Kobe thinks 2012 Olympic squad could beat "The Dream Team"

How old are you? Your post shows your youth. Quoting stats vs. actually watching these guys play is an epidemic around here. Everyone wants to be Daryl Morey.

Take your proof (stats) with a grain of salt due to the fact there wasn't any competition for the Dream Team. Guys level of play would rise to the competition, so when a team is up 50 it's human nature to let up and play some loose basketball. Karl Malone & Jordan would destroy anybody they have on the current roster. Hell Robinson, Ewing, Barkley, and Malone were better than any big they have on the current roster. They were prime and unstoppable. Ditto Jordan, Pippen, and Drexler. Magic was past his prime (especially defensively) but his size and BBIQ would allow him to operate in the post at will. (His baby hook shot/ passing ability is almost unmatched). Stockton overrated? Is this according to some stat? Gimme a break.

 

The strongest, deepest position on the 2012 Olympic team is the SF position. The greatest wing defender of all time is Scottie Pippen. Jordan would run circles around a 34 year old Kobe. Ewing and Robinson would light up Chandler.

 

you need pass first point guards for what? we aren't talking about who is a better passer, and i guess you don't remember, but stockton was injured, and magic was a year removed from aids announcement. pass-first pg's is hardly a necessity at this level, where 90% of the team can handle the ball and pass.

i can't imagine magic or stockton even attempting to check paul or westbrook anyway. they'd be running a layup drill on them. true though, it was stockton's prime.

 

Prime Jordan and Pippen = 2012 team's wings (and PG) are in for a long night.
Prime Robinson and Ewing = absolute destruction of 2012 team's interior

 

I'd tend to agree with your overall assessment. While I dont care to say that any of those future HOF players was overrated, I think that this 2012 team could put up a great fight, maybe even take a series over the "Dream Team" There is noone on that team that could cover Lebron. Pippen? fast enough and good enough defender to challenge him, but would be absolutely thrown around by LBJ's massive strength advantage. Stockton, while annoying, a flopper on par with Ginobili and generally recognized as one of the dirtiest players ever to play in the NBA, could certainly dish with the best of them. But which PG could he even slow down, much less shut down. Would need trank darts to slow down Westbrook, physically overmatched by Deron Williams, most evenly matches up with Chris Paul, but id take Paul over Stockton 10 times outta 10. CP3 is money in the clutch, and a fearless driver.
Magic Johnson couldnt keep up with any of them, and defensively Lebron or maybe Iguodala could shut down whoever is running point for the Dream Team. Huge speed, size and athleticism advantage for 2012 team.
The big guys--- David Robinson, Patrick Ewing at C, Barkley, Malone and LOLOLOLOLaettner at PF VS. Tyson Chandler at C, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love and Lebron at either PF(or SF for LBJ, or either G spot)---- Tough to call. I think the Dream Team has an overall rebounding advantage due to superior size, but the 2012 squad easily wins in the speed and athleticism departments. Laettner should be considered a negative, worthless. I think the young guys can outrun the old guys...
At SF, Iguodala, Lebron and Carmelo VS. Pippen, Mullin and Larry Bird. Bird was injured so no impact. If he hadnt been, than the Dream Team would have a massive outside shooting advantage, while being badly overmatched defensively and ability to drive to the basket, draw defenses and dish to the open shooters. As is, the 2012 squad is just so much more athletic, so much faster, better defensively except for Pippen. And Pippen might not look so great running the point with Lebron( a bigger, stronger, faster and more talented version of himself) draped all over him. Melo and LBJ can score on anyone, anytime, Iggy is still not offensively much of a threat, but is a lockdown defender and can guard both G spots and SF with equal effectiveness. Advantage- 2012
This is tough----Shooting Guard, MJ and Clyde the Glide (one of my favorite all time players along with Olajuwon) VS. Kobe, Kevin Durant, and James Harden. Even though Kobe is a ridiculous talent and will probably play at a higher level for more years than MJ was able to, even though Harden is the reigning 6th man of the year, and even though Durant is fast becoming the next dominant all-around badass with his improving defense, limitless shooting range and ability to get to the basket, draw fouls and shoot over anyone and get his shot anytime, I have to go with MJ. He is the greatest of all time, one of if not the greatest clutch player ever. And the only person I ever saw even come close to shutting down MJ, or coming closer than others were able to, was Vernon "Mad Max" Maxwell, and he was only able to slow him down a couple times. Clyde was an amazing player, great slasher/scorer/driver, underrated defender and absolutely unstoppable on the break. Dream Team wins this matchup I feel, but give Durant and Harden a couple more years, and I think the young guys can turn the tables.
Overall, I dont see why so many posters I have seen are not giving the 2012 squad even a chance, much less favoring them to be able to win this imagined clash of the titans. I really think the 2012 team with their superior athleticism, speed across the board, more slasher/scorer types would defeat the Dream Team. The long range shooting advantage I would give to the Dream Team is pretty much a non-factor with the shortened 3-point line in International play. The Dream Team's height and size advantages are useful, but made less important by the athleticism/leaping ability advantages of this year's squad.
If the game were today, I'd put my money on the 2012 Team

 

The 2012 team would have no answer for Magic. There's no way a 6'3 Westbrook or 6'0 Paul can guard him. Magic was 6'9 with a post game.

 

I think Chris Paul is significantly better than Magic/Stockton at that stage of their careers.

I also think the current team would use mainly Melo, LeBron and Durant for both forward positions. Love would get minutes, Griffin probably not so much.
IMO, PF would be a wash.
(it would be fun to see Melo vs. Barkley at PF, they would score 40 on each other)

Jordan obviously much better than the current Kobe. Maybe Kobe wouldn't play much. I'd put LeBron on Jordan.

But I think Robinson/Ewing have too much of an advantage. They'd probably win, but I think this team would have a chance.

 

He was also retired, and while still good, not in the top shape of his career.

 

Anyone who votes '12 Team > Dream Team is seriously on some other ****.

Y'all obviously did not ever see the Dream Team absolutely dominate the competition, not like the current team grinding it out to get past the Spain and Argentine teams.

Get serious y'all.

 

Carmelo Anthony < Larry Bird
Kobe Bryant < Michael Jordan
Tyson Chandler < Patrick Ewing
Blake Griffin < Charles Barkley
James Harden < Clyde Drexler
Andre Iguodala < Chris Mullin
Kevin Love < Karl Malone
Chris Paul < Magic Johnson
Deron Williams < John Stockton

Russell Westbrook < David Robinson (Big man over PG)

Kevin Durant > Christian Laettner
LeBron James > Scottie Pippen

The 2012 team only has an advantage at the SF position. The only way they beat the Dream Team is if the played them right now today. I don't even think they could beat Dream Team 2 in their primes.

 

Doesn't matter. He was still 6'9, in good shape, and had a hook shot. He'd be able to score on Williams/Paul/Westbrook far more consistently than they'd score on him.

 

Visions of magic backing Paul down in the post. Visions of Love and contesting malones fadeaway or griffin staying in front of Barkley. Kobe is well into his decline and Jordan was in his absolute prime. LBJ would probably drop 25-30 on pippen, but he'd have to work for it. He's never seen a defender like pippen. LBJ would have to guard him too, and would probably have to play stretches on mj. Chandler too small to stop Ewing and lacking the footwork and lateral quickness to guard Robinson.

Would be a lot closer game than people think. 2012 team is not made of scrubs. LBJ would do a good job on Jordan, but 1992 team has no answer for Durant or James. If you think pippen could stick Durant, you aren't debating in good faith. I was 15 almost 16 when dream team played. I watched every game that came on tv. Hell I even had that game they put out on sega genesis. Realistically, 2012 team could theoretically beat 1992 team, but 1992 team was better.

 

this.

 

I was young, but I do remember how dominant the Dream Team was. But they played at a time when the talent level of basketball throughout the rest of the world was only a shadow of how great it has become in the game today.
The game is played differently today. No longer are great post players needed to make great teams. International competition gives a perfect example of this. I think the US roster in this and the last Olympics is a perfect example of that. Its an up and down the floor game played today, very few set plays are run specifically for a big man to post up and try to score. Perimeter oriented, speed/athleticism based.
Im not at all discounting how ridiculously good the Dream Team was. I just think that the 2012 team is much more comparable to the Dream Team than it seems that many people are giving them credit for.
I wish it was possible to see how a matchup of these two amazing collections of players would turn out.

 

If they played each other Dream Team would win and Lebron/Riley would try to get as many players as possible to join the Heat next season.

 

Kobe thought it was a good idea to rape errrr have sex with a white chick in Colorado then snitch on Shaq after he got arrested.

 

Fixed

 

in a perfect world you would actually be able to see this game.

as far as my opinion goes i have no idea how it would turn out.

 

Magic may have slowed down in 92 but Stockton was still in the prime of his career. Stockton and Malone made it to the finals in 97 and 98, so I am not sure why some guys in here are making it out like he was trash in 92 .

I am not sure how you can say PF would be a wash. Barkley and Malone would destroy any of those on the 2012 team.