'm not sure if he will receive the ball successfully since he has a Defender on his tail. So, I point him out with the left stick, tap R1 and call him towards my passer just a bit to make sure he receives the ball without pressure. A step over or afterwards allows me to score the goal because I created enough space for them just by moving him closer.
Combining both initiating runs and calling back players can also create space. As an example here, I initiate a one-two pass with my wing back and he starts running forward. With this run, he will be dragging at least one of the Defenders with him. However, canceling the run with R1 button will get him back while the Defender still goes away to the potential danger zone with those two mechanics together. I just created some space out of nowhere.
5. Player Lock
Last but definitely not the least, we are going to mention the expert Player Lock technique, which allows you to lock onto a single player off the ball.
You can activate the Player Lock by pressing the L3 and R3 buttons at the same time on your current dribbler and using the right analog, stick switching allows you to hop between players while this is activated. Once you log on to your desired player, you can move him around freely. However, as you can already recognize, you will lose control of the original dribbler. So, be really careful with it. Activating the player lock like this, allows you to do the exact movement with the player off the ball and you can actually get really dangerous with it.

Are you tired of conceiting goes on FIFA 23. If the answer to that question is yes, then this article is for you now. How can you stop considering easy goals?
First and foremost, you need to learn a few things, such as Jockey, Sprinting, Speed Jockey, Partial Team Press, Second Man Press and so on. However, I'm going to teach you something more important. I want you to pay attention on this one thing and one thing only in this situation you can see the opponent has only one viable option. And FIFA is a game of anticipation. The goal is to keep a straight back line like you can see with the white arrow.
So, first rule is always to keep a straight back line like or let's say afterwards we are going to apply sustained pressure. How are we going to do that? Of course, we will switch to IR today and bring him in front of NL Korea. We want to make sure that we are applying sustained pressure. Once you know how to apply sustained pressure, your defense will improve.
As you can see in this example. There is only one viable option for our opponent and that is to exploit the white space. However, we know that we need to make sure that we are applying sustained pressure. You can see Valverde is on the opponent on we are tracking the pass into Neymar, who is a player you can get with FUT 23 Coins. So, once you start looking at the game this way, you're defending improves. If you only think about making a tackle then of course you're going to lose. Like Maldini said if you make a tackle, you have already made a mistake. So, you do not need to make a title.
As you can see, now the opponent has only one option and it's anticipation. So, what buttons am I using? I am using the Speed Jockey L2 and R2 and I have used the right stick to switch to Lucio and I want to step in front of the opponent. Why am I stepping in front? Because if I don't step in front, I do not apply sustained pressure. The opponent will take a shot and I do not want my opponent to take a shot right because we do not want the opponent to take a shot. We are going to apply sustained pressure.
We are also using the Second Man Press because the opponent has another option. So, this is where you use Second Man Press right in order to apply sustained pressure. The goal is to apply sustain pressure on the open end. Whenever you will successfully apply sustained pressure, you will get the ball back. There is no question about that.
Once again you can see the opponent is making a run. What are we using? The speed jockey buttons. You need to attack the opponent and also cut the ball. So, the goal is to cut the ball and attack the opponent. Most people just want to get the ball back. That is wrong. If you want to be a pro Defender, you need to make sure that you are applying sustained pressure with the help of Speed Jockey and normal Jockey. If someone is telling you, Speed Jockey is the way to go. They are wrong. Even Gas and Brake is not the way to go. You have to use both of these techniques.
In this situation, I know my opponent has a recycling option like you can see with the white arrow. So, what am I doing with cool Zalewski? I am rushing at him with the Sprint button. If I Speed Jockey in this situation, of course I will be slow. I'm using the Sprint button, the Gas button and I am running at him right while doing Second Man Press, so he can also not make a forward pass and he cannot go back, either. So, we are forcing him to do something else. And this is the way of applying sustained pressure. Once you start applying sustained pressure in this way, of course you're defending improves.

Everyone needs a plan A and a main formation and mine is 4-3-2-1. A lot of pro players use it because it's very meta moving over to the custom tactics. The Defensive Style is always balanced. You're not going to change that unless you're chasing the game.
Plan A: 4-3-2-1
However, the Width load it down to 45 if we want our defense to be a little bit more compact than the Default 50. However, the Depth is all the way up to 71. You'll see the difference between 70 and 71. The description does change. I think with a 71 Depth and higher, your team has an auto off side trap. They'll be a bit more aggressive if you're not comfortable with that. Maybe lower it down to around about 60, but I personally use 71 Depth into the attacking side of things again. Build Up Play is balanced. I'm not really experimented with Slow Build Up or Long Ball. So, we're going to leave it balanced.
However, every single Pro player that you can think of will use Direct Passing. We are going to lower the attacking Width down to 40 again. We want the left and right forward to talk inside just a little bit and have them three in the center. And the Players in the Box is personal preference. But with the 4-3-2-1, you want a lot of options in the final third and with seven, you do kind of overcrowd the the oppositions area and you do have a lot of options. We go with seven Corners one two and three kicks on one. Again this is personal preference.
Let's move over to the Instructions now. The most important thing of the formation is the Instructions because it changes the way it actually plays. Now, you can play 4-3-2-1 and it'll defend in 4-3-2-1. But the beauty of this is you can defend in 4-4-2 and attack in 4-3-2-1 with one of the Full Backs on Overlap. So, sign off in goal always Comes for Crosses and Sweeper Keeper. Just let the AI kind of do that. It might help you in certain areas. It's not a negative to not have it on in terms of the overlapping Full Back. Go with the right hand side in this situation, so balanced Overlap.
However, the left back make sure he's on stay back Overlap. Otherwise, you're gonna get counted on both sides. The left sentiment is gonna be on balance, Get Into The Box For The Cross and Cover Wing but most importantly the left Center Mid in this situation has to be a left foot. You do not have a left 30 player here. Then, you're not gonna have the opportunity to do Trivela Shots, which is super important especially on the edge of the box. So, a left very player on the left hand side will be beneficial the center.
Center Mid is the defensive player in the team, so make sure you have someone physical lucky, such as Torre, Camavinga, Vieira and anyone of sorts. Make sure they're in the center. Stay Back Cover Center and the right center mid here. Make sure everyone balance cover center. This is the box. The Box player I have Winter Wildcard, Benzema here but someone like Modric, Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, Claudio Marchisio will be suited for this position.
Coming into the forwards now. The right forward is on balanced everything but come back on the fence. The two Strikers are on balance, getting behind the thing with Mbappe on come back. This will defend him 4-4-2. So, Mbappe will tuck in on the right hand side as a right mid Griezmann's on Cover Wing. So, he'll go into the left mid, Torre left center mid and Benzema right center mid. And then slowly, once you build up it will then transition into a 4-3-2-1 and you have Kyle Walker on the Overlap. And honestly the AI don't mark him. There's a situation with the game. He's always open, so make sure you play down the right hand side when and where Kai Walker is free. So that's 4-3-2-1.
Plan B: 4-2-3-1
Let's move over to the second formation this formation is gonna be 4-2-3-1, slightly different to the 4-3-2-1. I switched to this where sometimes the 4-3-2-1 just isn't working and that will happen. So make sure you have a plan B. My plan B is 4-2-3-1 and something different instead of two Strikers or even three Strikers in the 4-3-2-1. We only have the one but the good thing about 4-2-3-1 is the Build Up. You have a lot of options. You have the two DMS. You have three Attacking Midfielders and you have the Striker as well. So, you're always gonna have someone to pass to and I just like it. It's something different and that is good in a game of FIFA, giving your opposition a bit of a different thing to deal with. And 4-2-3-1 offers that these custom tactics. And play of instructions are a lot more simple and they will defend.
As you see in 4-2-3-1, it's very very simple. So, the defensive Width we are gonna go to 40 instead of 45 and in the Depth we're gonna go to 60, not 71. This one's 40 and 60. Nice and simple in the attacking side of things though the Builder plays balance chance creation is on Direct Passing. The Width is going to be 45 because the left and right attacking mid are quite wide. Sometimes, I just want to tuck in a little bit more and then the players in the box is all personal preference. I go for six though I don't want to go for seven. I don't want to overload too much. But I do want numbers in the final third and then Corners are two. Free Kicks are on one again.
Let's get into the Instructions. Goalkeeper has always Comes for Crosses, Sweeper Keeper no overlap on the Full Backs just both Stay Back. We really have the left attacking mid and right attacking mid, which is Messi. If you want to get this strong player, you need to prepare enough FUT 23 Coins. In this situation, you don't want the Full Backs going forward. This Center Defensive Midfield's both simple Stay Back Cover Center. We don't want them going forward too much.
But I still advise to have a defensive minded player, such as your Torre and then someone who's really comfortable on the ball, which is gonna be Benzema again. Modric the same as 40 32 one, but make sure you have them both on Stay Back, the right attack mid and left attack mid. Don't touch them, leave them on balanced. But the center attacking mid come back on defense because you don't want to just defend with the two Center Defensive Midfields. You do want a bit of support from your attacking players. You don't want to just leave four players up front because there'll be a big gap in between the Midfield. So, agrees one get back and help in defense then the Striker. I leave on balance. I like to manipulate it with the AI Runs, the Directional Runs and the Player Locks.

Every year, new game mechanics and techniques are added to FIFA. Some are pretty weak and useless, others are totally overpowered until they get nerfed and some others are really strong but somehow they don't get used as much. In this article, I will teach you three techniques that are really impactful and used by the pros to gain an edge over the opponent.
I'm going to be honest with you they aren't easy. They are glitches. You actually have to put some work in to learn this and use them effectively. I can only tell you about it and how to use them. You have to be willing to put the effort in. So, let me tell you about three strong techniques that are underused.
Partial Team Press
Let's start with a technique for your defense, which actually can change your complete approach for defending for years. As a good Defender, you would very often not actively defend the current ball holder but use segment press while you anticipate for the next pass. The segment press puts pressure on the player with the ball and you switching to the next player helps to either intercept the pass or pressure faster after the pass is played. But since FIFA 23, we have a completely new way of dealing with those situations due to the new feature, Partial Team Press.
You activate it by pressing the R1 or RB button twice while you keep holding the button for the second time. This activates two teammates to get closer to the next passing options of the opponent. This is important to understand. Segment press leads to one of your teammates to pressure the current ball holder with Partial Team Press to teammates press the next passing options. And this allows you to defend completely differently whilst before you would switch away and send your teammate. You can now actively engage while you have two of your teammates doing the job of getting closer to the opponent's next options. So, with this technique you can get more players actively involved in the defense.
This is a game changer and it feels like it's still underused by a lot of pros in the current game. Now, you can decide for yourself. Do you want to actively engage on your own and use Partial Team Press to apply extra pressure or do you want to anticipate for the next pass and use segment press most common situations to use Partial Team Press on the opponent's build up is when you have a clear overview and also defensive coordination especially when the opponent is on the wing.
You can actively defend and Wanderers as one while you use Partial Team Press to limit its options for the next pass. Another cool use of Partial Team Press is to prevent the opponent from playing cutbacks inside your box. Activating it here tightly marks a potential pass receiver in the center.
Directed Runs
Next, we have two techniques for the attack. and the first one is my favorite to create some really good chances with robots. It's directed runs feature, which was introduced in FIFA 21.
You see those arrows on the pitch. It's a run of a teammate that you can initiate and instead of your player just going straight forward, which is usually the case you can determine the direction in 360 degree. It took me some time to get used to the logic and idea behind directed runs. But since then I regularly use directed runs to create some amazing movement, which allows me to attack the gaps in the opponent's defensive line year after year. Since the introduction to initiate a directed run, you have to press the L1 or LB button and then flick the right stick in the direction that you want the run to happen make sure to activate the directed runs visualization in the FIFA Trainer Settings as this helps quite a lot to see that you are successful with the input.
And by the way, you can also use the R1 or RB button and flick the right stick for a directed run but I exclusively use L1 for it. However, which of your teammates gets selected? The player that is in the direction of your left stick. So, your aiming gets activated. So, try to get in a position where you can aim with the left stick towards the player that should make the run depending on the situation. This can be quite a hustle and needs some practice. But I have a few tips to make things easier.
Usually, I press the L1 LB button several times, so the player already starts a noble run. And since you don't have to flick the right stick immediately after pressing the button, this does give you several opportunities to do the flicking with the right stick when the timing is right. So, it doesn't interfere with your normal dribbling. Try to start using this feature for your Wingers.
Most often this player is isolated and thus quite easy to hit for the directed run. You can then initiate a run of the Winger to the center penetrating the gap between fullback and center-back. Most opponents are not aware of this possibility and underestimate the potential of such a run. The biggest strength of this feature is in quick transition play. You win the all on defense and quickly switch to attack while you pick up pace in the Midfield. You can orchestrate the runs of your Attackers and Wingers in front of you or to your side angling. Those runs can create completely new passing opportunities or allow you to attack the gaps in the opponent's defensive line.
In one of my games, I initiated run towards the gap that starts to open up when the opponent pulls out their center-back. This adds another dimension to your attacking play when you get more comfortable with a feature you can switch the directed run several times. Make your player go right and then left. This feature is totally broken at last.
Player Lock
We have another technique which was introduced in FIFA 21 and it's also used to gain more control over your teammates positioning. But even to a more extreme level instead of just determining the direction of a run, you completely take over the control of a player off the ball. This is the player lock feature. There are several ways you can use it. But I will explain the most efficient way.
You activate player lock by pressing in both sticks the indicator above your player changes from a triangle to a diamond. Player lock is activated. Now, flick the right stick in the direction of the player that you want to control.
As you can see, the indicator is now above the player of the ball. Now, you can control his positioning. And when you press the pass button, you request a pass to this player. The use of player lock can be quite tricky in some situations. Sometimes, it's clunky when you actually can switch away all the timing when the pass is played.
The easiest situation to start using this feature is when you have some space on the wing and a teammate and center in those situations. The opponent can't pressure you as easily giving you enough time to execute all of these steps. The big advantage of player lock in those situations is that you can position your player to be in an on-site position and also get him unmarked. When you get more comfortable with the feature, you can start using it from Midfield positions switching to a player in front of you to get him in a position to pass to. When you see pros playing the game, you can witness the end level of player lock because some use this feature extremely fluently, activating player lock, switching multiple times, deactivating it and not playing the pass, etc.
To reach this level you have to practice it over and over again, since it's heavily reliant on your mechanical skill to deactivate player lock. You have to press in both sticks again and this opens up the possibility for fakes distract your opponent with a player lock. But then, just go through on your own. So, there are plenty of possibilities with player lock.
And by the way, directed runs and player lock work really well together. At first, use directed runs to break through on the wing and then use player lock inside the box to convert the advantages situation into a goal. So, these were the three techniques, which are extremely useful but not used as often. I hope I was able to teach you something new or give you more insight on how to make proper use of it.
All in all, if you want to win more games or have more good players, preparing enough FUT 23 Coins will help you a lot!