How many games could this team take off the Dream Team?

[SHAQisGOAT]

In a 7-game series I can see them winning 2 games, at best. Add Shaq and just maybe 3 games, but really can't see them winning even once if they played numerous 7-game series.
Dream Team had terrific on-court chemistry, players knew their role, they were able to check their egos for the most part, they had guys that could really take over with their scoring, they had great shooters, great individual and team defenders, a bunch of great passers and really smart players that could elevate teammates' games, and they were stacked at every position.
Magic hadn't been playing professionally for over a year but he was still great, Bird was a shell and couldn't give it his all due to injuries, but the skill was still there.
Can't put a team that has never played over that, even if they look great on paper and even if they somehow developed amazing chemistry.. plus I really can't see them having that type of DT's on-court chemistry and overall the DT had better players.

Why not Shaq? He was more than able to play in the NBA in 1992, he played the best defense of his career in his rookie year & also had his highest rpg in his rookie season.

I'd take 92 Shaq over 92 Mutombo easily.

Can't believe they went with Laettner instead of him for that college-player spot. I mean, Christian could ball and had a really good college career but still..

[lakers_forever]

Being two years removed from MVP (Magic) isn't prime?

A lot of people do that one talking about the dream team. Dismissing Magic as some old guy. Hell, even Bird who was in extremely back pain was still a great, great player. His numbers in 1992: 20, 9,6 and 6.8.

Magic? Come on. Dude was still 32 and was MPV in 1990. His numbers in 1991: 19.4, 7 and 12,5. He got the HIV thing and had to stop for a while, but still I'd take 1992 Magic over any pg in history not named Oscar Robertson (2nd best pg ever). In the scrimmages, Jordan led one team and Magic the other.

[lakers_forever]

They'd take a game or two, but I can't see them winning a 7 game series. They have a significant edge at PG (especially depth-wise) and solid bigs, but the DT's bigs at PF/C are simply better players with a lot more depth (Olajuwon is any of their equals, but then there's a drop off to Mutombo compared to, say, Ewing; a green Kemp/LJ are no match for prime Malone/Barkley). Then, of course, there's MJ/Pippen/Drexler, who help give DT the athletic advantage.

Agree with everything except the bolded part. I'd take Magic and Stockton over Isiah Thomas/Tim Hardaway/Kevin Johnson. The team does not need 3 pg's anyway. Pippen can take some time there as well for a sick athletic team:

Pippen
Jordan
Drexler
Barkley
Robinson

WOW.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Agree with everything except the bolded part. I'd take Magic and Stockton over Isiah Thomas/Tim Hardaway/Kevin Johnson. The team does not need 3 pg's anyway. Pippen can take some time there as well for a sick athletic team:

Pippen
Jordan
Drexler
Barkley
Robinson

WOW.

Yeah, but recall that Stockton was injured and barely played iirc. That's why I made the depth comment.

[moe94]

>>>> Dream Team 92

[SHAQisGOAT]

>>>> Dream Team 92

Great team and really underrated, but just can't see it man, although it would've been a really close one.

MJ was at his very best, and that counts.. a lot.

Shaq was already a freaking beast but not yet at his absolute best, still major for them down-low. D-Rob was better in 1996 and they also had Hakeem. DT had Ewing but no doubt that the '96 team had a better center rotation, despite the DT having a strong one too.

Penny was great, and seriously no disrespect to him but I'd rather have '92 Magic (that's if they let him play lol) than any version of him.

Barkley was considerably better in 1992, always great to have that type of beast.

Drexler was better than Reggie or Mitch, and he was not even the starting SG. And Mullin was as good of a scorer as Reggie.

Malone was no better in 1996, and I'd rather have '92 Stock.

Pip was already great in 1992.

'92 Bird could play at the same level of '96 Hill. Problem was that Bird couldn't always give the most of what he still had, if you will, but his style was better fitted for that type of team.

Also gotta say that the DT seemed to have better on-court chemistry and work better together, better team and passing game.

So yea, I can see the '96 winning "stealing" even 3 games in a 7-game series, but not really winning the series.

[jzek]

They'll win one game at most.

[SamuraiSWISH]

People forget that even as the best version of Team USA we've had, the '92 Dream Team had

- A hurt Stockton.

- A Bird that was basically useless, and was there essentially as a mascot to assemble the greatest roster on paper.

- Magic was great, but was far removed from consistent basketball. So he wasn't even close to his best.

And then there is Christian Laettner.

Given Magic being gone so long, Stockton being injured, Bird being done. They should've asked Magic, and Bird to come along to sit on the bench to waive to fans.

Following the '91 - '92 season, with the exception of Stockton, this is actually the best team to put out on the floor:

G - Hardaway / KJ
G - Jordan / Drexler / Richhmond
F - Pippen / Mullin / Nique
F - Barkley / Malone
F - Robinson / Ewing

[SamuraiSWISH]

No team besides the '96 team as they were actually constructed has the size, and talent in the front court to compete with the OG '92 Dream Team. The 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 stand absolutely no chance.

With that said, the 2000, and 2004 team could've been much better ... could've actually competed against the '92 Dream Team if we had sent our A team. But at the time not everyone wanted to play in the 2000 - 2004 era. Very disappointing.

In reality, the original '92 team even given their limitations is still clearly the best. Great scorers, distributors, defenders, big men, and shooters. Which speaks to how legendary they really were, and how dominant they were over the competition

The '96 team, 2k team, and 2k4 team all could've been WAY better then what we ended up getting.

The '96 Potential Team could've been terrifying if they just switched Jordan out for Stockton.

G - GP / Penny
G - MJ / Richmond / Reggie
F - Pippen / Hill
F - Barkley / K. Malone
C - Shaq / D. Rob / Hakeem


The 2000 Ideal A-Team:

G - Kidd / Iverson / GP
G - Kobe / Ray Allen
F - VC / Houston
F - Garnett / Duncan / McDyess
C - Shaq / Zo

The 2004 Ideal A-Team:

G - Kidd / Billups
G - Kobe / Ray Allen / Finley
F - McGrady / Houston / Pierce
F - Garnett / Amare
C - Duncan / Shaq

Bonus, if pros were eligible in 1988 Ideal A-Team:

G - Magic / Stockton / Porter
G - Jordan / Drexler / Robertson
F - Nique / Worthy
F - Bird / Barkley
C - Ewing / Parish

[SHAQisGOAT]

- A Bird that was basically useless, and was there essentially as a mascot to assemble the greatest roster on paper.

- Magic was great, but was far removed from consistent basketball. So he wasn't even close to his best.

They should've asked Magic, and Bird to come along to sit on the bench to waive to fans.

****ing disrespect.

Magic could still ball and he wasn't FAR from his best, he had been away for a year but he was still playing at an amazing level just before he left, and he was the best passer on the DT with Stock right after, got the offense going and flowing while he was on the floor, as usual.

Like I've said, Bird couldn't always give the best of what he still managed to be/offer, but in 1992 he still had some terrific games and was able to average 20/10/7/1/1, in less than 37 min, over the course of 45 games in the regular season. Pretty good still, even if he was like a what-if at that point. He was great to space the floor, plus he was a big body and great on the boards, of couse still a great passer. Mascot? smfh

Those two were some of the best at making teammates better, terrific IQ on the court, two of the best passers the game has ever seen, always great teammates, really experient players, winners, two of the best competitors ever, both big and skilled as hell.

Adding to that, those guys are living legends and that always raises the level of other players, MJ wouldn't be there if it wasn't for Magic and Bird, that "battle" vs Magic had him going, Pippen not long ago said he was so humbled that he was chosen to be there with players of that level, that he wanted to prove himself in front of guys like Larry.

Actually watched the games though? Go to youtube if not man, they were there before.
When they were on the court (or could play) and playing considerable minutes, they had pretty good impact, motor and engine as before.
Bird has a great case for player of the game vs Germany, where he was killing them, most points with 19. He put up 14/4/3/2 vs Spain, not playing much and as usual never over-handling the ball.
Magic had 10 assists(most in the game) and 6 points vs Angola, he put 13/3/7/2 vs Puerto Rico.
Against Lithuania, like I've said, they were the motor and engine, Bird with 10/6/6/2 and Magic with 14/3/8/3/1.
(keep in mind, when looking at the numbers, that it was a star-studded team, they weren't loggin major minutes and everybody had to get theirs at some point, only Barkley scored more than 15 ppg, most rpg were 5.3, assists 5.9)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kruHBD5HaY0&t=9m16s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0qCAw_hoAA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Tys1BXkns

Let's just leave them out, or keep them on the bench

[coolhandsteve]

7 game series, composed of non Dream Team stars from 92:

PG: Isiah Thomas/Tim Hardaway/Kevin Johnson
SG: Mitch Richmond/Dumars/Reggie Miller
SF: Dominique Wilkins/Rodman
PF: Larry Johnson/Kemp
C: Olajuwon/Mutombo

Assuming everyone is in 92 condition(IE Magic and Bird aren't prime)

Good team, the problem is I don't see anyone stopping Jordan or Magic, hell even Drexler. And the big men down low for the Dream Team would at least hold their own against this group.