Good playoff player?

Post by **Tasku** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:17 pm

Does anyone have an idea, what makes a good playoff player?

My team morale takes a drop everytime playoffs start, and it's starting to bug me. In my two separate games - both with Espoo, first one reaching to 06-07 season, and the second one is now at 08-09 - I've not once won the playoff finals, or usually not even close to it (reached there only once, but lost it), even though my team is very good, and I'm always atleast in the top 5 teams in regular season.

The team is quite experienced, most players are between 25-35 yrs old, even though I have a few promising youngsters too. And most of them have high determination and other "mental values".

Well anyhows, just wondering if any of you guys have the answer to my dilemma.

Octavian · Post by **Octavian** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:43 pm

hmm, don't know...
however, shouldn't this be in the players forum?

-- MOVED

Terva · Post by **Terva** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 7:23 pm

I have experienced the same thing with Canadiens in the NHL. Winning the regular season isnÂ´t all too hard, especially when you got a good scoring line.
I have two theories.

For the first I think the games get "tighter" in the playoffs and teams tend to play more defensive trying to minimize the mistakes.

Then I also think that the AI learns our style of playing and also the roles of your players in every line. Who shoots and who passes etc.

My solution is simply to play more defensive hockey in the playoffs and also trying to change your lines. Maybe an idea is to spread out you starplayers during regular season to form a "superline" a few games before the playoffs.

Octavian · Post by **Octavian** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 10:21 pm

Yes, it's certainly true that the AI learns your tactic. Like in CM, a good tactics gets "cracked" by the AI after 2 or 3 seasons...

Post by **archibalduk** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 10:31 pm

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the whole AI cracking tactics thing is a myth.

Post by **Tasku** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:55 am

I don't know about that tactic cracking thing, since I've played 6 seasons with the same tactic (seventh about to start), and my last season was the best so far. At least in regular season.

For some reason the players motivations drop when playoffs start, and my reliable goalie (Stefan Liv) starts to suck it all in.

I guess mixing the lines is the best way to "wake the team up", cause nothing else comes to mind, and it usually works in regular season, when they suddendly deside to go on a loosing streak...

Octavian · Post by **Octavian** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 8:49 am

Yes, but usually you improve you team with new players.

In my old CM games, I played 3 seasons only buying what I needed. I finished 2nd in the last one...

Maybe it's a myth, maybe it's just coinsidence. But I heard this story from other players too.

Terva · Post by **Terva** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 9:19 am

I do think that AI can crack you tactics but ofcourse, if you have really good players the team will play good hockey no matter what tactic you are using.

Post by **Tasku** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 9:31 am

Well, it does sound realistic that thru time the opponent teams would know how you play, but ofcourse knowing that one plays hard, tackles hard and likes an attacking style, doesn't necesserily mean you can fight it if your players are less skilful.

I'll have to look into this "tactic cracking", if not only to win that frekkin title, but to know if it's true!

Let the hunt to solve the Tactic Cracking Mystery begin!

Edit: Hahah! Just after I've said this, I get back to my game to start the next season and suddendly my board "Wants the title."

So far they've settled for playoffs...