The passing has been rather hit or miss

They say you can make the receiver come to the ball and all that but there are glitches in the game where the passes are still intercepted.

As for the shooting turning on the shot timing meter helped me a lot with shooting. Don't know if it'll work for everyone but it definitely helped me.

Now the defense I have to agree with you. Certain animations make it impossible to defend. Like when your defender slides right pass his man as he cuts to the basket.