The first thing you gotta trick your mind to not do is using the analog stick as a replacement for an 8way stick. Use the D-Pad instead. There is a lot of "its personal preference" when it comes to controllers but one thing top level players can agree on is not to use the analog sticks.
They're usually to sensitive, I know I can do a 6 > 3 > 2 (imagine the position like a numpad) every time using a Dpad, and an 8way stick funnily enough to enter Taki's possession stance in soul calibur 6, trying to do that with an analog stick is damn near impossible to nail 100% of the time and even less so in the heat of a match. Try with an analog stick and it can easily be 9>6>3>2 so the game looks like its dropped your input.
I still get my ass handed to me by certain players on a pad though, fighting sticks aren't indicative of a players skill.
Some combos I feel are easier if you set up your stick a certain way though. You can combine multiple inputs to one button so a combo becomes as simple as pressing 3 pretty big buttons. as opposed to bridging your thumb over Y and B and hoping you press them both at the same time.