Team USA Basketball: What About the 1996 Dream Team II?

Oh, and let’s not forget about Pippen who averaged 20 pts, six rebounds, and six assists.  He would have guarded James, and done an outstanding job

Advantage: 1996

Power Forwards

1996: Karl Malone and Charles Barkley

2008: Carmelo Anthony and Carlos Boozer

I wanted to put Anthony in the small forward position, but he started each game as a power forward. He did a good job at that position, but he would have been absolutely manhandled by either Malone or Barkley.

Boozer has the size to match up against those two, but the skill of Malone and Barkley would have easily destroyed the power forwards of the 2008 team.

Advantage: 1996

Centers

1996: David Robinson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Hakeem Olajuwon

2008: Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh

Howard and Bosh would foul out in about five minutes, leaving a gaping hole in the middle for the 2008 team. 1996 had three of the greatest centers/players ever in the NBA. Can’t really argue against the 1996 team here.

Advantage: 1996

In the end, I believe the 1996 Olympic team would easily defeat the 2008 Olympic team.  They would just overwhelm the 2008 team at every position, besides maybe shooting guard.

James, Wade, and the other explosive players on the 2008 team would have a very, very hard time getting to the basket, because the centers of the 1996 are arguably the best three shot-blocking centers ever—besides Bill Russell, of course. None of them, especially Hakeem, would allow an easy layup or dunk.

No one on the 2008 team would be able to stop any of the big men on the 1996 team, making rebounding and defending the point virtually impossible for the 2008 team.

Winner: 1996 Olympic team

Anybody want to write about how the 2000 team would beat the 2008 team?

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