Gamespot gave 2K6 a great review for what thats worth:

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/sports/nba2k6/review.html

2K has always been the better basketball game since the Dreamcast. Nothing has changed this year. Live has some fun stuff like All Star Weekend, but 2K6 has solid gameplay and realistic looking players.

I've played both, I liked Live.

I have 2k series, and I still like live better.

To each their own...

2K6 for 360 looks AMAZING....check out IGN for In-Game Screenshots

I've been playing NBA 2K6 on the Xbox all weekend. It took me about 2 quarters to get the hang of the new controls but the improvements are worthwhile. The lead pass/shot stick/steal stick are nice additions although I haven't got the hang of the "dual" button yet. I'm really liking the game although the rosters are far from updated (no Finley/Van Exel on Spurs amongst others).

2k6 is hard to put down. the game blew me away the first time playing from the presentation and gameplay. i learn new things each time i play.

why is shaq's head in carters shorts? carter isnt that dark either :P i like live... always will

Well, my PSP version of LIVE06 shipped yesterday...I'll report back with opinions. I don't have high hopes anymore after Madden, but I got a good deal on it.

I'm just gonna rent both. I've liked the 2k series for the last few years, but these new superstar moves that Live has may actually sway me, as long as it's not completely arcadey. Having those special moves bring back alot of memories of Lakers vs Celtics on the Genesis.

The best was the Tom Chambers dunk from near the three point line.

So how is Live on PSP?

Finally got 2K6 for Xbox... it does take a while to get used to, but I think the additions are worthwhile. Although I still haven't used that two player control thing yet... (of course, in the original games I never got around to learning all of the offensive plays either)

The 360 ones seem to have better graphics, but it seems like they stripped down the season modes...

You don't wanna know...

LIVE on the PSP was pretty good. I think it plays well on a handheld. It supposedly a LOT better than NBA06. Infrastructure works well also, a lot better than MAdden.

Also, the 360 NBA games seem ok, but lacking in features. At least EA's game is....NO career mode. 2K6 sounds like they will feature everything, we'll see. I saw the trailer for 2K6 at WalMart on their 360 setup. It looked ok.
I think companies are having trouble fitting everything on one DVD.

I bought NBA Live for Xbox, as I've been more impressed w the game in last few years, even though its more arcade than NBA 2k series. SOmehow 2k series didn't feel right for me. I then rented 2k6 for Xbox. To my surprise, the new version is so much better than yesteryears, and I think better than Live this year! I am impressed w the variety of moves u can do, and even the defense. I like their addition of the shot control. So now my plan is to buy 2k6 for xbox 360. If its just as good with surely much better graphics, then I'll be a happy camper!

It's more like they're running out of time... although you might have a point, since you can't exactly put a sports game on two discs. I still think that comprehensive season modes, etc., take a long time to get right, and it seems like development had to start from scratch on the new systems, with the bulk of the effort focused on physics (hopefully) and graphics. We'll see.

Yeah, that's exactly what they said. Although, it sounds like the 2K guys have a better handle on it. I think they said their hockey game will have franchise. I guess we'll see in a month. I think I'll just sit out the curretn 360 sports (besides Madden)
I know J.Allard said they are still working on compression issues for the 360 for fitting everything on one disc. I know it's a reason for HD-DVD....but still not cost effective...yet.

Lovin' 2K6! I didn't like the control changes at first, but they grew on me pretty quickly. Live is still too slippery feeling too me, like the players are on ice.

2k6

So which is better?

Looking for basketball on my XBOX, sounds like Live 06 is the way to go.

Ave. critic's review for NBA Live 06 for xbox is 79, vs 84 for NBA 2k6 for xbox. Me personally, I think 2k6 is head over heels better than Live. I esp. like the 360 version (I do have both though, so they're both good). I'm still playing this game regularly while my Live sits in the drawer.

Always preferred the 2K series of basketball. All the way back to Dreamcast. Every year it improves and it is pretty much the only reason I own an XBox. It quit coming out on Gamecube so I had to get another platform to play my basketball and I wanted custom soundtracks so I went with Xbox and 2K4.

Quite a different experience for me. I like the simulation aspect of old 2k games, but did not like the gameplay, esp. how you pass the ball around. I preferred Live before even though it has an arcade feel because of the better gameplay experience. The gameplay for 2k6 though is so much improved from previous years that I myself was surprised. Its still simulation, but the gameplay - rebounding, dribbling, passing and shooting, is just great, esp. with the use of the joystick button. It made it more difficult initially, but in the end made it a much better game.

The aspect I do not like for all previous games is, esp. i multiplayer, the time it takes to change lineup/strategy,etc. I hope next year there is a way for u to play multiplayer, but let a computer control ur game temporarily (playing your style) while you make the change in strategy lineups, n get back in the game when ur ready. Some players just spend too much time making changes when you're playing that it kills the game for me now and then.

2k6.

Here lately i've been trying to stay away from EA Sports

I know for 360, 2K6 is hands down the best hoops game....one of my favorites ever actually.

Everyone's love for 2k6 on 360 perplexes me. I bought 2K6 first. But it is basically a dunk and three point contest. You can run in a circle in the paint for at least 7 seconds (me and my friends tested this)and then just dunk on someone. There is little to no mid range game. The collision detection is awful especially for dunks (Larry Hughes will easily dunk on 3 people in the paint).

As for Live, despite the horrible camera angle and lack of features the game plays better IMHO. 2K has it beat in dribbling but Live plays much mre like the real NBA. The players strengths are consistent with real life whereas witk 2K it seems like if your a guard you do certain things, if your a center you do certain things and so on (ex. Rip Hamitons mid range on 2K is all but non existent). In Live, the slashers slash (Tony Parker, Nash), the mid range is there (Rip, Dirk), and the big men have a nice set of moves (Shaq, Duncam. On 2K, its a guard love fest as the big men have very few moves.

Ive had more fun playing Live on 360.