There has been some debate lately as to which Olympic U.S.A basketball team is better: the Dream Team of 1992 or the still-nameless team of 2012. Really? That's sad... I think Kobe just decided to get some attention for his team, which was a really good PR move. I won't even address this topic really other than to say this: Michael Jordan was 6-0 in his years of really competing for championships once 1991 hit. I wouldn't put any bets against him in his prime.
The Dream Team would crush Kobe's team.
With that being said, I wanted to present an argument while we're still comparing teams of players over a span of 20 years. I will take 12 players who were left OFF the Dream Team and show how that team is better than the 2012 team.
First, let's take a look at the 2012 team:
- Kobe Bryant
- LeBron James
- Kevin Durant
- Carmelo Anthony
- Chris Paul
- Deron Williams
- Russell Westbrook
- Kevin Love
- Tyson Chandler
- James Harden
- Andre Iguodala
- Anthony Davis
After the D-Will/Westbrook area, I'm not seeing any hall-of-famers with the exception of Anthony Davis. We don't know how he'll be in the NBA because he hasn't played a single NBA game yet.
Granted, most teams would only go about 7-9 players deep, so let's not put too much stock into Harden, Iguodala, or Davis. That way you can concentrate on your best players. I think this argument should have been made with the 2008 team. I think the Redeem Team of 2008 could beat the 2012 team (keep the top 6 except Durant and add in Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, and Jason Kidd). Starting 7 of the 2012 team:
- Kobe - PG/SG
- LeBron - SG/SF/PF
- Durant - SG/SF/PF
- Carmelo - SG/SF/PF
- Chris Paul - PG
- Deron Williams - PG/SG
- Tyson Chandler - C
Now, for the Dream Team 2! I actually think if the U.S would have submitted 2 teams in 1992 to go to the Olympics, we would have taken 1st AND 2nd place. Here is the roster:
- Isaiah Thomas - PG
- Dominique Wilkens - SG/SF
- Shaquille O'Neal - C
- Joe Dumars - SG/SF
- James Worthy - PF
- Tim Hardaway - PG
- Dennis Rodman - PF
- Reggie Miller - SG/SF
- Shawn Kemp - PF
- Gary Payton - PG
- Brad Daugherty - C
- Steve Smith - SG
I actually left off Hakeem Olajuwon (not born in U.S although he did play on the 1996 USA team), Dikembe Mutombo (same reason), Larry Johnson (too crowded at PF), Derrick Coleman (same reason), and Glen Rice (interchangable with Steve Smith). With Hakeem on that team, they easily take the 2012 team. Here's the top 7 for that team, although looking at it they're a lot deeper:
- Isaiah Thomas - PG
- Shaq - C
- Dumars - SG/SF
- Kemp - PF
- Wilkens - SG/SF
- Miller - PG/SG
- Rodman - PF
DT2 would play Payton and Worthy some good minutes, with Daughtery and Hardway possibly seeing some playing time. Payton would pick the pocket of at least 2 of 2012's PG's.
The knock on 2012 is defense. They'll throw up a lot of points, but other than LeBron on the wing and Chandler down low (once he's in foul trouble, btw, they have no center at all), they have no elite defenders. DT2 is gonna be a physical team; that's the era they come from. Dumars was Jordan's worst match-up on defense, according to MJ. He could shut down Kobe and handle LeBron fairly well. Rodman was also a defensive/rebounding beast. The Shaq on this team was the one we saw early in his career running up and down the floor. He's a great defender and would easily shut down Tyson or Kevin Love. Neither of them are great offensive post players. They would have a hard time shutting Shaq down, though. With Nique and Kemp flying around the rim and running the floor and Miller shooting the lights out when other players like Isaiah drew double-teams from dribble penetration, this team would rock 2012.
I think it's unfair to say who would win a single game, but I think out of 10 games played, DT2 would win 7 of them. The original Dream Team would win 9 if not all 10. Here's the original DT:
- Michael Jordan
- Scottie Pippen
- David Robinson
- Patrick Ewing
- Charles Barkley
- Karl Malone
- John Stockton
- Chris Mullin
- Christiaen Laetner
- Clyde Drexler
Oh yea... and two guys named Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. I'll give you that Larry was past his prime, but Magic was not.
This Dream Team had both size and athleticism. Stockton, MJ, and Drexler are the only true guards on here. Magic and Pippen could get some guard time as well, though. How do you even compare anyone to this team!? So many historically great players and hallf of famers. I wonder how many records are held between these guys.
Sorry Kobe, your team isn't even in the same hemisphere as the Dream Team.
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