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Could the 2012 Olympic Team Beat the Dream Team
NBA, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dream Team, 2012 Olympic Team

Kobe Bryant Thinks The 2012 Olympic Team Could Beat The Dream Team- Absurd Right?

7/12/12 in NBA   |   GeorgeMon   |   132 respect

Kobe Bryant thinks that the 2012 Men’s Olympic Basketball team could beat the iconic 92’ Dream Team- absurd right? At first glance most people’s reactions were probably similar to Michael Jordan’s “I absolutely laughed” comment, after hearing Kobe claim that this years team would “pull it out” in a game against the legendary team.
 
But the more thought you put into the match-up, the less absurd Kobe’s comments seem.

 
July 11, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Team USA players from left, forward Carmelo Anthony, guard Russell Westbrook, guard Kobe Bryant, and forward Blake Griffin during practice at the UNLV Mendenhall Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE
                           Could the 2012 team really beat the Dream Team? If's not shocking to think so.


Remember this is 2012. Basketball players have evolved and gotten bigger, strong and faster over the 20 years since the Dream Team dominated. Players are better conditioned and have better tools at their disposal. There is no question that taken in context, the Dream Team had better players as a whole, but if we were to some how transport that team into 2012 to play a game, it would be a lot more interesting than people think.
 
It’s almost arrogant for Jordan, Barkley or anyone else, for that matter, to be shocked at Kobe’s claim. The 2012 team is full of the best NBA players in the world. Who do Jordan and Barkley think they are being compared to- Angola?
 
The 2012 team has a roster of nine possible Hall of Famers, if injuries do not get in the way, with Anthony, Bryant, Durant, Griffin, James, Love, Paul, Westbrook, and Williams. And the other three (Harden, Chandler and Iguodala) certainly have a shot.
 
This year’s team also has three elite level game changers in Bryant, James and Durant who, even if they are not as good as Jordan, certainly live in the same neighborhood of greatness. The 92’ team, with all due respect to Barkley and the others, only had one true elite level game changer in Jordan. Bird and Magic, even though they could still play, were at the tail end of their careers.
 
The Dream Team would certainly be a favorite in this imaginary game, as evidenced by Vegas odds makers stating that the 2012 team would be an eight point underdog. The 92’ team was probably better than today’s team, but it is by no means shocking to say that this year’s group could beat the Dream Team.
 
It’s awfully arrogant for anyone to scoff at Kobe’s claims. We live in 2012, an age where basketball is a global sport and huge shocking blow outs are a thing of the past. The 2012 team would give Jordan’s squad a hell of a run and would not be that big of an upset if they won.
 
George Monroy is a blogger that writes about sports, technology and movies. You can follow his movie blog at www.themoviegrind.com
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7/14/12   |   JrCanuckFan   |   10049 respect

gearhead wrote:
Without the Olympics though, there would be no money for a professional career. For most of these athletes (i.e. everyone but the basketball, tennis, and soccer players), their income is made in endorsements, which are probably acquired solely on the basis of the athlete's potential for Olympic success. The rest of them are probably working another job too (as seen here with the "Home Depot employs Olympians" commercials every 2 years).

I just want to see the best athletes in that respective event, professional, amateur, or whatnot.

Not arguing Eric, just stating my opinion.  I KNOW all that, *I* would rather they be amateurs, that's all. sheesh.

7/14/12   |   gearhead   |   6361 respect

JrCanuckFan wrote:
Yeah,  I know. I never agreed with the decision, but I know I am probably in the minority.  I just always felt the Olympics should be about amateur athletes and giving them an opportunity to show their skills for a future professional career. 

Without the Olympics though, there would be no money for a professional career. For most of these athletes (i.e. everyone but the basketball, tennis, and soccer players), their income is made in endorsements, which are probably acquired solely on the basis of the athlete's potential for Olympic success. The rest of them are probably working another job too (as seen here with the "Home Depot employs Olympians" commercials every 2 years).

I just want to see the best athletes in that respective event, professional, amateur, or whatnot.

7/13/12   |   JrCanuckFan   |   10049 respect

gearhead wrote:
For all intents and purposes, all (or at least the vast majority of) the top athletes at the Games are now professionals. I forget exactly when the IOC gave up on that, but I'm guessing it was somewhere around when the Iron Curtain fell.

Yeah,  I know. I never agreed with the decision, but I know I am probably in the minority.  I just always felt the Olympics should be about amateur athletes and giving them an opportunity to show their skills for a future professional career. 

7/13/12   |   gearhead   |   6361 respect

JrCanuckFan wrote:
Not to open up another can of worms, but I have always felt the Olympics should be limited to the AMATURE athletes, not those who are paid to play.  So for me, it doesn't really matter.  I won't watch the basketball anyway, not when there are so many other incredible sports to watch, and so many new names to learn.

For all intents and purposes, all (or at least the vast majority of) the top athletes at the Games are now professionals. I forget exactly when the IOC gave up on that, but I'm guessing it was somewhere around when the Iron Curtain fell.

7/13/12   |   JrCanuckFan   |   10049 respect

Not to open up another can of worms, but I have always felt the Olympics should be limited to the AMATURE athletes, not those who are paid to play.  So for me, it doesn't really matter.  I won't watch the basketball anyway, not when there are so many other incredible sports to watch, and so many new names to learn.

7/13/12   |   heelfan811   |   12331 respect

GeorgeMon wrote:
Maybe, but we are talking about playing one game against each other, not which squad had the better careers. For the 92' team we are have to take into account a Bird with a bad back and an older Magic Johnson. It's not like were saying an 85' Johnson and 86' Bird are on the team.

very true...good point...

7/12/12   |   GeorgeMon   |   132 respect

heelfan811 wrote:
This is an unfair comparison because 80% of the 2012 squad are still progressing as players.  We could argue this point more intelligently say 10 years from now. 

Maybe, but we are talking about playing one game against each other, not which squad had the better careers. For the 92' team we are have to take into account a Bird with a bad back and an older Magic Johnson. It's not like were saying an 85' Johnson and 86' Bird are on the team.

7/12/12   |   heelfan811   |   12331 respect

This is an unfair comparison because 80% of the 2012 squad are still progressing as players.  We could argue this point more intelligently say 10 years from now.