Dream Team vs Redeem Team
by TWSSO on Aug 18, 2008 11:41 AM MDT
9 comments
The original Dream Team versus the Redeem Team? Let the debate begin. What if you were to take the Micheal Jordan of 1992 against today's Kobe, what if you were to put the stifling defense of Scottie Pippen in his prime on LeBron James, and what if the finesse play of David Robinson was matched up against the physical specimen that is Dwight Howard?
The original team was star studded from top to bottom but also had its bench riding roll players just as this team does. Sixteen years ago all the Americans had to do was wake up from their slumber and play basketball. There wasn't a question raised every game as to whether or not the team would win but rather by how much. No three year commitment was necessary to compete in '92 and critics weren't constantly picking your play apart game after game. Today opposing players don't foul to get their pictures taken with NBA stars, they foul because they can compete and are much more physical today then they were 16 years ago. International teams and players also have a lot more confidence today then they did back then. And you don't see 60 point blow outs like in the old days. The '92 Dream Team was much bigger across the front line with assured hall of famers scoring at will against weaker and intimidated players.
Things are much different now thanks to the rising level of competition internationally. Team USA hasn't won gold since 2000 thanks to lack luster play by some of the teams as well as the calibur of players on those teams. There's no doubt this team is younger and quicker, but could they compete with the stardom, size, and experience of the original Dream Team? Could the front line of Bosh, Boozer, and Howard hold up against Ewing, Malone, Barkley, and Robinson? Could Kobe, Wade, and James use their quickness and athleticism to over power Jordan, Mullin, and Bird? Could the three headed monster of Kidd, Williams, and Paul be able to lead against the two greatest assist men to play the game in Stockton and Magic? SoundOFF!!!
All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.
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I second this.
Not even close, IMO.
The Utah Jazz. The Jazz... duh.
The best NBA team in Utah... no doubts about it!
Playing For Pride. Pirates, Utes, Panthers, and more...
Because, in the end, only one team can "win it all".
Dream Team
The original Dream Team would dominate. This current team would get killed on the boards and the half-court game. This current Olympic team is good but seem to struggle in a half-court setting and crashing the boards.
I honestly don’t think it would be close. Dream Team all the way.
BTW it’s ROBINSON not Robertson!!
Stockton and Isiah
So is that fact in the Yahoo story that Stockton beat Thomas for the team because of Jordan’s preference? I thought Stock made it because he was the better player.
Good question...
I read the Yahoo article as well and I was unaware Stockton made the team over Thomas because it was Jordan’s preference. Very interesting. Then again, it doesn’t really surprise me since they would have done anything to keep the greatest player on the planet happy.
It wasn't just MJ's preference
Larry Bird also had some say in that matter (as both Bird and MJ had a very nasty relationship with Isiah). Bird wasn’t in playing shape at all that summer with his back, so to get him to go along with Magic as kind of a nice farewell tour (and to appease the marketing machine that is MJ) Isiah was bumped.
"I’m gonna rise up, gonna kick a little ass. Gonna kick some ass in the USA. Gonna climb a mountain, gonna sew a flag, gonna fly on an eagle. I’m gonna kick some butt, gonna drive a big truck. I’m gonna rule this world. I’m gonna kick some ass. I’m gonna rise up, gonna kick a little ass. Rock, flag, and eagle!"
by Ozzie Montana on Aug 19, 2008 9:27 AM MDT up reply actions
Hmmm
PG-Magic/Stockton
SG-Jordan/Drexler
SF-Pippen/Larry Bird/Mullin
PF-Malone/Barkley/Laettner(lol)
C-Robinson/Ewing
PG-Kidd/Deron/Paul
SG-Kobe/Wade/Redd
SF-LeBron/Prince
PF-Carmelo/Boozer
C-Howard/Bosh
It’s pretty fair to say that the backcourt battles would be epic. MJ and Clyde vs Kobe and Wade? Magic (sadly not in his prime) and Stockton vs Deron and Paul and Kidd? I think the Dream Team forwards/centers murder the current incarnation. Robinson may not be as big as Howard, but he was still a physical freak of nature. Melo may be a dominant offensive force, but Charles and Malone were both more complete players (and could at least grab some rebounds).
The Dream Team had far superior shooters, even Ewing was a great jumpshooter. The current team might be athletically superior, but I don’t think such a relatively young group of guys could handle the 92 team.
"I’m gonna rise up, gonna kick a little ass. Gonna kick some ass in the USA. Gonna climb a mountain, gonna sew a flag, gonna fly on an eagle. I’m gonna kick some butt, gonna drive a big truck. I’m gonna rule this world. I’m gonna kick some ass. I’m gonna rise up, gonna kick a little ass. Rock, flag, and eagle!"
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