2008 vs 2012 Team USA

[The_Pharcyde]

I'm talking team usa basketball
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--RhQElMK9--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/17u1rfwrpgshijpg.jpg

http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/usa-basketball-2012.jpg

basically boils down to do you take a trio of prime kobe, prime wade and near prime lebron or prime lebron, near prime durant and past prime kobe

i take the 2008 trio

also throw in the fact i have peak athlete howard and near mvp chris paul on 2008

everyone likes to compare 92 vs these teams but i think this is most intriguing matchup.... i think 2008 is 2nd best team after 1992


who you got in a best of 7?

[TripleA]

2008
look at that swagger

[Fallen Angel]

2016 gonna be better than both of them

[Legends66NBA7]

Redeem Team all day.

1) 92
2) 96
3) 08

[Fallen Angel]

2016 Predictions:

Steph Curry
Kyrie Irving
James Harden
Klay Thompson
Anthony Davis

...all coming back from Team USA 2014

Chris Paul
Russell Westbrook
Lebron James
Kevin Durant
Blake Griffin

...all coming back from Team USA 2012

Carmelo Anthony
Demarcus Cousins
DeAndre Jordan
Draymond Green
Dwight Howard
Kevin Love
Hassan Whiteside
Andre Drummond
Paul George
Jimmy Butler
Kawhi Leonard
Lamarcus Aldridge
Chris Bosh

...all candidates for the last two roster spots

Last two spots should go to another rim protector and a small ball PF.
I'd take Chris Bosh (who can block shots, pass, stretch the floor, and has Olympic experience) and I'd take Paul George (if he shows he can play to the level he did two years ago for the small ball PF) and have Carmelo Anthony (Olympic experience, all around scorer, unselfish as a member of Team USA) as a fall back.

Chris Paul | Stephen Curry | Kyrie Irving
James Harden | Russell Westbrook
Lebron James | Klay Thompson
Kevin Durant | Paul George/Carmelo Anthony
Anthony Davis | Chris Bosh | Blake Griffin

[FKAri]

Prime KD is a God in international play. That's the only thing that makes me hesitate when picking 2008.

[tomtucker]

12 got Tyson chandler, Harden and Love = pure shit.........2008 kills and wipes the floor with 12 team

[warriorfan]

'08 Kobe is the best player out of all of them

2008 wins

[The_Pharcyde]

'08 Kobe is the best player out of all of them

2008 wins


either 2008 wade, 2008 kobe or 2012 lebron

all at the peak of their powers
its very close with all of them

[nzahir]

2012 couldve been so much better if players were healthy :(
Davis should have been there to me, wade and bosh were both missing, and even dwight.
That couldve been really special.
2016 will have prime kd, near prime or prime AD, past prime but good lebron, prime curry, prime WB, prime harden, prime BG, between prime guys of butler, pg, or kawhi, probably cp3, prime cousins or maybe a guy like AD or whiteside.

Could be the best of all 3

[Papaya Petee]

08 Wade, Lebron and Kobe were disguisting.
2008 Cp3 > 2012 Cp3
2008 D-Will>>>>>>> 2012 D Will
2008 Melo > 2012 Melo
08 Kobe >>> 12 Kobe
08 Lebron < 2012 Lebron
08 Dwight>>>>>>>>> 2012 Tyson
08 Bosh >> 12 Love


08 >>> 2012

[sportjames23]

I'm talking team usa basketball
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--RhQElMK9--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/17u1rfwrpgshijpg.jpg

http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/usa-basketball-2012.jpg

basically boils down to do you take a trio of prime kobe, prime wade and near prime lebron or prime lebron, near prime durant and past prime kobe

i take the 2008 trio

also throw in the fact i have peak athlete howard and near mvp chris paul on 2008

everyone likes to compare 92 vs these teams but i think this is most intriguing matchup.... i think 2008 is 2nd best team after 1992


who you got in a best of 7?


In 2008, why was Wade in his prime and Lebron wasn't? They came into the league in the same year.

[nzahir]

08 Wade, Lebron and Kobe were disguisting.
2008 Cp3 > 2012 Cp3
2008 D-Will>>>>>>> 2012 D Will
2008 Melo > 2012 Melo
08 Kobe >>> 12 Kobe
08 Lebron < 2012 Lebron
08 Dwight>>>>>>>>> 2012 Tyson
08 Bosh >> 12 Love


08 >>> 2012
Kd>>>redd 2012 wins
Griffin=Boozer Tie
WB>Kidd 2012 wins
Iggy>prince or equal 2012 wins by a bit
Wade>>Harden 2008 wins
Overall I think I would also take 2008 but very close. If 2012 has wade, bosh, AD, and dwight then I would easily take 2012

[nzahir]

In 2008, why was Wade in his prime and Lebron wasn't? They came into the league in the same year.
Lebron was only 23 while wade was 26 at the time
30 8 7 2 and 1 and he still wasnt even his prime tbh(his physical prime though in terms of quickness). Prime was cavs last 2 years and miami 4 years. He will be a superstar for 2-3 more years probably, maybe 4 but it would be pushing it and he would have to get a little more consistent on the jumpers like a couple years ago in MIA.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Team USA w/ pros?

1) 92
2) 96
3) 08
4) 12
5) 07
6) 03
7) 14
8) 94
9) 06
10) 00
11) 04
12) 02

[brownmamba00]

92 dream team
08 redeem team
96 dream team II
12 b2b olympic champ

[imnew09]

Pretty much everyone agree that 08 was the Redeem team, closest to the Dream team

[The_Pharcyde]

Pretty much everyone agree that 08 was the Redeem team, closest to the Dream team
its funny because in 2012 everyones consensus was that the 2012 team was the 2nd best team ever and some were saying the best ever

i was always in the 2008 boat as the 2nd best even over 1996

[ImKobe]

its funny because in 2012 everyones consensus was that the 2012 team was the 2nd best team ever and some were saying the best ever

i was always in the 2008 boat as the 2nd best even over 1996

Pretty sure the hype came from Kobe and Lebron making those statements, IIRC they even said they would beat the dream team

2012-13 Kobe, Lebron & KD were absolute beasts though.

[The_Pharcyde]

Pretty sure the hype came from Kobe and Lebron making those statements, IIRC they even said they would beat the dream team

2012-13 Kobe, Lebron & KD were absolute beasts though.

yeah that is true, also throw in the fact that the media was really pushing the jordan vs lbj comparison in the summer of 2012.. especially since lebron had just won his first title whereas kobe lost to the celtics in the finals going into 2008... so they could really push the narrative that 2012 has the best a;[ha dog ever(i dont think so)

the interesting question is do you take 2008 kobe as the alpha dog on your squad or 2012 lbj

the factor that really pushes 2008 over the top for me is.... 2008 wade could be better than both

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvdpgXvw_mE
i mean look at this video, i think wade made the best highlights in the tourney, he was disgusting

[GimmeThat]

in the oddest way, the 2008 team played a style where they were going to re enforce some of those nba iso plays And win the tournament.

Where as the 2012 have more to do with we will play by your style and dominate you, all while the opposing team try to play a slower grind out game (if they have the talent) with the best chance to win.

Roster has something to do with it, KD playing in the 2010 FIBA have something to do with it.


With the 2012 team, sending a double team can probably be just as effective as anything else, where as the 2008 team had more to do with territorial defense.


brain dead

[GrapeApe]

yeah that is true, also throw in the fact that the media was really pushing the jordan vs lbj comparison in the summer of 2012.. especially since lebron had just won his first title whereas kobe lost to the celtics in the finals going into 2008... so they could really push the narrative that 2012 has the best a;[ha dog ever(i dont think so)

the interesting question is do you take 2008 kobe as the alpha dog on your squad or 2012 lbj

the factor that really pushes 2008 over the top for me is.... 2008 wade could be better than both

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvdpgXvw_mE
i mean look at this video, i think wade made the best highlights in the tourney, he was disgusting

When THAT guy is your sixth man, you know the team is pretty damn good.

[The_Pharcyde]

When THAT guy is your sixth man, you know the team is pretty damn good.

exactly

prime wade gets overlooked.. the guy could have won mvp in 2009 and there wouldnt have been a huge uproar.. although lbj probably did deserve it tbh

he was already a champion and a finals mvp at this point

[GrapeApe]

exactly

prime wade gets overlooked.. the guy could have won mvp in 2009 and there wouldnt have been a huge uproar.. although lbj probably did deserve it tbh

he was already a champion and a finals mvp at this point

No doubt, and as great as he was in 2009, he was on his way to winning an MVP in 2007 before the shoulder injury. There was legit concern that he'd never be the same player, but he emphatically ended those concerns with his Olympic performance.

Prime Kobe, Lebron, and Wade is the most devastating 2-way perimeter trio in history. The following season for those guys:

Kobe - NBA champion, FMVP (MVP in '08)
Lebron - MVP
Wade - Scoring title, 3rd in DPOY

[Droid101]

Prime Kobe, Lebron, and Wade is the most devastating 2-way perimeter trio in history.
This. 2008 team would give 92 a fight. Any one of those guys could go off and start making shots from anywhere on the floor at any given time.

[West-Side]

2012 team looks like they participated in the Special Olympics.
2008 destroys them.

[Trollsmasher]

yeah that is true, also throw in the fact that the media was really pushing the jordan vs lbj comparison in the summer of 2012.. especially since lebron had just won his first title whereas kobe lost to the celtics in the finals going into 2008... so they could really push the narrative that 2012 has the best a;[ha dog ever(i dont think so)

the interesting question is do you take 2008 kobe as the alpha dog on your squad or 2012 lbj

the factor that really pushes 2008 over the top for me is.... 2008 wade could be better than both

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvdpgXvw_mE
i mean look at this video, i think wade made the best highlights in the tourney, he was disgusting
that vid is pure filth

wade, lebron, kobe:bowdown:

[West-Side]

that vid is pure filth

wade, lebron, kobe:bowdown:

90% of the highlights were James, Bryant & Wade. :applause:
Man I'd give my left nut just to see these three on the same team for one season in their prime (2008).

[ImKobe]

CP3 and D12 were in their best shape as well

CP3 - MVP-worthy season in 08, followed it up in 09
D12 - led his team to the Finals, 20/15 with ~3 blocks a game Playoff run, DPOY



Bran DESTROYED poor lil V-Span with that block

[SugarHill]

People sleeping on Durant in international play

[Jailblazers7]

If the two teams actually played each other, I think I'd prefer the balance of the 2012 team with the addition of Durant. The 2012 team has a better front court imo (even if it was prime Dwight).

[The_Pharcyde]

People sleeping on Durant in international play
i think it is more them praising wade/lbj as 2nd/3rd options rather than sleeping on durant/kobe as 2nd and 3rd option

i think the rankings go.... (since pros could play)

1st- 1992 dream team
2nd- 2008 redeem team
3rd- 2012 london
4th- 1996 atlanta
4th- 2000 sydney- not enough star power yet...
97th- 2004 athens(what an embarrassment to the USA)

[West-Side]

I'd take 2008 Howard, Paul, Wade, Bryant & James over 2012 Kobe, Wade, James, Durant and Chandler.

I don't think Durant offsets how much better Paul, Wade, Bryant & Howard played in 08' in comparison to 12.

The front court is also up for debate; 2012 might be deeper, but it's hard to overlook 2008 Dwight Howard. Far and away the best big man out of the bunch. James could easily play PF in the Olympics so it didn't really matter about who the PF was. The US team mostly scored of transition and fast break.

[The_Pharcyde]

If the two teams actually played each other, I think I'd prefer the balance of the 2012 team with the addition of Durant. The 2012 team has a better front court imo (even if it was prime Dwight).

griffin=boozer... the booz was in his prime, blake was 2 years in

howard>chandler... howard was mvp material going into next season and led the magic to the finals, chandler isnt that caliber of player

bosh=love...their stats are very similar at that point in their careers, they also both saw a considerable dip playing alongside lbj in the numbers department

for 2012 i guess you could say you can throw lbj and durant at the 4 and really space it out

but while the front court is a wash, i think the 2008 backcourt could give any team a run for its money and that puts them over the top
you have arguably the best sf ever and the 2nd/3rd best sg's ever... all in or near their prime

[Legends66NBA7]

People are sleeping on the 96 team.

[The_Pharcyde]

People are sleeping on the 96 team.

they could actually have the most balanced team of any version of the usa teams

shaq, penny and pippen would be hell on both sides of the floor with that size.. also throw in you have millers shooting and hills playmaking

[Jailblazers7]

griffin=boozer... the booz was in his prime, blake was 2 years in

howard>chandler... howard was mvp material going into next season and led the magic to the finals, chandler isnt that caliber of player

bosh=love...their stats are very similar at that point in their careers, they also both saw a considerable dip playing alongside lbj in the numbers department

for 2012 i guess you could say you can throw lbj and durant at the 4 and really space it out

but while the front court is a wash, i think the 2008 backcourt could give any team a run for its money and that puts them over the top
you have arguably the best sf ever and the 2nd/3rd best sg's ever... all in or near their prime

Yeah, I mean the talent advantage obviously resides with the 08 team and probably overpowers the 12 team in the end. But if the teams are playing each other that talent advantage is by no means insurmountable. The 12 team has a ton of versatility and might have a style advantage that gives them an edge. 12 team has a better version of Lebron, still awesome version of Kobe, and Durant. I think what would probably tip the scale is what Wade does in 7 game series with the two teams because he is the big wild card.

[Legends66NBA7]

they could actually have the most balanced team of any version of the usa teams

shaq, penny and pippen would be hell on both sides of the floor with that size.. also throw in you have millers shooting and hills playmaking

I agree with the versatility.

96 does have the best trio of C's in Shaq, Hakeem, and D-Rob.

[SugarHill]

Yeah, I mean the talent advantage obviously resides with the 08 team and probably overpowers the 12 team in the end. But if the teams are playing each other that talent advantage is by no means insurmountable. The 12 team has a ton of versatility and might have a style advantage that gives them an edge. 12 team has a better version of Lebron, still awesome version of Kobe, and Durant. I think what would probably tip the scale is what Wade does in 7 game series with the two teams because he is the big wild card.
Still remember when he came back all bald and thinking he was finished :oldlol: :oldlol:

[KG215]

People sleeping on Durant in international play
This. Durant is absolutely, devastatingly great in international play, and so is Carmelo to a slightly lesser extent. Of course Carmelo was on the 2008 team, too, but I think 2012-2013 was the best version of Carmelo, so I'd probably give a slight edge to 2012 Melo over 2008 Melo. And in 2012 LeBron was at the height of his powers, although I'm not quite sure how much better 2011-2012 season/summer 2012 LeBron was than summer 2008/2008-2009 season LeBron, if any better at all.

[Rocketswin2013]

This. Durant is absolutely, devastatingly great in international play, and so is Carmelo to a slightly lesser extent. Of course Carmelo was on the 2008 team, too, but I think 2012-2013 was the best version of Carmelo, so I'd probably give a slight edge to 2012 Melo over 2008 Melo. And in 2012 LeBron was at the height of his powers, although I'm not quite sure how much better 2011-2012 season/summer 2012 LeBron was than summer 2008/2008-2009 season LeBron, if any better at all.
Yeah, that's an interesting aspect. Wade had his worst season of his prime in '08, had probably one of the best bounce back seasons ever in '09, and LeBron was inspired defensively by Kobe in the Olympics, which helped take his game to another level. Hard to gauge exactly how good they were.

[KG215]

i think it is more them praising wade/lbj as 2nd/3rd options rather than sleeping on durant/kobe as 2nd and 3rd option

i think the rankings go.... (since pros could play)

1st- 1992 dream team
2nd- 2008 redeem team
3rd- 2012 london
4th- 1996 atlanta
4th- 2000 sydney- not enough star power yet...
97th- 2004 athens(what an embarrassment to the USA)
Kobe wasn't the 3rd option on the 2012 team. Carmelo was and he killed it. He shot 50% from three on 46 attempts and shot 53% overall. He was second on the team in scoring behind Durant. Carmelo was pretty clearly Team USA's third best player in 2012 after LeBron and Durant.

Like I said, Durant is unfairly, devastatingly great and perfectly tailored for international play and Carmelo isn't far behind.

[SHAQisGOAT]

1) 92
2) 96
3) 08

this

[Dragonyeuw]

Durant on the 2012 team IMO doesnt offset 2008 Kobe> 2008 Kobe, 2008 Wade> 2012 Wade, and while some may take 2012 Lebron, 2008 Lebron was his physical prime and he was all over the court athletically, I'd call that damn near a wash in terms of oncourt impact. Paul was MVP caliber, as was Dwight heading into that year, and Deron Williams was top 2/3 level PG. 2008 team for me, just overall more talented and the best players at or near peak.

[Legends66NBA7]

Durant on the 2012 team IMO doesnt offset 2008 Kobe> 2008 Kobe, 2008 Wade> 2012 Wade, and while some may take 2012 Lebron, 2008 Lebron was his physical prime and he was all over the court athletically, I'd call that damn near a wash in terms of oncourt impact. Paul was MVP caliber, as was Dwight heading into that year, and Deron Williams was top 2/3 level PG. 2008 team for me, just overall more talented and the best players at or near peak.

Wade wasn't on the 12 team. I think you mean 08 Melo vs 12 Melo.

[GimmeThat]

for 2012 i guess you could say you can throw lbj and durant at the 4 and really space it out

but while the front court is a wash, i think the 2008 backcourt could give any team a run for its money and that puts them over the top
you have arguably the best sf ever and the 2nd/3rd best sg's ever... all in or near their prime


I think this probably goes back to my post about how Sam Cassell could have done wonders to that 08 10 stretch Magic squad.

You really now have some of the best passing sg to play along with one of the most talented 3/4 combination ever . And Westbrook's up and down fast break ability really creates some defensive matchup assignment nightmare for the opposing team's coaching staff.

Without watching those actual game footage, I wouldn't have even minded playing melo at the 2 with cp3 as your point guard, running someone like boozer/lebron and you can still have bosh/chandler at center.

Can you just imagine being on the other end and having to counter that line up, even just for your average 8 minutes stretch in international game play.

[Jon_Koncak]

Most of you dont consider how much better at shooting the three 2012 team was
Stats dont lie
2008 77/204 3pts 37%
2012 129/243 3pts 44%
Durant was a game changer.And 3 point line was further in 2012 than 2008!

Takin into account how moderd game is relying more and more on 3 point shooting i give 2012 team the edge.

[Dragonyeuw]

Wade wasn't on the 12 team. I think you mean 08 Melo vs 12 Melo.

Yeah my mistake thanks....

[Jon_Koncak]

Seeing how some of you compare Griffin to 2008 forwards leads me to believe you didnt even watch the freakin games.Griffin DIDNT play in 2012.He was replaced by Anthony Davis.

[GimmeThat]

The front court is also up for debate; 2012 might be deeper, but it's hard to overlook 2008 Dwight Howard. Far and away the best big man out of the bunch. James could easily play PF in the Olympics so it didn't really matter about who the PF was. The US team mostly scored of transition and fast break.

I think that instead of not overlooking what Dwight Howard could do defensively, Jason Kidd's ability to play and pass both the strong side and the weak side offense really made that team go.

I think that this team somewhat prided itself in their ability to shoot 3's. Their rebounding ability may had taken a small dip as a team, since there weren't a player smaller than Dwight Howard, who was also just as athletic or even more athletic playing next to him.

The team simply had too many players that had never played with each other before that it relied more on coach K's coaching/basketball principle, than principle based on players familiarity.

You can run a 2 on 1 fast break drill all you want, but that still can't translate into simple pass and go's for the high percentage shot for the player in a short time period.

Had Jason Kidd not been on that team, there may have had to have more designated scorer beside Wade and Kobe, because more players most likely would have bought into rebounding the ball over defense.

Not that I am even aware that this is part of coach K's philosophy.