Lets not forget that tough competition that Dream Team 1 faced. This tidbit from NBA.com (in case you didnt see the games yourself):
"One player, while trying to guard Magic Johnson, was seen frantically waving to a camera-wielding teammate on the bench, signaling to make sure he got a picture of them together."
A front line of Kevin Garnett, Shaq, and Timmy Dunker? WoW and I will coach the current Real Dream Team vs 1992. Bring it.
Reality,
Several problems with you concept:
1) Remember, you are talking INTERNATIONAL play, not the NBA. Shaq isn't going to fare well in international rules with his "back down" play. They simply don't allow the "force" play that the NBA, at least at this point, seems to love.
2) KG would be an excellent defensive player for the US -- as a SF, the guy could roam and play team defense much like Pip did, however, I think Pip was a better team defender in the passing lanes while KG is better defending the basket (shotblocking).
3) Shaq, TD and KG vs. DRob, Ewing, Malone and Barkley. Not to mention the original dream team also had Pip, Magic, MJ, Bird. They were ALL better shooters and all of them were better passers as well. Shaq is a very good passing big man but with that exception, the original dream team was a MUCH better passing squad -- in the frontcourt as well as the backcourt.
4) I think with Shaq, TD and KG, you would have players who would pass the ball and share -- something that with the exception of a few players, a current dream team wouldn't have. The NBA has changed a GREAT deal over the years -- egos have risen with the inflation of salary and there isn't a player in the current dream team (I'm talking todays REAL dream team -- not the one that is playing in Athens) who can say that they are better than their counter parts on the original dream team. I am a big fan of Kobe (on the court) and I still think he would have a hard time folding into the team concept the way that MJ did. These guys were not only professional but also quite mature and most were at the heighth of their career and had already proven themselves. Kobe, TMac and some of the current "dream team" players still feel they have an awful lot to prove, IMO. This is also a problem with the CURRENT "doomed" team.
Randy,
I know it tickles you when i answer each so here it is.
1) You mean all that stuff I've been saying about Shaq being one dimensional is true? Save for writerman, Dennis and a few others, you ALL have been calling Shaq the Most Dominant EVER, EVER, EVER. All of you since the days of MSNbc.
Shaqs demonstrated occasional ability to be more then a lane clogging dunker I have acknowledged. With WoW and I as coach his potential will be realized.
And dabods, as to floor spacing, the question would be how would your Dream 1 get rebounds vs KG Shaq TD.
2) KG would be playing forward and his 7'5" wingspan or whatever it is would reek havoc with your much smaller fwds. KG would not even be playing Pip. And as to Pip squeak, introduce Tayshon Prince. Prince has the same wingspan as Pip and i say could counterbalance him
3. Malone and Barkley? Great position rebounders but good luck against the front line i mentioned. Also introducing BenWa to match either Barkley or Malones beef.
to be continued......
Reality, when you actually talk basketball rather than just ripping the Lakers (you can't even post about the Lakers rationally or objectively), I enjoy talking basketball with you.
Umm, a couple of problems with your post:
1) You mean all that stuff I've been saying about Shaq being one dimensional is true? Save for writerman, Dennis and a few others, you ALL have been calling Shaq the Most Dominant EVER, EVER, EVER. All of you since the days of MSNbc.
I have never stated that Shaq is the most dominant player ever, ever, ever. I have said he is the most dominant in the game. Bringing up Writerman is a mistake, Writerman hated Shaq as much as you hate the Lakers and must have been a conquest and lover of Wilt the way he wrote about him. Umm, if Wilt was such a great shooter, why did he have to jump from the freethrow line to dunk the ball? Wilt was so strong that he could throw Shaq around like a ragdoll. Blah, blah, blah. Shaq's play is PERFECT for the NBA today and the way the game is played today in the NBA makes Shaq the most dominant player. Shaq is the most dominant player in the NBA today -- has been for quite a few years -- it's a combination of his strength, size and quick feet. All of those things are negated in the International game. Shaq WOULD be a help on defense but a player who is quicker like Ben Wallace would be a better player for international play than Shaq, IMO. International play is just sooo different from the NBA. It's a lot more like Euro ball -- emphasis on zone and outside shooting -- where the NBA puts emphasis on individual play, size and strength in the post, athleticism and showmanship. Why do you think Euro players are coming over to the NBA for their shooting ability?
By-the-way, for the record, who did I say was the best center ever in the NBA? It wasn't Shaq, was it? I believe Kareem was the best center to ever play the game -- Hakeem was second. Shaq would rate in the top 5, though, IMO.
2) KG would be playing forward and his 7'5" wingspan or whatever it is would reek havoc with your much smaller fwds. KG would not even be playing Pip. And as to Pip squeak, introduce Tayshon Prince. Prince has the same wingspan as Pip and i say could counterbalance him
You were talking about a present day dream team (best NBA stars) against past dream team, correct? That means KG at SF so he WOULD be playing Pip. And, with a present day "dream team" Tayshon Prince would NOT be chosen. I, personally, believe that our present "doomed" team would be better off with Prince and Melo or Marion rather than both of these players. Prince is a much better defender and a better team defender. But Pip brought a lot more to the dream team than his defense, great shooting from outside and the ability to run the floor and orchestrate the offense. KG can't do that as well as Pip could and Prince can't do that at all.
3. Malone and Barkley? Great position rebounders but good luck against the front line i mentioned. Also introducing BenWa to match either Barkley or Malones beef.
Umm, I would think that you would stop and think about the playoffs this year before you would make such a comment. Both Malone and Barkley are great defenders -- Malone is an EXCELLENT one and has a lot of ability around the basket. You don't think that he did a great job against TD this year? I thought you already conceeded that point. As for BenWa, DRob was as quick, as strong and had better abilities than BenWa ever had. BenWa is a great player but DRob was better -- even if he was a Spur.
TD is, IMO, the best PF to ever play the game -- but Malone wrote the book of PF that TD must have read and studied. I think you are forgetting that. I think Malone proved himself during the playoffs this year and remember, he was in his PRIME in dream team #1. Shaq is a poor choice for International play -- while the NBA emphasizes his size and strength in the post, the International play negates all of that. TD is fundamental and so is KG -- both would excel (and TD is) in International play -- but neither would have the supporting cast that the first dream team had.
PG - Magic, Stockton (the best passers to ever play the game)
SG - MJ and Mullins (MJ is the greatest individual player to ever play the game and an incredible defender -- Mullins was an excellent shooter)
SF - Bird and Pip (Bird is one of the best shooters to ever play the game and a very good passer -- Pip was a great team defender and could play point SF)
PF - Malone and Barkley (Malone rewrote the book on PF -- his offense, defense and passing is incredible and Barkley was a smart savvy player with offense range and a wide array of arsenal)
C - DRob and Ewing -- not the best centers to have ever played the game but both are in the top 10, IMO. If you have to choose a center for zone defense, DRob is one of the top choices to have ever played the game, IMO -- esp. when you look at what he brings at the offensive end as well. He is PERFECT for the International game all around and I can't think of a better player outside of Kareem for international play. Ewing, in his prime, was a very good zone defender and his offense also was perfect for international play -- good range and the ability to mix up his offense (you don't get that with Shaq).
Dream Team #1 didn't play the kind of world talent that our current team faces but they wouldn't have lost a game and the games, while they might not be blowouts, wouldn't have been in question -- EVER! Dream Team #1 had everything: passing, shooting, scorers, rebounding, defense, team defense and incredible chemistry. Look what is missing with todays "doomed team" -- no passing, no shooting and no team defense. Even today's "dream team" would be missing the passing that the first dream team had. Sure, JKidd is a great passer but Magic and Stockton were the best -- but look beyond that -- TD isn't a great passer, Shaq is but KG isn't either. TMac, Kobe, Redd, Melo, James, etc. -- none of these guys are the kind of passers that existed on the first dream team -- Kobe and James are probably the best passers on the team and Kobe looks to score first rather than finding the open man and James isn't a good enough shooter to demand the double teams that the original dream team demanded.
Look at each position and the combination that they possessed in the following areas: shooting, scoring, passing, defense, rebounding, steals, shotblocking, team defense and chemistry. When you put that combination together, the original dream team is the best team that you could assemble in any decade, IMO -- at least to date. I don't think the rest of the world would stand in awe of the original dream team like they did years ago but there still wouldn't be a question that they were the best team ever assembled (and here I'm sounding like I'm talking about the original Avengers "go avengers").
