head to head
vs
NBA 2K14vsNHL 96
NBA 2K14 leans Execution (Competitive PvP); NHL 96 leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
NBA 2K14NHL 96
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 5
NBA 2K14 leans harder on execution: Shot release timing and dribble chains gate scoring
Reads5 vs 4
NBA 2K14 leans harder on reads: Online opponents counter your favourite plays
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization5 vs 5
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.