Does this even count as a win.

[Reality]

Please fill in for me how the fundamentally sound '92 team is going to take it to the '04 front line.

Glad to. One word - committment. The '92 squad had committed players right down the line. Our current bunch of "heroes" lack that committment and therefore can't play as a team, only individuals. I am convinced of that.  

 

Is Rudy from the Notre Dame football team movie also going to be dunking on Shaq TD and KG?

[Derek Bodner]

Is Rudy from the Notre Dame football team movie also going to be dunking on Shaq TD and KG?

Why would you have to dunk?  an in his prime DRob would simply shoot the 10 footer that Shaq couldn't be bothered with to contend.

and beside, with perimeter "defenders" like McGrady and Iverson trying to defend the likes of Michael and the glide, Shaq and Duncan would be in foul trouble 2 minutes into the game.

[Derek Bodner]

I'm am one of the biggest, and obviously most knowledgable

Obviously....

Here's one question.  How would any of our current guards (since nobody in the NBA can shoot anymore) have ANY room to drive down the lane with a Shaq, TD, KG frontline?

Not to mention Jordan would be defending those guards as is, and he's one of the top defensive guards of all time

[JoMal]

As stated, the only reason to form these so-called "Dream Teams" is to have them play international squads. Under International rules. That essentially negates Shaq, who can't be bothered to play anyway. But gee, it sure does favor shooters. In which case you can grouse all you want about how dominant Duncan is or Shaq is or McGrady is, but sad to say they just are not in the same League as Bird, Magic, Jordan, Barkley and the other '92 Dream Teamers, who not only could shoot through the zone, but most man-to-man coverage.

The '92'ers were better because they put the game first. And not during the tournament, necessarily, which they walked through, but to be as good as they were in the first place. That novel approach is as foreign to Iverson and O'Neal as taking the "I" out of Iverson, or suggesting to Shaq that he should put down the Big Mac and work out more.

Newsflash WoW, mo' money don't mean they be better players, and that is absolutely the only thing I see the latest bunch leading the way in - being grossly overpaid while not fully committing to their day jobs.

[Reality]

Newsflash for dabods and Jomal.  Iverson aint on WoW and I'z team.
McGrady may or may not be, if so he is coming off the bench and if he is not hot he is outa there.  

If you are saying Kobadiah Springfield don't play defense i simply dont agree.
Michael Redd cannot shoot?  You guys are reachin.
 
You still have yet to address how the '92s are gonna defensively stop our Front Line.

[westkoast]

Newsflash for dabods and Jomal.  Iverson aint on WoW and I'z team.
McGrady may or may not be, if so he is coming off the bench and if he is not hot he is outa there. 

If you are saying Kobadiah Springfield don't play defense i simply dont agree.
Michael Redd cannot shoot?  You guys are reachin.
 
You still have yet to address how the '92s are gonna defensively stop our Front Line.

Not to mention the foul trouble some of these guys would be in.  Sure D-rob could shoot the 10 footer that Shaq wouldn't guard, but for how long?  If hes trying to contain the big fella hes either a) gonna get into foul trouble or b ) get tired.  Barkley and Malone would have even less of a chance guarding him.  Plus who would you put on TD?  Certainly Malone over Barkley.

Kobe could not guard MJ one on one, no way no how.  However, the last time Jordan had to face a front line even half as good as the squad that could be put together today was when the Pistons were making him eat wood.  Id take Duncan, Wallace, Shaq over Mahorn, Laimbeer, and Salley.

Personally id put Kidd in over Iverson.  For offensive and defensive purposes.

[Derek Bodner]

You still have yet to address how the '92s are gonna defensively stop our Front Line.

That's an easy one.

Zone.  Double down on whoever gets the ball in the paint.  Whoever's on Redd or Allen (only one would be on the court at a time) stick him.

That team you listed is taylor made to be zoned up.  You'd end up with Ron Artest, Jason Kidd, Ben Wallace or KG launching up 24 footers.  

Besides, we're comparing individual players.  This is anything but an individual game.  These olympics have shown that good team play can compete with amazing athletes.  When you have good team play, a knowledge of the game, extreme competitiveness, fundamentals to go along with great athletes and talents, that team's as close to unbeatable as it comes.

Really, the only thing a current roster would have on them is size.  It takes more to win than that.

[Derek Bodner]

Also, if you have a starting lineup of:
Kidd
Ray Allen (or Redd)
KG
Duncan
Shaq

Talk about a mismatch of parts.  You've got Kidd, who wants to run.  But Shaq and Duncan don't particularly fill the lanes in a break, and KG doesn't have the advantage at the SF that he does at PF, and Redd's basically a trailor.  So you've got Kidd with nobody filling the lanes and Redd/Allen trying to trail the play and hit a spot up 3.  Great.

Then in the halfcourt you've got Kidd at Pg, who's a pretty poor outside shooter, and not a great drive and kick pg (which is what a sg like Redd/Allen needs).  If got a frontcourt without 3 pt range.  Only one person can shoot from distance on the entire squad.  No room in the lane.  No penetration.  No drive and kick (and thus limiting the effectiveness of Redd/Allen), and easy zone matchup.

That team just DOESN'T work well together.

[Reality]

Kobadiah Springfield cant fill the lane or spot up a 3?

Whomever is doubled cant pass out?  Who is to say the only person they can pass it out to is Ray Allen or Red.  If they are doubled then any one of the other 4 are open.  Im gonna have lots of passing between Shaq TD and KG.  With Kobadiah on the prowl lots of opportunities open up.

[Derek Bodner]

Kobe's a pretty mediocre 3 pt shooter.  

Besides, if you're starting frontcourt's Shaq, TD and KG that leaves only one spot at the 2 guard, for either redd, allen or kobe.  if it's kobe that limits your 3 pt shooting (of which he's the only legitimate one) even more.

Whomever is doubled cant pass out?

Sure, they CAN pass out.  But that doesn't matter if the person they're passing to can't take advantage and make the shot.  Leave Kobe's/Ray/Redd's man on them and force the other 4 to make shots.  They won't make enough to win the game.

[WayOutWest]

#3 KG-The greatest talent I have ever seen at the 3 spot.  Durring the 80's - 90's you had some of the greatest 3's of all time in Nique, Bird, Barkley, Pippin, Worthy and K. Malone (fyi for all ya'll young ones, Karl played the 3 early on, forgot the 6'11 starting PF and Thurl Baily at 6'11 was the first guy off the bench playing the 4 as well).  Best of the bunch talent wise was Pippin but best overall was Bird but he was already on the downside of his career.  Not one of those guys stands a chance against KG, Malone would come the closest but the 92 Dream Team dreamers are using him at the 4 was well as Barkley.  Pippin stands on chance of guarding him either and Chris Mullin was just their to carry the bags.

So IMO the matchups of the front lines CLEARLY favor the current crop.  You would have to goto an "all time" team to match up with the current crop.  You could throw Kareem/Wilt/Gilmore at Shaq, McHale at TD and that's about it, no answer even on the "all time" team for KG unless you go with Roy Tarply's prime that lasted all of one year or you could maybe throw Rodman at him but that's about it.

The back courtis where it gets interesting and IMO clearly favors the 92 team.

#2-At the 2 you have Jordan/Drexler vs. Kobe/T-Mac/Allen.  We get one more guy cause we aint bringing no college kids.  Obviously there is no chance against Jordan.  One of the greates guards on both sides of ball of all time BUT there is no way he's going to be able to guard, let alone stop, Kobe.  Kobe can't do anything defensively against him either.  There are certain players you can't do anything against no matter how good you are, just ask Russel about containing Wilt.  Same goes for MJ on Kobe.  T-Mac has the advantage over Drexler.  Still, I give the advantage to the 92 team because of MJ alone but not enough to offset ANY advantage other than the 5 spot

#1-What can you say here, you have the greatest PG and the close second on the 92 team.  The current crop of NBA'ers can only boast Kidd, imo the 3rd greatest, Kidd is closer to Magic than Stockton but Stockon did all the little things.  I do like Kidd's size and defense against the PG but the current crop does not have a solid back up at the PG stop unless we can count on Livingston to make a big splash or for GP to get back into form.  Big advantage for the 92 team.

Talk all the "Rudy" talk you want but the current crop will handle their buisness just fine and NO flogging way the 92 "dominate", they would be fortunate just to win a close series.

[WayOutWest]

Here's one question.  How would any of our current guards (since nobody in the NBA can shoot anymore) have ANY room to drive down the lane with a Shaq, TD, KG frontline?

One of the things that makes Kobe so special is his mid range game, he wouldn't have to drive all the way to the rim, just past the defender.  Ray Allen would also have a great time against the Shaq/TD packed in D.

Not to mention Jordan would be defending those guards as is, and he's one of the top defensive guards of all time

One of the greatest defenders at the 2 spot but not good enough to contain Kobe or T-Mac.  Those guys are just at that level that can't be guarded, just like Russel couldn't guard Wilt.  Same can be said of MJ and Drexler, they just couldn't be defended.

[WayOutWest]

You still have yet to address how the '92s are gonna defensively stop our Front Line.

That's an easy one.

Zone.  Double down on whoever gets the ball in the paint.  Whoever's on Redd or Allen (only one would be on the court at a time) stick him.

That team you listed is taylor made to be zoned up.  You'd end up with Ron Artest, Jason Kidd, Ben Wallace or KG launching up 24 footers.  

Besides, we're comparing individual players.  This is anything but an individual game.  These olympics have shown that good team play can compete with amazing athletes.  When you have good team play, a knowledge of the game, extreme competitiveness, fundamentals to go along with great athletes and talents, that team's as close to unbeatable as it comes.

Really, the only thing a current roster would have on them is size.  It takes more to win than that.

Here is my squad

Shaq/B. Miller
TD/JO
KG/T-Mac/Magette
Kobe/Redd/Allen
Kidd/A. Miller

VS

Robinson/Ewing
Malone/Barkley/Laetner
Bird/Pippen/Mullin
MJ/Drexler
Magic/Stockton

You've got Miller/Redd/Allen/Kobe for zone busters, doesn't take 3 pointers to kill a zone NOT to mention that 3 pt line is closer and would make Kobe/T-Mac all that more dangerous.

Where is Allen Iverson?

I'll throw him on the IR with Marion.

I'll take my sqaud to war anyday of the week and twice on Sunday's vs. the "Dream Team".  

[Joe Vancil]

Let's see:  that leaves WayOutWest with a squad of:

Brad Miller
Tim Duncan
Corey Maggette
Michael Redd
Andre Miller

The rest didn't show up.  Shaq wouldn't play unless Phil Jackson was named the coach.  Jermaine O'Neal is out with injury.  Garnett is getting married, I believe.  McGrady has security concerns.  Kobe is on trial.  Ray Allen has security concerns.  Jason Kidd is injured.

I'll take the 1992 Team in a cakewalk, even with Bird a shell of his former self.  Heck, I might take the 1988 Team.

Say what you want about the talent of today, but the DEDICATION of today's players SUCKS.
  Robinson/Ewing/Malone/Barkley/Pippen/Mullin/Bird/Jordan/Drexler/Johnson/Stockton/Laettner didn't question whether or not they wanted to go.  It's a game, and either our team wins, or it loses.  Darn straight they wanted to go.

We'd just come off of the first Iraqi war.  Why weren't they concerned about their safety?  Where are the life commitments?  Where are the rape trials?  Heck, we had a player who had retired from the NBA due to contracting the HIV virus...and he went and played!  Bird's back was in awful shape - he played.  Stockton was injured in 1996.  He played.  Played another full season before having knee surgery.

If Dream Team 1 magically transported through time and showed up at these Olympics, international players would *STILL* be wanting autographs, and would be beaten soundly.  If the current team was magically transported through time and showed up at the 1992 Olympics, the other teams would still be looking at beating the tar out of them - especially Lithuania (who I considered the second-best team at that Olympics, but had the misfortune of meeting us in the semi's) and Croatia.

 

[westkoast]

McGrady has security issues?!?!  The guy will walk thru the hood with 100k worth of jewels on like hes Nino Brown, but hes afraid of some terrorist harming his life?  Ive heard of people getting shot in the street over far less than a 100k watch.

Joe, did you really include Christian Laetner into your bunch of 'dedicated' players?