Olympic Basketball 2012: Breaking Down What Real 2012 Dream Team Would Look Like

Peter EmerickJun 7, 2018

The 2012 Olympic Dream Team is certainly a force to be reckoned with, but with players like Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose out due to injury, the team isn't nearly at full force.

The question "could the 2012 USA Team beat the 1992 Dream Team?" isn't fair because the current Dream Team is utterly incomplete.

For the sake of speculation and discussion, it's time to fill out the 2012 Dream Team's roster with the talent that it deserves, and the players who should've been on the roster—if injuries hadn't occurred.

Ahead is a breakdown of what the 2012 Dream Team would have looked like if they had every NBA player at their disposal when selecting the final 12-man roster.

Don't forget to check out the final slide that breaks down a matchup between this epic 2012 Dream Team and the original 1992 Dream Team.

12th Man: Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

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2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 18.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 45.8 FG%

Before you throw your computer through your window, just hear me out. There are 15 players who could compete for the final spot on the 2012 Dream Team roster, but I'm high on Josh Smith for two reasons.

First, he brings an athletic versatility to the defensive side of the ball, and secondly, he's an athletic freak in transition. Throw his immaturity out the window because with guys like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant leading the way, there will be no room for immaturity.

Smith might not see a lot of court time with this team, but he certainly gives them some versatility on the wing, and that makes them that much more dangerous.

Smith showed this past season that he's ready to be an All-Star in the NBA, and his rare combination of size, agility and athleticism would help him be a productive member of this team.

Backup C: Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers

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2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 18.7 points, 11.11.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 55.8 FG%

When Andrew Bynum is playing as well as he can, he's an absolute force to be reckoned with. When he's not, he can be a cancer to his team.

With the leadership on the 2012 Dream Team, there wouldn't be any room for immaturity, and that would certainly force Bynum to grow up rather quickly—which might be just the thing his young career needs.

Bynum would add legitimate defensive depth and offensive production in the paint to the team, and he would also be a formidable force in the paint purely based on his size alone.

The 2012 Dream Team currently lacks serious frontcourt depth, and Bynum would bring that. Adding Bynum would be a major risk because of his inconsistency at times, but when he's firing on all cylinders, he is certainly one of the two best centers in the game.

Backup PF: Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers

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2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 20.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, 54.9 FG%

Before going down with a torn meniscus, Blake Griffin was poised to be in the starting lineup for the 2012 Dream Team.

While having Griffin's athleticism on the court would have been a welcomed asset for them, the 2012 team has better, more complete options at the power forward position.

Bringing Griffin in to add some intensity off the bench would be exactly what this team needs. He could come off the bench with his Clippers' teammate, Chris Paul, and they could put on quite a show, both in the halfcourt and in transition.

To become an Olympic starter, Griffin needs to develop his post game a bit more. Until he does that, he'll be coming off the bench on what would be the greatest formation of NBA players to ever play in the Olympic games.

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Backup SF: Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks

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2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 22.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 43.0 FG%

Carmelo Anthony brings a prolific ability to score to the 2012 Dream Team, and scoring the ball is all they really need him to do.

If 'Melo was a more complete player, he would certainly compete with Kevin Durant for a spot in the starting lineup, but until he does that, he'll be one of Team USA's best first options coming off the bench.

'Melo is the kind of player you can't stop from scoring the ball. No matter what kind of defense you throw at him, he's going to score. You can only hope to contain him, and that's exactly why he's deserving of this highly-coveted spot on this team.

He's the kind of player who, while up and down, will add consistent production off the bench, and that's at the heart of this Dream Team's success.

Backup SG: James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder

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2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 49.1 FG%

James Harden gets the nod over other shooting guards, like Andre Iguodala, Eric Gordon and Joe Johnson, because he brings more than just production on the wing to the team.

Yes, I know Harden had a questionable outing in the 2012 NBA Finals, but that one series doesn't define him as a player, and it doesn't change the fact that he's a very athletic shooting guard who just so happens to be one of the best defenders in the league as well.

Harden's ability to slash into the paint will create opportunities for his teammates and also collapse opponent's defenses.

With Harden coming off the bench, the 2012 Dream Team has a solid defensively-minded option at the shooting guard position, and that is why he's deserving of a spot on this epic team.

Backup PG: Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers

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2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 19.8 points, 9.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 47.8 FG%

You could make an argument for Chris Paul being the starting point guard for the real 2012 Dream Team, but with talent like Derrick Rose available, he falls to the second unit.

One of the benefits of bringing Paul off the bench is that he can join forces with his Clippers' teammate, Blake Griffin, much like the 1992 Dream Team had teammates John Stockton and Karl Malone running the show off the bench.

Paul also continues the theme of inserting defensive intensity into the lineup, and that makes this epic Dream Team that much more dangerous.

With Paul leading the charge for second unit, this team will have solid leadership, effective offensive production and tenacity on the defensive side of the ball. Not too shabby for a second-string point guard.

Sixth Man: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers

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2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 27.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 45.3 FG%

Kobe Bryant is a young 33 years old, and his age isn't the reason why he's not in this Dream Team's starting lineup.

The reason why Kobe is the first player off the bench is because that's exactly where this epic Dream Team needs him to be. He brings 16 years of NBA experience to the court, and he's the perfect player to be the fearless leader of this team's second unit.

Kobe not only brings prolific scoring off the bench, but he also is the icing on the cake of this team's serious defensive depth.

He might not like it, but being the first player off the 2012 Dream Team's bench is not only what his team needs. It's also at the core of what makes this team such an absolutely special one.

Starting C: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

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2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 20.6 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 57.3 FG%

In a perfect world, Dwight Howard would be holding down the paint for the 2012 Dream Team, and that would not only help them compete against their international competition.

It would also help them in the "could they beat the 1992 Dream Team" discussion.

I know Howard isn't the polished offensive player that Patrick Ewing or David Robinson was, but his athleticism certainly puts him on the same level as Robinson, at least.

Howard would be an absolute nightmare for opposing teams on the defensive side of the ball, and he would also be extremely hard to stop on offense. With Howard in the paint, it's not unrealistic to think that the 2012 Dream Team could up their winning margin closer to the vaunted 1992 Dream Team's margin of 43.8 points per game.

Starting PF: LeBron James, Miami Heat

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2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 53.1 FG%

There can't be a 2012 Dream Team without LeBron James running the show. The 2012 NBA Finals and regular season MVP will certainly be the heart and soul of this team.

LeBron is the most versatile player on the roster, and that's exactly why he's starting at the power forward position rather than his usual small forward spot.

Moving him into the paint opens the court for Kevin Durant to work his way into the starting lineup, and it shows just how ridiculously deep and dangerous this team truly is.

While LeBron is starting at the power forward spot, he will play every position on the court. He will be running in transition, controlling the offense at the point and setting the tenacious tone on the defensive side of the ball.

Starting SF: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

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2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 28.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 49.6 FG%

Having Kevin Durant's elite scoring potential at the small forward position is an absolute must for this team.

While Durant is lacking on the defensive side of the ball, he all but makes up for it on the offensive side of things. He can easily put up 20-plus points, and when his team needs him to, he can put up even more than that.

Durant's athleticism on the wing will be a major advantage for this epic Dream Team, and it will help set them apart from others.

It might come as a shock too, but having Durant's length crashing the boards from the perimeter will also be a major advantage for this team, and it will help them dominate the glass against teams that may be more fundamentally sound.

Starting SG: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

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2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 22.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 49.7 FG%

Dwyane Wade is another player who missed the 2012 Olympic games because of an injury. In a perfect world, though, he would certainly be headlining the 2012 Dream Team's starting lineup at the shooting guard position.

One of the advantages of having Wade in the starting lineup with his Heat teammate, LeBron James, is their chemistry on the court, specifically in transition.

The duo of LeBron and Wade is without a doubt the most dynamic duo to ever play in the Olympic games, even in light of the amazing talent on the original 1992 Dream Team—even better than Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

Having Wade in the starting lineup for this year's Dream Team would be a major upgrade over the talent currently on the team, and it would certainly make them more competitive in the "could they beat the 1992 Dream Team" discussion.

Starting PG: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

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2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 21.8 points, 7.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 43.5 FG%

Finishing out the perfect 2012 Dream Team roster is Derrick Rose. While he's missing the 2012 Olympics with a torn ACL, he would certainly have been a force to be reckoned with if he had have been able to play.

Rose is unlike all the other point guards on this roster. He's as athletic as a small forward, as tough as a power forward, and yet he manages to play the game with the agility, intelligence and court vision of a true NBA point guard.

He is an extremely special talent, and he would be the icing on the cake of this absolutely epic Dream Team.

Just imagine Rose, Wade, Durant and LeBron running in transition off of missed baskets or steals. It would be a sight to behold, and it would certainly be a nightmare for every opponent they would go up against.