head to head
vs
Madden NFL 07vsNBA 2K16
Madden NFL 07 leans Reads (Mind & Math); NBA 2K16 leans Execution (Competitive PvP).
Madden NFL 07NBA 2K16
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 6
NBA 2K16 leans harder on execution: Shot-stick timing and dribble moves gate every possession
Reads6 vs 5
Madden NFL 07 leans harder on reads: Out-guessing a human's play call is the competitive core
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 5
Madden NFL 07 leans harder on optimization: Playbook knowledge, matchups and clock management are solvable
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.