[Inettypofonee]

They have similar marquee names, but the Dream Team had way more depth. Mullin and Laettner were the weak points of the Dream Team. And the Dream Team's frontcourt would demolish the current squad.

[elton]

Toni Kukoc was the "threat", wasn't he?

That was the talk at the time and they totally embarrassed him. He couldn't even get the ball past midcourt against Jordan and Pippen. Barkley and Ewing had to ask them to call off the dogs, it got so bad.

[Hrennilasi]

No, it's not. But Jordan and Pippen were two of the best defenders in the history of the game and they were in their prime. They didn't win 6 rings together by just outscoring the opponent.

The 2012 team has some pretty good defensive players on it.

[elton]

We also forget that Magic and Bird weren't what they used to be at that point either.

And while the '92 team had some nice size, I still think the biggest difference was Jordan. Back then, in his prime...LeBron isn't that type of player, and Kobe at his best never got to that level. Pippen on LeBron and Jordan on Kobe would be very tough matchups for the current team's top players. But, if the current team went small, ran out a lineup of Paul, Kobe, LeBron, Durant, and Chandler, I think they could score well on the original team, as Stockton and Magic would struggle staying in front of Paul, and one of the of the wing players would be able to take advantage of Barkley or Malone in transition and on the perimeter. Chandler could just sit in the pain and try to block shots, or try for lobs.


Maybe the NBA should look at this as a way to make the All Star game more interesting...following the NHL, of all things. US Born All-Stars versus a World Squad.

Something like Howard, Durant, LeBron, Kobe, and Paul versus some combination of The Brothers Gasol, Dirk, Horford, Tony Parker, Manu, Gallinari, Deng, Rubio, Boozer, Kyrie Irving etc. would be interesting. I'd think the international players at least would play with an edge.

And I learned something today...I had no idea that the original Dream Team had a player born in Jamaica on it.

LOL!! I saw Charles play at least 40 times live and one of the great joys of watching Charles in his prime was him in transition. Seriously, he would kill those guys on the fly.

[elton]

The 2012 team has some pretty good defensive players on it.

Please. I'm talking Pippen and Jordan here.

[verizon]

m22;3470209]They have similar marquee names, but the Dream Team had way more depth. [/B]Mullin and Laettner were the weak points of the Dream Team. And the Dream Team's frontcourt would demolish the current squad.

I've discovered this was untrue. Well, Laettner was the second weakest part. But Stockton was a nonfactor, and Magic and Bird weren't huge contributors, either.

Looks like Pippen was the best "point guard" for the team. Mullin was actually the 4th leading scorer, behind Barkley, Jordan, and Malone.

[nAKMzyBN]

i don't really count chandler. for the purposes of this discussion, he's a one trick pony in comparison to ewing and robinson. and because robinson would eat his lunch.

lebron and iguodala.

Two very big reasonls why the Dream team would dominate this current team.

[Byxtysaaqwuz]

Durant.

durant is not in his prime.

[Byxtysaaqwuz]

LeBron, Durant, Kobe, and Paul--more talented.
Deron Williams, Carmelo, and Love- as talented.

The current team is not full of stiffs, either, ashey. One game could come down to approach and how the teams were used. If the Dream Team wanted to play Bird and Magic for serious minutes, I think the current squad could take advantage.

I think the real question, though...Who wins between the Dream Team and Dream Team II?

i'll give you lebron as the only one who is more talented. kobe is over the hill so no. durant is probably just as talented as them at this stage of his career. paul is a no.

deron williams, melo, and love are not as talented as those 3. sorry.

[S.T.D.]

And Arvydas Sabonis.

[verizon]

Yeah, it was pretty ludicrous.

Now, if the current team was made up of college aged guys like Bobby Hurley and Penny Hardaway, then they'd have a shot....

[Byxtysaaqwuz]

LOL!! I saw Charles play at least 40 times live and one of the great joys of watching Charles in his prime was him in transition. Seriously, he would kill those guys on the fly.

he was not as fast durant or lebron, which is the matchup he's assuming barkley would get in that scenario. barkley and especially malone were great at running the break, but they would give up a few steps to those two. even so it doesn't matter. then they would bring the ball back down and let barkley and malone go to work on those guys and get them in foul trouble.

[LINETFAD]

lebron could, that's about it. durant in a few years would be able to as well.

Yeah, I think Lebron could hang and probably Tim Duncan, then Kobe, but as a team they would be killed.

[Byxtysaaqwuz]

Because of advancements in technology, nutrition, etc., athletes are faster and stronger in general as time goes by. There are some guys from 1992 who are going to be as athletic as the best from 2012, but 20 years of advancement is going to make a difference. Same as the NBA players from 1992 are going to be bigger, faster, and stronger as a whole than the guys from 1972.

you can either run and jump or you can't. technology and nutrition have next to nothing to do with it.

[elton]

That's because a decent NBA player leading a team against a team of All Star NBA players isn't very fair.

No, it's not. But Jordan and Pippen were two of the best defenders in the history of the game and they were in their prime. They didn't win 6 rings together by just outscoring the opponent.

[S.T.D.]

That was the talk at the time and they totally embarrassed him. He couldn't even get the ball past midcourt against Jordan and Pippen. Barkley and Ewing had to ask them to call off the dogs, it got so bad.

That's because a decent NBA player leading a team against a team of All Star NBA players isn't very fair. To think they ever had a chance would have been pretty silly. Basketball around the world has improved drastically since then, as a large part due to the dream team.

[Byxtysaaqwuz]

Tyson Chandler and who else?

i don't really count chandler. for the purposes of this discussion, he's a one trick pony in comparison to ewing and robinson. and because robinson would eat his lunch.

lebron and iguodala.

[verizon]

howard is the only one that would make a difference. wade is damaged goods and barkley and malone would kill bosh.

"If Not For Injury"

[verizon]

thats great if we are talking about offensive lineman, power lifters or plow horses, but we arent. none of those necessarily makes you a better basketball player.

I would say having a build like LeBron to go along with his skill would be a big advantage over someone like Larry Bird.

And as awesome as Kevin McHale was in the post in his day, would he get that kind of position against a guy like Al Horford?

[Sheestgag]

The 12 best players in the NBA today could not hang with that team....