My buddies and I have spent the last 2 days arguing non-stop about which team would win.. we've come to absolutely no conclusion.. except that trying to guard Durant/LBJ/Kobe would be a matchup nightmare.. at leas.t. it seems.

I love Larry Legend, I am a Celtics fan.. but I just can't picture him trying to guard Durant.

Depends on what era's rules we go by.

The '92 fouls or the 2012 'pretty close to soccer, oh my gosh he looked at me, that's a technical' rules.

'92 didn't have much of a hole in the roster, I'm not sold on Harden, Davis, or Iguodala.

Now if Rose and Howard were in, it'd be a better argument.

He'd make the '12 squad cry the way he made Kwame Brown cry in Wizards practice.

MichiganFTL: Depends on what era's rules we go by.

The '92 fouls or the 2012 'pretty close to soccer, oh my gosh he looked at me, that's a technical' rules.

I think this is the clincher. I think both teams would win in their own eras. But I think '92 would play tighter in '12 than '12 would play in '92.

Space Jam was good

Lord knows that neither team could adapt. You don't think that the current squad wouldn't jump at the chance to be more physical with people? Did anyone watch them play the Dominicans? The refs had to start calling fouls because Russell Westbrook wouldn't let the guy get much further than half-court before taking the ball away on every possession.

MichiganFTL: Depends on what era's rules we go by.

The '92 fouls or the 2012 'pretty close to soccer, oh my gosh he looked at me, that's a technical' rules.

.

If it were 92 rules I'd take the 89-90 Bad Boys to beat the 12 team.

I'd take Thomas, Dumars, Microwave, Laimbeer, Mahorn, Rodman, Salley and Aquirre or either of the previous Laker or Celtics champs from 84-88.

todays players couldn't play in that era.

OTOH, by todays rules, I'd take the 12 team.

sweetlenny: Space Jam was good

I enjoyed it for what it was: an excuse to bring Bugs Bunny and Co. to the big screen.

I absolutely laugh at repeats. Also I'd like to know who this "Kobe Bryan" is.

If you miss Web 1.0 the Space Jam website is for some reason still up.

Dr.Knockboots: but I just can't picture him trying to guard Durant.

How about Durant guarding Bird? Durant is not a good defender.

tortilla burger: I absolutely laugh at repeats. Also I'd like to know who this "Kobe Bryan" is.

Somebody with a hipster spelling of a common name that really enjoys his red meat, I assume.

It is a very tough call. Kobe did rape someone but Michael Jordan got his father murdered by the mob over his gambling debts and now rocks a Hitler mustache. Plus Karl Malone did knock up a 13 year when he was in his 20s. So I'm going with the 92 team.

Basketball wise if the 2012 team had healthy big men Howard and Bosh on the court and Derrick Rose and Griffin coming off the bench they would probably win on the court. PGs- Rose and Paul over Stockton. SG-Jordan slightly over Kobe. SF-James or Durant way way over Pippen and Bird. PF- Bosh and Griffin over Malone C- Ewing and Robinson over Howard.

MichiganFTL: Now if Rose and Howard were in, it'd be a better argument.

Really good point, there's no Rose, Howard, Bynum, or Wade.

Dr.Knockboots: My buddies and I have spent the last 2 days arguing non-stop about which team would win.. we've come to absolutely no conclusion.. except that trying to guard Durant/LBJ/Kobe would be a matchup nightmare.. at leas.t. it seems.

I love Larry Legend, I am a Celtics fan.. but I just can't picture him trying to guard Durant.

Given the condition of his back at that point, I don't think Bird would have played much until the Dream Team was ahead by 20. Which they would have been.

Dr.Knockboots: My buddies and I have spent the last 2 days arguing non-stop about which team would win.. we've come to absolutely no conclusion.. except that trying to guard Durant/LBJ/Kobe would be a matchup nightmare.. at leas.t. it seems.

I love Larry Legend, I am a Celtics fan.. but I just can't picture him trying to guard Durant.

The 92 Larry Bird would not have matched up with Durant. He was having so much back pain that he only played 10 minutes in a group game and after that sat in his warmups.

No one can guard Durant. The whole point of both Dream Teams is that you realistically can't guard any of 'em and they can all guard you. They'd be a good matchup.

And Jordan sucks at evaluating talent anyway, so who cares what his opinion is? He thought Pippen and Horace Grant weren't good enough to win titles with and considered quitting basketball at the end of 90-91 if they didn't get someone else (he changed his mind since they won it all, but it's recorded that he did want to quit and play golf.)

Also the 92 Magic was already retired (due to HIV) and wasn't in the greatest shape, especially when you compare it to the shape today's players are in.

The 92 team did have Jordan in his prime though.

Overall I think Kobe is right... the 2012 team could win a game against 92 team but they couldn't consistently beat them.

MichiganFTL: Iguodala

Shutdown perimeter defender, very good passer. He's probably a good role player for a team like this because what he's good at he's really good at and he doesn't mind deferring to other players instead of taking contested shots.

Plus team USA always needs a couple super athletic guys to dunk on Europeans.

Ok starting 5 of the 92 team

Magic vs chris paul pg
Bird sf vs lbj sf
Jordan vs kobe sg
Barley vs love pf
Ewing vs chandler c

brutal, outside of lbj i like the 92 team, but then remember coming off the bench you had

stockton vs deron/westbrook pg
mullin vs melo sg
pippen/drexler vs iguadola sf
k malone vs anthony davis pf
robinson vs either davis or chandler (again) c

the 92 team just had crazy amounts of depth.

Where... WHERE does the 12 team win?

/sorry if i got some sf/sg stuff mixed up, just a fan not super fan for basketball

tortilla burger: I absolutely laugh at repeats. Also I'd like to know who this "Kobe Bryan" is.

Subby's waiting for the refs to give Kobe a "T"

farbekrieg: brutal, outside of lbj i like the 92 team, but then remember coming off the bench you had

Pippen would have started over Bird, and you left Durant off the '12 team.

ok i left off durant which makes me silly but outside of lbj and durant ill stand by my previous statement (somehow preview failed me)

Stockton, Magic > Paul, Williams, Westbrook.
Jordan, Drexler > Kobe, Harden, Igoudala
Pippen, Bird, Mullin Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Laetnner > Kevin Love
Robinson, Ewing > Chandler, Davis

Sorry Kobe, but the Dream Team is better.

farbekrieg: Ok starting 5 of the 92 team

Magic vs chris paul pg
Bird sf vs lbj sf
Jordan vs kobe sg
Barley vs love pf
Ewing vs chandler c

brutal, outside of lbj i like the 92 team, but then remember coming off the bench you had

stockton vs deron/westbrook pg
mullin vs melo sg
pippen/drexler vs iguadola sf
k malone vs anthony davis pf
robinson vs either davis or chandler (again) c

the 92 team just had crazy amounts of depth.

Where... WHERE does the 12 team win?

/sorry if i got some sf/sg stuff mixed up, just a fan not super fan for basketball

Bird did not play except 10 minutes in a group game... his back was hurting so much that Magic and Jordan had to convince him to be on the team for publicity and to have fun. Magic wasn't in any shape to play in the NBA as he was retired since 91 due to HIV. And before you say that Isiah Thomas could have stepped in for Bird, Jordan and Magic both said that they would quit the team if Thomas was invited (which is why he wasn't).

Whoops messed up the 3.

Pippen, Bird, Mullin

ESPN ran some stats and if you look at the average PER from the season before the Olympics, the 92 team is a FRACTION better (but they didn't count Lattner and Magic had been retired a year which wasnt' factored in).

So basically, talent wise it is a wash.

On the other hand, the 2012 team has had longer to gel together and play with each other since 2006, they are more familiar with the current game, and they have more experience playing tough international competition.

I think 2012 would definitely win.

TheJoe03: Stockton, Magic > Paul, Williams, Westbrook.
Jordan, Drexler > Kobe, Harden, Igoudala
Pippen, Bird, Mullin Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Laetnner > Kevin Love
Robinson, Ewing > Chandler, Davis

Sorry Kobe, but the Dream Team is better.

Er, I don't think anyone would disagree that if you leave out Durant AND LeBron, 1992 wins easy.

Dafatone: Er, I don't think anyone would disagree that if you leave out Durant AND LeBron

My posts keep getting eating up after the preview. It's weird, 2012 is better at the 3 but only because Bird was on his last legs and I think Pippen is better than Durant and I like Mullin over Melo.

dear fsm was 92 really 21 years ago?

now i feel old, i didnt pay a great deal to the olympics much that year (I was 15, what do you want).

That said surprisingly my opinion about the olympics hasnt changed in 20 years lamenting the loss of international amateur sport. but i suppose money always wins in the end.

farbekrieg: Where... WHERE does the 12 team win?

Magic was a year out of retirement. Chris Paul, at his age, is better.
Bird was old and well in decline. LBJ over Bird by a million miles.
Jordan over Kobe, but not by THAT much, Barkley/Ewing over Love/Chandler (although mostly because other bigs bowed out)

Stockton was also old and in decline. Westbrook/D-Will over him
Melo > Mullen
etc.

2012 wins in plenty of spots BUT see my previous post. 2012 team knows the current rules, knows how to play together, and knows how to face tough competition.

The 92 team was just a cobbled together collection of superstars playing a bunch of nobody world teams. They have more raw talent than 2012, but they don't have the experience or coaching.

getting eaten up*

/bad day typing wise for me.

TheJoe03: Dafatone: Er, I don't think anyone would disagree that if you leave out Durant AND LeBron

My posts keep getting eating up after the preview. It's weird, 2012 is better at the 3 but only because Bird was on his last legs and I think Pippen is better than Durant and I like Mullin over Melo.

at least it isnt just me having posting issues, and perhaps the starting '12 team keeps up or maybe takes a small lead on the starters of '92, the bench is dominated by the '92 team.

Bill Frist: Jordan over Kobe, but not by THAT much

No way, Jordan in his prime is better than Kobe in his decline by A LOT. Jordan in his decline is probably better than Kobe in his prime as well.

Bill Frist: Stockton was also old and in decline. Westbrook/D-Will over him

92 was Stockton's prime, what are you talking about. An all time great in his prime worse than Westbrook and Deron Williams? You might want to take that back.

I was wrong about Stockton's age, true.

You still have very rose colored glasses about the past though. Of course, most people do. I can imagine you in 20 years having this same debate about the 2032 team and going "No WAY do these newjacks win against HOF all-time greats like Durant, LeBron, Kobe and Chris Paul. That's nuts!"

TheJoe03: 92 was Stockton's prime, what are you talking about. An all time great in his prime worse than Westbrook and Deron Williams? You might want to take that back.

That'd be a funny matchup. None of those guys could guard each other at all.

Edge to Stockton because Westbrook would try to dunk and end up bouncing off of Ewing and turning the ball over or something.

The other problem with your and most other people's analysis is that basketball is not a 1-1 game. This isn't Kobe vs. Jordan playing HORSE or Stockton vs. Chris Paul in a behind the back pass contest.

It's a team game. the 2012 team has played together a lot more and plays more as a team (well presumably they will, they have over the last few years) than the 92 team did.

TheJoe03: Dafatone: Er, I don't think anyone would disagree that if you leave out Durant AND LeBron

My posts keep getting eating up after the preview. It's weird, 2012 is better at the 3 but only because Bird was on his last legs and I think Pippen is better than Durant and I like Mullin over Melo.

I think Pippen's one of the alltime greats and tremendously underrated. And I'm pretty sure I'd take Durant over him. It's very hard to say. We'll see how much Durant's game improves as he matures. Pippen's a better defender, Durant's a better scorer, and Durant probably gets the edge on the boards, too.

Bill Frist: It's a team game. the 2012 team has played together a lot more and plays more as a team (well presumably they will, they have over the last few years) than the 92 team did.

Since this is a hypothetical, why put that on the Dream Team? Why not assume the Dream Team would play it a tad bit differently if they were up against a team as great as the 2012 Olympic game instead of a bunch of mostly scrub international players.

ddam: farbekrieg: Ok starting 5 of the 92 team

Magic vs chris paul pg
Bird sf vs lbj sf
Jordan vs kobe sg
Barley vs love pf
Ewing vs chandler c

brutal, outside of lbj i like the 92 team, but then remember coming off the bench you had

stockton vs deron/westbrook pg
mullin vs melo sg
pippen/drexler vs iguadola sf
k malone vs anthony davis pf
robinson vs either davis or chandler (again) c

the 92 team just had crazy amounts of depth.

Where... WHERE does the 12 team win?

/sorry if i got some sf/sg stuff mixed up, just a fan not super fan for basketball

Bird did not play except 10 minutes in a group game... his back was hurting so much that Magic and Jordan had to convince him to be on the team for publicity and to have fun. Magic wasn't in any shape to play in the NBA as he was retired since 91 due to HIV. And before you say that Isiah Thomas could have stepped in for Bird, Jordan and Magic both said that they would quit the team if Thomas was invited (which is why he wasn't).

In retrospect, Jordan and Magic were extremely good judges of character when it came to Thomas.

UNC_Samurai: ddam: farbekrieg: Ok starting 5 of the 92 team

Magic vs chris paul pg
Bird sf vs lbj sf
Jordan vs kobe sg
Barley vs love pf
Ewing vs chandler c

brutal, outside of lbj i like the 92 team, but then remember coming off the bench you had

stockton vs deron/westbrook pg
mullin vs melo sg
pippen/drexler vs iguadola sf
k malone vs anthony davis pf
robinson vs either davis or chandler (again) c

the 92 team just had crazy amounts of depth.

Where... WHERE does the 12 team win?

/sorry if i got some sf/sg stuff mixed up, just a fan not super fan for basketball

Bird did not play except 10 minutes in a group game... his back was hurting so much that Magic and Jordan had to convince him to be on the team for publicity and to have fun. Magic wasn't in any shape to play in the NBA as he was retired since 91 due to HIV. And before you say that Isiah Thomas could have stepped in for Bird, Jordan and Magic both said that they would quit the team if Thomas was invited (which is why he wasn't).

In retrospect, Jordan and Magic were extremely good judges of character when it came to Thomas.

Somehow, that reminds me of when Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent got into a fight on the Giants, and the entire team sided with Bonds.

I guess my point is, you have to REALLY be an asshole for Jordan to say you're an asshole and be the good guy.

Dafatone: And I'm pretty sure I'd take Durant over him. It's very hard to say. We'll see how much Durant's game improves as he matures. Pippen's a better defender, Durant's a better scorer, and Durant probably gets the edge on the boards, too.

Durant is not a good defender while Pippen was a really good offensive player. Durant is the better shooter but Pippen is an all time great defender. Durant is good on the boards, but he certainly isn't dominant and Pippen had the same rebounding stats. Pippen was also a much better passer. Durant also has less experience compared to Pippen in 92. Durant only has the edge in scoring.

TheJoe03: Bill Frist: It's a team game. the 2012 team has played together a lot more and plays more as a team (well presumably they will, they have over the last few years) than the 92 team did.

Since this is a hypothetical, why put that on the Dream Team? Why not assume the Dream Team would play it a tad bit differently if they were up against a team as great as the 2012 Olympic game instead of a bunch of mostly scrub international players.

If the 1992 dream team also gets to play with each other under a stable coaching program, get lots of practice against real competition, take the time to adjust to the new rules, change their line-up and strategies to play in the modern game, use modern conditioning and updated tactics, and in general kind of aren't the 1992 dream team anymore, yes, they'd win.

Still would be close though.

UNC_Samurai: ddam: farbekrieg: Ok starting 5 of the 92 team

Magic vs chris paul pg
Bird sf vs lbj sf
Jordan vs kobe sg
Barley vs love pf
Ewing vs chandler c

brutal, outside of lbj i like the 92 team, but then remember coming off the bench you had

stockton vs deron/westbrook pg
mullin vs melo sg
pippen/drexler vs iguadola sf
k malone vs anthony davis pf
robinson vs either davis or chandler (again) c

the 92 team just had crazy amounts of depth.

Where... WHERE does the 12 team win?

/sorry if i got some sf/sg stuff mixed up, just a fan not super fan for basketball

Bird did not play except 10 minutes in a group game... his back was hurting so much that Magic and Jordan had to convince him to be on the team for publicity and to have fun. Magic wasn't in any shape to play in the NBA as he was retired since 91 due to HIV. And before you say that Isiah Thomas could have stepped in for Bird, Jordan and Magic both said that they would quit the team if Thomas was invited (which is why he wasn't).

In retrospect, Jordan and Magic were extremely good judges of character when it came to Thomas.

Well, it was for different reasons. Magic used to be best friends with Thomas (even to the point that they would kiss on the cheek before playing against each other) but as soon as the HIV announcement was made Thomas said something along the lines that he'd never play if Magic was allowed on the floor.

Jordan on the other hand didn't like Thomas because in the first All-Star game Jordan was selected in, Jordan though that Thomas was jealous of him and thus told all the teammates not to give him the ball.

Bill Frist: The other problem with your and most other people's analysis is that basketball is not a 1-1 game. This isn't Kobe vs. Jordan playing HORSE or Stockton vs. Chris Paul in a behind the back pass contest.

It's a team game. the 2012 team has played together a lot more and plays more as a team (well presumably they will, they have over the last few years) than the 92 team did.

the lack of talented bigs on the 2012 team means that if needed the 92 team could eat this team alive as long as your PGs can get them ball in 1 on 1 situations. Outside of LBJ i dont see chuck, malone, ewing, or robinson having a problem banging in the paint, drawing fouls, and scoring. Each of those players could carry a team to a win.

The same cannot be said for love, chandler, davis.

Bill Frist: modern game

So this is all based on your hypothetical which is that the 92 moves forward in time to play the current team instead of the current team gong back in time to play the 92 team? Interesting.

farbekrieg: the lack of talented bigs on the 2012 team means that if needed the 92 team could eat this team alive as long as your PGs can get them ball in 1 on 1 situations. Outside of LBJ i dont see chuck, malone, ewing, or robinson having a problem banging in the paint, drawing fouls, and scoring. Each of those players could carry a team to a win.

The same cannot be said for love, chandler, davis.

I agree that if the 2012 team lost it would be because of the their lack of size down low. The modern game, though, is more geared towards athleticism and quickness and 2012 would have an edge there.

TheJoe03: Dafatone: And I'm pretty sure I'd take Durant over him. It's very hard to say. We'll see how much Durant's game improves as he matures. Pippen's a better defender, Durant's a better scorer, and Durant probably gets the edge on the boards, too.

Durant is not a good defender while Pippen was a really good offensive player. Durant is the better shooter but Pippen is an all time great defender. Durant is good on the boards, but he certainly isn't dominant and Pippen had the same rebounding stats. Pippen was also a much better passer. Durant also has less experience compared to Pippen in 92. Durant only has the edge in scoring.

We'll see how Durant grows (but we're talking about him now, I know). He's 23. Pippen didn't even enter the league until 22. Durant's going to be scary in his prime,

And where's all this "not a good defender" stuff coming from? Durant averaged about a steal and a block per game last year, and his advanced defensive numbers off of basketball-reference (hazy, I know) say that he's at least pretty good.

Last, I'll point out that Durant had a higher efficiency rating last year, going from basketball-reference (again a hazy stat, and one I suspect weights scoring too much), than Pippen ever had in a single season.

Pippen's an alltime great, and one of the very best defenders ever. Durant might wind up one of the very best scorers ever. I guess we'll see.

TheJoe03: Bill Frist: modern game

So this is all based on your hypothetical which is that the 92 moves forward in time to play the current team instead of the current team gong back in time to play the 92 team? Interesting.

That's a fair point. I am indeed assuming 92 team goes forward in time. But even if we could somehow wash those factors, the 2012 team has had a stable and rigorous coaching program for several years as well as more practice which I think would cause them to win if this "really" happened.

Going through the list one by one and saying who is better is a separate question, and in that case the 92 team has a bit more talent.

Dafatone: And where's all this "not a good defender" stuff coming from?

Based on seeing him play (since his one season in Texas to last years Finals). He's not BAD either, but he could improve that part of his game A LOT. Pippen was far and away the better all around SF. Durant will probably end up being a better SF version of Dirk Nowitzki, so an all time great.