[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.

[verizon]

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

Duncan?

[elton]

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.

Obviously you need to see the documentary about the Dream Team and how that all went down. Then check out what happened the next day.

[elton]

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

Isaiah Thomas wasn't on the Dream Team. It is what it is.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[verizon]

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 both ends of the court on the fly.

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[verizon]

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.

Paul would have some opportunities to gamble and get steals, I would think. Even in a halfcourt set, having Durant or LeBron run Malone or Barkley around without the ball would be an advantage.

But yes, they would struggle defensively against the '92 team. A high scoring shoot out.

And really, if someone on the current team got really hot while someone on the old team was cold...In one game, anything could happen.

[standaman]

Paul would have some opportunities to gamble and get steals, I would think. Even in a halfcourt set, having Durant or LeBron run Malone or Barkley around without the ball would be an advantage.

But yes, they would struggle defensively against the '92 team. A high scoring shoot out.

And really, if someone on the current team got really hot while someone on the old team was cold...In one game, anything could happen.

goes to another unsaid point, the lack of egos the 92 team had playing together.

[verizon]

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

Agreed. But that Charles was one who made a living in the paint, and making excellent passes out of double teams. He wasn't exactly a shutdown defender at that point, though.

[verizon]

goes to another unsaid point, the lack of egos the 92 team had playing together.

The current squad has the advantage of more time playing together, though.

Your point is interesting, though, in light of Jordan's comments after James and Bosh went to Miami.

[verizon]

Ouch. Looks like Griffen is hurt. Should've kept Randolph or Cousins.

[S.T.D.]

I think the nostalgia of the glory days of the NBA really distorts things a lot. Not to mention how bad the competition was for team USA back then.

[verizon]

I think the nostalgia of the glory days of the NBA really distorts things a lot. Not to mention how bad the competition was for team USA back then.

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

[S.T.D.]

And Arvydas Sabonis.

[Hrennilasi]

goes to another unsaid point, the lack of egos the 92 team had playing together.

There were no egos on the 92 team?