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

[flyofchange]

The 92 dream team has 11 hofers. The 2012 team has 2 hofers to be and a bunch of hopefulls...

The 92 dream team has 9 players in the top 50 for career efficiency rating. The 2012 team has 3.

[BballTim]

Magic Johnson is better than Chris Paul?  OK, sure, the 1983 version of Magic Johnson was.  But 1992 Johnson vs. 2012 Paul?  It's Paul, and it's not close.  Not a little bit close.

It's a lot closer than you think.

Magic was one year removed from putting up 19.4 points, 12.5 assists, and 7.0 rebounds on 47.7% shooting and 90.6% from the line. That's better than what CP3 put up last year.  I don't think Magic's game fell off that much in one season, even if he had HIV; the guy took four years off from the NBA and still averaged 14 points and 7 assists.

  Sorry, it's not that close. Magic was better. CP3 isn't close to being the passer or rebounder Magic was.

[Chelm]

The 92 dream team has 11 hofers. The 2012 team has 2 hofers to be and a bunch of hopefulls...

The 92 dream team has 9 players in the top 50 for career efficiency rating. The 2012 team has 3.

In 1992, the original Dream Team had no HOFers.  Are you suggesting you don't expect anyone but Kobe/LBJ to become HOFers?  Such an empty argument.

[flyofchange]

For the record:
Chris Mullin: 6'6", 200lbs
Deron Williams: 6'3", 209lbs

Clyde Drexler: 6'7", 210lbs
Russell Westbrook: 6'3", 187lbs

Size advantage?  Yes.  But not as much as you might think.  And consider the quickness advantage going the other way.

David Robinson:  7'1"
Karl Malone: 6'9"
Scottie Pippen: 6'8"
Michael Jordan: 6'6"
Magic Johnson: 6'8"

All of those guys were extraordinary athletes, and they had great size.

They had great size, but they didn't have a size advantage against the 2012 team.  I was trying to talk about the matchups where the 1992 team would have an advantage.

I hear "play Lebron at PF" a lot.  Lebron is going to get abused in the post against Malone, and he's not going to be able to help on other players as much.

That matchup would potentially happen, but I'd prefer to put Love on Malone (and LeBron on Barkley).  But, once again, you cannot post up in international competition the way you can in the NBA.  That's why the 2012 team is what it is.  If you wanted a post-up game, you could still pick players from 2012 to give the 1992 team a run.

The 2012 team is chosen much more wisely for international competition.  Remember also that the 3-point line is closer, so outside shooting is even more valuable.

If you were Chuck Daly and you wanted to take the ball out of Michael Jordan's and Clyde Drexler's hands to throw it into Malone in the post, you could do that.  I don't think it will work.

Chandler would be worn down by Robinson, and if backups were in, Ewing vs. Bosh is laughable.  Who else does the 2012 team have for big men?  Kevin Love and Blake Griffin?  Good luck against Charles Barkley, who would eat them both alive.

Sorry for repeating myself, but: shouldn't the hypothetical be based on actual occurrences?  The 1992 team did not particularly dominate inside.  I mean, they dominated everywhere, because they were playing against guys who would not have made the NBA if it had expanded to 300 teams, but post play was where they dominated least.  They dunked a lot, but because of fast breaks, not because of post-ups (or offensive rebounds).  Again: Mullin and Drexler were among the top five scorers.  Robinson and Ewing were at the bottom.

Guys who would not have made the nba if it had expanded to 300 teams???

Ever heard of Dražen Petrović, Toni Kukoč, Dino Rađa, Stojan Vranković, Žan Tabak? They ALL played for Croatia in the finals against the 92 team and guess what...They ALL played in the N...B...A

Owned........

[BballTim]

Nostalgia!!!

Magic was never a "superb shooter".  He had "limits defensively" on his best day.  He could never guard quick point guards; the Lakers always had someone else to do that.

You rounded up Bird's numbers.  They were 19.7/9.4/6.6.  Here's a number you missed: 45.  As in, the number of games he was able to play in.  And, he couldn't guard anybody, either.

  Magic spent a fair amount of time guarding point guards. Quick point guards weren't the problem they are now because of hand checking. He wasn't a great shooter though. Bird averaged 20.2/9.6/6.8, you should check your numbers if you're going to nitpick. And I don't see what his missing games has to do with anything. He was a very good player when healthy, and he was healthy for the olympics.

[flyofchange]

The 92 dream team has 11 hofers. The 2012 team has 2 hofers to be and a bunch of hopefulls...

The 92 dream team has 9 players in the top 50 for career efficiency rating. The 2012 team has 3.

In 1992, the original Dream Team had no HOFers.  Are you suggesting you don't expect anyone but Kobe/LBJ to become HOFers?  Such an empty argument.

Yeah that one was just a sidnote and maybe some of those 2012 guys will get in, but 11 of them will NOT 

No comment on the efficiency huh?  

[BballTim]

The 92 dream team has 11 hofers. The 2012 team has 2 hofers to be and a bunch of hopefulls...

The 92 dream team has 9 players in the top 50 for career efficiency rating. The 2012 team has 3.

In 1992, the original Dream Team had no HOFers.  Are you suggesting you don't expect anyone but Kobe/LBJ to become HOFers?  Such an empty argument.

  How many 2012 players do you expect to see in the HOF?

[flyofchange]

The 92 dream team has 11 hofers. The 2012 team has 2 hofers to be and a bunch of hopefulls...

The 92 dream team has 9 players in the top 50 for career efficiency rating. The 2012 team has 3.

In 1992, the original Dream Team had no HOFers.  Are you suggesting you don't expect anyone but Kobe/LBJ to become HOFers?  Such an empty argument.

  How many 2012 players do you expect to see in the HOF?

Carmelo Anthony - maybe (probably not)   
Kobe Bryant   - yes (for sure)
Tyson Chandler   - No (*ell No)
Anthony Davis   - Way to early to tell
Kevin Durant   - Probably (if he can stay consistent and win)
James Harden    - No   
Andre Iguodala  - No
LeBron James   - Yes (for sure)
Kevin Love   - maybe (but its a stretch, all time reb-er?)
Chris Paul   - maybe
Russell Westbrick - NO (sorry *brook)
Deron Williams - No

[dmopower]

I would love to see a poll stating who you think would win, and the age of the poster picking.

Some of these guys think we are favoring the old players because were old.

 I say it is simply that we older fans have actually seen both teams in their prime and there for much better insight as to who might actually be better.

I could coach the 92 team to a 20 point victory over the 2012 team I believe.

International ball might make it harder to post up but Barkley didn't need anyone to get him the ball 13 plus boards a game some years the man was unbelievable and he would kill in international ball just as he was our most effective player on that team.

Barkley was built for international play!

[flyofchange]

I would love to see a poll stating who you think would win, and the age of the poster picking.

Some of these guys think we are favoring the old players because were old.

 I say it is simply that we older fans have actually seen both teams in their prime and there for much better insight as to who might actually be better.

I could coach the 92 team to a 20 point victory over the 2012 team I believe.

International ball might make it harder to post up but Barkley didn't need anyone to get him the ball 13 plus boards a game some years the man was unbelievable and he would kill in international ball just as he was our most effective player on that team.

Barkley was built for international play!

TP dude!

Dont know if im in the category of old or young (im 29) but your points make alot of sense.

[BballTim]

The 92 dream team has 11 hofers. The 2012 team has 2 hofers to be and a bunch of hopefulls...

The 92 dream team has 9 players in the top 50 for career efficiency rating. The 2012 team has 3.

In 1992, the original Dream Team had no HOFers.  Are you suggesting you don't expect anyone but Kobe/LBJ to become HOFers?  Such an empty argument.

  How many 2012 players do you expect to see in the HOF?

Carmelo Anthony - maybe (probably not)   
Kobe Bryant   - yes (for sure)
Tyson Chandler   - No (*ell No)
Anthony Davis   - Way to early to tell
Kevin Durant   - Probably (if he can stay consistent and win)
James Harden    - No   
Andre Iguodala  - No
LeBron James   - Yes (for sure)
Kevin Love   - maybe (but its a stretch, all time reb-er?)
Chris Paul   - maybe
Russell Westbrick - NO (sorry *brook)
Deron Williams - No

  I'd be similar, with CP3 a probable, Love and Melo probably not.

[Django]

If any one watched the game last night knows that the 2012 team is not as good as the 92 team.
--------------------------------
Very true.  I have tapes of all the 1992 games. The offense ran as smooth as silk with the '92 team with a large percentage of possessions resulting in dunks. That was why Barkley was the leading scorer as he was alone for a dunk so many times. MJ was the 5th leading scorer.  Again, this was because the inside players (Malone was 2nd leading scorer) were getting wide open dunks due to great passing. David Robinson shot 76% (dunks). Pippen shot 67%; Drexler 69%.

As far as Magic and Bird, they were still great. Bird had limits defensively but both were superb passers and shooters. Magic made a NBA 1/2 season comeback 5 years later and was a force (21 PER). Bird just finished his last year with a 21 PER, shooting 41% from 3, and 20/10/7 averages.

The 92 team made a 100% team effort, i dont think the 2012 team would be comfortable playing like that. I mean look at the avges:

Barkley 18 ppg
Jordan  15 ppg
Malone  13 ppg
Mullin  13 ppg
Drexler 10.5 ppg
Ewing    9.5 ppg
Robinson  9 ppg
Pippen    9 ppg etc etc

Just off the top of my head from the 08 team

Wade 16
LeBron 15.5
Kobe 13
Carmelo 12
Howard 9
Bosh 9
Chris Paul 9
Deron 9


And thats facing MUCH better competition than the Dream Team faced.

Again..Im not saying they're as good.

But put Wade on this team. Bosh and Howard.

We've seen already how ridiculous Durant is in these kind of games.

I'd give the 2012 team a shot to force it 7 games in a 7 game series if everybody was playing.

[Django]

Perhaps the greatest "Dream Team" was one that never materialized due to prevailing rules.

Imagine what the 1964 team might have been:

Russell/Chamberlain/Bellamy
Bob Pettit/Jerry Lucas/Heinsohn
Baylor/Havlicek
West/Hal Greer
Oscar/Sam Jones

Most (if not all) of these guys are among the 50 greatest players of all time and all were in their prime in 1964. Pettit was the oldest at just 32. Russell was 30 and the rest were in their 20s. Most of them were great passers, scorers and defenders. Four of them were 4 years removed from the 1960 team that won by an average of 40 PPG.

The real 1964 team, led by Bill Bradley, Jim "Bad News" Barnes, Mel Counts, Walt Hazard and Luke Jackson, won 9 games by an average margin of 30 points. The 12 HOFs captioned above would destroyed teams by 50-80 points per game.

Now THIS would be the GOAT team ever.

[HowardAvellino]

Magic Johnson is better than Chris Paul?  OK, sure, the 1983 version of Magic Johnson was.  But 1992 Johnson vs. 2012 Paul?  It's Paul, and it's not close.  Not a little bit close.

It's a lot closer than you think.

Magic was one year removed from putting up 19.4 points, 12.5 assists, and 7.0 rebounds on 47.7% shooting and 90.6% from the line. That's better than what CP3 put up last year.  I don't think Magic's game fell off that much in one season, even if he had HIV; the guy took four years off from the NBA and still averaged 14 points and 7 assists.

  Sorry, it's not that close. Magic was better. CP3 isn't close to being the passer or rebounder Magic was.

Well, at least you're sorry.