NBA Live 07: EA's NBA Live 07 is easily the best looking and sounding basketball game on the Xbox 360, but the gameplay can't quite match up. Framerate issues and just plain sloppy fundamentals (passing, shooting) ruin the experience. We do like the freestyle controls, which really do add a lot and make the game look and feel more like a real NBA game, but they aren't enough to overcome the other issues with the game. Rent it or buy it for cheap. NBA Live 07 full review
NBA 2k7: 2k Sports' NBA games have always been a cut above EA's offerings, and 2k7 is no different. It doesn't look or sound nearly as good as Live 07, but it plays a lot better. Solid gameplay. Tons of features and modes. And a ton of different sliders and options so you can customize the game to play as much of an arcade-style or simulation that you want. Excellent on all fronts. You can find it used for fairly cheap, and I highly recommend it.
NBA Street Homecourt: Street seems a little out of place in this comparison of basketball simulations, but it is hard to argue with its fast and fun gameplay with all of the NBA's brightest stars. Street also has the advantage of being accessible and fun even if you aren't a huge basketball fan, which is something you can't say for the other games. Honestly, NBA Street Homecourt is probably the most fun out of the three games, so if you aren't looking for a hardcore simulation this is the game I'd recommend. NBA Street Homecourt full review
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