massive losing streak but trying to get better!

hello again everyone! I've been playing KOF 15 for a little bit now, getting the hang of my characters little by little, but the ranked matches are something else even at similar rank. for starters, I was placed at rank 9 2 star. and I lost. again, and again and again. now at rank 7. I think I have a fighting chance but I can barely get one of their fighters down. not raging by any means, but oh boy is it a doozy. i see "similar rank" and the player has like hundred or so matches under their belt. kinda goes to show. But im not "button mashing" as much anymore, using more block and guard cancels. the thing that gets me is that the window for inputting the special attacks is extremely slim. i can never pull it off 90% of the time. just kinda getting my thoughts out on my experience so far.