Moopy Mac: You're the jerk... jerk: Neeek: Most of the players on the 2012 team are better defenders than virtually the entire 1992 team. The game has changed and the defenses ahave gotten much better in the last 20 years. The US's real advantage is they are insanely good at defense compared to every other team.

Plus, players are just more accurate shooters than they used to be.

The current team would destroy the Dream Team.

A lost cause. Try explaining to people that over the last 20 years athletes have gotten better and that what was dominant in 1992 is likely to be mediocre today. Not only have training regiments gotten better, but strategies have been refined and players have been working at it longer. This is true in any sport. The 1927 Yankees would not beat any major league teams, the Klitschkos would destroy Ali and Roger Bannister wouldn't qualify for the state finals for a big high school.

Call me crazy, I think a four minute mile will still qualify for the state finals in high school.

Roger Bannister did much more important things than run a 4 minute mile.

Link

The Muthaship: You're the jerk... jerk: This is true in any sport. The 1927 Yankees would not beat any major league teams, the Klitschkos would destroy Ali and Roger Bannister wouldn't qualify for the state finals for a big high school.

You are probably right about the '27 Yankees. Likely wrong about Ali. And dead wrong about Bannister.

Bannister's best time would not set a high school record, it was a hyperbole that he wouldn't run in states but he wouldn't qualify for the Olympics today. That is how much better athletes have gotten.

Ali is 2 inches shorter, 20 pounds lighter and boxing strategy has progressed considerably in that time. If you time machined Ali from his prime to fight either Klitschko it wouldn't be a fair fight.

You're the jerk... jerk: Ali is 2 inches shorter, 20 pounds lighter and boxing strategy has progressed considerably in that time. If you time machined Ali from his prime to fight either Klitschko it wouldn't be a fair fight.

Ever hear of George Foreman? He was bigger then than Klitschko is now. As for improvements in boxing strategy....probably less than any other sport in the time frame we're talking about.

You're the jerk... jerk: Bannister's best time would not set a high school record,

Especially because he was in his mid 20s.

Modern spikes are lighter than old ones and synthetic tracks are faster than gravel, though, so he would have broken 4 a lot more easily with modern equipment even with no change in training.

The Muthaship: You're the jerk... jerk: Ali is 2 inches shorter, 20 pounds lighter and boxing strategy has progressed considerably in that time. If you time machined Ali from his prime to fight either Klitschko it wouldn't be a fair fight.

Ever hear of George Foreman? He was bigger then than Klitschko is now. As for improvements in boxing strategy....probably less than any other sport in the time frame we're talking about.

Shorter, heavier and clearly not as strong. He also gave a past his prime Ali a very good fight.
And boxing strategy has progressed a lot more than you are giving it credit for.

MugzyBrown: cettin: Some of those guys were not in their prime and some were starting to age a little in 92, so to say that they are hall of famers is even more pointless, because what put them in the hall is not being a part of the 92 team.

So is one of the 3 top players on the current squad. Kobe is the same age Magic was at the time.

It's true what Charles said.. only 3 guys make the '92 team.

You can replace, Laetner with Lebron, Bird with Kobe, and probably Mullin with Durrant but other than that, who else would you replace for a 2012 guy?

You're not going to replace Magic or Stockton with any of the PGs.. it's close, but they're the top 2 PGs ever. And Magic was aging, but the year before he was diagnosed with HIV in '90-'91 he put up numbers as good if not better than Paul.

PF/Cs are a joke to compare.

Maybe it's just the fact that I hate John Stockton but I'd take Chris Paul over him. But for the most part I agree with you. I wouldn't say there are 11 HOFers on the 2012 team, but maybe 5 or 6? There is still a lot of youth on that team, where as the 92 team was "seasoned" with the obvious exception of Laetner (who still had 4 years of college which is more than most on this team).

That said, the 92 team would still be great, but not nearly as dominant against current international competition.

MugzyBrown: TheGreatGazoo: Why again do we have NBA players in the Olympics, which is supposed to be amateur athletes?

because 80 years ago called and wanted to let you know that professionals are in pretty much every event in the olympics

FTFY

You're the jerk... jerk: clearly not as strong.

I guess we're done.

The Muthaship: You're the jerk... jerk: clearly not as strong.

I guess we're done.

Unless you have a reason to believe boxing is different, look at any strength sport and tell me what other records exist since the 70s. Weightlifting records from that era have been destroyed, pitchers throw harder, etc.

IAmRight: The Muthaship: We got tired of sending 18 year olds to get their asses kicked by Teofilo Stevenson, and the f*cking Red Army hockey team. But, when our college boys could no longer beat grown men (and Russian government officials doing the time keeping) in basketball, that clinched it.

Well, more that the NBA (and Stern, back when he was making laudable decisions on behalf of the league) wanted to showcase the NBA and help expand the brand worldwide. Even in the early '80s, the league was barely acknowledged in the US and the playoffs were on tape delay. I hate what he's done recently, but the dude helped the league be worth giving a sh*t about.

Quite the opposite actually. Stern didn't want NBA players in the Olympics, FIBA did. They wanted professionals to participate from all countries in the Olympics, and when they held a vote, only two countries voted "no"--the U.S. and Russia. The USA Basketball organization practically had to beg the NBA to supply players for the '92 team. I'm sure looking back, he feels it's probaly the best decision he ever made, but if he had his way initially, the Dream Team would've never happened.

MugzyBrown: Unless you have a reason to believe boxing is different, look at any strength sport and tell me what other records exist since the 70s. Weightlifting records from that era have been destroyed, pitchers throw harder, etc.

Boxing isn't a strength sport. Just because you can punch harder, it doesn't make you a good boxer.

Which would be a good argument in response to something other than my contention that the Klitchs are stronger than Foreman. Even if not true, I still think they would win because of how much better training is today. But I think it is clear they are stronger.

cettin: Pointless, maybe, fun, yes. And I didn't say that Spain would beat them, just that they would be closer than 30 points. Some of those guys were not in their prime and some were starting to age a little in 92, so to say that they are hall of famers is even more pointless, because what put them in the hall is not being a part of the 92 team.

I don't think anyone would argue Magic and Bird were past their prime (Bird infinitely so), but as much I hate to refer to 'intangibles', their hounding of Jordan released the Kraken, both in Monte Carlo and Chicago once MJ got back. I don't think either team (DT or Bulls) are nearly as dominant without the level of trash-talking and ass-grabbery that went on between all parties.

Long story long, everyone might not have been scoring, but everyone was contributing. I can't speak to the level of comraderie on todays Olympic squads, but I think it'll always be found wanting compared to '92's. It was essentially the perfect storm.

/only caught the second half of the new NBA doc but looked very good

i think the Redeem and the Dream team would be a great match up. when a time transporter is developed, that should be the first thing

I think the MonStars have the first game.

IAmRight: The 2012 team wouldn't beat the 2008 team, either. So who cares?

Not necessarily true. Some of the guys on the 2012 team are better players than they were in 2008 and some of the guys on the team are much, much better players under FIBA rules than NBA rules (there are differences, and those differences actually matter quite a bit), specifically Durant, Iguodala, and Anthony.

Lol, the Klitchcos would beat Ali in his prime?

TheJoe03: Lol, the Klitchcos would beat Ali in his prime?

Shhhh, people punch each other in the head different than they used to.

Neeek: Most of the players on the 2012 team are better defenders than virtually the entire 1992 team. The game has changed and the defenses ahave gotten much better in the last 20 years. The US's real advantage is they are insanely good at defense compared to every other team.

Plus, players are just more accurate shooters than they used to be.

The current team would destroy the Dream Team.

You must be trolling or out of your freaking mind

Other than Kobe, LeBron (James) and Kevin Durant, I don't think anybody else on that team makes our team.

QFT

Grant Hill should have been there over Laettner.

Coach K could develop a successful strategy against the team for which he was a former assistant. It'd be easy for Lebron to get in the paint to attack the rim or dish to Kobe, Carmelo, and Durant over and over again. .

skankboy: Grant Hill should have been there over Laettner.

He was out with a strained labia

Neeek: The current team would destroy the Dream Team.

My condolences on your recent severe head injury. You have my sincere best wishes for a speedy recovery.

cettin: Maybe it's just the fact that I hate John Stockton but I'd take Chris Paul over him.

I'd go with Stockton, he shot 51.5% for his career and when he was selected he was coming off 5 consecutive double digit assist seasons, all of which led the NBA. Also, dude was ridiculously dirty on defense, the amount of clutching/grabbing/elbowing that he got away with was amazing. Plus he only missed 22 games out of 1,526 in his career (injured in 2 seasons out of 19) whereas Paul has yet to make it through a full season.

Curt Blizzah: Coach K could develop a successful strategy against the team for which he was a former assistant. It'd be easy for Lebron to get in the paint to attack the rim or dish to Kobe, Carmelo, and Durant over and over again. .

Lebron is going to drive on Scottie Pippen over and over again? Yea, about that...

Rwa2play: Jordan would crush his soul

There's no way they put Jordan on LeBron.

Rwa2play: Jordan's such a gamer/trash-talker that he'd probably do it himself; just because he thinks he could get in LeBron's head.

I could see him doubling him, or trying to come around for a steal every chance he got. James is too big and strong for him one on one.

Griffin hurt. May not be back.

The Muthaship: Rwa2play: Jordan's such a gamer/trash-talker that he'd probably do it himself; just because he thinks he could get in LeBron's head.

I could see him doubling him, or trying to come around for a steal every chance he got. James is too big and strong for him one on one.

Pippen would be primary defender on that team. Depending on the floor arrangement you'd cycle Jordan, Barkley, and Malone through that as well(Barkley and Malone would be likely to get a lot of time on Lebron because LeBron would run the 4 while Love was on the floor as the 5). Jordan would guard Kobe because Kobe would verbally challenge him to(seeing as Kobe sees himself as the heir to Jordan and has largely lived up to it).

Curt Blizzah: Coach K could develop a successful strategy against the team for which he was a former assistant. It'd be easy for Lebron to get in the paint to attack the rim or dish to Kobe, Carmelo, and Durant over and over again. .

Watch these and then tell me again how easy Lebron is getting the paint.

Link

Link

Pippen would be D'ing up on Lebron in a '92 vs '12 match up. Lebron's a great offensive player, but he's doing nothing easy with Pippen on him.

The 92 Dream Team would be too big for the current crop. That would ultimately be the difference. the 2012 team has no one to matchup with the Admiral AND Ewing.

If we could really get these guys in their prime, I would swap Laettner right out of there and either get bigger with Shaq (who at that time was a man-child but a hackenstein) or go quicker and add Isaiah Thomas.

puffy999: uofacats2004: i mean no offense by this, but you sound like a wannabe Bill Simmons.

No offense, but I hate when people ay things like that.

The world existed before Bill Simmons.

And it was a better place.

MugzyBrown: bhcompy: Kobe sees himself as the heir to Jordan and has largely lived up to it

Kobe isn't near Jordan. I see Kobe as a notch above Clyde. He couldn't shoot anywhere near as well as Jordan and Jordan had a better post game

Eh, Kobe is more than just a notch above Clyde (and a pretty good shooter). He had the record for most three pointers in a game at one time and maybe still does? More to the point he scored 81 points in a game. Another time he had 62 through 3 quarters. Credit where it's due

Neeek: TheKillingJoke: Neeek: Most of the players on the 2012 team are better defenders than virtually the entire 1992 team. The game has changed and the defenses ahave gotten much better in the last 20 years. The US's real advantage is they are insanely good at defense compared to every other team.

Plus, players are just more accurate shooters than they used to be.

The current team would destroy the Dream Team.

LOLWHUT

Sorry if reality doesn't reflect your fantasies.

They are better shooters because of rule changes nerfing defense. They are not better defenders jesus fark so much wrong with that statement. Basketball did not start in '03

Jim from Saint Paul: Position by position:

Center
Ewing, Robinson vs Tyson Chandler

Power Forward
Malone, Barkley, Laettner vs Griffin, Love

Small Forward
Bird, Pippen, Mullin vs Durant(he can play the 3 or 4 really), Lebron, Anthony

Shooting Guard
Drexler, Jordan vs Kobe, Igouldala, Harden

Point Guard
Magic Johnson vs Paul, Deron, Westbrook


Now Bird, Drexler and Johnson were in the twilight of their careers and wern't everything we remember them being in their haydays. That being said, real contraversial take there Charles. Yeesh.

you forgot john stockton

bhcompy: Jordan would guard Kobe because Kobe would verbally challenge him to

and that is why i think it should be first if we get a time machine. i swear a brawl would break out between the two, or they would be bestest friends after. either way, i would be entertained.

plus i could see Kobe saying, "you've got two rings...wow, i got five", just to screw with him. then again, maybe this happened and that's why Jordan went on his later tear on the NBA after baseball and retired after getting six...conspiracy!

MugzyBrown: bhcompy: Kobe sees himself as the heir to Jordan and has largely lived up to it

Kobe isn't near Jordan. I see Kobe as a notch above Clyde. He couldn't shoot anywhere near as well as Jordan and Jordan had a better post game

The heir doesn't mean he is or is better. One thing is for sure is that Kobe is the best player between then and now(or at least very recently). The heir to being the best player in the league.