USA Dream Team 1992 vs. 2012

[Orangeyes]

I'd take 1992 vs the 2012 squad provided no one uses php's

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/jan/20/us-basketball-dream-team-1992-2012

 

[jordoo]

I take 92, think they win 8 out of 10 maybe 10 out 0f 10 against 2012 team.

 

[MikeSU02]

I'd take 1992 vs the 2012 squad provided no one uses php's

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/jan/20/us-basketball-dream-team-1992-2012

Chris Paul wouldn't be able to guard Magic, plain and simple. He would have to be guarded by LeBron or someone else.

The other thing to note is that Scottie was a great defender. LeBron wouldn't be stopped, but Scottie would slow him down.

And finally, MJ is on the 92 team.

 

[Eric15]

I'd take 1992 vs the 2012 squad provided no one uses php's

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/jan/20/us-basketball-dream-team-1992-2012

I disagree with Magic having a slight edge over Chris Paul. Paul is currently in the prime of his career, and in the 1992 Olympics Magic had been out of the NBA for almost a year following the HIV announcement.

 

[MikeSU02]

I disagree with Magic having a slight edge over Chris Paul. Paul is currently in the prime of his career, and in the 1992 Olympics Magic had been out of the NBA for almost a year following the HIV announcement.

It doesn't matter. The matchup would still be absurd. CP3 could not guard him. They would need LeBron to guard him.

If CP3 guarded Magic, he would score every single time down the court.

 

[Knicks411]

It doesn't matter. The matchup would still be absurd. CP3 could not guard him. They would need LeBron to guard him.

If CP3 guarded Magic, he would score every single time down the court.

Yes but you could probably say the same thing about Magic checking Paul.

It would be a great game, Larry and Magic were very much past their primes by 92. But 92 would have MJ.

 

[Eric15]

I think the 2012 team would win 7 or 8 out of 10 versus the 1992 team. The difference in athleticism between the two teams is astounding.

 

[jordoo]

MJ alone puts them over the top IMO.

I'd love to see Robinson and Howard battle.

 

[Eric15]

It doesn't matter. The matchup would still be absurd. CP3 could not guard him. They would need LeBron to guard him.

If CP3 guarded Magic, he would score every single time down the court.

If we're talking about Magic in the mid-80s, I completely agree with you. In 1992, Magic was over the hill and not in prime shape. In 2 of the Dream Team's 8 games, he didn't even play.

 

[MikeSU02]

Yes but you could probably say the same thing about Magic checking Paul.

It would be a great game, Larry and Magic were very much past their primes by 92. But 92 would have MJ.

Magic wasn't. Larry was. Larry's body had been breaking down. Magic could still play at a high level. CP3 wouldn't be able to stop Magic from posting up, is my point. They would absolutely need LeBron to guard him. That would trigger match up issue down the line. How are they going to cover MJ, Scottie and Charles? Which ones does CP3 cover? Kobe checks MJ, Durant checks Scottie? Durant can't defend the post against Charles. Who does CP3 guard?

 

[Eric15]

MJ alone puts them over the top IMO.

In my opinion, there's really nothing that MJ can do that Kobe can't.

 

[MikeSU02]

If we're talking about Magic in the mid-80s, I completely agree with you. In 1992, Magic was over the hill and not in prime shape. In 2 of the Dream Team's 8 games, he didn't even play.

Do you remember 92 magic? He was in great shape.

Plain and simple. CP3 could not guard him one on one.

 

[MikeSU02]

In my opinion, there's really nothing that MJ can do that Kobe can't.

I'll give you one, Kobe can't shut down MJ. MJ can shut down Kobe. Especially 2012 Kobe versus 92 (and in his prime) MJ.

 

[jordoo]

I think the 2012 team would win 7 or 8 out of 10 versus the 1992 team. The difference in athleticism between the two teams is astounding.

Yaah but I feel the 92 team had the best player of all time and where any of the other guys were over matched athletically in general they have superior bball skills than their 12 counterparts. Plus they have Malone and Barkley to push people around.

 

[Eric15]

Kobe can't shut down MJ.

Why can't Kobe slow down MJ? He's a pretty accomplished defender.

1999-00 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2000-01 NBA All-Defensive (2nd)
2001-02 NBA All-Defensive (2nd)
2002-03 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2003-04 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2005-06 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2006-07 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2007-08 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2008-09 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2009-10 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2010-11 NBA All-Defensive (1st)

 

[MikeSU02]

Why can't Kobe slow down MJ? He's a pretty accomplished defender.

1999-00 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2000-01 NBA All-Defensive (2nd)
2001-02 NBA All-Defensive (2nd)
2002-03 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2003-04 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2005-06 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2006-07 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2007-08 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2008-09 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2009-10 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
2010-11 NBA All-Defensive (1st)

Slow down, sure. Shut down, no?

Kobe is a top 10 player all time. MJ is arguably the greatest player of all time.

 

[Eric15]

Slow down, sure. Shut down, no?

Kobe is a top 10 player all time. MJ is arguably the greatest player of all time.

Well of course he couldn't "shut" him down. There's no way MJ could shut Kobe down either. They would each get their points.

 

[jordoo]

In my opinion, there's really nothing that MJ can do that Kobe can't.

Maybe he can do all the same things but MJ did them better and more consistanntly. Plus MJ 92 was in his prime while Kobe 12 is beginning to fade.

 

[Bayside44]

I'll take 1992 every time assuming I have 1992 refs.

 

[jordoo]

Well of course he couldn't "shut" him down. There's no way MJ could shut Kobe down either. They would each get their points.

Seriously you are calling Kobe and MJ a wash?

 

[Knicks411]

Magic wasn't. Larry was. Larry's body had been breaking down. Magic could still play at a high level. CP3 wouldn't be able to stop Magic from posting up, is my point. They would absolutely need LeBron to guard him. That would trigger match up issue down the line. How are they going to cover MJ, Scottie and Charles? Which ones does CP3 cover? Kobe checks MJ, Durant checks Scottie? Durant can't defend the post against Charles. Who does CP3 guard?

But how is Magic going to stay in front of CP? Magic was 33 by the 92 Olympics; he didn't play in every game, and he hadn't played in the NBA in the season prior. Or what if Magic is being asked to check Derrick Rose.

Also, who says you need to start Paul? If Magic is causing that much of an issue, then you run with Lebron/Wade/Kobe/Durant/Dwight. You do run into an issue with Barkley, but if the size is that much of an issue, try Durant on Magic and Lebron on Chuck.

And there is not much of a comparison between 92 MJ and 2012 Kobe. Kobe has been getting gifted the all defensive team accolades the last few years. You're talking an all time great player (kobe) on the downside of his career against the best player of all time at pretty much the peak of his powers.

 

[jordoo]

I think Barkley and Malone would abuse 12's forwards on the glass and in the paint all game. However they wouldn't be able to guard them on the perimeter either. Much of the missmatches are missmatches in both directions so for me its about the team that has not only the probably best player of all time but is also one of the best winners of all time.

 

[Eric15]

Seriously you are calling Kobe and MJ a wash?

Yes, more or less. I think they're the two most offensively gifted players in the history of basketball.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

I would say "who would guard Lebron?" but Lebron always tends to defer in these kind of games..so, they could likely just put Pippen on him as LBJ runs point forward.

 

[Eric15]

But how is Magic going to stay in front of CP? Magic was 33 by the 92 Olympics; he didn't play in every game, and he hadn't played in the NBA in the season prior. Or what if Magic is being asked to check Derrick Rose.

Also, who says you need to start Paul? If Magic is causing that much of an issue, then you run with Lebron/Wade/Kobe/Durant/Dwight. You do run into an issue with Barkley, but if the size is that much of an issue, try Durant on Magic and Lebron on Chuck.

And there is not much of a comparison between 92 MJ and 2012 Kobe. Kobe has been getting gifted the all defensive team accolades the last few years. You're talking an all time great player (kobe) on the downside of his career against the best player of all time at pretty much the peak of his powers.

Completely agree with your first two paragraphs - well stated.

Regarding your comment about Kobe being on the downside of his career, he's currently leading the NBA in scoring at 30.4 ppg.