The 1992-2008 USA team debate, no comparison.
1992-The Dream team as we know it today breezes by the undermatched teams of Europe, South America and Africa en route to one of the easiest gold medals ever won in an olympic event. The tone was pretty much set when in their opener, when they beat Angola by an unheard of 68 points in a 116-48 victory. It set the standard that the United States basketball team was not going to be beaten or even challenged, and sure enough they weren't considering there closest game was a 32 point win against Croatia in the gold medal game. The entire team was the future hall of fame on one court (maybe not Christian Laettner, but everyone else).
2008-The Redeem Team blows past its competitors, including "tougher" tests in Spain and Greece. Doubters of the team were silenced in the opener, when the United States went against a Chinese team that featured Yao Ming in front of a crowd of a reported billion people, the U.S. won by 31 with ease. The U.S. then went on to beat Angola, only by 21 alot less than their 1992 counterparts, the Greeks who had beat them once before by 23, Spain by 37 dropping 119 points in only 40 minutes and beating a depleted German team by 49. The starting cast of Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard can't be matched today against any international team.
But what about their own team?
If the 1992 team and 2008 team went at it today, no doubt it would be a thriller and would answer many questions. But if you honestly compare the two, the matchup would be pretty much one sided.
Point guards: Magic Johnson and John Stockton vs. Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Derron Williams. The 2008 team is absolutely stacked with point guards with three possible starter. Chris Paul and Derron Williams are only in their 3rd years, but are already the top point guards of the NBA. The 1992 team featured Magic Johnson and John Stockton, two legends but Johnson retired the year before and Stockton was only featured in 4 games in the Barcelona games. Although both are legends, the 2008 team has too deep a bench at this position. EDGE:2008.
Shooting guards: Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler vs. Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and Michael Redd. Lets start hearing the Jordan-Kobe comparisons now. Once again the 2008 team is stacked at another position, but even with shooters like Michael Redd and talent like Bryant and Wade, they do not match up to the high flying acrobatics of MJ and Drexler. EDGE:1992.
Small forwards: Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin, and Larry Bird vs. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Tayshaun Prince. All great shooters, all great defenders and all superstars. LeBron James is unstoppable right now in the 2008 games and is an easy future MVP and easy hall of famer. Melo and Prince also great shooters and defenders. Pippen, Mullin and Bird though are some of the greatest shooters of all time and can hit from just about anywhere on the court and provide even greater defense. It's a close one but I got to give the edge to the Dream Team. EDGE:1992
Power Forwards: Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Christian Laettner vs Chris Bosh and Carlos Boozer. It was at the power forward and center position where the 1992 team excelled and won by such large margins. No team could match up against the power and tenacity that Barkley and Malone had at the power forward position. The 2008 team heavily relies on its shooters, which is why the 2008 team only has 3 true power forwards and centers. Bosh is a great low post player and Boozer has great chemistry with fellow Jazz point guard Derron Williams, cannot even compare to those of the 1992 team. EDGE: 1992
Center: Patrick Ewing and David Robinson vs. Dwight Howard. Howard is the only true center on the 2008 team and has to compete with two legendary centers that thrive on low post throw downs and close range shots. Howard will become a great center and could be in the same league as these two in a few years, but Ewing and Robinson win this one by a long shot. EDGE: 1992.
The 1992 team wins it with ease, their shooting, defending and bench proves to be too much for the Redeem team, even with the superstars of today. The comparisons must stop, the 1992 team cannot be matched and probably never will.
