1992 Dream Team vs. 2008 Team USA - Who's Better?

[SoCalMike]

I have been listening to my local sports radio station and they were arguing today about which team is "better" however you decide to define that. What is your opinion? State why you think the particular team is better and from what perspective you think it is better.


1992 Roster - "Dream Team"

Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Chris Mullin, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, John Stockton, David Robinson, Scottie Pippen, Clyde Drexler, Christian Laettner.


2008 Roster - Team USA

Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Redd, Deron Williams.




:pimp:

[Scott Pippen]

1992 because they have better players that play together well. USA 2008 is unproven talents.:applause:

1992 Dream Team is best basketball team of all time and will win majority of individual matchups

[Loki]

1992 would win imo due to having more veterans, smarter players overall, and a far better front line. They could also field the better defensive lineup out of the two teams if they needed to (Stockton/MJ/Pip/Malone/DRob -- good luck scoring against that lineup).

[Younggrease]

1992 and it isnt even close at all...

FIBA 2007 team is better then this team.

[iggy>]

is this a joke?

[TmacsRockets]

The difference between the '92 class and '08 class is the difference between Kobe and Rex Chapman.

[AppleNader]

I guess I should break it up by positions.

Point guards
The 2008 squad probably has better point guard play, but only by technicality. :lol Stockton had a broken leg during the 92 olympics that limited him to just 4 games, plus Magic was already sick. If both Stockton was 100% and Magic wasn't sick, I would take the 92 point guards easily.

Shooting Guards
No brainer here. Jordan/Drexler/Mullen are easily superior to Bryant/Redd/Wade. In 1992, Drexler was in the middle of his prime, and Mullin had already cemented himself as one of the best shooters in NBA history.

Wings
Harder to say. Pippen was in top notch form, but Bird was literally a shell of his former self. His smarts were the only thing that he had left. The question is whether Pippen could shut down James? Another good question to ask is whether Prince's versatility and physical ability would outweigh Bird's intangibles.

Posts
This is where the 1992 team completely and utterly outclasses the 2008 team. Both Robinson and Ewing were in their prime, both were all-NBA team, and both were all-NBA defensive team. Completely and utterly outclasses the center rotation of Howard and Bosh, particularly in the international game. The 1992 power forward rotation of Malone/Barkley was also superior to Anthony/Boozer. Again, two all-nba power forwards in their prime versus one very good power forward and another one who hasn't accomplished jack sh&t. Fortunately, establishing the post presence is fundamental towards winning games, so the 1992 team has the clear advantage here.


1991-1992 season:
9 of the 12 players on the 1992 Dream Team were all-NBA selections. 5 of the 12 were all-NBA Defensive Team selections. 11 of the 12 were NBA all-stars that year. Their average age was nearly 30, many were veterans of deep playoff runs and NBA Championships.

2007-2008 season:
6 of the 12 players were all-NBA selections. 4 of the 12 were all-NBA Defensive Team selections (though I can think of 2 that are questionable). 9 of the 12 were NBA all-stars that year. The team is also younger, and less experienced.

[Shepseskaf]

1992 and it isnt even close at all...
Its been said that the 1992 team was the best collection of talent in any sport, and I agree.

[SirLaker]

is this a joke?
My thinking exactly.

[Killer_Instinct]

1992 without a doubt in my mind. Unless this team replicates what the '92 team did, this should not even be a disscusion.

[BrianScalabrine]

The 2008 team hasn't won squat and remember how Kobe fares in the NBA finals when he got his 'dream team' support:

2004: Adding Malone and Payton - lost in NBA finals
2008: Adding Gasol - lost in NBA finals

I say this team loses in the Olympic finals.

[L.Kizzle]

The 11th best player on the Dream Team would probably be a top 5-6 player on the 2008 squad.

That should give you an answer on which team is better.

[Killer_Instinct]

The 2008 team hasn't won squat and remember how Kobe fares in the NBA finals when he got his 'dream team' support:

2004: Adding Malone and Payton - lost in NBA finals
2008: Adding Gasol - lost in NBA finals
I say this team loses in the Olympic finals.


Believe it or not, Team USA has more players than Kobe Bryant, and is not about one guy. It's about a group of talented guys striving for the Gold medal and coming together to represent their Country. The fact guys like you continue to bring Kobe up in a time like this seems pretty gay. You'd rather USA lose because they have Kobe. Ask yourself if you are a true Basketball fan, or just an obbssed Kobe fanatic. It just so happens the only answer you can give truthfully is the saddest. Must be tough.

[shaoyut]

1992 is way better

[JStewart]

A big difference with the 92 team is that it had Hall of Fame players like Bird that were willing to be role players. This year's team has to rely on players like Redd and Prince that are willing to accept not being a featured scorer. Prince hasn't even been an all-star even though he will be next year.

[Chicago76]

I guess I should break it up by positions.

Wings
Harder to say. Pippen was in top notch form, but Bird was literally a shell of his former self. His smarts were the only thing that he had left. The question is whether Pippen could shut down James? Another good question to ask is whether Prince's versatility and physical ability would outweigh Bird's intangibles.


The thing is, Bird didn't really need to do anything physically, and he knew that. All he needed to do was to come in, shoot, and display his smarts as a distributor. Prince wouldn't have a chance, because there is not a player in the league today that Prince would match up against with the intelligence of Bird. Come out on him to defend the three, and he's got Jordan/Drexler cutting to the basket or Ewing/Robinson in the post. Give him the high post and watch him shoot a fadeaway or a behind the back pass. Give him baseline and he'll figure out a way to drive or hit the open man.

[sick_brah07]

like majority of basketball fans outside the US i enjoy seeing the US lose in international competitions, but i can openly admit in 04 06 and now in 08 the US did not have a full strength team, which brings me to my question of what is the absolute best team the US has to offer ?

would a line up like this destroy the international comp like they did in 92 and could they give the 92 team a run for their money ?

Jkidd CP3 n DWIll
Kobe, ray ray, vC
melo, lebron, PP
KG, amare, bosh
Duncan, dwight

[DinoRadja40]

Christian Laettner.

Nough Said...

[Da KO King]

In a seven game series I'd pick 1992 to win but I think most will agree that 2008 has an advantage in PG and SF play.

[amfirst]

1992 is better and will win more games, but that doesn't mean that 2008 team can't beat them.

[Rekindled]

the difference in PF and center is just too much.

[Zan Tabak]

http://chatterbox.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c86d053ef00e5529ab5198834-350wi

The 1992 U.S team was the greatest basketball team ever put together..somebody had to carry the bags and pick up the bill in restaurants ..hence Christian Laettner

[SoCalMike]

In a seven game series I'd pick 1992 to win but I think most will agree that 2008 has an advantage in PG and SF play.

yeah, Kidd and Kobe or Paul and Williams > Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan... :oldlol:

Laughable....



:pimp:

[delmar]

1992 is way better


:bowdown: :bowdown: :applause: :applause:

[Y2Gezee]

Hey, if this team wins this tournament with blowouts throughout, then I'd say this team would beat the 92 Dream Team. Not because its more talented, its obviously not. However, it has been together long and I think that has some advantages.

And I say if they beat this international competition that is so obviously light years ahead of what the Dream Team faced, then it could beat any team and a lot of that has to do with experience of being together. But all in all, let's not pretend this isn't an amazing group of players, that couldn't run with the Dream Team. I mean a few of those players were aging, while this team is more athletic and fresh and unlike in past years they are playing amazingly unselfish on hard on both ends.

[stephanieg]

1992 by 30.

[AItheAnswer3]

Wow! Just Wow

[kentatm]

The 2008 team hasn't won squat and remember how Kobe fares in the NBA finals when he got his 'dream team' support:

2004: Adding Malone and Payton - lost in NBA finals
2008: Adding Gasol - lost in NBA finals

I say this team loses in the Olympic finals.

why the f--k do people insist on acting like Malone was able to play in the Finals that year to degrade Kobe? Complain about him and Shaq scuttling the teams chances b/c of both of them being so damn selfish but Malone was hurt and anyone who brings him up wondering why Kobe couldn't win needs to lose their rights posting on ISH for at least a week.

[inclinerator]

umm its closer than u guys think.

[kentatm]

umm its closer than u guys think.

hell no it is not. Even WITHOUT MJ, 92 would crush 08 simply b/c of how much better their bigs are (ie they actually have them)

[inclinerator]

just like usa was superior to greece u can never garantee anything its not like 2008 is light yrs away from 1992 dream team

[Cangri]

1992 big guys>>>>>>> 2008

[wTFaMonkey]

you think a team of Luther Head, LaMarcus Aldridge, Al Horford, Kevin Martin, Kevin Durant, OJ Mayo, Derrick Rose and Rodney Stuckey can beat the orginal dream team?

i dont think so :no:

[inclinerator]

wat the fuc were talking about lebron kobe chris paul kidd williams redd dwight

[AppleNader]

wat the fuc were talking about lebron kobe chris paul kidd williams redd dwight

english please

[Lebron23]

you think a team of Luther Head, LaMarcus Aldridge, Al Horford, Kevin Martin, Kevin Durant, OJ Mayo, Derrick Rose and Rodney Stuckey can beat the orginal dream team?

i dont think so :no:

But the 1992 USA Select Team defeated the Original Dream Team, and the starting Center of the select Team was Eric Montross.

I think the 1994 FIBA World Championship USA National Team, and the 1996 USA Atlanta Olympics Basketball Team can also give some major challenge to the original dream team.

Shaq and Hakeem on the same team is ridiculously unstoppable.

[highwhey]

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: