[verizon]

Kwame Brown was really athletic too...

Most of these ballers today dont have the mental game or the off court drive. But whatever, I can see where youre going.

Probably straight to Don Hutson.

[verizon]

anyone ever see the video of them going at it in practice? Jordan leading one squad and Magic the other?

Pretty tough to guess who got the better of that one...

[verizon]

The current roster could definitely give them a run for their money -- but I don't think they'd win.

Still, you put Russell Westbrook, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Blake Griffin on a court together, they're going to be tough to beat just based on pure athleticism.

And shoot, I left Kevin Durant off that list.

And that's not even taking into account the guys that would've been on the team if not for injury.

[S.T.D.]

And Kukoc.

He couldn't even beat the dream team.

[elton]

that's great except the dream team could just decide not to play bird or stockton. although you underestimate stockton. they could just as easily have pippen or jordan handle all ball handling responsibilities.

4-0 with the average margin being 15+. it's just not even close.

A Vegas book posted the Dream TEam as an 8 point favorite. I'll give the points, especially if Jordan got to make a bet.

[fgjhfgjh]

The PG's on this current team would absolutely destroy the then 30 and 32 year old Stockton and Magic.

The C's and PF's of 92 would destroy this years team.

It's not as ridiculous a statement as it is being made out to be. But I'd still pick the Dream Team in a 7-game series to win 4-2.

Stockton played 11 years after 92. I don't think he would be destroyed. And Magic was still Magic, not as great, but still Magic. I think they would be able to hold their own. Defensively, the 92 team would kill them. Run out Stockton, Jordan, Pippen, Malone, and Robinson.

[verizon]

In that scenario, I would thinking of keeping Iguodala/Griffin and dropping Westbrook or Williams. How many PGs does the team need, especially since LeBron can also bring the ball up.

I'd keep Chandler over Griffin, actually. Chandler's game plays very well in the international style.

[nAKMzyBN]

So no players will ever be as good as that group despite improving equipment, nutrition, etc leading to better overall athleticism?

I think all those reasons you just named had nothing to do with why Pippen and Jordan were so good.

[chujwduperjadzi]

Absolutely.
Or even 4-1.

Agreed. I'd sure love to see the match-up. I think they'd be really fun and intense games.

[verizon]

I think the centers are really the biggest difference talent wise.

I think the 1992 team seems so much better because the country was far more in love with the NBA in the Jordan/Bird/Magic days than it is now. The 2012 team would likely be far more athletic overall.

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.

[Byxtysaaqwuz]

Oh, you're talking about Pippen and Jordan? Silly me.

LeBron, Chandler, Iguodala, Paul, among others, are all great defenders.

lebron and iguodala are good defenders. no where near as good as pippen and jordan.

[Byxtysaaqwuz]

And that's not even taking into account the guys that would've been on the team if not for injury.

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

[standaman]

There were no egos on the 92 team?

not about playing time.

melo was bitching back with larry brown over playing time. barkley said the 96 team was bitching about playing time.

[Hrennilasi]

I haven't given it much thought. Let's run down the roster:

Christian Laettner....Chris Paul
David Robinson.......Tyson Chandler
Patrick Ewing..........Kevin Love
Larry Bird...............Carmelo Anthony
Scottie Pippen........Andre Iguodala
Michael Jordan.......James Harden
Clyde Drexler.........Kobe Bryant
Karl Malone...........Kevin Durant
John Stockton........Deron Williams
Chris Mullin...........LeBron James
Charles Barkley......Blake Griffin
Magic Johnson.......Russell Westbrook

[elton]

Transition defense? Against a guy faster, taller, and more skilled? I'm not seeing it, man. At least not from '92 Charles.



Unless we are talking about the EA Dream Team version of him, where he can dunk from the top of the key no matter who is in front of him.

Did you ever see him play in his prime? His only problem was motivation. If you challenged him he was right up there with Jordan.

[Byxtysaaqwuz]

Transition defense? Against a guy faster, taller, and more skilled? I'm not seeing it, man. At least not from '92 Charles.



Unless we are talking about the EA Dream Team version of him, where he can dunk from the top of the key no matter who is in front of him.

'92-93 charles was the best charles we ever saw.

[verizon]

there are 2 guys from the current team who would make the 92 team. maybe 3. and the current team would get absolutely killed inside.

I'm not sure what that has to do with the talent on the current team being better than the talent on a team that did, in fact, beat the Dream Team.

It could happen. Probably not a series win, but one game? Who knows.

[LINETFAD]

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?

like I said, none of those attributes necessarily make them a better player. The *necessarily part refers to mind, heart and skill, if they dont have those on par with the "greats" we were talking about, they arent going to be better players.

[Byxtysaaqwuz]

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.

anything they would get in transition they would give right back in the halfcourt to barkley, malone, robinson, and ewing. not to mention in order to get out in transition you genreally need to come up with steals or force contested missed shots. outside of lebron and maybe kobe, there's not too many guys on the current team who are defensive stalwarts, chandler excluded of course because that's the only reason he's on the team. but really, he's not stopping robinson or ewing.

[LINETFAD]

The current team is definitely better than all the lambs that were slaughtered by the 92 team. you could split the 92 team into two teams and the current team wouldnt beat either of them.