Author Topic: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12  (Read 13401 times)

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Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« on: July 12, 2012, 02:51:04 PM »

Offline StartOrien

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Fun exercise I just did with a friend. Ranking on value at the point in time they're selected (so you're getting 2012 Kobe Bryant). It's tough to do because you're comparing different generations and different players, but it was a good time killer, and led to some fun conversations. Here are the members of the teams, I'll post my ranking in a post below.


1992:
Michael Jordan
Magic Johnson
Larry Bird
Scottie Pippen
Karl Malone
John Stockton
Chris Mullin
Charles Barkley
David Robinson
Patrick Ewing
Clyde Drexler
Christian Laettner

2012:
Kobe Bryant
Lebron James
Kevin Durant
Russell Westbrook
Tyson Chandler
Chris Paul
Deron Williams
James Harden
Kevin Love
Blake Griffin
Andre Iguodala
Carmelo Anthony

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2012, 02:52:36 PM »

Offline StartOrien

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Here's my list.

I hadn't the least idea what to do with Tyson Chandler really. Also, ranking Bird was particularly challenging b/c he was still putting up some monster numbers, but barely made it through the season. Similarly, it was tough to rank Magic who was off a season.

1.        Michael Jordan
2.        Lebron James
3.        David Robinson
4.        Charles Barkley
5.        Karl Malone
6.        Kevin Durant
7.        Scottie Pippen
8.        John Stockton
9.        Patrick Ewing
10.        Clyde Drexler
11.        Chris Paul
12.        Russell Westbrook
13.        Magic Johnson
14.        Kobe Bryant
15.        Larry Bird
16.        Kevin Love
17.        Carmelo Anthony
18.        Chris Mullin
19.        Deron Williams
20.        Andre Iguodala
21.        James Harden
22.        Tyson Chandler
23.        Blake Griffin
24.        Christian Laettner

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2012, 03:30:23 PM »

Offline bdm860

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I did my ranking before I looked at what SO posted, interesting to see how similar and at the same time different we are.  The spaces represent my tiers, because I could flip flop on a lot of guys, but would still keep them within the same tier.  For instance I might change my mind and take Karl Malone over Kevin Durant, but I don't think I'd ever change it to taking Malone over David Robinson.



Michael Jordan
LeBron James
David Robinson


Scottie Pippen
Kevin Durant
Karl Malone


John Stockton
Chris Paul
Patrick Ewing


Kobe Bryant
Magic Johnson
Deron Williams
Charles Barkley
Clyde Drexler
Larry Bird
Carmelo Anthony
Blake Griffin

Kevin Love
Chris Mullin
James Harden
Russell Westbrook
Andre Iguodala
Tyson Chandler
Christian Laettner

After 18 months with their Bigs, the Littles were: 46% less likely to use illegal drugs, 27% less likely to use alcohol, 52% less likely to skip school, 37% less likely to skip a class

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2012, 03:58:27 PM »

Offline KG_ended_Bias

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Based clearly on their primes here's my list.

1). Michael Jordan
2). Magic Johnson
3). Larry Legend
4). Kobe Bryant
5). Lebron James
6). David Robinson
7). Charles Barkley
8). Karl Malone
9). Scottie Pippen
10). Kevin Durant
11). Patrick Ewing
12). John Stockton
13). Clyde Drexler
14). Chris Paul
15). Kevin Love
16). Deron Williams
17). Carmelo Anthony
18). Chris Mullin
19). Russell Westbrook
20). Blake Griffin
21). Andre Igoudala
22). Tyson Chandler
23). James Harden
24). Christian Laettner

* Isiah Thomas would have taken my 7th spot right before Mailman

*Dwight Howard would have  been in my 13th spot after Stockton

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2012, 04:02:41 PM »

Offline Redz

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I'm assuming we're talking guys at the stage of the career of the respective Olympics (not at their peak).

If so, Larry's got to drop quite a bit.  I love the man.  A true hero of mine growing up and one of the all time best, but he was not playing at anywhere near full capacity at that stage.
Yup

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2012, 04:33:58 PM »

Offline Michael Anthony

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I think it is time to put Lebron on the top of the list.





It makes me sick to write that.
"All I have to know is, he's my coach, and I follow his lead. He didn't have to say anything in here this week. We all knew what we had to do. He's a big part of our family, and we're like his extended family. And we did what good families do when one of their own is affected." - Teddy Bruschi

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2012, 04:47:47 PM »

Offline flyofchange

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I think it is time to put Lebron on the top of the list.





It makes me sick to write that.

You are joking right?

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #7 on: July 12, 2012, 05:09:13 PM »

Offline WBrownTrophy

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I think it is time to put Lebron on the top of the list.





It makes me sick to write that.

at the very top over MJ?!?
"The only correct actions are those that demand no explanation and no apology."
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Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2012, 05:16:37 PM »

Offline Celtic

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If it's not in their respective primes, but at the time they played, here's my list.

1. Jordan
2. Lebron
3. Robinson
4. Bryant
5. Malone
6. Durant
7. Barkley
8. Johnson
9. Bird
10. Pippen
11. Drexler
12. Stockton
13. Ewing
14. Paul
15. Mullin
16. Love
17. Anthony
18. Westbrook
19. Williams
20. Harden
21. Griffin
22. Iguodala
23. Chandler
24. Laettner

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2012, 05:35:31 PM »

Online Roy H.

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1. Bird
2. Magic
...
23. Laettner
24. Lebron

Objectivity.  8)


I'M THE SILVERBACK GORILLA IN THIS MOTHER——— AND DON'T NONE OF YA'LL EVER FORGET IT!@ 34 minutes

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2012, 05:36:02 PM »

Offline Michael Anthony

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I think it is time to put Lebron on the top of the list.





It makes me sick to write that.

You are joking right?

Not joking
"All I have to know is, he's my coach, and I follow his lead. He didn't have to say anything in here this week. We all knew what we had to do. He's a big part of our family, and we're like his extended family. And we did what good families do when one of their own is affected." - Teddy Bruschi

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #11 on: July 12, 2012, 05:38:28 PM »

Offline Michael Anthony

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I think it is time to put Lebron on the top of the list.





It makes me sick to write that.

at the very top over MJ?!?

Pretty much

I think he and Jordan are equally dominant, but Lebron does it against better competition and better defenses.

And when you stand them next to eachother, Lebron is 3 inches taller, 70 pounds heavier, jumps just as high, might be faster, rebounds and passes better, is more positionally versatile.

Ugh, I just made myseld sicker...
"All I have to know is, he's my coach, and I follow his lead. He didn't have to say anything in here this week. We all knew what we had to do. He's a big part of our family, and we're like his extended family. And we did what good families do when one of their own is affected." - Teddy Bruschi

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #12 on: July 12, 2012, 05:47:16 PM »

Offline StartOrien

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If it's not in their respective primes, but at the time they played, here's my list.

1. Jordan
2. Lebron
3. Robinson
4. Bryant
5. Malone
6. Durant
7. Barkley
8. Johnson
9. Bird
10. Pippen
11. Drexler
12. Stockton
13. Ewing
14. Paul
15. Mullin
16. Love
17. Anthony
18. Westbrook
19. Williams
20. Harden
21. Griffin
22. Iguodala
23. Chandler
24. Laettner

Kobe seems awfully high on this list, IMO

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #13 on: July 12, 2012, 05:51:55 PM »

Offline StartOrien

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The toughest decision I had was going between Durant and Pippen. Very back and forth on it.

Pippen's defense was great, BUT Durant's come into his own and his range is incedible, BUT Pippen could handle the ball brilliantly BUT Durant's post games great BUT Pippen could finish, WAIT Durant's a great finisher too..

Re: Rank 24 Members of Team USA 92 and 12
« Reply #14 on: July 12, 2012, 06:11:42 PM »

Offline mmmmm

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If it's not in their respective primes, but at the time they played, here's my list.

1. Jordan
2. Lebron
3. Robinson
4. Bryant
5. Malone
6. Durant
7. Barkley
8. Johnson
9. Bird
10. Pippen
11. Drexler
12. Stockton
13. Ewing
14. Paul
15. Mullin
16. Love
17. Anthony
18. Westbrook
19. Williams
20. Harden
21. Griffin
22. Iguodala
23. Chandler
24. Laettner

Kobe seems awfully high on this list, IMO

Drexler had arguably his best season that year - I would nudge him up the list if that is to rank them as they were 'at the time'.   He probably should be up close to Durant.   Again, that's based on how these guys were playing 'at the time'.

Johnson and Bird were both still great, but way past their primes.

Kobe is similarly still a great player, but he's not the dominant player he was 2-3 years ago.   And back in 92, Karl Malone as a freaking monster.  I'd rank him above Kobe on that list.

In these comparisons, you have to caveate a bit that the game has changed quite a bit.  Especially with referees' extreme coddling of superstars.

Michael Jordan didn't get the 'Jordan Rules' kid gloves until his final 4 years.  Prior to that he was called for fouls at a league-average rate.  Similarly, the rest of the '92 gang were called at least within a reasonable rate of league average.

Durant and Lebron, though - and especially Lebron - has been completely coddled by officials since he came in to the league.  His PF rate his whole career has been so low it makes Jordan look like Bill Lambieer.

This sorta change in the game - along with others, makes it hard to compare eras.
NBA Officiating - Corrupt?  Incompetent?  Which is worse?  Does it matter?  It sucks.