Endurance: Basketball players jog around with the occasional sprint. Usually for bouts of anywhere from 20-30 minutes with 3-5 minute rests inbetween. Hockey players skate balls out for about a minute at a time, and usually sit for about 2 minutes. This countinues until the average player usually has stacked up anywhere between 25 and 35 minutes in the ice. The physical effort level is far greater in hockey, and as such, they are some of the most conditioned team athletes in the world (second only to Soccer (football) and Tennis IMO) You can argue that, as mentioned, hockey player sit every minute or so, but the total energy expended is greater as basketball players are pretty "easy" unless they see an oppounity. I figure basketball players approach the 100% effort level than a hockey player lives by once or twice a minute for a few seconds.
Skill: Appels and oranges. If you put a basketabll player on ice, he would fall and not get up. If you put a hockey player on a court, he wouldnt be able to play competatively. At other levels, however, any 8 year old can run around with his friends and play basketball. You run, jump, and shoot a ball. Hockey requires two important skills: the ability to ice skate... very well, and the ability to fling a small, frozen rubber disk with a 6 foot stick. If you cant skate, you cant play. If you cant use the stick, you cant play. If you want to play competatively, you need to be at the top of you game in both areas and then subject yourself to flying bodies aimed at you the entire time.
Speed: Its simply not possible for a basketball player to run as fast as a hockey player can skate. Period.
Strength: Again, not really a contest. Basketball players must be in good shape, but they arent "strong." Taking strides at the NHL level is probably about comparable to jumping up and down for the whole game instead of running throughout an NBA game. In addition to this, you must be able to both fight off and give good solid hits to other players. Defend "toughness" or "strength" any way you chose, claiming that basketabll players are "stronger" than hockey players is ridiculous (did I spell it right MiniD?).
As an example Ill sight mental toughness since the physical comparison is almost laughable. A basketball player gets an elbow to the ribs under the net... ow... ow... it hurts... I need a doctor... call a foul... ow!!! No.
A hockey defensemen lines up a forward skater in his zone, and with a closure speed around 30 MPH proceeds to hit him as hard as he can into wooden boards than dont give. Upon shaking the puck loose, another player gets it and takes a shot, the other defensemen than dives out, 6 feet infront of the shooter to stop a 120MPH slap shoot with his chest. After both engagements, the players get up immediately and continue to gun after the puck and the player than has it. Lets say one needs stiches... he'll miss a shift or two while his face is being fixed. A basketball player is already having an ambulance called for him.
