Kobe making himself look stupid

[superjohn]

Kobe said this version of the USA Olympic bball team would beat the Dream Team. Ummm, nice try Kobe.

 

[Husk-E]

Does Kobe ever not look stupid?

 

[huskyblooz]

well, Ewings knees are shot and Magic looks pretty fat and Laettner, well he still looks like Laettner!
So yeah, I would say the 2012 could beat them if they played tomorrow.

 

[Kitaman]

I know people aren't taking this statement serious. I would be more surprised if he said the opposite.

Its like asking a losing record boxer if he can beat the undefeated champ. I doubt if he would say he expects not to win.

 

[JaYnYcE]

He could be right. Big Men aside, it would be an interesting game.


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[Walker11]

I certainly think it would be a game. The 2012 team would be much more athletic but wouldn't have close to the depth or skill in the front court. Lets not act like any team that starts a prime Lebron and Durant combo is going to get thumped by anyone. If the team was healthy, I would have to consider giving the edge to the 2012 team, at least the starting lineups. Prime Rose, Durant, Lebron and Howard with an old but extremely good Kobe holding it down is pretty ridiculous.

 

[superjohn]

I'm not even going to get into all the reasons why I think the Dream Team would win but for those that think this team would win I ask you one question, how would this team get any rebounds against the Dream Team?

 

[Huskies4ever]

I'm not even going to get into all the reasons why I think the Dream Team would win but for those that think this team would win I ask you one question, how would this team get any rebounds against the Dream Team?

Answer: They wouldn't.

 

[UofCT]

I'm not even going to get into all the reasons why I think the Dream Team would win but for those that think this team would win I ask you one question, how would this team get any rebounds against the Dream Team?

Have you seen Kevin Love's rebounding numbers? Have you seen how strong and athletic Lebron is?

 

[superjohn]

Yes I've seen Kevin Love's numbers, I'm a huge K. love fan and no I've never noticed that Lebron is strong and athletic. Have you ever heard of guys like Barkley, Robinson, Malone and Ewing? They were all pretty strong and athletic and knew a thing or two about rebounding.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were shells of their former selves in 1992.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I agree with him.

 

[caw]

It would be a fun game if it were possible. I'm not sure the current team could defend the Dream Team though.

I just can't see it.

Current team:

PG: Chris Paul/Deron Williams/Russell Westbrook
SG: Kobe Bryant/James Harden
SF: Kevin Durant/Carmelo Anthony/Andre Iguodala
PF: Lebron James/Blake Griffin
C: Tyson Chandler/Kevin Love

Dream Team:

PG: Magic Johnson/John Stockton
SG: Michael Jordan/Clyde Drexler
SF: Larry Bird/Scottie Pippen/Chris Mullen
PF: Charles Barkley/Karl Malone/Christian Laettner
C: Patrick Ewing/David Robinson

If the starters played a ton of minutes for the current team, they might keep it close. Griffin/Love/Harden are all inferior to their counterparts. Young Jordan would have a field day, not to mention Magic and the post players.

I do think if you could magically make everyone healthy and on the current squad, then you might be somewhere.

PG: Chris Paul/Deron Williams/Derrick Rose
SG: Kobe Bryant/Dwayne Wade
SF: Lebron James/Kevin Durant/Carmelo Anthony
PF: Kevin Garnett/Chris Bosh
C: Dwight Howard/Andrew Bynum

Of course you could also say the same about the Dream Team, Shaq/Hakeem/etc.

 

[caw]

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were shells of their former selves in 1992.

Magic was still a huge mismatch and keep in mind Jordan was at his athletic prime, whereas Kobe is on the wrong side of 30. I don't think Bird would necessarily play a lot against the current squad, Pippen would be a better match-up or Clyde.

 

[Burnsbros23]

if u actually heard kobe's whole quote there wasnt much too it. The dream team would win. But like Caw said if both teams were healthy it would have been a battle. Gotta remember Magic and Bird were past there primes.

 

[UCONNfan1]

The problem with the current players on team USA is that they all aren't the best players in the country. they are missing Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, Kevin Garnett, Chris Bosch, Dwayne Wade, and Derrick Rose. If you look at the team CAW listed above, then they might have a chance against the orignal dream team.

But in their current incarnation, I just don't see it.

Chris Paul < Magic Johnson (Paul is terrific, but Magic was better)
Kobe Bryant < Michael Jordan (To me, Jordan is the greatest of all time)
Kevin Durant > Larry Bird (Bird was just past his prime)
Lebron James > Charles Barkley (Barkley is tougher and more physical but he's not close to James skill-wise)
Tyson Chandler < Patrick Ewing (Chandler's not even as good as Robinson, who comes off the bench for the dream team)

And the reserves - it's not even close.

 

[Scoe]

I dont think the 2012 team would win, but I dont see anything wrong with what Kobe said, you ask an alltime great if he thinks he can win do you think he is going to say. Keep in mind the competition has gotten tougher internationally, other countries dont fear the US as much as they did in 92.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

The problem with the current players on team USA is that they all aren't the best players in the country. they are missing Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, Kevin Garnett, Chris Bosch, Dwayne Wade, and Derrick Rose. If you look at the team CAW listed above, then they might have a chance against the orignal dream team.

But in their current incarnation, I just don't see it.

Chris Paul < Magic Johnson (Paul is terrific, but Magic was better)
Kobe Bryant < Michael Jordan (To me, Jordan is the greatest of all time)
Kevin Durant > Larry Bird (Bird was just past his prime)
Lebron James > Charles Barkley (Barkley is tougher and more physical but he's not close to James skill-wise)
Tyson Chandler < Patrick Ewing (Chandler's not even as good as Robinson, who comes off the bench for the dream team)

And the reserves - it's not even close.

I'm pretty sure that neither Magic or Bird played a single NBA game after the '92 Olympics. Bird wasn't "just past his prime" - his career was over.

Also, several different people have said that the one thing that could have given the '92 team trouble was a lightning quick point guard who could get into the lane. I'm sorry, but there's no way that the 1992 version of Magic Johnson could stay in front of Chris Paul or Russell Westbrook.

I'm not saying that the 2012 team would win. I'm just saying that it's not as lopsided as some are saying.

 

[UCONNfan1]

I'm pretty sure that neither Magic or Bird played a single NBA game after the '92 Olympics. Bird wasn't "just past his prime" - his career was over.

Also, several different people have said that the one thing that could have given the '92 team trouble was a lightning quick point guard who could get into the lane. I'm sorry, but there's no way that the 1992 version of Magic Johnson could stay in front of Chris Paul or Russell Westbrook.

I'm not saying that the 2012 team would win. I'm just saying that it's not as lopsided as some are saying.

good point. it's hard to remember back to 1992 - others have noted that Bird was done and Magic was in the twilight of his career. I don't disagree it would be a good game, not sure how "close". if they were to play a 7 game series, i'd see the original dream team winning in 5 or 6 - the reserves would have much more of an impact. but still, it's all just opinions. you make valid points...

 

[caw]

I'm pretty sure that neither Magic or Bird played a single NBA game after the '92 Olympics. Bird wasn't "just past his prime" - his career was over.

Also, several different people have said that the one thing that could have given the '92 team trouble was a lightning quick point guard who could get into the lane. I'm sorry, but there's no way that the 1992 version of Magic Johnson could stay in front of Chris Paul or Russell Westbrook.

I'm not saying that the 2012 team would win. I'm just saying that it's not as lopsided as some are saying.

Magic's issues were more due to his disease than anything. Bird was fairly done, but he didn't play a ton either. I know some have said the current team is missing a ton of players, but the Dream Team could have been even better.

Players not on the either team:
Howard vs Shaq (albeit a young one)
Bynum vs Hakeem
Garnett vs Kemp
Wade vs Wilkins
Rose vs Thomas

Other players from 1992 not on the Dream Team: Kevin Johnson, Tim Hardaway, Richmond, Rice, Lewis, Miller, Rodman (almost 19 rebounds per game in 1992), Larry Johnson.

 

[RichZ]

I'm pretty sure the guys who think that this team could play with the dream team are all under 20. Maybe under 12.

 

[jleves]

If time travel ever becomes available, one of the biggest money makes will be the company that puts together The Greatest Games Never Played. Go get all the dream team guys at their prime and healthiest and all the 2012 players at their best (even if you have to get them a couple years in the future) and then play a 7 game series. Can you imagine what that would be worth? You could finally put to rest arguments about what is the greatest baseball team of all time (The Big Red Machine vs one of the powerhouse Yankee teams). The undefeated Dolphins vs the almost undefeated Patriots. You could get some awesome boxing matches between guys in their prime who may have boxed 30 years apart. That's what I would hope do with time travel. That and maybe getting someone like Ben Franklin and bring him to present day and drop an iPad in his lap.... That would make good TV.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I'm pretty sure the guys who think that this team could play with the dream team are all under 20. Maybe under 12.

Nope.

I also think that it looks a bit skewed given the total absence of international competition 20 years ago versus today.

 

[mauconnfan]

Marcioulunis, Sabonis, Kukoc, Petrovic........few others have players as good as these guys were......thrre were more

 

[tzznandrew]

Marcioulunis, Sabonis, Kukoc, Petrovic........few others have players as good as these guys were......thrre were more

Come on. Let's not argue about the relative strength of international ball. It was solid then, but there are many more good foreign players now.