Michael Jordan memo to Kobe Bryant:

I understand how this is a completely hypothetical discussion and there's no real way to prove who'd be right, but I remain surprised with how many people are so quick to discredit many of the stars on the '92 Dream Team when comparing them to current '12 Olympians.

Much of the focus seems to be revolving around the top stars of one roster vs. the top stars of the other roster (i.e. MJ, Magic vs. Kobe, LeBron). It is my feeling one of the prevailing traits of the original Dream Team is their entire roster (discounting Laettner) was made up of absolute, top of the line super stars. To simply mention the presence of Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, and Karl Malone off-hand is a complete disservice to the discussion. To me, players like that [i]are[/i] the reason the original Dream Team would have such a healthy advantage.

In total, using Bill Simmons' updated Pyramid ranking as a very, [i]very[/i] (very) loose base, the Dream Team featured 8 of the top 29 players of all-time (10 of the Top 44). All but two of those players were virtually in the prime of their respective careers. Even then, unprime Magic Johnson's last season in the NBA prior to his HIV announcement ('91) featured 19ppg, 7rpg, and 12apg on 48% shooting. Bird's '92 season produced 20ppg, 10rpg, and 7apg (though I suppose one thing that'd have to be discussed would be whether the original Dream Team would have a healthy Bird or an injured one in this comparison. Healthy, he was still putting in work. Injured, he was hardly a shell of his former self).

Anyhow, with the Dream Team boasting 8 Top 50 players in their prime (or top 44 according to Simmons), I must wonder how many players from the '12 team hold that status. Overall, I believe [i]at least[/i] three players from the current squad will go down in history on the front side of top 50 (top 25): Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant (and/or Chris Paul). Of those three (now four with Paul), one is no longer in their prime (Bryant). That leaves three prime top 50 players. The next question may be, is there anyone else on the '12 team that may end up in that area (top 50) by the time they're said and done? Are we experiencing the beginning of what will be a historically fruitful prime for guys like Blake Griffin or Kevin Love?

From the looks of it, every single non-Laettner member of the Dream Team was in the midst of a Hall of Fame career. Like Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's careers were no longer skewing upward. But that still left guys like Chris Mullin, a jump shooter coming off a 26ppg season on 53% shooting, John Stockton averaging 16ppg and 14apg, and David Flippin' Robinson averaging 23ppg, 12rpg, and 5bpg. How many '12 Dream Teamers do we believe to be in the midst of no-doubt Hall of Fame careers? I ask this sincerely.

I just don't see how the '12 Dream Team stacks up in any way, through and through. James Harden, Andre Iguodala, Tyson Chandler and Deron Williams are not the answer to Clyde Drexler, Scottie Pippen, Patrick Ewing, and John Stockton. With that said, if we transplanted the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant to 1992, I think they would have fit right in with the original Dream Team.

[QUOTE=juju151111]Clyde a worse version of Granger. Shut ur dumbass up. 29 year old Mj>>>>>>>>> 34 year old Kobe[/QUOTE]



Drexler>>>>>>>>>>>Granger its not that close

[QUOTE=RaininTwos]Westbrook, the most athletic PG ever, would do some unspeakable things to Magic and Stock.[/QUOTE]

after westbrook does unspeakable things to magic, Ewing & Co will be waiting for him do the unspeakable things around the rim. After that unspeakable things, westbrook decides to shoot jumpers instead of driving to the hoop, and when that happens coach K will sit his a$$ down.

and no, westbrook who isn't even a PG, is not more athletic than derrick rose. don't be silly.

[QUOTE=SilkkTheShocker]I don't think the gap between Jordan/Kobe is as big as some believe. But at the same time, there is a gap. Kobe is a beast, 2nd best SG ever. But Jordan was the lead-dog for every team he played on in the NBA. Kobe was a sidekick for like 8 seasons.[/QUOTE]

Hey dumbass if youre a sidekick next to the BEST PLAYER IN THE ENTIRE LEAGUE how can you fault that?!

[QUOTE=Linspired]after westbrook does unspeakable things to magic, Ewing & Co will be waiting for him do the unspeakable things around the rim. After that unspeakable things, westbrook decides to shoot jumpers instead of driving to the hoop, and when that happens coach K will sit his a$$ down.

and no, westbrook who isn't even a PG, is not more athletic than derrick rose. don't be silly.[/QUOTE]
Derrick Rose who just tore his ACL is more athletic than Westbrook? Even when he was healthy it was debatable.

Also I guess fouls aren't being called unless you think Ewing and D-Rob are going block every single drive cleanly. :facepalm

[QUOTE=RaininTwos]Bolded= trolling. There is no way that Jordan is better in every facet of the damn game in comparison to Kobe. The fact that you guys see nothing wrong with what this notorious troll said is telling. [/QUOTE]

:oldlol: Thats your argument? Why don't you actually say what Kobe is better at instead of dismissing it as impossible, which it isn't.

[QUOTE=RaininTwos]Derrick Rose who just tore his ACL is more athletic than Westbrook? Even when he was healthy it was debatable.

Also I guess fouls aren't being called unless you think Ewing and D-Rob are going block every single drive cleanly. :facepalm[/QUOTE]


They don't have to block his shot to force him to miss or prevent a shot. And if the lane gets cut off he isn't going to suddenly become a pg and consistently find an open man.

[QUOTE=RaininTwos]Derrick Rose who just tore his ACL is more athletic than Westbrook? Even when he was healthy it was debatable.

Also I guess fouls aren't being called unless you think Ewing and D-Rob are going block every single drive cleanly. :facepalm[/QUOTE]


you said most athletic PG EVER. you didn't say most athletic PG right now.

no one can prove who is more 'athletic', but rose did have better standing vert, max vert, and 3/4 court sprint. and IMO rose looks visibly more agile than russell.

and let's not act like physical plays = automatic foul. foul or no foul, damn boys back in the days know how to play tough D and send a message. westbrook is like a little boy running around like a deer in the headlight to them.

:facepalm

oh by the way, AI would run circles around westbrook and AI is also 'shoot first PG' just like westbrook was. :roll:

whoever said clyde is worse version of granger should quit NBA for humanity.

clyde and granger? lol i've read it all.

I don't see how 1992 vs. 2012 is even a comparison. From a statistical standpoint its absolutely NO comparison....these are the seasons these men were coming off of...

So lets make some comparisons really the only way that we can, statistics....

Because I sincerely doubt, this team will be beating these international teams by nearly 50 points per game :lol


David Robinson 23.2points - 12.2reb - 2.3stl, 4.5blk, .551FG%
VS.
Kevin Love 26.0points - 13.3reb - .448FG% (pathetic)
***David Robinson is a much better overall player, add on his defensive presence.

Patrick Ewing 24.0points - 11.2reb - 1.0stl, 3.0blk, .522FG%
VS.
Blake Griffin 20.7points - 10.9reb - 3.2ast, .549FG%
***Pretty nice even matchup, Patrick had the edge on the defensive end.

Larry Bird 20.2points - 9.6reb - 6.8ast - .406/3PT
VS.
Lebron James 27.1points - 7.9reb - 6.2ast - 1.9stl - .531FG%
***This is actually a good matchup up of individuals who can work both ends of the floor. Larry the better shooter, and puts up equally impressive overall stats. What is crazy, is Larry put those stats up in his FINAL year in the NBA. I doubt that many players will be able to put up stats like that after 12 plus years...

Scottie Pippen 21.0points - 7.7reb - 7.0ast - 1.9stl
VS.
James Harden 16.8points - 4.1reb - 3.7ast
***HAHA joking right? Scottie in a landslide...

Michael Jordan 30.1points - 6.4reb - 6.1ast - 2.3stl, .519FG%
VS.
Kobe Bryant 27.9points - 5.4reb - 4.6ast - 1.2stl, .430FG% (Pathetic)
***No comparison, Kobe's shooting percentage is below the NBA average..

Clyde Drexler 25.0points - 6.6reb - 6.7ast - 1.8stl
vs.
Kevin Durant 28.0points - 8.0reb - 3.5ast - 1.3stl
***Kevin Durant, solid player...he is going into his own.

Karl Malone 28.0points - 11.2reb - 1.3stl - .526FG%
VS.
Tyson Chandler 11.3points - 9.0reb - .679FG%
***Mailman takes this one easy

John Stockton 15.8points - 13.7ast - 3.0stl - .407/3PT
VS
Deron Williams 21.0points - 8.7ast - 1.2stl - .407FG% (pathetic)
***Deron could never live up to Stockton's presence, even when in Utah...turnover city!

Chris Mullin 25.6points - 5.6reb - 2.1stl - .524FG%
VS.
Carmello Anthony 22.6points - 6.3ast - .430FG% (pathetic)
***Chris Mullin, in his prime was a better shooting version of Scottie Pippen, without the athleticism. The man could flat out shoot....

Charles Barkley 23.1points - 11.1reb - 4.1ast - 1.8stl - .552FG%
VS.
Andre Igoudala 12.4points - 6.1reb - 5.5ast - 1.7stl
***LAUGHS AGAIN!!!!!

Magic Johnson - 19.4points - 7.0reb - 12.5ast
VS.
Chris Paul - 19.8points - 9.1ast - 2.5stl
***again no comment

Russell Westbrook - 23.6points - 4.6reb - 5.6ast - 1.7stl
VS.
Christean Laettner
***well finally this years team wins...


Jordan had it right on the money, basketball back then folks had a higher IQ. Today's game is full of individuals forcing shots and settling for 3pointers....1992 Dream Team would smash any other US Olympic team ever assembled. HANDS DOWN!!!!

[QUOTE=RaininTwos]Also I guess fouls aren't being called unless you think Ewing and D-Rob are going block every single drive cleanly. :facepalm[/QUOTE]
To be fair, oftentimes actual blocked shots are just a small part of what makes having a Hall of Fame center in the middle so effective. Even from my lame basketball playing history of going against relatively unathletic 6'9'' guys, sometimes just having them there is enough to at least make a player think twice about both when they're going to choose to attack and how they're going to attack.

For instance, if Joel Anthony was waiting in the paint for Westbrook, I think a relentless attack would be at the forefront of Russell's mind. However, placing a 7'1'' Patrick Ewing or David Robinson back there (big men who actually had significant skills) would surely have to alter how Westbrook was going to attack. If he attempted to challenge those two just as he would a 6'9'' scrub, I feel as though his wild shot attempts would spike significantly. That's not to say he'd be shut down 100% of the time, but it's just not as simple as "Westbrook blow by Stockton, Westbrook dunk, get fouled, or get blocked". The big thing missing is, "Westbrook must pull up, change shot, retain dribble and escape elsewhere, or force bad shot into contact." Elite big man effects go well beyond block or foul.

Gotta side with MJ on this one but not necessarily based on pure talent and athleticism.

Players today are just mentally softer. Too many mental giants on that '92 squad.

and i'm not sure if this was brought up. but 92 dream team would out rebound 12 team by a large margin.

yes, love is a great rebounder, but he will get beat up by malone & barkley. and chandler can't even hold ewing & drob's jockstrap. blake? shakey at best. bron? sure he will get 6-7 rebounds, but 92 team is just too big and physical.


you can't teach toughness, length, and power. westbrook won't see much playing time. harden will never see a playing time. deron and cp3 would have to be perfect, but they are far from perfect. kobe would have to sacrifice his role and let durant/bron be the go to guy, but will he?

2012 team can't win without a prime Kobe leading them. Maybe if Bosh, Howard, and Wade were on the team.