The Dream Team, or the 2012 U.S. Olympic team?

[Brad Russ]

This was a debate on ESPN today and I thought I would ask it here. In your opinion, which team is better? The 1992 Dream Team, or the 2012 Olympic basketball team? The overwhelming consensus on ESPN was the Dream Team. Many great arguments, but many absurd ones as well. The most absurd in my view was Scottie Pippen's comment that the Dream Team would win by 30 points. Uh Scottie, I seriously doubt that. The Dream Team was amazing, no doubt, and I would give them the slight advantage, but I think it would definitely be a close game. Yes, the dream team had Jordan, Drexler, Bird, and Magic among others, but the 2012 team counters with Lebron, Durant, Kobe, and Chris Paul among others. I think the dream teams biggest advantage though is in the bigs. The big guys on the dream team were far superior to those on the current team. I think each game would be close, but if they played ten games, I could conceivably see each team winning five. I loved Larry Bird's comment of who would win. He said the 2012 team would win because we are all old now. lol Anyway, which do you think was the better team and why? Please share your thoughts!

[hawkeye123]

Originally Posted by Brad Russ

This was a debate on ESPN today and I thought I would ask it here. In your opinion, which team is better? The 1992 Dream Team, or the 2012 Olympic basketball team? The overwhelming consensus on ESPN was the Dream Team. Many great arguments, but many absurd ones as well. The most absurd in my view was Scottie Pippen's comment that the Dream Team would win by 30 points. Uh Scottie, I seriously doubt that. The Dream Team was amazing, no doubt, and I would give them the slight advantage, but I think it would definitely be a close game. Yes, the dream team had Jordan, Drexler, Bird, and Magic among others, but the 2012 team counters with Lebron, Durant, Kobe, and Chris Paul among others. I think the dream teams biggest advantage though is in the bigs. The big guys on the dream team were far superior to those on the current team. I think each game would be close, but if they played ten games, I could conceivably see each team winning five. I loved Larry Bird's comment of who would win. He said the 2012 team would win because we are all old now. lol Anyway, which do you think was the better team and why? Please share your thoughts!

The 92 dream team, because the 92 dream team was the best team ever assembled. They we're more experienced. They we're better shooters.
Better defenders, better passers, simply better at every aspect of the game; I would take Jordan,Bird,Magic,Drexler over Kobe,Durant,James,Paul any day of the week. I think they would win all 10 of the games. Not only that though. I would take any combination that didn't include Lattner over them. That is how elite of a class of players those we're. You do have a point about the bigs though. That is certainly to the dream teams advantage depth is also to the dream teams advantage. Iguodala, Westbrook, Chandler, Davis are not superstars. They have no business being on the team. I can think of at least 10 people I would put on the team before them. This Olympic team couldn’t even beat dream team 2 or 3 who we’re pretty great in their own right.

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[hawkeye123]

If I was going to assemble a dream team, with today’s talent that could at least give the 92 dream team a run for their money. My team would be as follows. D.Rose, Bryant, Pierce, Aldridge, Howard, Rondo Durant, James, Garnett, Duncan, Anthony, Wade. I hope I’m not forgetting anyone too deserving. But that would be the team the way I see things. I know absolutely nobody will agree with me about starting Pierce. But I saw what Pierce has done at his best. He handed it to James and Kobe in 2008.

[Marvo301]

The 92 Dream Team. they are all Hall of Famers except Christian Laettner. I don't think this years team will have that high of a percentage make it to the Hall.

[Brad Russ]

Thanks for the responses guys, you made some very good points. Hawkeye, I don't necessarily agree with you about Westbrook and Iggy. I think both players are indeed superstars. Westbrook is an all around player, 22 points, 8 assists a game, and great athleticism. Needs to cut down on turnovers, and work on his jump shot, but in his early 20's, he is a phenom in my view. He has improved his game every season, and I believe that trend will likely continue. Iggy isn't great in any one category, but is good in virtually every statistical category. Assists, steals, points, shooting, rebounding, the definition of an all around player. I'd take someone like him who's good in numerous categories, over a guy who's great in a couple. He has all the intangibles, and a high b-ball iq. His ceiling for improvement is sky high. The only guys on the current team that I don't see being hall of fame material at this point in their careers are Chandler, Harden, and Davis. The 1992 dream team was amazing, but I often wonder how much greater they could have been without Laettner and Mullin. Mullin was a very good player, but I never viewed him as HOF material. Replace Laettner and Mullin with say Shaq and Isiah Thomas, and I think those 40 point blowouts could have potentially been 50+ point blowouts. Anyway, that's my opinion. Thanks guys for sharing yours!!

[hawkeye123]

Originally Posted by Brad Russ

Thanks for the responses guys, you made some very good points. Hawkeye, I don't necessarily agree with you about Westbrook and Iggy. I think both players are indeed superstars. Westbrook is an all around player, 22 points, 8 assists a game, and great athleticism. Needs to cut down on turnovers, and work on his jump shot, but in his early 20's, he is a phenom in my view. He has improved his game every season, and I believe that trend will likely continue. Iggy isn't great in any one category, but is good in virtually every statistical category. Assists, steals, points, shooting, rebounding, the definition of an all around player. I'd take someone like him who's good in numerous categories, over a guy who's great in a couple. He has all the intangibles, and a high b-ball iq. His ceiling for improvement is sky high. The only guys on the current team that I don't see being hall of fame material at this point in their careers are Chandler, Harden, and Davis. The 1992 dream team was amazing, but I often wonder how much greater they could have been without Laettner and Mullin. Mullin was a very good player, but I never viewed him as HOF material. Replace Laettner and Mullin with say Shaq and Isiah Thomas, and I think those 40 point blowouts could have potentially been 50+ point blowouts. Anyway, that's my opinion. Thanks guys for sharing yours!!

Russell Westbrook is going to have to keep doing what he does. For quite a bit longer before I call him a superstar. He and Iggy are good players. Not dream team players IMO. Same goes for any player on the new dream team, Except for a very few. That being said if they played in 1992. None of them would make the team. I agree with you that Lattner shouldn't have made the team. But not Mullin Chris Mullin is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 1992 he was averaging 26 pts. A game, 53%FG pct, 83%pct from the line. Besides that he was a pretty solid defender and, a sharp shooter from the 3 pt. line. I would have put Wilkins or Hakeem on the 92 dream team for Lattner.

[TVFactFan]

No contest because of the players on the 2012 team

Iguodala
Chandler
Westbrook
Melo
Harden

[hawkeye123]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

No contest because of the players on the 2012 team

Iguodala
Chandler
Westbrook
Melo
Harden

First off they couldn't do it no matter who they had on the team. Secondly Carmelo is better than you are giving him credit for. He is just as good as anybody on that team and has been proving it for years. What is your problem with Melo exactly? I think he's one of the best pure scorers there is. Granted last season was not one of his better ones. But he was injured a lot of it.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by hawkeye123

First off they couldn't do it no matter who they had on the team. Secondly Carmelo is better than you are giving him credit for. He is just as good as anybody on that team and has been proving it for years. What is your problem with Melo exactly? I think he's one of the best pure scorers there is. Granted last season was not one of his better ones. But he was injured a lot of it.

Those players I listed are in comparison to the players on the 1992

Drexeler
Pippen
Mullin
Barkley
Malone


Melo is a good player not a superstar . The only superstars on the 2012 team are

Kobe
Lebron
Durant
CP3

[hawkeye123]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Those players I listed are in comparison to the players on the 1992

Drexeler
Pippen
Mullin
Barkley
Malone


Melo is a good player not a superstar . The only superstars on the 2012 team are

Kobe
Lebron
Durant
CP3

What is the list with Drexler, Malone, Barkley, Pippen, and Mullin? Every one of them was a superstar and a hall of famer. Clyde has better stats in every category than Kobe, except points and, he did all that in less games and less minutes. And Malone Barkley there is nobody in the league today. That those two wouldn't have completely dominated. At times Malone avg 30 points and almost always over 26 above double figure rebounds. Same goes for Charles on quite a few occasions. Back to Carmelo he is as good as any of those guys to me. But everybody is entitled to their own opinion.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by hawkeye123

What is the list with Drexler, Malone, Barkley, Pippen, and Mullin? Every one of them was a superstar and a hall of famer. Clyde has better stats in every category than Kobe, except points and, he did all that in less games and less minutes. And Malone Barkley there is nobody in the league today. That those two wouldn't have completely dominated. At times Malone avg 30 points and almost always over 26 above double figure rebounds. Same goes for Charles on quite a few occasions. Back to Carmelo he is as good as any of those guys to me. But everybody is entitled to their own opinion.

Melo is so good and has only been beyond the 1st round once in 9 years.


I was saying that when you compare both teams you easy for anyone to see the 1992 team had more superstars. Tne 2012 team has a lot of stars and only 4 superstars

[hawkeye123]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Melo is so good and has only been beyond the 1st round once in 9 years.


I was saying that when you compare both teams you easy for anyone to see the 1992 team had more superstars. Tne 2012 team has a lot of stars and only 4 superstars

Yeah, that is true in 1992 there we're 11, on this one 4 or 5. I think I took it wrong. I thought you we're saying that list weren’t superstars the one with Clyde and company. That is because of Melos teams you put him on the Lakers or heat. They would win a championship too. Melo has only been with other superstars in their prime in New York and even then just Amare.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by hawkeye123

Yeah, that is true in 1992 there we're 11, on this one 4 or 5. I think I took it wrong. I thought you we're saying that list weren’t superstars the one with Clyde and company. That is because of Melos teams you put him on the Lakers or heat. They would win a championship too. Melo has only been with other superstars in their prime in New York and even then just Amare.

Melo to me is just a jump shooter who never passes the ball. I also heard that he didn't want LIN to come back. That story broke on friday

[hawkeye123]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Melo to me is just a jump shooter who never passes the ball. I also heard that he didn't want LIN to come back. That story broke on friday

He is an elite shooter though. I agree he needs to work on being a better team player. He's not perfect by any means. I never heard about him not wanting Lin back. If that's true then he's dumb. I remember though it seemed like as soon as Lin went on that hot streak and then Carmelo came back. He didn't play as well with Lin on the floor. His scoring was way down.

[MrCleveland]

Dream Team...

'Cause *COUGH* LeBron is on this 2012 Team...and I STILL can't stand him!