OT -- 1992 vs. 2008 U.S. Men's Teams
by DaBard on Aug 25, 2008 1:16 PM CDT
37 comments
I can't believe this is a serious debate, but apparently, it's quite the in thing to suggest that the 2008 "Redeem Team" could be better than the 1992 "Dream Team"
Poppycock and Balderdash!
Here are the rosters:
1992: Christian Laettner; David Robinson; Patrick Ewing; Charles Barkely; Scottie Pippen; Michael Jordan; Clyde Drexler; Karl Malone; John Stockton; Chris Mullin; Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
2008: Chris Bosh; Jason Kidd; Lebron James; Dwayne Wade; Michael Redd; Dwight Howard; Tayshaun Prince; Kobe Bryant; Chris Paul; Carmelo Anthony; Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams
The arguments appear to be the following
* The 1992 team had an aging Larry Bird, collegian Christian Laettner and a semi-retired (and aging) Magic Johnson, whereas the 2008 team is young and frisky.
Counter: Except for LeBron for Laettner; Kobe for Bird and Chris Paul for Mullin and maybe, maybe Dwight Howard for Ewing, you wouldn't trade any of the 1992 team for the 2008 team. So it is idiotic to say 2008 was better. Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Redd and Carmelo wouldn't have been fit to wash the jocks of the 1992 team.
Further, the 1992 team wasn't even the best possible that year. Jordan refused to pay if Isiah Thomas was there. Laettner was thrown in as a nod to the college kids, but he wasn't even the best choice. It should have been Shaq.
* The 1992 team had no competition. The 2008 team did, and destroyed them.
Counter: It is ludicrous to think that a team that included Magic, Jordan and Bird, three of the greatest winners in NBA history, would have not responded to competition. Had any 1992 opponent dared come within 20 points, Jordan would have shut them down completely.
In a 7-game series, the 1992 team wins 4-1. Maybe 4-2 if LeBron goes off one game.
Discuss.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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I say the Cubs will win tonight
The Cubs have Ted Lilly going tonight and even though the Pirates have Karstens who shut the Cubs down not long ago, I think the Cubs will bounce back and knock him around tonight…
What? Oh this isn’t a Cubs blog? Oh, I guess the ’92 team would beat the ’08 team.
"Dad gum right this games gonna be played under protest. . . I guarantee this is gonna be one protest that's upheld." --Hawk Harrelson, 6/24/07
by RynoHoF on Aug 25, 2008 1:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
'08 Team Over '92 Team
The 1992 team didn’t have much of a bullpen. Paul Assenmacher? Beyond Maddux and Morgan, the starting rotation was rubbish. The 2008 team has Shark, Marmol, and Wood. I’d say the 2008 team has a deeper rotation with Z, Demp, Harden, Lilly, and Marquis. We are talking about comparing Cubs teams, right?
"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray
by memphiscub on Aug 25, 2008 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
plus, you know
this team has Theriot. In 1998, Ryan Theriot was still in the Bayou!
I’m certain that SBN has basketball blogs.
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You guys do know what "OT" means, right?
I mean, you don’t have to click on every single thread.
Or maybe you do.
If so, seek therapy.
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
by DaBard on Aug 25, 2008 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT is one thing
but just taking copying discussion ideas from other websites (http://myespn.go.com/s/conversations/show/story/3552240) is entirely different. and perhaps people are posting because they don’t want the blog to be overrun by discussions that are irrelevant and have nothing to do with the cubs.
by Leon Durham on Aug 25, 2008 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There are 331 posts
Devoted to movies in another thread. This is the only non-Cubs or non-baseball post on the front page.
I think the Web site will survive!
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
by DaBard on Aug 25, 2008 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
instead
why don’t you go seek a basketball blog, or an olympics blog?
Off Topic is my post about the donation to Project 3000. This isn’t off-topic, it’s off subject.
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ah...
So your Off-Topic? Good!
My Off-Topic? BAD!
Got it. You know, I was giving you credit for not being self-serving with your announcement of the donation. Now, not so much.
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
by DaBard on Aug 25, 2008 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
once again, reading comprehension is your friend.
and this is what, your third post about the olympics? And not even able the olympics themselves, but about the rules of the olympics.
I just think there are places better served for that sort of thing. After all, you didn’t even say that the american gymnasts should throw a bean-ball at the chinese gymnasts in retaliation.
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The umpires wouldn't allow that.
Brian McRae's 5 O'Clock Shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on Aug 25, 2008 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it'd be worth
the technical balk.
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Once again...
You slander me by stating I advocate bean-balls.
I advocate purposeful retaliation. A bean-ball is a headshot. I have never advocated a headshot.
But keep it up. All your whining about how this post doesn’t belong is just adding to the number of posts in the thread.
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
by DaBard on Aug 25, 2008 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
is that something that excites you?
how many posts you’re getting?
Small, man. Whatever floats your boat.
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Funny talk...
coming from someone who is just SCANDALIZED by anything non-baseball on the thread.
Tell you what, when Al tells me it’s out of line, I’ll listen. When you do, I’ll yawn.
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
by DaBard on Aug 25, 2008 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not telling you anything.
I’m simply stating my opinion.
Here’s some homework:
Define: Thread
Define: Post
Define: Blog
Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!
by drewishdrewid on Aug 25, 2008 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's defined as OT.
That’s “Off-Topic”. If you don’t like off-topic posts, don’t read ’em.
That said, there has to be a limit on the # of OT posts, or we’d get overrun. I don’t think there are too many of them as of now. I’d like to keep it that way.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Aug 25, 2008 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really...?
:runs off to post “OT: Thundercats & Existentialism: The Meaning of Magic Swords in a Post-Apocalyptic World”:
make/art
by neverAcquiesce on Aug 25, 2008 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Was hoping someone would do that one!
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
by Bump Bailey on Aug 25, 2008 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
2008 would win
The game is different now, and the players are far more athletic. Based on the evolution of the athletes, the 08 team would win.
Aramis Ramirez- NL MVP
Kosuke Fukudome- NL ROY
Carlos Marmol- Rolaids Relief Man
by sheamcmurray on Aug 25, 2008 1:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
yes the game is different...
but the 08 team can’t shoot the outside shot consistently and they are horrendous at the charity stripe. So I give the 92 team the advantage because of the better shooting and more importantly the smaller egos. The smaller egos let’s them play more like a team and not like a group of individual superstars wanting to make sportscenter’s top 10. But like you said, you can’t really compare eras, the game and style of play is too different.
by aznsensation on Aug 25, 2008 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
People forget...
Just how athletic Jordan, Pippen, and Drexler were in their primes.
The key is Jordan. He wouldn’t have let 1992 lose. Pippen could also shut Kobe down.
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
by DaBard on Aug 25, 2008 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
A 29-year-old MJ would just explode against the 2008 team.
"Your eyes can decieve you. Don't trust them." Obi-Wan Kenobi, the first sabermetrician...
by Curtain Jerker on Aug 26, 2008 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll take the 1992 team
Jordan would score as many points as it would take to win the game.
Plus, who would stop Robinson, Ewing and Barkley inside? (I’ll discount Malone because he’s a choker.)
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
by Trey2317 on Aug 25, 2008 2:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
How many points would Jordan score if he played against Ditka, Bob?
…Ditka wins 432-0…
Let my ashes blow in a beautiful snow from the prevailing 30 mile an hour southwest wind...
When my last remains go flying over the left field wall, I'll bid the bleacher bums adieu,
And I will come to my final resting place, out on Waveland Avenue. --Steve Goodman
by NotSure on Aug 25, 2008 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gotta go with 92.
Plus, it reminds of this kickass set my dad had:
make/art
by neverAcquiesce on Aug 25, 2008 2:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
1992...
It’s difficult to condemn them for a lack of athleticism, as they were still some of the NBA’s superior athletes at the time.
The biggest advantage the 92 squad has is the ability to shoot. Despite this year’s success, outside shooting has been the biggest deficiency the US team has had the last six years.
Also, Dwight Howard may be a freak of nature, but he has few post moves. I think Robinson would tear him up.
And last, the mental makeup of the Bird/MJ/Magic/Barkley/Pippen team would put my confidence in the 92 team if it was close.
Free Ronny Cedeno
by Kansas25 on Aug 25, 2008 2:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
1992 would toy with 2008
Before stomping them into the ground. You have Michael Jordan vs. Kobe “wishes he could be Michael Jordan but will never even be close” Bryant. You have Scottie Pippen who could absolutely shut down LBJ.
The truth is, in the Dream Team, you had a lot of singular talents who seized the opportunity to do something really special. No disrespect to the 2008 team, which is very good and have accomplished their mission (to win the gold and redeem USA Basketball), but 1992 was a once-in-a-lifetime group.
by SuperContext on Aug 25, 2008 3:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
1992 in a romp
The 1992 bigs would dominate the 08 bigs. Plus there is no way MJ would let them lose.
---AC 00 00 00 - Believe
by mjk83 on Aug 25, 2008 3:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I would say the Dream Team would win
But according to the way you substitute the players:
Counter: Except for LeBron for Laettner; Kobe for Bird and Chris Paul for Mullin and maybe, maybe Dwight Howard for Ewing, you wouldn’t trade any of the 1992 team for the 2008 team
That is 4 players…what is that 2 starters which is almost have of the starting 5 on the dream team… and LeBron would run anyone over in those games, and well Kobe is sick and DWade is sick… put them all together I think you got the best 1 2 3 ever…. but as a TEAM… TEAM is spelled D R E A M, and half the people on the REDEEM team probably dont know what the meaning of team is… that being said…. I would say they can both always win the olympics at their best
"This balls got a chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannce, GONE!" - Pat Hughes
by SouthsideCUBSfan on Aug 26, 2008 12:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
No
Laettner was a throw-in who barely got playing time. Bird didn’t start. Mullin was off the bench.
Ewing was the only real starter and it’s debatable whether Howard in his prime is better than Ewing in his.
The Redeem Team played better team basketball than people give them credit for.
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
by DaBard on Aug 26, 2008 6:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
dream team all the way!
it would be a 30 point blowout at least. the 92 team could score at will on these guys.
wheatfield mike down here in god's country
by wheatfield mike on Aug 26, 2008 9:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It depends on the rules...
I’m not an expert on Olympic officiating/rules compared to NBA rules, but if they played the game with the 1992 “Riley Rules” where you could essentailly play rugby on the hardwood, then the 1992 team wins in a walk.
If they played in today’s basketball universe, where hand-checks are outlawed and zone defenses rule, then it might be closer.
On the other had, if you put a young MJ in today’s NBA, which is much more perimeter-friendly than the league in his prime, he might average 45 points a game.
"Your eyes can decieve you. Don't trust them." Obi-Wan Kenobi, the first sabermetrician...
by Curtain Jerker on Aug 26, 2008 11:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Thank you for "the other hand"
Jordan in today’s rules would average 50
Kobe in 1992 rules would be carried off on a stretcher
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
by DaBard on Aug 26, 2008 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Two words
Michael Jordan…..no one can take a game under their own control like he could. It’s like a light switch that’s turned on….boom, Michael takes over.
Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.
by blackhawk24 on Aug 27, 2008 12:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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