January 17, 201214 yr David Robinson - 26/27 Patrick Ewing - 29/30 Larry Bird - 35 Scottie Pippen - 26 Michael Jordan - 29 Clyde Drexler - 30 Karl Malone - 29 John Stockton - 30 Chris Mullin - 29 Charles Barkley - 29 Magic Johnson - 32/33 Christian Laettner - 21/22 I don't know where this myth comes from that the 1992 Dream Team was a bunch of old guys. The fact is nearly every one of them were at or near their playing peak with the exception of three guys. Larry Bird was the oldest, but perhaps more significantly injuries had taken a toll on him. Magic was 32 or 33 and past his prime, but was still playing at a high level when he retired a year prior to the Olympics. In his last season ('90-91), Magic averaged 19 points, 12.5 assists, and 7 rebounds. The third is Christian Laettner who just graduated college. The rest ranged from their mid-20's to 30 years old. The original Dream Team had a more balanced makeup, IMO. Certainly they aren't as athletic across the board, but they had a few guys with comparable athletic ability. Besides, that in itself isn't the end all. I'd be willing to sacrifice a little athleticism for a couple of reliable perimeter shooters like Bird and Mullin, or a 6'9 PG who can create matchup problems. I also think if you're getting really serious about a series of games between these two teams, looking at the entire roster is misleading. Teams don't play a 12-man rotation. So, the last 3 or 4 guys on the bench aren't going to be playing a high number of minutes, IMO. So, the perceived advantage of say, Lamar Odom vs. Christian Laettner, is much more significant on paper than it would be in reality, since neither guy would necessarily have to play.
January 17, 201214 yr Author Need I remind you all that two of the most significant players on the 92 team, Magic and Bird, weren't and aren't physically able at this time in 1992 to keep up with anyone from the 2012 team. Bird retired immediately after the Olympics because of his back and Magic was still trying to figure out the proper medicine cocktails to play. Magic only played in 6 of the 8 Olympics games and you want me to believe he and Bird could will the 92 team to victory? They couldn't even will themselves to play.
January 17, 201214 yr What made Malone great? The fact that he averaged 25 and 10 over a 19 year career?
January 17, 201214 yr Author David Robinson - 26/27 Patrick Ewing - 29/30 Larry Bird - 35 Scottie Pippen - 26 Michael Jordan - 29 Clyde Drexler - 30 Karl Malone - 29 John Stockton - 30 Chris Mullin - 29 Charles Barkley - 29 Magic Johnson - 32/33 Christian Laettner - 21/22 I don't know where this myth comes from that the 1992 Dream Team was a bunch of old guys. The fact is nearly every one of them were at or near their playing peak with the exception of three guys. Larry Bird was the oldest, but perhaps more significantly injuries had taken a toll on him. Magic was 32 or 33 and past his prime, but was still playing at a high level when he retired a year prior to the Olympics. In his last season ('90-91), Magic averaged 19 points, 12.5 assists, and 7 rebounds. The third is Christian Laettner who just graduated college. The rest ranged from their mid-20's to 30 years old. The original Dream Team had a more balanced makeup, IMO. Certainly they aren't as athletic across the board, but they had a few guys with comparable athletic ability. Besides, that in itself isn't the end all. I'd be willing to sacrifice a little athleticism for a couple of reliable perimeter shooters like Bird and Mullin, or a 6'9 PG who can create matchup problems. I also think if you're getting really serious about a series of games between these two teams, looking at the entire roster is misleading. Teams don't play a 12-man rotation. So, the last 3 or 4 guys on the bench aren't going to be playing a high number of minutes, IMO. So, the perceived advantage of say, Lamar Odom vs. Christian Laettner, is much more significant on paper than it would be in reality, since neither guy would necessarily have to play. You still can't discount the bench just because you think they wouldn't play. Olympic games usually see 10-12 players hit the floor.
January 17, 201214 yr Author The fact that he averaged 25 and 10 over a 19 year career? Kevin Martin averages over 20 points a game. Does that make him one of the greatest shooting guards ever?
January 17, 201214 yr He was made in a laboratory by John Stockton. He was nothing without Stockton. Yeah, he scored a bunch of points but he was too soft for my taste for a 6'9" 250 pound man. Only person he ever got tough with was Isaiah Thomas. He was a fine basketball player but I'd take Griffin, Love, Barkley and Duncan at power forward over Malone and that's just off the top of my head.You might be the only person to ever describe Malone as soft. He took a lot of mid-range jumpers, but he was notorious for all the elbows he would throw and his physical, dirty play. http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/readers/dirtiest/players.html
January 17, 201214 yr Kevin Martin averages over 20 points a game. Does that make him one of the greatest shooting guards ever?Over 19 years then maybe so.
January 17, 201214 yr As I have said, the '92 wins the intangible category in a landslide. Talent is on the side of '12, but not by a whole lot.
January 17, 201214 yr Need I remind you all that two of the most significant players on the 92 team, Magic and Bird, weren't and aren't physically able at this time in 1992 to keep up with anyone from the 2012 team. Bird retired immediately after the Olympics because of his back and Magic was still trying to figure out the proper medicine cocktails to play. Magic only played in 6 of the 8 Olympics games and you want me to believe he and Bird could will the 92 team to victory? They couldn't even will themselves to play. Bird could shoot. That is all this team would need from him. Magic could still play and be effective. You're taking the two oldest guys on the team and making it sound like they are the centerpieces. They were and would be role players, who could effectively fill their roles. As far as "keeping up", that's overrated. They could play zone or play off and let Lebron shoot 3's, which he almost certainly will miss in a high pressure situation.
January 17, 201214 yr Author Exactly, plus you have the intangible factor of wills. I'll take MJ, Bird and Magic's will over anybody in today's game. Those guys would not permit a loss, even for a second, and would probably fight about it. I see nobody in today's game except Kobe and occasionally Wade who have that kind of heart. MJ alone would have everybody in today's group so discombobulated they wouldn't be able to perform anywhere close to their peak. Is he Michael Jordan or the Boogyman?
January 17, 201214 yr You still can't discount the bench just because you think they wouldn't play. Olympic games usually see 10-12 players hit the floor. They try to play everybody on the Olympic teams because they pick an All-Star team. If we are talking about a serious matchup with these two, 10-12 might play, but there are going to be about 8 who eat up the bulk of the minutes. So, I won't discount it, but I will minimize the Lamar Odom vs. Christian Laettner matchup because it wouldn't matter.
January 17, 201214 yr Author You might be the only person to ever describe Malone as soft. He took a lot of mid-range jumpers, but he was notorious for all the elbows he would throw and his physical, dirty play. http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/readers/dirtiest/players.html Could be. I have never liked Malone. The best you'll hear me says about him is that he played well with Stockton. Not a fan of him or his style of play.
January 17, 201214 yr Author Bird could shoot. That is all this team would need from him. Magic could still play and be effective. You're taking the two oldest guys on the team and making it sound like they are the centerpieces. They were and would be role players, who could effectively fill their roles. As far as "keeping up", that's overrated. They could play zone or play off and let Lebron shoot 3's, which he almost certainly will miss in a high pressure situation. :lol: LeBron doesn't shoot threes anymore. Plus we all know who is getting the ball in a high pressure situation. Kobe Bean Bryant. LeBron would be taken out of the game with 6 minutes left.
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