head to head
vs
NBA 2K16vsNHL 96
NBA 2K16 leans Execution (Competitive PvP); NHL 96 leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
NBA 2K16NHL 96
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 5
NBA 2K16 leans harder on execution: Shot-stick timing and dribble moves gate every possession
Reads5 vs 4
NBA 2K16 leans harder on reads: Online opponents adjust defensive schemes against your tendencies
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.