Playoff madness at your fingertips

A common feeling among NBA fans is that the basketball season is divided into two parts: the long and boring regular season and the exciting “win or go home” playoffs.

With the playoffs set to start Saturday, we decided to put three hoops titles to the test to see which score on the breakaway, which get called for traveling and which are definite losers after the first round.

‘NBA Ballers’

Like many an NBA player, “NBA Ballers” seems deeply concerned about acquiring fancy wheels and bling bling. Style is everything here -- and court performance is just the means to get it.

Gamers adopt an NBA persona to play one-on-one contests on swanky private courts that all are supposed to have that “MTV Cribs” kind of feel. Choose from such locales as Kobe Bryant’s “Vacation Villa” in Tuscany, Italy; “The O’Neal Residence” here in the Hollywood Hills; or Scottie Pippen’s yacht on Lake Michigan, among others. Even if these aren’t real places, they’re still nice to visit.

The gameplay is very similar to the “NBA Street” series, just not quite as complicated -- or fun. Because this is all about image, remember, when players win, they get credits toward unlocking fancier courts and more high-profile players. Putting the ball through the hoop is just one way to score -- “acting a fool” and showing up your opponent also earns you points. In “Street,” a combination of buttons gives players a choice of showboating behaviors; here, a single button handles all your aggrandizing needs.

Like most games, “Ballers” doesn’t have many players on the bench at the opening of the game. It’s only after completing certain tasks that you get to unlock your Shaquille O’Neals and Gary Paytons, as well as appropriately fancy outfits and accessories for your player. The makers have even included some legends who were around before basketball shorts reached players’ knees -- guys like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Alas, you’ll have to settle for James Worthy at the outset: Magic needs to be set free to be playable.

The game also features a story mode called “Rags to Riches” in which you create a custom baller to play in tournaments. Win prizes and credits and he’ll advance up the food chain to eventually become the biggest baller of them all.

Of course, those credits can also be used to buy into the celebrity baller lifestyle as well. A couple thousand credits will buy your very own Cadillac Escalade and an entourage of yes men you can call your friends. Now we feel just like Baron Davis!

There are also some bizarre items to acquire. After winning the Rucker Park tournament, we were rewarded with the cover of the April 1988 issue of Hoop magazine. (You remember that issue, right? The one with the boring picture of Isiah Thomas on the cover? Yeah, neither did we.)

‘ESPN Basketball’

Sure, the commentators on their NBA broadcasts are subpar -- ever tried to listen to Bill Walton’s jabbering? And their analysts do more yelling and screaming than analyzing -- who is this Stephen A. Smith guy anyway? But one thing ESPN does know how to do is make great sports video games. “ESPN Basketball” is no exception.

Not only does the game have a top-flight basketball simulator, but it also borrows some fun modes from other games like “NBA Ballers.” So, in addition to playing five on five at Staples Center, gamers can also play Kobe verses KG out behind a fish market at night. It’s nice to have a choice.

Gameplay is smooth and your computer-controlled opponents are smart enough to foul you intentionally at the end of a close game. While the players are well-rendered, the coaches and crowd have a bizarre look, like Blockheads on old Gumby cartoons. But you do get the cool ESPN broadcast graphics to add authenticity.

‘NBA Live 2004’

As far as a perfect simulation of an NBA game, it would be hard to match “NBA Live 2004.” It has noticeably better graphics than ESPN’s offering, and gameplay here feels a little more fluid and intuitive. For instance, alley-oops are incredibly easy to execute successfully. In addition, two of the best in the business -- Marv Albert and Mike Fratello -- supply the commentary and the music is by rap acts you’ve actually heard of, like OutKast and Lil’ Kim.

Unfortunately, after playing all the diverse modes that “ESPN” has packed in to its game, “NBA Live” seems a little one-dimensional. It is, however, very good at that dimension.

*

Playing in the paint

NBA Ballers

Good: Easy to figure out controls.

Bad: A whole lot of sizzle, not enough steak.

Details: PlayStation 2, Xbox platforms; $39.99.

Rating: E (everyone).

ESPN Basketball

Good: Hoops in many different flavors.

Bad: Beware of the coach’s strange-looking arms, and stay out of the crowd: They look nasty.

Details: PlayStation 2, Xbox platforms; $49.99.

Rating: E (everyone).

NBA Live 2004

Good: The best pure NBA simulator on the shelves.

Bad: After that, then what?

Details: All platforms; $49.99.

Rating: E (everyone).