Kobe says 2012 usa team could beat the 92 dream team????

[apc]

they probably could beat them , in 1 game out of 10.
Kobe just looking for a headline.

[soap07]

It's just not true.  The 2012 is better than some of the past Olympic teams, I'll give them that.  But the original Dream Team had Jordan, Bird, and Magic, who are all arguably better than anyone on the original team. 

And even the perceived nightmare matchup of LeBron wouldn't be that big of a deal with Scottie Pippen on board.  He's arguably the best defensive wing ever. 

The only thing that's a small shame is that 1992 team took Laettner instead of Shaq.  If they had taken Shaq, it wouldn't even have been close.  Robinson and Ewing (along with Barkley and Malone) would already destroy the 2012 team inside.  With Shaq it'd just be absurd. 

We're not talking about Bird/Magic in their primes. Bird was a shell of his former self and Magic was a declining player at that point.


I don't think Kobe was too far off. People are naturally going to inflate the past as a result of nostalgia. I think if the current team went small, they'd have a very good shot to beat the 92 team.

[AshyLarry]

It's just not true.  The 2012 is better than some of the past Olympic teams, I'll give them that.  But the original Dream Team had Jordan, Bird, and Magic, who are all arguably better than anyone on the original team. 

And even the perceived nightmare matchup of LeBron wouldn't be that big of a deal with Scottie Pippen on board.  He's arguably the best defensive wing ever. 

The only thing that's a small shame is that 1992 team took Laettner instead of Shaq.  If they had taken Shaq, it wouldn't even have been close.  Robinson and Ewing (along with Barkley and Malone) would already destroy the 2012 team inside.  With Shaq it'd just be absurd. 

We're not talking about Bird/Magic in their primes. Bird was a shell of his former self and Magic was a declining player at that point.


I don't think Kobe was too far off. People are naturally going to inflate the past as a result of nostalgia. I think if the current team went small, they'd have a very good shot to beat the 92 team.

Decline-wise, I actually think Kobe is where Magic was. Relatively.

[Fred Roberts]

Bird was complete toast, so he isn't relevant to the conversation. It was nice to have him there as a symbol of the legend he once was, but he wasn't really playing in the actual games. All the others were studs though. You even had a legendary distributors in Stockton/Magic and a legendary 3 pt shooter in Mullin.

Jordan, Barkley, Pippen, Malone, Ewing, Robinson all in their primes. Drexler slightly past prime. Monster team.

[celticslove]

with the kind of officiating we have nowadays i do believe that the 92 team will eat the 2012 alive. barkley/malone/robinson/ewing will kill lebron/kobe/westbrook/griffin everytime they try to go inside. 

[Sketch5]

I'm not saying they neccessarily could, but those that just automatically say "NO WAYY!!!" are being nostalgic.

It would at least be a close game.  I think our players right now are pretty incredible, especially physically.  It's another level.

I do agree with Roy that 92's size would be an issue.  But so would 2012's athleticism.

Yeah Im going to have to say...NO WAYY!!!!

Aperrently you didn't watch much basketball in the late 80's threw the 90's. You know were basketball was at its best. Yeah todays players might be more athletic, but when you have the foundation of fundamentals with very good athleticism, thats a win every time.

Kobe is probably the only player close to having the over all skills that the 92 team had. Lebron is a beast, but i would like to see what the Deffense of that era whould have done to his game.

Plus the 92 team new how to play the game right, and checked their egos at the door.

[Lord of Mikawa]

If the refs of today officiated, then 2012 would win.

[Assassin70]

Yes. Everybody on the 92 dream team is so old now. But it'd still be a competition though.

^This why does everyone live in a fantasy world?  Back in reality...tell the 92 team to put on their shorts right now.  And they will get bodied!

But if I want to go in to crazy fantasy world with the rest of you (where we could put the 92 as they were in 92 vs 2012 of right now).  1992 team would win 80% of the games they played against each other.

[boscel33]

Bird and Magic were the two oldest players, all others were 30 or below.  If the '12 team goes small, I still believe the '92 team dominates because Robinson could run and Barkley played the 4.  Yeah, last I looked, Barkley was pretty good and small.

But, if you want to go small, let's go Malone, Mullin, Barkley, Drexler, Jordan.

I'll take that!

[317]

if the 12 team goes small the Dream Team goes big and exposes the 12 teams lack of shooters.

[Moranis]

Just compare the teams, matchups, etc.

PG - Paul, Williams, Westbrook
SG - Bryant, Harden
SF - Durant, Anthony, Iguodala
PF - James, Griffin
C - Chandler, Love

vs.

PG - Johnson, Stockton
SG - Jordan, Drexler
SF - Bird, Pippen, Mullen
PF - Malone, Barkley, Laettner
C - Robinson, Ewing

Honestly, the teams are actually much closer than I thought.  Magic had just missed an entire year after the HIV diagnosis and I think Stockton would get overwhelmed by Paul and Williams speed, quickness, and strength.  Jordan and Bryant aren't that far apart, though Drexler would destroy Harden (of course I'm not sure Harden would play much as Melo probably plays against Clyde and he would be a tough matchup for Clyde).  Durant would destroy the Bird from 1992, though I think Pippen would fair pretty good on both ends against Durant.  James is just too quick and strong for Malone and Barkley on offense and would more than hold his own on defense (and I don't think the 92 boys could run with Griffin or keep up with athleticism).  Now obviously Robinson and Ewing would have huge size advantages, but I'm not sure either one could guard Love on the perimeter or keep up with Chandler in the fast break.  

Honestly given the age of Bird and Magic, I don't think this game would be a total blow out at all and would be very close.

[slamtheking]

just Kobe exercising his ego.  '92 team would playing Gino on the jumbotron by early in the 4th quarter.

current team has insufficient shooters and no post scoring.  They primarily have athletes that specialize in charging into the paint to get contact.

'92 team has 3 of the greatest players, EVER.  Sure Bird and Magic were on the downside of their careers (Magic was still pretty good at that point though) but their knowledge of the game and ability to play fundamental basketball would do a tune on the current team.  Those guys understand simple things like cutting to the basket and blocking out for rebounds. '92 has far superior passing as well.

think Bron and Blake are strong in today's NBA?  Let Malone and Barkley beat on them for a game.  Bron'll be whining in no time about it.  No superstar treatment for '12 team either since they'll be up against even bigger stars.  Bron, Kobe, etc... will be far less effective when they aren't getting the benefit of the officiating and actually have to score real baskets.

Oh, speaking of officiating.  make them play by the '92 rulebook, you know, when traveling and palming were actually called, and see how fast '12 team racks up TO's. 

'12 team better?  That's Kobe's dreamworld.

[Fafnir]

Bird wouldn't be on the court if they were playing competitive ball. Pippen/Jordan/Drexler/Mullin would get all the wing minutes.

[Rondo2287]

Blake Griffin flying home to LA for an MRI on knee after injuring it.

Anthony Davis flying back to join team.

I think the 2012 teams chances against the dream team just took a hit

[wdleehi]

If the refs of today officiated, then 2012 would win.

You are going to free MJ and think he is going to lose?