head to head
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is reads, and it is a single point.

Execution · Grand Arena
Acclaimed basketball sim where playcalling and matchup reads decide online games.

Execution · Competitive PvP
Shot timing and play selection against opponents adjusting to your tendencies.
NBA 2K11 leans Execution (Grand Arena); NBA 2K14 leans Execution (Competitive PvP).
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
NBA 2K11
Shot-stick timing and dribble moves
NBA 2K14
Shot release timing and dribble chains gate scoring
NBA 2K11 leans a little harder on reads, though the gap is small.
NBA 2K11
Human defenders bait and adapt possession to possession
NBA 2K14
Online opponents counter your favourite plays
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
NBA 2K11
Shooting rolls add mild noise
NBA 2K14
Shot RNG sways close possessions
NBA 2K11 leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
NBA 2K11
Playbooks, matchup exploits, and roster knowledge
NBA 2K14
Playbook knowledge and roster management reward study
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.