Redeem Team vs. Dream Team

2009-10-05T20:45:26-04:00

2008-08-24T13:39:32-04:00

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2008-09-10T06:40:08-04:00

2008-08-26T17:42:25-04:00

tlgu3

Salt Lake City 484132

I find all of this quite interesting, but I have to wonder how many people on this actually saw the '92 team play or the individuals play in any games for their teams the year prior or directly after the 1992 games. I read way back in this that the 92 team had a couple of "Greatest 50 Players", that's not entirely true. I have seen the book that came out and the list is easy to find on the Internet but, here's the rundown of who's in it. Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, John Stockton and David Robinson. Sounds pretty much like the whole team. Also just for laughs I pulled the stats for each player in the year directly following the games. It highlights just where these players were in their game. Charles Barkley, 25.6 pts., 12.2 trbs Larrry Bird, 20.1 pts., 9.6 trbs, 6.8 asts in 45 games Clyde Drexler, 19.9 pts, 6.3 trbs, 5.7 asts Patrick Ewing, 24.2 pts, 12.1 trbs, 2 blks Magic Johnson, 19.4 pts, 12.5 asts, 7 trbs (didn't play in 03/04 numbers are from 01/02 Michael Jordan, 32.6 pts, 6.7 trbs, 5.5 asts, 2.8 stls Karl Malone, 27 pts, 11.2 trbs, 3.8 asts Scottie Pippen 18.6 pts, 7.7 trbs, 6.3 asts, 2.4 stls John Stockton 15.1 pts, 12 asts, 2.4 stls David Robinson 23.4 pts, 11.7 trbs, 3.2 blks Chris Mullin 25.6 pts. 5.6 trbs, 3.5 asts Christian Laettner 18.2 pts, 8.7 trbs. (rookie year) While I am very happy that the gold is back with the US, I have no illusions as to which was the better team. Let's talk about speed. Seems to be an important point in some arguments. I have been watching basket ball for 25 years now and I can tell you that outside of maybe Kevin Garnett, I have never seen a quicker low post player than Karl Malone and at his size it was incredible to watch. David Robinson was quicker around the basket as a center than just about anyone I have seen. Chris Bosh is coming up fast though. While I agree that John Stockton wasn't very fast, he more than held his own against points like Kevin Johnson and Gary Payton by being quick off the dribble and passing with incredible precision. Scottie Pippen, while I never liked him personally, is probably one of the top 5 defenders, ever. Only Dennis Rodman wanted a rebound more than Barkley. Jordan, well 'nough said. And I bet there are some surprised people out there looking at Mullin's numbers. Let me tell you. At the end of a game when you needed a 3-pointer, he was the man. This was fun. 2593673

2008-08-26T09:24:00-04:00

Urbancowboy21

Ashburn 483424

Johnny111111 I like that but u know we are not talking about a 48year old majic,etc. hahahhahah, that was a good one 2586314

2008-08-26T09:21:03-04:00

Urbancowboy21

Ashburn 483424

okay KOBEj115 How about this DREAM TEAM Magic Jordon Stockton Drexler Malone Barkley Bird Pippen Akeem the orignal dream Ewing Robinson 2586292

2008-08-26T09:14:34-04:00

Urbancowboy21

Ashburn 483424

air rick23 ...................all I can simply say is NUFF SAID, u hit it on the dime with that one. 2586196

2008-08-26T09:12:22-04:00

Urbancowboy21

Ashburn 483424

Hey, edemire uuuuummm, Barkley would have no issues with Melo, not under the boards anyway. He would pound melo into submission. On the perimeter, Melo would have no legs after getting pounded for 2 1/2 quarters. 1st quarter,if he's hitting them, he would be ok. And ole sir charles can shoot the three also, did it alot in big games. Your summation that the redeemers would net slightly more pts than the dreamers, well I beg to differ with u sir, because just like we are bloggng like crazy about this, this would be all over the TV with peoples' thoughts on the upcoming game and Air Jordon would see or hear about YOUR comment and u know what happens when he gets mad. He would literally destroy the guards of the redeemers with 62pts. and that would be juuuuust enough to cover your slightly few pts margin. 2586206

2008-08-26T08:58:33-04:00

Urbancowboy21

Ashburn 483424

Hey CONFUCIOUS......Jordon wouldn't have to slow down KOBE/KING JAMES..........................they both have choked and lost in the past 3 NBA Playoffs. Jordon doesn't Choke, He has lost some games but he never choked and Ewing would destroy Howard with the help of some hard bangin from Malone and Barkley. Throw in a slashing David Robinson and he could keep up. Majic and Stockon would distibute thae ball to the likes that the Redeem team has never seen. 2586126

2008-08-26T08:52:40-04:00

edemire

Little Rock 482866

senorglory said: The Round Mound of Rebound played above his weight class, so to speak... it is therefore unlikely that Carmelo, who is not known for his defense, even at his natural position, could match up with Barkley at the four spot, even if their physical measurements are seemingly close. I will concede that Barkely would have the advantage on the boards, but I don't think that he would maul Anthony cown there, especiallly an Anthony who was focused on using his wide frame to box out and hit the boards hard. Anthony's 4-inch height advantage would make it a little a easier for him to guard Barkley than the other way around. In fact, I can see Barkley - who played defense like a matador made of swiss cheese - rolling his eyes at the notion of having to guard a "youngster" like Carmelo and half-assing it until Carmelo starts torching him with 3's. By then, the damage would be done and Carmelo would be in the zone. I'd bet the Redeem Team nets slightly more points of this match-up. More at: internationalbasketball.blogspot.com 2586038

2008-08-26T08:51:30-04:00

Urbancowboy21

Ashburn 483424

The two best ball distrbutors the game has ever seen would easily make sure that a slashing Drexler adn Pippen would get the ball, a streaking Jordon would get the ball, a crashing and banging Malone and Barkley would get the ball and a shreaking Robinson would get the ball and a pounding Ewing would get the ball, uuuumm, then kick it out to Bird and Mullin for some nice 3's. Even with the bad back and all,Bird still produced in the NBA, so he would have no problems with these guys. YOUTH, is that all u can bring to the table. This would be the biggest PLAYOFF game in the history of the sport and if I am not mistaken, KOBE and KING JAMES have choked in the playoffs the past 3 seasons, so there's YOUR youth,sir. Ewing and Robinson, with a lil bangin' from Malone and Barkley would destroy Howard. Kidd ,with all of his experience, wouldn;t know what to do. Chis Paul would be the unsung hero of this team,but it would not be enough. The physical play that is the INT'L game suits the Dream Team, well. They are smart,heady,dirty ballers. Bird,with his chitter/chatter dirty tal, and sly grabbing and holding would get in the head of Anthony,Boozer and Prince. Malone would destroy Boozer, Anthony and Redd with the help of Sir Charles. The Redeem team isn't as mental tough as the Dream Team. YOUTH(hahahahahahahah), MJ didn't win an NBA championship with YOUTH. Nor did the admiral. Majic's lakers would have been in the playoffs and possibly won without him in 1980 and he could still play after he retired(look at the NBA all-star game). With Majics ego,mental toughness and determination to win, he would have detroyed Kidd or Paul and Kobe if he tried to check him would have been left silly because he's a cry baby on the court and Majic plays a lil dirty also. King James would have tried to give a gallant effort and take over the game due to his teams' failure but he would have lost/choked just like Kobe(they both have choked over the plast 3 playoffs and this would be the their biggest playoff game ever). Sorry DWade, with MJ having the green light, he would schooled u like a Rookie and frustrated u with his good defense. Bosh, a non factor. Prince, just could not get it done in this "dirty and rough" game. And the dream team could run the floor also, so dont be mislead by the YOUTH of the redeemers. To make a long storty short, if the Dream Team played this years Spanish team..........135-85, USA.(they would destroy Gasol and the boys) Mental toughness. Thats why the redeemers barely won(no mental toughness, cry babies in the NBA, u barely touch them and they cry to the refs. The two best players are chokers. If the dreamers played the Redeemers.........120-100, USA Dreamers. 2586010

2008-08-26T08:31:01-04:00

Urbancowboy21

Ashburn 483424

I laugh at this article. First of all, let me brief u on the situation. If these two teams actually did play, it would be the biggest game the world has ever seen. Okaaaaayyyyy, in the biggest situation that Kobe and King James has been in (the NBA playoffs......post shaq for kobe), these two players have lost and choked. What do u think they would do in this, "the biggest game EVER"? They would choke and lose once again. Robinson and Ewing would destroy Howard in the post with the help of a 260 Malone and a 245pound Barkely lending some help and leaning on him(remember, the int 'l game is played rougher than the NBA. The players aren't rougher, the game is. Laettner and Deron Williams and Mike Redd would be irrelevent, very limited min's ,if any. Bird with his bad back and all would still be effective in part time duty(he produced those last 3 seasons in the NBA). Chris Paul ,uuuuummm, interesting , he would be the Redeem teams unsung hero(remember, Kobe and King James would choke with James trying to takeover and coming up short i.e chokng like in the past 3 playoffs) but it would not be enough. DWade( and I am a heat fan, I reside in the WASHDC metro area and when the Heat played up her in the playoffs, guess who's Heat jersey I had on) but your royal airness would be given the green light and would school Wade like a ROOKIE. Some host on ESPN radio said the Majic had been retired,etc. Well, he did come out of retirement and play in the NBA All Star game and PRODUCED(I think he was the MVP). He was still only around 31 or 32yrs of age. He and Stockton, the best duo of ball distibutors the game has ever seen would have no problem getting the ball to a slashing Pippen, a charging Barkley and Malone or a streaking Jordon or a pounding Ewing. And dont forget about the Admiral. He would run up and down the floor like a gazelle, Howard could not keep up. To make a long stroy short, if the Dream Team played this years Spanish team it would have been 135-85, USA victory. If the played the Redeem Team, it would be 120-100, USA Dream Team. The article said this years teams experience in int 'l ball(hahahahahhahah). Dont forget that Bird, Jordon, Malone and Barlkey were dirty players, which is well suited for the Int'l game. The bumping, the shoving, the reaching with no fouls being called. U put a smart and dirty Dream Team against these guys, they would cry foul to the refs who would NOT call the lil cheap dirty pushes and bumps,etc. Malone would crush Boozer. Bird , with his chitter/chatter dirty talk and sneaky lil grabs and holds and pushes would get into the head of King James,Bryant,Kidd,Prince and Bosh. Poor lil Carmelo, he would be left alone to right the ship(he cant). Majic ,with his ego, tough determination and leadership would go for broke and destroy who ever guared him. The dream team is more mentally tough that the redeem team. YOUTH,is that all u can bring to the table? That youth has caused KOBE and JAMES to lose/choke in the playoffs and this would be the biggest PLAYOFF game ever. The Dream team players lost in the playoffs also but they didn't chock in the process. JORDON with his crazy mindset of winning woud just simply GO OFF on this team, minimum 65pts. GAME OVER. The DREAM is still alive. 2585930

2008-08-26T03:54:12-04:00

air_rick23

No City 212159

The # of championship theory is completely redundant. If the 92 dream team involved Worthy, Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman... you could add another 9 rings at least to the dream team roster. Thats a stupid argument. There werent a lot of guys in the 90s with rings because the celts, lakers, and pistons dominated the 80s. Now Dream team didnt really take the best players it had available. It took its most "decorated and respected" players at the time, which is why an injury plagued Bird was on the team. They could afford to play these guys knowing they would still get the gold easily. Now who else could have Dream team chose from that year? Hmmm.... Dominique Wilkins, Shaquille, Isiah Thomas, Dennis Rodman, Joe Dumars, Kevin Johnson, Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, John Starks, Tom Chambers...etc. That idea that todays athletes are more athletic is also a stupid argument. I will however agree that the OVERALL athleticism in the NBA is better, but the top 25 players from today are really no more athletic than in 92. Karl Malone anyone? He was a mack truck rolling down the lane. I studied Kobe footage vs Jordan, and Jordan clearly has a faster 40 yrd dash than Kobe does. And Jordan wasnt even the fastest in the league... just one of them. If you really want to compare talent on paper... then why not pit the best players of 88' against the best of 08. Thats 20 yrs difference and my money is on the 88 team. You would have a young Isiah, Jordan, Dominique, and of course Larry and Magic in their primes for god sakes.. That would be a massacre. 2585462

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The Redeem Team's gold-medal performance in Beijing has sparked debate about how it compares to the original Dream Team from 1992. Would Kobe's and LeBron's squad beat Michael, Magic and Co.? Jack McCallum says <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/08/24/dream.redeem/index.html" target="_blank">the Dream Team would overwhelm the Redeem Team</a> with superior inside play and a heavy dose of Michael Jordan, while Chris Mannix contends <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/08/24/redeem.dream/index.html">the Redeem Team's young legs and international experience</a> would prove decisive.Who do you think would win this fictional Team USA matchup? 2478

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