Kobe making himself look stupid

[uconnbill]

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...

Bird was done but his final year he averaged 20 points almost 10 rebounds and 6.8 assist a game. If it wasn't for his all out style his career would have went on another couple of years.

 

[Ts5034]

Kobe is smart, he knows what he was doing. That statement was made to make headlines and generate interest into this years team. The best way to do it would be calling out the 1992 Dream Team. I just saw the interview on ESPN and there was nothing cocky or malicious about the way Kobe said it. He even went as far as saying if all those guys from 1992 were in their prime it would be a different story.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

espn is loving all of you idiots who are falling for the classic "it's the middle of summer and we don't have to put on tv so let's create some controversy out of thin air" sportscenter segment.

this whole debate is pointless anyways. according to the latest sportscenter, the espn computer simulations have determined that the dream team would win 54% of the time. no arguing with that. it's science.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

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

C'mon. Just stop. No one would argue with a straight face that international basketball was anywhere near as good as it is now. Toni Kukoc? Stop.

 

[Fishy]

We can talk about match ups, but we all know what would happen...Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant would end up taking 70 shots between them. And the 29-year old Jordan would crack the 34-year old Kobe and that would be the end of it.

The 1992 team was just too big. With four top-50 all-timers in the front court, they would own the paint. Whatever happened on the rest of the court, the '92 front court would be simply dominant. (Barkley was likely the most productive player over the six games.)

Looking over the rosters, the only guys I would really want to pull off the 2012 team and add to the 1992 would be Durant and James. The rest just aren't good enough.

My guess - 1992 wins by 12-15 pts.

 

[Huskies4ever]

We can talk about match ups, but we all know what would happen...Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant would end up taking 70 shots between them. And the 29-year old Jordan would crack the 34-year old Kobe and that would be the end of it.

The 1992 team was just too big. With four top-50 all-timers in the front court, they would own the paint. Whatever happened on the rest of the court, the '92 front court would be simply dominant. (Barkley was likely the most productive player over the six games.)

Looking over the rosters, the only guys I would really want to pull off the 2012 team and add to the 1992 would be Durant and James. The rest just aren't good enough.

My guess - 1992 wins by 12-15 pts.

I posted something similar in another thread. Besides James and Durant, I thought Kobe and possibly DWade were the only guys anywhere near the the same stratosphere as players on the original Dream Team.

 

[Fishy]

You're right about Wade - forgot about him.

1992 could have been even better....replace Stockton with Isiah Thomas and Christian Laettner with a potted plant.

 

[mauconnfan]

I'm sure the foreign pool is deeper but there were some very good players then and it's not as bad as you would like to make people believe. Many of the good players still played in the Euro leagues with no NBA aspirations.

No matter the 92 team was too big and tough in the interior for these guys no matter how athletic the '12 team has. All you need to know is Tyson Chandler is on this team......

 

[dsturdy5]

I am a huge Celtics fan but I need to defend Magic a bit. Past his prime? Twilight of his career? He was a year removed from taking a slightly above average Lakers team to the 1991 finals. when he made an abbreviated comeback in 96, he still put up 14.6 ppg and over 6 assists.

Did he have the speed or footwork to stay with guys like CP? No but look at the mismatches a 6-9 pg would create. Go ahead and put LBJ on him, then who is Westbrook, or Paul guarding?

As others have said, too, the front court would be too much for 2012 to handle and if they dedicate extra defenders to the paint, you are leaving Mullin, Larry Bird, MJ, etc open from 3. Good luck.

 

[JaYnYcE]

Kevin Love is better than Chris Bosh. And I wouldn't put Garnett on this team. If Healthy, I would go with.

Love/Bosh/STAT


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[BlueMAB]

If they played 10 times, the 2012 team might win 1 or 2.

If the roles were reversed, MJ would say the same thing. They both have unlimited confidence and type a, high achiever personalities. It's why one is the best, and the other is one of the best to ever play the game. It's why they've both had problems with teammates who haven't been as dedicated to winning, and why they've combined for 11 championships. Kobe isn't stupid, just wrong.

 

[Huskies4ever]

I am a huge Celtics fan but I need to defend Magic a bit. Past his prime? Twilight of his career? He was a year removed from taking a slightly above average Lakers team to the 1991 finals. when he made an abbreviated comeback in 96, he still put up 14.6 ppg and over 6 assists.

Did he have the speed or footwork to stay with guys like CP? No but look at the mismatches a 6-9 pg would create. Go ahead and put LBJ on him, then who is Westbrook, or Paul guarding?

As others have said, too, the front court would be too much for 2012 to handle and if they dedicate extra defenders to the paint, you are leaving Mullin, Larry Bird, MJ, etc open from 3. Good luck.

Magic wasn't past his prime, he was 32(?), but his career was over (other than the brief stint you mentioned). Bird was past his expiration date. Still, those two with Jordan is the greatest trio ever on one team.

 

[UConn990411]

Kevin Love is better than Chris Bosh. And I wouldn't put Garnett on this team. If Healthy, I would go with.

Love/Bosh/STAT

LOL at Amare over Garnett.

I'm not saying I agree with Kobe, but if Wade, Dwight, and Rose were healthy then I think we'd have a really good game. I'm still picking the Dream Team by a narrow margin because of their size, but I think the 2012 team's athleticism - particularly at point guard - would cause some real problems. Who guards the likes of Paul, Rose, Westbrook, and Williams? They would drive by Magic and Stockton with ease.

And LeBron - who the hell checks him? Jordan and Pippen could do as good a job as anyone today...but as we've seen today, LeBron will pick apart any single or double coverage. And if you double him, you're leaving an open Kobe or Durant (or Dwight for an alley-oop). It's a no-win situation.

NBA2K needs to make this matchup happen pronto.

 

[Huskies320]

I think it might be a close game if Howard, Wade, and Rose were included on the team

 

[Huskies4ever]

LOL at Amare over Garnett.

I'm not saying I agree with Kobe, but if Wade, Dwight, and Rose were healthy then I think we'd have a really good game. I'm still picking the Dream Team by a narrow margin because of their size, but I think the 2012 team's athleticism - particularly at point guard - would cause some real problems. Who guards the likes of Paul, Rose, Westbrook, and Williams? They would drive by Magic and Stockton with ease.

And LeBron - who the hell checks him? Jordan and Pippen could do as good a job as anyone today...but as we've seen today, LeBron will pick apart any single or double coverage. And if you double him, you're leaving an open Kobe or Durant (or Dwight for an alley-oop). It's a no-win situation.

NBA2K needs to make this matchup happen pronto.

Magics height and length would have negated some of those guys' quickness, and if they got by Magic, there was plenty of help defense (with Ewing, Hakeem, and Mr. Robinson) in the paint.

 

[JaYnYcE]

LOL at Amare over Garnett.

I'm not saying I agree with Kobe, but if Wade, Dwight, and Rose were healthy then I think we'd have a really good game. I'm still picking the Dream Team by a narrow margin because of their size, but I think the 2012 team's athleticism - particularly at point guard - would cause some real problems. Who guards the likes of Paul, Rose, Westbrook, and Williams? They would drive by Magic and Stockton with ease.

And LeBron - who the hell checks him? Jordan and Pippen could do as good a job as anyone today...but as we've seen today, LeBron will pick apart any single or double coverage. And if you double him, you're leaving an open Kobe or Durant (or Dwight for an alley-oop). It's a no-win situation.

NBA2K needs to make this matchup happen pronto.

I don't know if 2K sports can get the rights to Olympic rosters, past or present but it would be awesome if they could.

To the STAT vs KG, if healthy I'd take STAT just going by the last time he was healthy which was prior to tweaking his back during pre-game warmups against the Celtics in the playoffs.

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[JaYnYcE]

Magics height and length would have negated some of those guys' quickness, and if they got by Magic, there was plenty of help defense (with Ewing, Hakeem, and Mr. Robinson) in the paint.

Hakeem wasn't on the dream team.


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[Deadrody]

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

Indeed. And since this is entirely hypothetical, they get to be in the prime of their careers for this hypothetical matchup.

Its not even close, really.

 

[Husk-E]

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

All the players you listed weren't bad, but there are just more now. Now we have to play against many more NBA players that are playing for their home country, like Pau Gasol or Manu Ginobili.

 

[Kitaman]

Remember that the Dream team 'cut' Isiah Thomas. He would probably be starting for the current team.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Indeed. And since this is entirely hypothetical, they get to be in the prime of their careers for this hypothetical matchup.

Its not even close, really.

People who make a point of reminding everyone that they pay zero attention to today's NBA can't really opine with any credibility.

 

[HeGotGame]

Ryan Russillo was right when he said the only people who think the 12 team could beat the 92 team are either on the 12 team or 12 years old.

I think Lebron, Durant and Kobe and maybe Chris Paul are the only ones on this team who would make the 92 team. Lebron, Durant and Kobe would replace Lattern, Mullins and Drexler or Pippen. Does Paul replace Stockton? Tough one. No one else on the 12 team is replacing anyone on the 92 team.

The 12 team will start Chandler at Center? Are you kidding me? Him matching up with David Robinson and Ewing?

Malone and Barkley compared to Blake Griffin and Kevin Love? Come on, Blake can dunk that's cool.......

Also Kobe would make the team but wouldnt start over Jordon. The only one who starts is Lebron over the Bird/Pippen combo the 92 team used. Thats because by 92 Bird was slowed down due to injury and ended up retiring after.

There is only 1 Dream Team and it was in 1992 and they would beat this 2012 team by 15+​

 

[dsturdy5]

Remember that the Dream team 'cut' Isiah Thomas. He would probably be starting for the current team.

did you see the "Dream Team" documentary that NBATV did? No one would come out and say that MJ kept Isaiah off of the squad but it was certainly implied. Basically, to,get MJ to agree to play, he had to be promised that Thomas wouldn't be asked to join.

 

[Kitaman]

I have the movie DVR'ed. Thanks for reminding me. The team didn't need him but his omission was certainly obvious. He was a great guard, and I'm not even a big fan of his, but more of a fan than MJ, I guess.