03

Part Two · Squad and Games

Players, the Roster and the Fog

What each of the 27 abilities does, and why the numbers you see are not always the real ones.

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3.1How to read a player

The player and roster pages carry everything you need to run the club. You can see a player's position, height, age, abilities, Peak, condition, Fame, contract, stats and training history.

  • Abilities — where he is right now. Abilities do not just decide whether one action comes off; together they shape his role on the floor, which positions he can hold up at, how well he fits a tactic, and how he performs overall.
  • Peak — an estimate of how much room he still has to grow.
  • Condition — his recent sharpness, driven by fatigue. Heavy minutes and long spells out of the rotation both drag it down.
  • Fame — how much standing he has around the league.
  • Stats — recent and career numbers.
  • Contract — type, money and years.
Read it whole

Never judge a player on one number. High ratings do not fit every system; a young player with a high Peak may take years to pay you back; and a steady role player on a sensible contract is often exactly what a contending roster needs.

3.2What each ability does

The 27 abilities fall into five groups, and they work on each other rather than deciding anything on their own. A great finisher at the rim still needs the handle, the frame and the decision-making to turn that edge into points.

Physical

AbilityWhat it affects
WingspanHow much ground he covers side to side. It matters most for deflecting passes, steals, perimeter defense and general defensive presence.
Standing ReachHis vertical frame. It helps on the glass, at the rim on defense, on blocks and when finishing inside.
SpeedPushing the ball, driving, transition, chasing back, and some perimeter defensive situations.
VerticalWinning the ball at its highest point, rebounding, blocks, finishing inside and absorbing contact in the air.
StrengthBattling in the paint, sealing position, posting up, finishing through contact and holding up physically on defense.
AgilityChanging direction, adjusting with the ball, driving, and reacting on the perimeter.
EnduranceHow much load he can carry. Better endurance holds stamina and condition together over a season.

Shooting

AbilityWhat it affects
Mid-Range ShootingConfidence from mid-range. It suits players who create mid-range looks off screens, off drives or from open floor.
Three-Point ShootingConfidence from deep, which stretches the floor and answers perimeter-heavy defenses.
Inside ShootingClose finishing around the paint. It works with his frame, Strength and Standing Reach to decide how much he threatens the rim.
Rim AttackLayups and dunks off the drive, and going straight at the basket. It also creates pressure on the defense.
Free ThrowHow steady he is once he gets to the line.

Defense and Rebounding

AbilityWhat it affects
StealReading passing lanes, pressuring the ball and forcing turnovers.
Perimeter DefenseHow well he guards ball handlers and shooters on the outside.
Interior DefenseRim protection, low-post battles and contesting inside.
Offensive ReboundExtending possessions and creating second-chance points.
Defensive ReboundEnding the opponent's possession and starting your transition.
Lateral SpeedStaying in front, switching, and moving his feet against drives.

Ball Handling

AbilityWhat it affects
DribblingBringing the ball up, beating his man, cutting down live-ball turnovers and creating his own shot.
CatchingSecuring the pass and what he does next. It cuts down the turnovers that come from bobbled catches.
PassingCreating for teammates, swinging the ball and running the offense.
Post MoveControl, playmaking and drawing help from the post. It is not only about scoring down there — it is how post play sets up everyone else.

Mental

AbilityWhat it affects
Offensive IQHis choices and reads with the ball — when to shoot, drive, pass or wait for the better look.
Defensive IQPositioning and judgment on defense, which keeps him out of both blown assignments and cheap fouls.
AggressionHow willing he is to initiate contact, crash the offensive glass and apply pressure. Overdo it and the fouls come with it.
LeadershipStrengthens on-court chemistry and helps organise the offense and lift teammates.
Draw FoulHow well he earns whistles and gets to the line when attacking and absorbing contact.

A player's listed position is a registration, not another rating, and it does not lock him into one style. It mainly helps you set your starters, rotation and lineups; whether he actually holds up in a role still comes down to abilities, condition and the system around him.

3.3The fog

Mechanic

The fog is what makes RimAttack different. When you do not know a player well, the abilities, Peak and traits you see all carry a margin of error.

Scouting, probes, watching a player over time and facing him yourself all narrow that margin.