"People who think we can't beat that team for one game, they are crazy. To sit there and say we can't, it's ludicrous. We can beat them one time." - Kobe Bryant
Every four years, the summer becomes a very exciting time for NBA fans. No longer are we divided; Lakers' fans, Celtics' fans, Bulls' fans and Bobcats' supporters a like can set their differences aside and root for one team. Team USA. The standard for modern international basketball was set back in '92, when the legendary Michael Jordan-led Dream Team trampled the world by 30 a game in Barcelona. Since then, it has been more than expected that Team USA not only wins gold, but utterly humiliates the field a long the way. Times have changed however, as many international players dot the NBA landscape. In 2004 we learned that it is possible for Team USA to lose in the Olympics.
It remains to be seen if this 2012 team, a team heavily lacking in size and missing at least 4 premium players (Howard, Bosh, Rose, Wade) due to injury will walk away with the gold. After Kobe Bryant's rant quoted above, the attention of USA basketball fans isn't focused on a match up for the gold medal with Spain or Argentina. Attention has focused to a fictional, video game-esque showdown with the team of teams; the '92 Dream Team. How would this 2012 team match up with the '92 team? I will run down both teams rosters, trying my best to match up each team's 12 players with their most comparable counterpart, to see if Kobe's bold statement has any real merit.
1. Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James
The 2012 team is just as much LeBron James' team as the 1992 team was Michael Jordan's. In the summer of '92, Jordan had just won his second championship and was in absolute prime of his career. James is fresh off his first championship, and has officially taken the proverbial "torch" from Kobe, much as MJ had taken it from Magic Johnson/Larry Bird. The greatest testament to LeBron's game is that he can effectively guard all five positions on the floor. LeBron will be called on a lot in the 2012 games to guard larger defenders (just ask Brazil's Anderson Varejao). LeBron has a size advantage over Jordan, but that's about it. The edge goes to MJ, obviously, but LeBron could guard him just as good as anyone (John Starks just got mad at me).
2. Magic Johnson vs. Kobe Bryant
This match up features arguably the two greatest Los Angeles Lakers of all time. The similarities between Magic and Kobe at these stages of their careers are staggering. Both have 5 championships, both are towards the end of brilliant careers, both weren't ready to officially step down as "the face" of the NBA. The edge goes to Kobe, as he has more in the tank left at this point than Magic did. This decision was greatly influenced by the taken back opinion of Clyde Drexler.
3. Larry Bird vs. Kevin Durant
The international 3-point line is merely a jump shot for these two. Durant has shown in the exhibition games that he is going to shoot (and make) a lot of these 3 point jump shots. Bird in his prime is one of the top 5 greatest players of all time. However, Dream Team Bird was more of a figure head for the team. Less "Larry Legend," more "Larry Back Problems." Bird was already halfway home to Indiana by '92, thinking more about tractors and Budweiser than picks and rolls. The edge goes to Durant, a young phenom ready to set the Olympics ablaze much like the 2010 FIBA games.
4. Charles Barkley vs. Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony will be primarily playing power forward for the 2012 team, a position that Charles Barkley perfected. People forget how athletic the "Round Mound of Rebound" was in his playing days. Undersized for the position, Barkley's combination of speed and power made him quite a force. Melo is a nice pure scorer, but no where near the player Sir Charles was. The edge goes to Chuck, who won an NBA MVP award averaging 25, 12 and 5.
5. John Stockton vs. Chris Paul/Derron Williams
The 2012 team has quite a duo at point guard with Paul and Williams, who are a lot more athletic than Stockton ever was. However, Stockton spent a decade of his life averaging 10+ assists a game in the NBA. I don't even feel comfortable saying Steve Nash, a two time NBA MVP, is a better point guard than John Stockton. The edge goes to the Stockton, the all time leader in assists.
6. Patrick Ewing/David Robinson vs. Tyson Chandler
Tyson Chandler stands as the only true center on the 2012 team. Chandler rose from the ashes of NBA draft bust to become the defensive anchor of a championship winning Dallas Mavericks team. He parlayed that into a massive contract with the Knicks and took home defensive player of the year honors this year. Chandler is a great defender but his offensive game is lacking. The edge goes to Ewing and Robinson, who played against a lot better centers than Chandler.
7. Karl Malone vs. Kevin Love
Charles Barkley dubbed Kevin Love the "best power forward in the world." Karl Malone may be the best power forward of all time. The mailman always delivered, where as Love has never even been in the playoffs. Hopefully on this size depleted 2012 Team, Kevin Love does his best center impression and gets big down low. The 2012 team doesn't need Kevin Love standing on the perimeter jacking up triples. The edge goes to the second most prolific scorer of all time, Karl Malone.
8. Clyde Drexler vs. Russell Westbrook
Clyde "The Glide" Drexler and Russell Westbrook have very similar games. Westbrook is a point guard, but I consider him more of an undersized shooting guard. Drexler has the distinction as being the second best shooting guard in the league during the Jordan era. Fun fact; there was a player on OKC who put up 43-7-5 in an NBA finals game (Hint - It wasn't Kevin Durant). The edge goes to Westbrook, who's speed will burn the competition in the Olympics.
9. Scottie Pippen vs. Andre Igoudala
Scottie Pippen fired back at Kobe Bryant during guest commentary at the first USA vs. Dominican Republic exhibition game, claiming that the Dream Team would beat 2012's team by 25 points. Andre Igoudala will play some great defense for Team USA, and be a crucial role player in the gold medal pursuit. He however will not be playing Scottie Pippen caliber defense (or offense for that matter.) The edge goes to the ultimate "wingman", Scottie Pippen
10. Chris Mullin vs. James Harden
Why James Harden is on this team is beyond me. Fresh of an utter disappearance in the NBA finals, I do not see James Harden shooting light outs in the Olympics. I can think of a handful of healthy players in the NBA who could help out team USA more than James Harden; Andrew Bynum, DeMarcus Cousins, or Roy Hibbert. All of these players are centers with something team USA needs most; size! People forget that Chris Mullen was the 4th leading scoring on the Dream Team at 12.9 points per game. I can guarantee you James Harden will NOT be 4th in scoring on this year's squad. The edge goes to the best flat top in the history of the NBA, Chris Mullin.
11. Christian Laettner vs. Anthony Davis
And here is the slot reserved for the collegiate player that shouldn't be on the team. Christian Laettner has the distinction of being the only member of the Dream Team not individually in the Hall of Fame. The New Orleans Hornets better hope that Anthony Davis has a better career in the NBA than Laettner. The edge goes to #1 overall pick Anthony Davis, though he will probably just see clean up time anyway.
4. Charles Barkley vs. Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony will be primarily playing power forward for the 2012 team, a position that Charles Barkley perfected. People forget how athletic the "Round Mound of Rebound" was in his playing days. Undersized for the position, Barkley's combination of speed and power made him quite a force. Melo is a nice pure scorer, but no where near the player Sir Charles was. The edge goes to Chuck, who won an NBA MVP award averaging 25, 12 and 5.
The 2012 team has quite a duo at point guard with Paul and Williams, who are a lot more athletic than Stockton ever was. However, Stockton spent a decade of his life averaging 10+ assists a game in the NBA. I don't even feel comfortable saying Steve Nash, a two time NBA MVP, is a better point guard than John Stockton. The edge goes to the Stockton, the all time leader in assists.
6. Patrick Ewing/David Robinson vs. Tyson Chandler
Tyson Chandler stands as the only true center on the 2012 team. Chandler rose from the ashes of NBA draft bust to become the defensive anchor of a championship winning Dallas Mavericks team. He parlayed that into a massive contract with the Knicks and took home defensive player of the year honors this year. Chandler is a great defender but his offensive game is lacking. The edge goes to Ewing and Robinson, who played against a lot better centers than Chandler.
7. Karl Malone vs. Kevin Love
Charles Barkley dubbed Kevin Love the "best power forward in the world." Karl Malone may be the best power forward of all time. The mailman always delivered, where as Love has never even been in the playoffs. Hopefully on this size depleted 2012 Team, Kevin Love does his best center impression and gets big down low. The 2012 team doesn't need Kevin Love standing on the perimeter jacking up triples. The edge goes to the second most prolific scorer of all time, Karl Malone.
8. Clyde Drexler vs. Russell Westbrook
Clyde "The Glide" Drexler and Russell Westbrook have very similar games. Westbrook is a point guard, but I consider him more of an undersized shooting guard. Drexler has the distinction as being the second best shooting guard in the league during the Jordan era. Fun fact; there was a player on OKC who put up 43-7-5 in an NBA finals game (Hint - It wasn't Kevin Durant). The edge goes to Westbrook, who's speed will burn the competition in the Olympics.
Scottie Pippen fired back at Kobe Bryant during guest commentary at the first USA vs. Dominican Republic exhibition game, claiming that the Dream Team would beat 2012's team by 25 points. Andre Igoudala will play some great defense for Team USA, and be a crucial role player in the gold medal pursuit. He however will not be playing Scottie Pippen caliber defense (or offense for that matter.) The edge goes to the ultimate "wingman", Scottie Pippen
10. Chris Mullin vs. James Harden
Why James Harden is on this team is beyond me. Fresh of an utter disappearance in the NBA finals, I do not see James Harden shooting light outs in the Olympics. I can think of a handful of healthy players in the NBA who could help out team USA more than James Harden; Andrew Bynum, DeMarcus Cousins, or Roy Hibbert. All of these players are centers with something team USA needs most; size! People forget that Chris Mullen was the 4th leading scoring on the Dream Team at 12.9 points per game. I can guarantee you James Harden will NOT be 4th in scoring on this year's squad. The edge goes to the best flat top in the history of the NBA, Chris Mullin.
11. Christian Laettner vs. Anthony Davis
And here is the slot reserved for the collegiate player that shouldn't be on the team. Christian Laettner has the distinction of being the only member of the Dream Team not individually in the Hall of Fame. The New Orleans Hornets better hope that Anthony Davis has a better career in the NBA than Laettner. The edge goes to #1 overall pick Anthony Davis, though he will probably just see clean up time anyway.
Final Score: Dream Team 8, 2012 Team 4.
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| The 2012 Team should be able to follow in the footsteps of the Dream Team by capturing the gold medal. |
More recently, LeBron James has come out with a similar opinion on the hypothetical Dream Team match up;
"The '92 Dream Team paved the way for all of us... We understand what they did for the game, but we also are big-time competitors as well, so if we got an opportunity to play them in a game we feel like we would win, too." - LeBron James
Instead of the two leaders of the 2012 team answering questions about a hypothetical match up with a team that played 20 years ago, they should be focusing on the pursuit of a gold medal. There's no time like the present, and this year's team will have to overcome a lack of size to win against a field of international teams that is vastly superior to those of 20 years ago. Team USA should be focusing on Spain's front court of the Gasol Brothers and Serge Ibaka, not on 50 year old hall of famers. Happy Olympics everyone, and as always go U-S-A!
