Is Kobe stupid?

[hawkeye123]

He actually came out and said. He thinks the 2012 Olympic team could beat the dream team. That is by far the stupidest statement. I have ever heard anyone make in my life. I'm with Barkley the dream team would of stomped them by double digits easily. Nobody other than Kobe, LeBron and Durant would even have a shot of making the team. If it was up to me not even them, maybe one of them in Christian Latners place.

[GARFIELDKOOL]

If Kobe was humble he could have said "well that team was historic and couldn't be duplicated. That was their team, this is our team." Seriously, the 1992 team will never be duplicated. Kobe's just self-centered like he's always been.

[hawkeye123]

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

If Kobe was humble he could have said "well that team was historic and couldn't be duplicated. That was their team, this is our team." Seriously, the 1992 team will never be duplicated. Kobe's just self-centered like he's always been.

I agree that's why I’ve just never really been able to be a fan of his. He's so arrogant that it's impossible to like him. To me the 92 dream team was the greatest team ever assembled and it always will be.

[GARFIELDKOOL]

Originally Posted by hawkeye123

I agree that's why I’ve just never really been able to be a fan of his. He's so arrogant that it's impossible to like him. To me the 92 dream team was the greatest team ever assembled and it always will be.

I tried to like Kobe, but I couldn't. he's a laker for one. I respect his game, but I don't like him.

[hawkeye123]

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

I tried to like Kobe, but I couldn't. he's a laker for one. I respect his game, but I don't like him.

The Lakers have always been my team’s biggest rival. I'm a Blazers fan and a Celtics fan. So, yeah that has a little bit to do with it. But he's also just always came across to me as not a very nice guy. That being said the only Laker I’ve ever been a fan of was Magic.

[hawkeye123]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Michael Jordan said there's no way Kobe Bryant and this year's USA Olympic basketball team could've beaten the 1992 Dream Team.

Jordan told The Associated Press Thursday that he laughed -- "I absolutely laughed" -- when hearing Bryant's comments that the U.S. squad training in Las Vegas could take Jordan and company.





SportsNation: 1992 vs. 2012?

There's a debate over which Olympic men's basketball team is better, but how would you rank the individual players from 1992 and 2012?
• Submit your rankings!


Jordan said there's "no comparison" which team is better.

"For him to compare those two teams is not one of the smarter things he ever could have done," Jordan said prior to playing in a celebrity golf tournament in Charlotte.

Jordan said the 1992 team, which included 11 future Hall of Famers and won its six Olympic games by an average of more than 43 points en route to capturing the gold medal, was a better overall team largely because of the experience it put on the floor.

"I heard Kobe say we were not athletic," said a smiling Jordan as he sat in a golf cart puffing on his cigar while waiting to tee off. "But we were smart. He said we were too old, but I was 29 and in the prime of my career. Pip (Scottie Pippen) was 26 or 27, (Charles) Barkley was 29, Patrick (Ewing) was 29 and Chris Mullin was 29. Almost everybody was still in their 20s."

Jordan's response came after Bryant told reporters in Las Vegas that this year's team could pull out a win against the Dream Team if they faced each other in their primes. Bryant said this year's team has a "bunch of racehorses, players who are incredibly athletic, while the Dream Team consisted mainly of players at the tail end of their careers."



“
For him to compare those two teams is not one of the smarter things he ever could have done.
” -- Michael Jordan, reacting to Kobe Bryant's "Dream Team" comments.

Bryant's comments received immediate and sharp rebuttal from some members of the Dream Team, including Barkley.

Jordan joined in on Thursday.

"Most of us were in the prime of our careers, at a point where athleticism doesn't really matter," said Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. "You have to know how to play the game."

Jordan shook his head when asked why he thinks Bryant made the comments.

"I imagine he's trying to say it to legitimize his own Dream Team," Jordan said. "But to me it's not even a question what team is better."

Jordan said Bryant is certainly entitled to his opinion -- even though he said it's just plain wrong.

"For him to make that comparison, it's one of those things where it creates conversation," Jordan said. "I guess we'll never know. I'd like to think that we had 11 Hall of Famers on that team, and whenever they get 11 Hall of Famers, you call and ask me who had the better Dream Team. Remember now, they learned from us. We didn't learn from them."


Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

[GARFIELDKOOL]

Originally Posted by hawkeye123

The Lakers have always been my team’s biggest rival. I'm a Blazers fan and a Celtics fan. So, yeah that has a little bit to do with it. But he's also just always came across to me as not a very nice guy. That being said the only Laker I’ve ever been a fan of was Magic.

I use to be a Blazer fan in the 90s when they had Clyde, Porter, Kersey, Williams, and Duckworth. I always felt they should have won at least 1-2 titles. When Drexler went to the Rockets, I was a Rocket fan, when he retired, I had no team. But when Rick Adelman started coaching the Kings, I became a fan there. They had an awesome team of Weber, Bibby, Christie, Stojakovic, and Divac.(the refs screwed them against LA) So because of the Portland/Adelman connection, I am a Kings fan. Also, the Kings franchise started in my city. (Rochester Royals) I was hoping Adelman could get that ring, but I will be happy if he gets 1,000 victories. He's probably one of the best coaches who will never get a championship

[hawkeye123]

Oh I did too. I followed Clyde when he went to Houston. I am so glad he got a ring. I also followed Rick Adelman everywhere he has been and, I have been a fan. I agree the 90's Blazers and, the kings should have both been champs. They we're certainly good enough to be. I am a fan of a lot of players and a lot of teams. It's just Blazers first because that's where I live and that's what I grew up on. Rick Adelman could still get a ring and, I will be rooting for him to do just that. Blazers of course have to be my first pick, but with B.Roy and Adelman in Minnesota. They would probably be my number 2. Celtics right up there though, because I am a huge Pierce and Rondo fan.

[Tweety]

Couple of points:

1) The current (and 2008) Olympic teams practiced together for 3 years (during the off seasons) prior to the Olympics. The 1992 team was thrown together and played in a couple of warm up tournaments prior to the Olympics. Then they went out and crushed the world. The 1992 team didn't have to practice together for 3 years prior to the Games, because every one of those guys knew how to play basketball. That 1992 team would crush any subsequent Olympic team that's come along. It wouldn't be close.

2) Jordan is SO right about how experienced that 92 team was, compared to the recent teams. Think of the players' resumes (includes only accomplishments prior to 92 games, not after):

Jordan age 29 (at the time of the games): National championship at UNC, and a two time defending NBA champion (at the time of the 92 games).
8x all star.
3x MVP (while competing w/Magic and Bird)
2x Finals MVP
6x all NBA first team
5x all defensive first team
6x NBA scoring champion (one short of what was then the record)
3 years of college ball


Magic Johnson, age 32
National Champion at Michigan State. MVP of final four
NBA finals MVP as a rookie in 1980
12x all star
3x NBA MVP
3x NBA Finals MVP
5x NBA champion
9x all NBA first team
Led NBA in APG 4x
Finished 2nd in APG 6x (thanks mostly to John Stockton)
2 years of college ball

Larry Bird age 35, injured and didn't play that much, but he is still easily the greatest forward who ever played the game:
College player of the year
NBA rookie of the year (by a wide margin over Magic)
12x all star
Won 3 consecutive NBA MVP awards (also finished 2nd in MVP 4x)
2x Finals MVP
3x NBA champion
10x All NBA first team
3 years of college ball after 1 year as redshirt

Patrick Ewing, age 29
6x All Star
National champion in college (Georgetown)
MVP of final four
First team All-American 3x
4x Second Team all-NBA (first team 1x), competing w/Jabbar, Olajuwon, David Robinson, Moses Malone)


Charles Barkley, age 29
6x All Star
4x all NBA first team
3x all NBA second team
Won MVP award in season following Olympic Games
3 years of college ball


I won't list the details of the other guys, but in terms of experience:

Scottie Pippen: age 26, 5 years in NBA, 4 years of college ball

David Robinson: age 26, NBA exp 3 years after 2 years in Navy played in college for 4 years, 3x all star

Chris Mullin - age 28, 4 years in college, 7 years in NBA 4x all star (2x all american and was college player of the year

John Stockton - age 30, 4 years in college, 8 years in NBA, 4x all star

Karl Malone - Age 28, 7 years in NBA, 3 years college, 5x all star

Clyde Drexler - age 30, 9 years NBA, 3 years college, 6x all star


Then there's Christian Laettner... 2x all american, college player of the year, final four MVP

The reason Laettner was chosen for the team over Shaquille O'Neal is because Laettner had logged more time with Team USA than Shaq did, so it was felt he deserved it more. The two did play against each other 1x in college (Duke vs LSU), IIRC it was basically a standoff, but don't quote me on that.


But yeah, when it comes to experience, and simply knowing how to play the game of basketball, no team will ever come close to the 92 team. Every NBA player who was on that team is a Hall of Famer. That's not going to be the case this year. It hasn't been the case in any year since 1992. I'm not going to say that will never happen again, but...

And again, those guys on the original (and only) Dream Team didn't have to practice together for 3 freakin' years in order to learn how to play together... that's because they already knew how to play.

[hawkeye123]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Couple of points:

1) The current (and 2008) Olympic teams practiced together for 3 years (during the off seasons) prior to the Olympics. The 1992 team was thrown together and played in a couple of warm up tournaments prior to the Olympics. Then they went out and crushed the world. The 1992 team didn't have to practice together for 3 years prior to the Games, because every one of those guys knew how to play basketball. That 1992 team would crush any subsequent Olympic team that's come along. It wouldn't be close.

2) Jordan is SO right about how experienced that 92 team was, compared to the recent teams. Think of the players' resumes (includes only accomplishments prior to 92 games, not after):

Jordan age 29 (at the time of the games): National championship at UNC, and a two time defending NBA champion (at the time of the 92 games).
8x all star.
3x MVP (while competing w/Magic and Bird)
2x Finals MVP
6x all NBA first team
5x all defensive first team
6x NBA scoring champion (one short of what was then the record)
3 years of college ball


Magic Johnson, age 32
National Champion at Michigan State. MVP of final four
NBA finals MVP as a rookie in 1980
12x all star
3x NBA MVP
3x NBA Finals MVP
5x NBA champion
9x all NBA first team
Led NBA in APG 4x
Finished 2nd in APG 6x (thanks mostly to John Stockton)
2 years of college ball

Larry Bird age 35, injured and didn't play that much, but he is still easily the greatest forward who ever played the game:
College player of the year
NBA rookie of the year (by a wide margin over Magic)
12x all star
Won 3 consecutive NBA MVP awards (also finished 2nd in MVP 4x)
2x Finals MVP
3x NBA champion
10x All NBA first team
3 years of college ball after 1 year as redshirt

Patrick Ewing, age 29
6x All Star
National champion in college (Georgetown)
MVP of final four
First team All-American 3x
4x Second Team all-NBA (first team 1x), competing w/Jabbar, Olajuwon, David Robinson, Moses Malone)


Charles Barkley, age 29
6x All Star
4x all NBA first team
3x all NBA second team
Won MVP award in season following Olympic Games
3 years of college ball


I won't list the details of the other guys, but in terms of experience:

Scottie Pippen: age 26, 5 years in NBA, 4 years of college ball

David Robinson: age 26, NBA exp 3 years after 2 years in Navy played in college for 4 years, 3x all star

Chris Mullin - age 28, 4 years in college, 7 years in NBA 4x all star (2x all american and was college player of the year

John Stockton - age 30, 4 years in college, 8 years in NBA, 4x all star

Karl Malone - Age 28, 7 years in NBA, 3 years college, 5x all star

Clyde Drexler - age 30, 9 years NBA, 3 years college, 6x all star


Then there's Christian Laettner... 2x all american, college player of the year, final four MVP

The reason Laettner was chosen for the team over Shaquille O'Neal is because Laettner had logged more time with Team USA than Shaq did, so it was felt he deserved it more. The two did play against each other 1x in college (Duke vs LSU), IIRC it was basically a standoff, but don't quote me on that.


But yeah, when it comes to experience, and simply knowing how to play the game of basketball, no team will ever come close to the 92 team. Every NBA player who was on that team is a Hall of Famer. That's not going to be the case this year. It hasn't been the case in any year since 1992. I'm not going to say that will never happen again, but...

And again, those guys on the original (and only) Dream Team didn't have to practice together for 3 freakin' years in order to learn how to play together... that's because they already knew how to play.

Exactly, correct they we're by far the greatest team ever assembled. And they are the greatest team that ever will be assembled. I watched every one of those guys play and, I’ve watched every one of these guys play. It's pretty safe to say the 92 dream team would beat them by 20 plus and, that's on a night when the so called 2012 Olympic team was playing at their best. I thought Hakeem or Dominique should have got the 12 spot on the 92 dream team.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by hawkeye123

Exactly, correct they we're by far the greatest team ever assembled. And they are the greatest team that ever will be assembled. I watched every one of those guys play and, I’ve watched every one of these guys play. It's pretty safe to say the 92 dream team would beat them by 20 plus and, that's on a night when the so called 2012 Olympic team was playing at their best. I thought Hakeem or Dominique should have got the 12 spot on the 92 dream team.

Yes, I agree. It really was ridiculous to have a college player on that team. I still don't really know what the purpose of that was. It made absolutely no sense.

As I recall, in 1992 they announced the first 10 players at one point, and then would announce the final two selections later on. Clyde Drexler was the 11th selection, and Laettner was the 12th.

We knew at that time that even though Isaiah Thomas deserved a spot on the team (in terms of his ability), we figured Jordan and Pippen (well, actually just Jordan) would make sure Thomas wouldn't be on that team.

Between Olajuwon and Wilkins, I would have liked to have seen Wilkins on the team, simply because he was older and seemed to be nearer to the end of his career. He was 32 at the time, and Olajuwon was 29. We already had Ewing and Robinson in the middle. The team was loaded at forward as well, with Barkley, Malone, Mullin and Pippen. But with Bird being injured, I thought Dominique would have been the best pick for the final spot.

Some morons in the sportswriters world wrote at the time that in 20 years, we'd be glad that Laettner was on the team as the last real "amateur" basketball player for Team USA. B.S., we all said. Laettner shouldn't have been anywhere near those guys. He belonged on the college-age team that scrimmaged the Dream Team.

[hawkeye123]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Yes, I agree. It really was ridiculous to have a college player on that team. I still don't really know what the purpose of that was. It made absolutely no sense.

As I recall, in 1992 they announced the first 10 players at one point, and then would announce the final two selections later on. Clyde Drexler was the 11th selection, and Laettner was the 12th.

We knew at that time that even though Isaiah Thomas deserved a spot on the team (in terms of his ability), we figured Jordan and Pippen (well, actually just Jordan) would make sure Thomas wouldn't be on that team.

Between Olajuwon and Wilkins, I would have liked to have seen Wilkins on the team, simply because he was older and seemed to be nearer to the end of his career. He was 32 at the time, and Olajuwon was 29. We already had Ewing and Robinson in the middle. The team was loaded at forward as well, with Barkley, Malone, Mullin and Pippen. But with Bird being injured, I thought Dominique would have been the best pick for the final spot.

Some morons in the sportswriters world wrote at the time that in 20 years, we'd be glad that Laettner was on the team as the last real "amateur" basketball player for Team USA. B.S., we all said. Laettner shouldn't have been anywhere near those guys. He belonged on the college-age team that scrimmaged the Dream Team.

It really was, especially with those 3 deserving guys waiting in the wings. I was kind of mad back then. That Clyde the Glyde was the 11th pick. Because he was just as good or better than most of those guys. It was just that he was from a small city like Portland. I can’t complain too much, because at least he did make it.

You are probably right. It would have made the most sense for Dominique to make it. Because it was closer to the end of his career and, they we’re stacked at center.

As far as Christian Lattner yeah, they we’re wrong about him. He was never anything more than a mediocre player at best in the NBA. And it’s kind of sad in a way. Because those 3 guys that didn’t make it. One belonged in that class and, the other 2 at worst should have been reserves.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by hawkeye123

He actually came out and said. He thinks the 2012 Olympic team could beat the dream team. That is by far the stupidest statement. I have ever heard anyone make in my life. I'm with Barkley the dream team would of stomped them by double digits easily. Nobody other than Kobe, LeBron and Durant would even have a shot of making the team. If it was up to me not even them, maybe one of them in Christian Latners place.

Yeah that was some stupid ****. Even Though I hate Jordan he made a good point with this comment

"The 2012 players learned from us and the 92 has 11 hall of famers. Let's talk about this after we see how many of them make the HOF"

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

I tried to like Kobe, but I couldn't. he's a laker for one. I respect his game, but I don't like him.

I like Kobe because of the favor he did for me in 2001

[hawkeye123]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Yeah that was some stupid ****. Even Though I hate Jordan he made a good point with this comment

"The 2012 players learned from us and the 92 has 11 hall of famers. Let's talk about this after we see how many of them make the HOF"

Stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. I am a huge Jordan fan. I didn't like him when I was a kid though. And I never rooted for him against Clyde. But if he wasn't playing Clyde I picked Jordan. My top 3 is Drexler, Jordan, Barkley.

I mean don't get me wrong this is a good team. But not only couldn't they beat the 92 dream team. But they couldn't beat a lot of the other ones either.