Scottie Pippen: Dream Team would beat current Team USA by 25
Count Scottie Pippen as the latest person to weigh-in on the Dream Team vs. current Team USA debate.
The subject heated up this week when Kobe Bryant said the current Team USA basketball squad would have beaten the 1992 Dream Team. Michael Jordan laughed off Kobe's comments while Charles Barkley predicted a double-digit win for the '92 group. Scottie Pippen feels similarly.
"I think we could probably beat this team by 25," Pippen said while watching Team USA destroy the Dominican Republic in an exhibition game on Thursday. "I'll go out on a limb and say that."
Pippen made his comments during a guest appearance on ESPN's telecast of the exhibition which the US won easily.
"We were well-rounded," Pippen said. "We had good bigs, we had good small forwards, good guards. We didn't deal with any injuries, so that team stayed assembled. [The current USA] team is really not what they put together. Even though they have some great talent and they brought in more talented players, I just felt like that team is the best of the best.
"We would have attacked this team. From inside, we would be able to attack them with our bigs. Defensively we would have shut them down because we would get up on them as they're trying to do to this Dominican team," Pippen concluded.
There's no way to ever have the question answered, but it's worth noting that sports books would have favored the Dream Team by anywhere from 6-8.5 points in a hypothetical game. Computer simulations also favor the Dream Team.
I think it would have been a close contest, but the edge goes to the Dream Team for one simple reason: Michael Jordan. With him on the team, I don't think they would have lost.
Pippen's Dream Team teammate Christian Laettner echoed that sentiment.
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88 Comments:
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Hells bells, love to see a show down, and certainly wish the current team the best .... but, seriously, it's just not right to put them up against the '92 Dream Team. after all that is their name and they OWNED it!! Short story, I agree with Scottie. Talent is good, soooo on a positive note I hope they do! Show us wrong :) - Just a lover of the game
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Notice nobody else on this 2012 team is saying anything, not even Lebron (to his credit) even tho Lebron is by far the best player on this team and is more that a match for Jordan, in fact Jordan would have a tough time dealing with Lebron's size and strength.
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Jordan was not he tallest, he was no where near being the strongest, nor was he the fastest, what he was, was a master in finding your weaknesses and exploiting them. He would get into your head and drive you mad, he would beat you on your best day and destroy you on your worst. Jordan is he greatest not because of his abilities with the ball in his hands, but because of how he would affect the game when he didn´t have the ball, or how he would walk onto a court and own it. He was feared by his opponents even before he got on the court, and no matter where he went the crowd loved him. So it was hard to boo him.
Jordan would´ve schooled Lebron, the same way he schooled every other beast in the NBA. Kobe talks crap now, but he forgot the many times Jordan took him to school and beat him back in the day, and this was when Kobe was fast as hell. And Lebron´s size and strength would not have been a factor, he played bigger and stronger. He played against he who many consider one of the strongest players ever Pat Ewing, he played against Shaq in his prime, Robinson, Malone, Olajuwon , Barkley, Drexler, he played and beat them all. The dream team was made out of 11 future hall of famers and 1 college student. How many members of this 2012 team can say that? -
It is a for gone conclusion the 92 team would dismantle the young fellas of today.Over all basketball I.Q. @ each position as well as bigs and a genuine willingness to share the rock along with a swarming defense and true ability to play team ball would be much to much to for this Team USA to handle. And btw please stop with the Lebron is the best player crap and what Lebron would have done to Michael he is not even better than Kobe @the twilight
of his 5 ring olympic gold career you people are out of your minds... -
I like how all these old guys (same age as me) are talking smack. You'll never know if you could beat these guys because you're too frickin old-just stop. You're talking hypothetically and nobody cares. It's over, you're time in the spotlight is done. Support our current olympic team, stop being arrogant and STFU. BTW, Barkley started this crap and he has how many rings?
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I don't see any disrespecy by the "old guys' in responding to direct questions which only asks for an opinion. You know what they say about opinions. Since we're talking about opinions, as far as I'm concerned, the 92 team is a better team hands down. Team USA is playing in a centerless basketball era that is dominated by three point shooting and highlight reel dunks. What's missing is the purity of the game. The best player in the world today(LeBron) is just beginning to learn how to play basketball and he still doesn't play well without the ball in his hands. No one on Team USA except Kobe plays great defense. You might think that LeBron and Westbrook could guard someone on the Dream team but they would get torched. Also, No one on Team USA has the size to defend the type of scoring centers that were on the 92 team. The Dream Team could feed the post the whole game until everyone on Team USA are in foul trouble, then the rest of the team woul be more unguardible. Imagine trying to guard a 29 year old Jordan or Barkley while you're in foul trouble. Before you guys slam me too hard for my comments go back and look at the offensive stats of the Dream Team. And, by the way, Don't talk about how athletic Team Usa is. Athleticism without proper fundamentals can be a disadvantage on both ends of the floor.
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i agree with you hold heartedly. hands down they can't compete with the inside scoring of the 92 team, and kobe needs to stop tripping saying he can hold jordan. i still have tape's vhs with jordan killing kobe and teaching and talking to him while doing so. just play this year's olympic's win the gold and leave sleeping killer's alone.
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Does the Hall of Fame count? What are they supposed to do when asked a direct question? Some of you folks amaze me. (lol)
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Kobe started the trash talkin. And the fdifference bewtween you and them (same age) is you are probably a over weight couch potato that never played sports in your entire life. Get a grip and stop diss'in thses great hall-of-famers.
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Kobe started it by the way he chose to answer the question he was asked. Instead of answering in a respectful way he chose to run his mouth and open the debate which clearly has no merit. This year's team is simply called Team USA. In 92 the team was called the "Dream Team" for reason. They were the best talent ever assembled at that time and any time since. Hands down there's no contest. After watching the game last night, they could probably win the gold without Kobe on the sqaud anyway.
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Yuo guys need to stop getting so worked up over professional atheletes being competitive and talking smack. This is all part of the game. I hate to say it, but sports is going downhill in this country. Personally NONE of them are worth the MILLIONS they get paid. We need to add some more enterainmnet value for our money. Get our entire moneys worth. They are trying to get us back into the fold. It won't work for me, but I'm quite confidient it will for many. Koby, Jordan and Pippen know they will never know this answer, it's all PART OF THE GAME.
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Kobe started this, the rest of the egomaniacs just piled on.
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Seriously? You're right about one thing, nobody cares....about the current Team USA or the NBA today. Kobe started this, not Barkley. It should be obvious to anyone who watched the Dream Team, that they would easily crush today's punks. They are nothing but street ballers who don't care about anything but looking good. Talk about arrogant.
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"BTW, Barkley started this crap and he has how many rings?"
Kobe started it not Barkley. Barkley was the first to respond. They were actually compairing 1992 team as they were in 1992 to 2012 team not 1992 team as they are now. If they played now it would be a totally different game. But compairing the two Olympic teams the Dream Team would be favored to win. But in the end we need to show support to whatever atheletes we send to the Olympics they work hard at what they do, very few of us could compete against them and win. -
we are not talking ring's tis time, we are talking about how kobe shout of his mouth and the competetive old guns are just repling. I think if you give the old head's 6-8 month's to really train this usa team would beat them but not blow them out today.
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Well Barkley ran into Jordan, thats why no rings.. oh yeah so did Magic for his 6th, Clyde for his 1st, Payton and Kemp for their first, Stockton and Malone twice.. not to mention Ewing, and Reggie - so thats their excuses to no rings - how about some very basic 7th grade basketball knowledge... guess how teams who are athletic gain their advantage? rebounds that start their fast break... but wait.. if you have no bigs to rebound.. and youre always taking the ball out of bounds after a scored bucket.. how do you fast break? athleticism is now moot... - kobe saying players were older at the ends of their career? hmm actually only one member of the 92 team is actually older than KOBE, all other players were younger than him.. haha so why does kobe get to claim hes still in his prime, but the younger players than himself cant? Oh yeah, he didnt go to college - the 2012 is full of players who routinely shut them selves out of the games.. i wont even go to westbrook, but Chris Paul who was recently locked up by the Spurs Danny Green, and Tony Parker LOL is talking a bit of trash about John Stockton... you young guys may be too young to remember, who has the most assists in NBA history? and who has the most STEALS in NBA history? - ill let you take a glance and give you a hint... John Stockton - and BTW, Christian Laettner gets clowned because of the other players on the team.. he had a better college career than any of them, and i find it funny that Anthony Davis gets no disrespect being the college player.. you know why? because the talent on the 12 teams is THAT much better comparing the two era teams.
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Obviously you are a typical young punk that knows NOTHING. Who started this but Kobe Bryant who isn't as young as you but he made the comment. Barkley just commented and even though he is older, I think he has a right to an opinion just as the "young" guys do. I guess you can't make comparisons if you are OLD!!! How stupid. We ALWAYS make comparisons in sports ahole. Get a life and GROW UP
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LIKE M.J SAID:
''Most of us were in the prime of our careers, at a point where athleticism doesn't really matter,'' said Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. ''You have to know how to play the game.''
Jordan shook his head when asked why he thinks Bryant made the comments.
''I imagine he's trying to say it to legitimize his own Dream Team,'' Jordan said. ''But to me it's not even a question what team is better.''
Jordan said Bryant is certainly entitled to his opinion — even though he said it's just plain wrong.
''For him to make that comparison, it's one of those things where it creates conversation,'' Jordan said. ''I guess we'll never know. I'd like to think that we had 11 Hall of Famers on that team and whenever they get 11 Hall of Famers you call and ask me who had the better Dream Team. Remember now, they learned from US. We didn't learn from THEM.''
WOW NOTHING MORE CAN BE SAID
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Kobe Started this, not Barkley, who simply responded.
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Ahh but the Dream Team loved the game and to play the game Basketball which is what made them so good, talented and memorable.
The USA team is good, but favors salary bucks over that of playing a good game!
USA team is a good one but does not have the same talent, and love of the game as that of a game of basketball.
The DREAM TEAM was the Best of the Best and most likely always will be. They became the best out of love for the game of Basketball and they had fun playing---for they never forgot that it is a game afterall! -
rick63, did you even read the article... Kobe was the first one to come out and say his team would beat the Dream Team, not any of the other "old guys"... what is arrogant about what they said, i chalk it up to confidence in what they had back in 92, so you STFU
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Well tripod it's like this. I like Kobe and I don't like Barkley. Therefore, I chose to ignore the fact that Kobe took the first swing. BTW don't try to be a tough guy on a computer. It reminds me of an athlete that's been retired for 20 years saying they would beat someone that's relevant.
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I wish I would have read this before answering the other. Now I understand, it's a personal thing for you, not a morale thing. It's OK for YOUR man to talk smack, but if anyone talks smack to your man, they deserve a tongue lashing.
Well then... your Kobe wouldn't stand a chance against the dream team if he picked the players himself. As a matter of fact, he could clone himself 11 times, and the dream team would still wipe the court with him. -
Well tripod it's like this. I like Kobe and I don't like Barkley. Therefore, I chose to ignore the fact that Kobe took the first swing.
Ah,rick63,You're using the old "I-reject-your-reality-and-substitute-it-with-my-own" defense I see.This is America and you ARE entitled to your own opinion.However,Sir,you are NOT entitled to your own facts.Dream Team : 11 hall of famers.USA basketball 2012: 2(maybe) and James " I can only go to my left and forget about me playing any defense cause I'm over hyped" Hardin would not have even been considered for the '92 squad.Also,lest ye forget,The Dream Team played in an era of no zone defenses.Every player on that team was geared to take his man off the dribble and play in your face the whole game.The conditioning ,solid fundamentals and basketball IQ (I LOVE Westbrook but his athleticism covers up for some glaring lapses in his shot selection) alone gives then 10-15 pts before they hit the court.Sorry your self admitted hate for all things Kobe has blinded you but quite simply,Sir,YOU ARE WRONG!!!!! -
Coming from an ignorant young-un
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He was asked a direct question and he answered it. He said it would be a tough game but he thinks their team would win. You want him to say "oh no we would get stomped". If you've been paying attention you would see its the old men who have been smug as **** saying they would win by 25 pts.
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Oh boy an internet tough guy. I tell you I am over here shaking with fear of your underarm flab and cheeto stained tee shirt.
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I'am still laughing at what kobe said and its been 4 days already.......forget everything else, the 92 team had 3, seven footers!!!!!! besides the fact the 92 was much more tougher as a team....
kobe must have hit his head while sleeping with that white chick he cheated with back a few years ago, lol......i think old age is taking his mind.... -
Maybe, Scottie, but that still wouldn't change your reputation as a terrible tipper at the nice restaurants. Scottie No-tippen they call you.
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2012 guys would have done this to Jordan & Pippens bigs.
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I agree, but not as good. This was taken by a professional photogropher. I doubt the 2012 guys would have taken such a good picture. But you are correct, they defintely would be taking pictures left and right of Jordan slamming over them. :)
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Really Tyson Chandler would have done that to who? Even before Blake got hurt there are no bigs on this 2012 team. Along with having Jordan the bigs on the 92 team is why this matchup would go to the only dream team. Don't get me wrong the 2012 could beat them in a game bc Lebron is an athlete that no one has ever seen, but in a best of 5 or 7 or any type of series it goes to 92' team.
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At least take her out for dinner or something nice afterwards shes a nice lady.
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Wow. You actually posted a picture of Kobe imitating MJ. That just shows how young you are. Without a MJ there would not be a KB.
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that kids is 16 years old and a sophomore in high school. he wouldn't done that on ewing.jordan did!
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this picture was taken way back when Dwight was just a rookie..from high school for that matter.So it doesnt count,we had no high school rookie in the dream team.
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And where do you think he got this move???? Right, next........
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One thing that I've yet to see anyone answer is WHO THE HELL would cover Lebron James.
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Its just like any other bball game at any level, you let one guy get his numbers and make sure nothing else happens. Pretty sure the 92' team could play better defense than the Mav's did a year ago in the finals, Lebron is absolutly amazing but he's nopt beating that 92 team by himself.
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Lebron would get owned because he would never get to the paint. Robinson and Ewing would lock it down. Malone would beat him senseless with his grown-man strength. He could not post up the 92 bigs. MJ and Pippen would pick his pocket like theives. His handle is not strong. You have never seen the 92 team play. It is obvious. Look at some footage.
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Jordan, Pippen on the outside; Ewing, Robinson & Barkley on the inside.
The most important question is: WHO can come EVEN come close to guarding Jordan, Pippen, Bird on the outside AND Ewing & Barkley on the inside as a starting five??? Take note that the next five would be formidable as well ... what does the current team have to deal with it they replace the starting five???
One answer ..... NADA!!!! -
Pippen...one of the best defenders ever! If he got by him he would have to deal with Ewing, Malone or Robinson.
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Uh..Karl Malone? Ever hear of him?
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everyone seems to forget how much the game has changed to accomadate the wide open street ball. The 3 t 4 steps that is allowed before a walk is called and I have not seen acarry called in twenty years.If the rules were back in play half the moves they do show their current athletism would not even be allowed. All the current stars do is clear it out for isolation and run. The Elders understand the game, understand how to execute a complete game plan they understand how to take appart an opponent and they had the best at each function three pointers Bird, inside game Robinson & Ewing, point stockton on and on. It would not even be a contest its almost a game of the NBA vs ABA (current nba)
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So sad that Kobe has to try and put himself as the same level as the Dream Team (THE REAL DREAM TEAM). The fact of the matter is that he will ALWAYS be in Michael's shadow and never be the greatest ever. He needs to get a reality check and realize as good as he THINKS he is he will never surpass Mike in anything.
I keep hearing from different sources that this team is more athletic than that team, which is laughable, go back and look at the players from that era, they were more athletic than they are given credit for, also they didn't play the jump step or take 3 steps before they dunked the ball. They took running jumpers and played above and below the rim. Todays players are more worried about being on SC, than playing the game right. So Kobe shut up and just play.
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As the father of 3 children who are very athletic, but not blessed with the genetics of many of our professional freaks, it troubles me that America's greatest athletes of all time are carrying on about whose Dream Team is better. Needing to be considered "The Best " is what causes youngsters to juice up and Parent's to spend billions of dollars they don't have each year so that their son can show the kids at school that they have the biggest "you know what' in class. Both teams are remarkable. Isn't that good enough? Older teams take on legendary status, but each group would contribute to an All-Star team pulled from the 24 players we speak of. Mullin was a great pure shooter....but this Durant kid is pretty damn good too. Anyway, think about the kids before you start pounding your chest Jordan, Kobe and Pippen.......would ya?
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you will never be able to have a real discussion about the 92 team and how they stack up because most of the players on that team are adored to the point of diefication. try telling an MJ fan that Lebron is a better (all around) player and watch them start to froth at the mouth. people forget all the bad and exagerate the good of these players.
Yes the 3 7 footers were better but which one could guard Love 20ft from the basket. -
I think Malone could guard Kevin Love. Im a Jordan fan for sure but also a bball fan, anyone that cant see how great Lebron is is just dumb. He hasnt taken the greastest ever spot just yet but when his career is all said and done Id say its his title.
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It is ridiculous for anybody to say that this 2012 team would'nt or could'nt beat the 92 Dream Team. Most fans dont know the game of basketball and are only leaving off of name recognition. The tired out phrases of "well 92 has Jordan and he's better than everybody put together is laughable" or "the 92 team has 11 Hall of Famers on it so enough said"... All of this sounds retarded. Magic Johnson was not playing hall of fame basketball in 92. This is post HIV Magic that was over the hill and players were just feeling sorry for him. Clyde was not lying about that. He would get mopped by this group of players. Then you have bad back Larry Bird; who couldn't even sit on a bench in 92 because iit hurt so much. How in the hell would he be able to keep up in a high tempo fast paced international game??? Nobody is going to allow him to spot up and shoot wide open 3's. This is not the 70's and 80's. These guys were washed up. And then you get the comments about the 92 team having the inside the paint advantage. Well Olympic (international style) basketball isn't played in the paint and rarely in the half court. It's up and down and very perimeter oriented. How in the hell is Karl Malone and Patrick Ewing going to gaurd anybody on the perimeter??? They could put Lebron at Power Forward and run Malone and Ewing all day until they pass out by the 2nd quarter. The only players on the 92 Team that would be able to keep up is Mike, Scottie, and Barkley. The 2012 team doesn't have a Christian Laettner, Chris Mullins, a no defense playing John Stockton on it's roster. The only reason why Chris Mullins is a hall of famer is because he played in an era that was void of talented perimeter players. He would not have been a hall of famer in today's NBA. PERIOD.
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Chris Mullin is the 92' team's Melo, shooter that plays zero defense and doesnt really pass. Yes Melo puts it on the floor better and has a little bit better offensive game but in terms of just offense that he brings to the team, thats what Mullin did.
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Boy: If you are going to make a case, make it with facts. The NBA season they came off of, Bird averaged 20 points per game, 9.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. After Magic had retired for 4 years following the 90-91 season, he still averaged 14.6 points per game, 5.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists. While at the end of their careers, they were still head and shoulders above most of the 2012 team. By the way, Magic shot 47% from the field and 38% from 3, which is better than every single player on the current team. Bird in his final year shot 47% from the field and 40% from 3, again better than anyone on the current team (for 3's). Meanwhile, Kobe is coming off a year where he scored 27.9 points per game, but only 5.4 rebounds per game and 4.6 assists. By the way, he scored more because he shot a LOT more with field goal percentages of 43% from the floor and 30% from 3. Seems to me that Kobe is no better than the two you chose to be over the hill. I have watched what you have written over the past few days, and all you do is show your bias for the Lakers (don't blame you), but it really is embarrassing how little you know of basketball. I would stop if I were you.
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2 Main reasons why THE DREAM TEAM is the best ever.
1) Defense - Almost all of them would take pride in playing defense and would shut you down physically. Today's team couldn't handle that. They would be crying to the refs. I'm a Laker fan, but Kobe, LeBRon, etc would be crying foul everytime they got the ball and were brushed up against. Robinson, Ewing, Barkley etc would pound you till you had no more will to play.
2) Team - The 92 Team had the right attitude. They fought for their own teams, their cities they played for, and they respected their opponents. The team we have going are individualists. Very few are actually team oriented.The 92 Team took all their ego's and talent and found a commonality amongst themselves, that they were the best the USA had to offer and that it meant everything to them to represent the USA. I'm not judging the hearts of this years team, but I know after growing up watching the Laker vs Boston, Detroit, Chicago etc. those games were fought with heart and grit and will, not just talent.
These are just opinions and we are comparing two different eras in playing style and talents. Maybe Kobe is trying to light a fire under this new team, issuing a challenge to them and is willing to take the criticism for saying what he said.
Either way, they will never play each other and these are just opinions of fans who love this game. God bless all! -
Apparentl\y you're to young to remember but Robinson, Ewing, & Malone were once or more voted defense player of the year. And really even if nobody could guard James who'd guard pure shooters like Bird, Jordan, & Johnson. Kobe you be tripping!!!! LOL
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Agreed, plus Jordan and Pippen were always 1st or 2nd all defensive team as well. To be honest Bird was done, Latener, was not awesome, and Magic wa fighiting HIV, other than those three guys the 92 team was solid as hell.
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That's right, it was either birds last or next to his last season and Johnson wasn't playing in the NBA. Teams/players just don't play D like they did then. It's now all about showboating now. In 92 it was about team balance, respect, and winning no matter who scored the points.
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what everyone needs to realize is that the game has changed todays guys are not as tough as 92 squad and smart. basketball is not played the way it should be. i am old school i loved bball back in 60's 70's 80's gritty pushing grabbing the way basketball should be played not todays standards touching is a foul give me a break! you can't compare dream team to any team hands down they are too tough and smart
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The game has certainly changed. The original Dream Team does have a height advantage but I think it has been repeatedly shown in the NBA playoffs and during international play that this can easily be negated with skill and athleticism. No doubt the current team is more athletic than the Dream Team. No offense to Pippen but without Jordan he was a nobody. Jordan is certainly the the most athletic of the Dream Teamers with Bird being the most astute player in NBA history. However, basketball has evolved to a different level and the current crop of players are just better. Yes, Jordan stood out in a day when athleticism took a back seat to size. But today he would be going up against folks that are just as athletic as he was day in day out. So while we all want to believe the original Dream Team would win they probably would do good to even be in the game by half. Lebron James is unstoppable. Kevin Durant is unstoppable. The Dream Team does not have anyone who could even think about guarding either one of them. James would eat Barkley's lunch down low and Ewing is much too slow to even think about guarding him. The problem is that we all grew up with eyes and mouths wide open talking about how great the Dream Team was. They were great at the time. But times change and they would have a tough time competing with todays heightened level of play. No offense to Barkley but does anyone really think he could guard Durant. Does anyone think Pippen could guard any of the starting five on today's team? I think not. Of all those talking big it is Pippen who is the most laughable in the whole group.
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You're wrong. It's not all about athleticism. The US teams repeated lost throughout the early and mid 2000's by teams that were FAR FAR less athletic than we were. We had some of the best and most "athletic" basketball talents in the world playing in those games including Lebron James, and they still lost repeatedly for 8 straight years. Less athletic teams were able to beat the US because they understood the game of basketball better than our guys did and played smart instead of relying only on their athleticism. The game of basketball in the 70's, 80's, and early 90's was much more focused on fundamentals. Bird was not very athletic (relatively speaking), yet he was able to dominate because he understood the game. If little **** teams like Greece and Puerto Rico can beat our team of "superstars" by out thinking and out hustling them, I think Larry Bird, Jordan, Magic, etc, would have little trouble dismantling this 2012 team that is comprised of many of the same players from those losing years.
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I like how Pippen says he's "going out on a limb" and saying that the team he played on 20 years ago would beat a team today. There literally is no way to back that up, and there is no risk or 'going out on a limb' even by him saying they'd win by 50.
I really feel like the 2012 team is better. I would say it's mostly older people who cling to their generation of players being better, but I would not be surprised if most people commenting were <20 and not appreciating how good the basketball players of the here and now are. -
When I hear this kind of talk and the humor involved i think about my "T" shirt that sez, "the older I get, the better I wuzz". As for Kobe, that guy opened a can of worms.....
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQEzmPKdqt4
watch and see what individual technique can do against pure athleticism, this guy is one of the best European players of all time, old school just like dream team of 1992 -
ah a prisoner of the moment fan - lets not wipe away all the years of "i cant get it done" lebron just because of this year - Kevin Durant is as unstoppable as any other big scorer who hasnt won a ring... so stoppable. - you know how athleticism because not important? when you cant get rebounds to start your "athletic" fast break... and if youre willing to put your money on Tyson Chandler, and now Anthony Davis to keep Malone, Barkley, Robinson, and Ewing off the boards... hmmm BTW, Stockton is the historical all time leader in assists AND steals, but his leg was broken during the 92 games, so people hate... oh yeah Larry Bird's back was hurt in the 92 games.. guess what he did during the season? 20ppg, 9.6 rebounds, 6 assists.. so... better than half the current squad at 35 years old? LOL have a seat, hand check fouls make sure Durant, Kobe and LEbron score.. the 92 players would put it on em
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I think it would be the old-school NBA versus the WNBA ....
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players of this era can not play D. There is just no way Kobe, Lebron or any other schmuck on Team USA could contain Bird or Jordan. Not one of the could keep up with Johnson or stand in the paint with Barkley (I just threw up in my mouth a little, complimenting Barkley has that effect on me). James would foul out in the third quarter and Kobe would be left holding the bag with 4 other useless teammates.
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Pro players should NOT be in the Olympics!
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The Dream Team could beat those guys this weekend!
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LIKE M.J SAID:
''Most of us were in the prime of our careers, at a point where athleticism doesn't really matter,'' said Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. ''You have to know how to play the game.''
Jordan shook his head when asked why he thinks Bryant made the comments.
''I imagine he's trying to say it to legitimize his own Dream Team,'' Jordan said. ''But to me it's not even a question what team is better.''
Jordan said Bryant is certainly entitled to his opinion — even though he said it's just plain wrong.
''For him to make that comparison, it's one of those things where it creates conversation,'' Jordan said. ''I guess we'll never know. I'd like to think that we had 11 Hall of Famers on that team and whenever they get 11 Hall of Famers you call and ask me who had the better Dream Team. Remember now, they learned from US. We didn't learn from THEM.''
WOW NOTHING MORE CAN BE SAID
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jordan pippen and company might be old men by now, but my money would still be on them to beat this present bunch, maybe not by 25 but they would still beat them.at their best it would be more than 25.
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Now Pippen is piping in?! First Jordan, then Barkley, and now Pippen. The "great ones" don't need to say they are great. Did any of these fools actually read what Kobe said??? He wasn't dissing the '92 Dream Team. He was asked a direct question by a stupid reporter and Jordan shook his head why Kobe made the comments. Kobe said it would be a tough game. He admitted they would have problems with the Dream Team bigs. But in the end, he said they could pull it off. He didn't say they were going to cream the Dream Team or beat their asses. Nothing like that at all. Very respectful of the Dream Team's legacy. What great player wouldn't say they could beat the best? Laughing at Kobe's comments??? Beating the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team by double digits, by 25?! Sounds like some old guys trying to grab some former glory.
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Well the 92 Dream Team would beat Team USA by 15 or more points.The dream team play what you call basketball. With defense, slam dunk and three point shooting. This team only have 3 point shooting and slam dunks. No defense, only defensive player they have is Kobe .Dream Team is far better no doubt. . There is no one on the USA Team that stop anyone on the the DREAM TEAM. Defense will win and DREAM TEAM have defense ALL 12
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What is it that wins championships? Say that again? DEFENSE!!!! Do NOT give me this business that MJ would have problems with LeBrons size and strength. I HATE saying this... but MJ would school LeBron, Kobe or ANYONE else on the current squad. And as far as Kobe scoring... Kobe is a scoring machine, I will give him that... BUT... (again.... hate saying this too) Pippen in his prime would shut Kobe down with a quickness, not to mention MJ. Then you have Stockton. The Pasty Gangsta would show the current PG's how to play the position.
And finally, the bigs... NONE of the current bigs could hope to stop any of the bigs on the 92 team. Blake Griffin might be able to score a bit just out of shear speed and jumping ability, but not enough to carry them to within 20 points. The rest of the 92 bigs would put on a clinic. Barkley on the block again any of the PF on the current team? I will just put down 2 points and going to the line now.
The last thing... people like to talk about big game mentality and how good Kobe is in big games.... Ummm... last I checked, the master of crushing people's will was MJ. Kobe would be whining at officials and yelling at teammates because they screwed up by the half.
Face it, the 92 team were better basketball players. Maybe not as athletic, but they had more than enough athleticism to hold their own. Add to it the basketball IQ, it is a joke that Kobe or anyone else agreeing with Kobe,even thinks the current team would win. -
Somebody should've slapped Kobe just for the thought crossing his mind, let alone leaving his lips.......What??!! Who says that??!! Please forgive him for he not knows what he is saying.......right now nobody is greater than those on the "THE" dream team. The dream team of '92, if anything are the mentors from which everyone else bases their game or their moves. We all can see where everyone else gets their game!!! People WISH they had the stats and numbers of the greats, better yet they are still " dreamin' ". Hall of Fame anyone???
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Slam Magazine List of Top NBA Players of all time.
92 DREAM TEAM:
#1- Jordan
#7-Magic
#9-BIrd
#18- Malone
#20- Barkley
#22- Stockton
#25-Robinson
#27- Pippen
#37- Ewing
#42- Drexler
#92- Mullin
That's 3 in the top ten all time, including best of all time in Jordan. 5 In the top 20. 7 In top 25. 9 In the top 50. Every guy on that team except Laettner is in the top 100 of all time, with most ranking near the top. (It should be pointed out that Laettner is actually in the top 500 at #409)
Now the 2012 Team:
#10- Kobe
#31- Lebron (list is 2011 so he's probably bumped up a few notches since then)
That's it. Only 2 in the top 100. Anthony was 105 and one or two others are in the top 500.
Of course most of the 2012 guys are still young and this list compares a players entire body of work, so it's not a definitive comparison. However, there's no getting around the fact that the 92 team was something extraordinary. The 2012 team has some great players, but I think few would call it extraordinary. It's certainly not in the same league as the original dream team. It's not even close.
