OT/Poll: Team USA 1992 or 2012?

[RamiTheBullsFan]

This is a link where you can vote/order the players from both of those teams: http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/8159522/best-players-1992-2012#comment - Here is mine:

Spoiler

1.Michael Jordan - obvious
2.Karl Malone - He and LBJ are a toss-up
3.LeBron James
4.Charles Barkley
5.Kevin Durant
6.David Robinson
7.Patrick Ewing
8.Scottie Pippen - was in his prime in '92
9.Magic Johnson - had been retired for 1 year and was a bit out-of-shape in '92
10.Chris Paul
11.Kobe Bryant - past his prime
12.Larry Bird - lingering back problems/past his prime
13.John Stockton - in his prime
14.Clyde Drexler
15.Deron Williams
16.Russell Westbrook
17.Carmelo Anthony
18.Kevin Love
19.Blake Griffin
20.Chris Mullin
21.Andre Iguodala
22.James Harden
23.Christian Laettner - was actually an all-star player
24.Tyson Chandler - I respect his game but Laettner was a better player

 

[Crystallas]

I know this will piss off some of the kids, but Barkley was the best player on the Dream Team. Not the best of the players, but best performing, during those particular games. He may have taken it just a little more serious than the rest of the guys, especially Jordan(who was pulling a few all nighters partying his ass off.) If you watch those games, Sir Charles was was everywhere on the court.

*edit* Not to just run my mouth like a wannabe critic/tool, I'll include my ranks.
Ranking them PURELY based on Olympic performances in 1992 and 2012(although unfair and very limited at this stage).

Spoiler

1.Charles Barkley

2.Michael Jordan

3.LeBron James

4.David Robinson

5.Patrick Ewing

6.Kobe Bryant

7.Karl Malone

8.Tyson Chandler

9.Kevin Durant

10.Chris Paul

11.Carmelo Anthony

12.Scottie Pippen

13.Clyde Drexler

14.John Stockton

15.Andre Iguodala

16.Kevin Love

17.James Harden

18.Deron Williams

19.Magic Johnson

20.Chris Mullin

21.Larry Bird

22.Russell Westbrook

24.Christian Laettner

24.Blake Griffin - He gone. Last by default.

 

[inactiveuser1]

Im surprised both of you guys have Chris Paul. I can't really vote accurately since I wasn't around in 1992, but I just didn't expect to see Chris Paul that high and John Stockton that low :shrug:

 

[FirstTimer]

LOL at Malone vs Lebron being a toss up.

1992 Drexler>2012 Kobe

Your lack of respect for Mullin is absurd

 

[Uman85]

1992 > 2012 all day.

 

[Chi-Town Brahma]

I get the sports media loves this topic because there is plenty to talk about when comparing these teams.

My only argument with the subject is why would this be a realistic topic to discuss at all with key players not on the roster due to injury/surgery? The current USA team is missing Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose & Chris Bosh. All players that would then validate a real argument for the topic.

If anything, to give it more substance & continuity to be worth getting into discussions, or arguments, over. Get rid of who you would want to replace them with these four.

All I'm saying is this subject is just something to amuse the sports writers with the possibilities of who would win this. Nothing wrong with that. Trust me, I enjoy it just as much as the next person. It's entertaining. Just wish those four were on the team to make it a better topic of discussion.

Still.... 1992 > 2012.

 

[Deng Defense Force]

I know this will piss off some of the kids, but Barkley was the best player on the Dream Team. Not the best of the players, but best performing, during those particular games. He may have taken it just a little more serious than the rest of the guys, especially Jordan(who was pulling a few all nighters partying his ass off.) If you watch those games, Sir Charles was was everywhere on the court.

Pretty much sums it up. Can't imagine anyone being pissed off at that.

 

[Deng Defense Force]

I wonder who will be the first renegade to vote for the 2012 team.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

I get the sports media loves this topic because there is plenty to talk about when comparing these teams.

My only argument with the subject is why would this be a realistic topic to discuss at all with key players not on the roster due to injury/surgery? The current USA team is missing Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose & Chris Bosh. All players that would then validate a real argument for the topic.

If anything, to give it more substance & continuity to be worth getting into discussions, or arguments, over. Get rid of who you would want to replace them with these four.

All I'm saying is this subject is just something to amuse the sports writers with the possibilities of who would win this. Nothing wrong with that. Trust me, I enjoy it just as much as the next person. It's entertaining. Just wish those four were on the team to make it a better topic of discussion.

Still.... 1992 > 2012.

we need isiah,dumars,and shaq then

olajuwon i won't count because he wasn't a citizen

i would add bynum on the 2012 side as well

i still think '92 is better inside ...they also have jordan, which helps a tonsd because of his motor and ability to seemingly put any team on another pedestal because his energy is so transitive...

i have a question for this hypothetical matchup that i'm surprised hasn't been brought up in any debate between the two teams

do we have a handcheck rule or not? what are the rules...are they '92 leaning? 2012 leaning? or is it a medium?

i honestly think no handcheck rule mitigates the defense that a guy like isiah would pose, not to say he still wouldn't be a fantastic defender, but you would think this would hurt them a little

same with jordan and pippen, i still think they are energetic,athletic,lengthy, and laterally quick to play superb defense regardless,nevertheless no hand check rule i think would make a little bit of a difference

i think they would have trouble guarding unprecedented physical specimens such as lebron and durant(from a length and release point perspective)...westbrook is one of the more athletic players on a very athletic team and would be a problem for any 92 defender...of course westbrook's greatest problem is himself sooooo there's that

would be an interesting matchup anyway

 

[Chi-Town Brahma]

we need isiah,dumars,and shaq then

olajuwon i won't count because he wasn't a citizen

i would add bynum on the 2012 side as well

i still think '92 is better inside ...they also have jordan, which helps a tonsd because of his motor and ability to seemingly put any team on another pedestal because his energy is so transitive...

i have a question for this hypothetical matchup that i'm surprised hasn't been brought up in any debate between the two teams

do we have a handcheck rule or not? what are the rules...are they '92 leaning? 2012 leaning? or is it a medium?

i honestly think no handcheck rule mitigates the defense that a guy like isiah would pose, not to say he still wouldn't be a fantastic defender, but you would think this would hurt them a little

same with jordan and pippen, i still think they are energetic,athletic,lengthy, and laterally quick to play superb defense regardless,nevertheless no hand check rule i think would make a little bit of a difference

i think they would have trouble guarding unprecedented physical specimens such as lebron and durant(from a length and release point perspective)...westbrook is one of the more athletic players on a very athletic team and would be a problem for any 92 defender...of course westbrook's greatest problem is himself sooooo there's that

would be an interesting matchup anyway

Good points! Didn't really consider Bynum until you said that.

 

[JosMin]

The Dream Team could play any team from any era and would not lose. No "stats," no simulations, no rule changes, no location, no scenarios can come up that could sway me to even think somebody could've played this team competitively. Put aside the fact that this team had 11 of the greatest players to ever touch a basketball, 9 of them in their primes (a washed-up Bird and post-announcement Magic).... this team's attitude and demeanor will probably never be duplicated. If you want to talk about "built to win," the Dream Team was built to win. They had the perfect mindset, the perfect coach, the perfect game plan. As I said on Facebook, the only players from the '12 Olympic team who would've even been invited to try out for the Dream would've been Durant, Kobe and LeBron.

TL--DR : The Dream Team wouldn't lose to anybody.