2012 Olympic Team over the 1992 Team? Only in your dreams....

While here at Philly Sports and Running our obvious focus is on two things close to our hearts: Philadelphia sports and running, sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zone and address issues outside of these realms.  Recently, a hot topic for discussion has been whether or not the 2012 Olympic men’s basketball team could defeat the famed 1992 Dream Team? In a word, no. Never say never? Well, I’m saying never.  Maybe, just maybe, in a ten game set, this year’s “must be dreaming team” could steal a game or two.

The debate began when in an interview last week Kobe Bryant said this year’s US Olympic team could defeat the original team of NBAers. Ever since, tv talking heads, radio hosts, and writers across the land have  debated the merits of each team. A common theme when arguing in favor of the current squad, is how much older the 1992 team was. This is simply not true.  I actually heard one “expert” say that the current Kobe would match up favorably with that year’s Michael Jordan, with the idea that MJ was somehow in the twilight of his career in 1992. In fact, MJ was at his peak. He had just won the second of six titles. The only thing that stopped him from winning eight was his brief retirement and foray into minor league baseball. When Jordan first retired, it wasn’t because he couldn’t play at the same level; it was because he was bored with basketball, upset about his father’s death and wanted to test himself in baseball, James Jordan’s preferred sport. MJ was 29, Kobe turns 34 in August. Man for man, each team averages about seven years of NBA experience.

Some analysts claim that this year’s version would have an enormous edge at point guard. No disrespect to Chris Paul and Deron Williams, but Magic Johnson is widely regarded at the greatest point guard of all time. What he may have lacked in quickness, he made up for in the fact that he was 6’9 and with two of the greatest perimeter defenders of all time in Jordan and Scottie Pippen and Hall of Famers Patrick Ewing and David Robinson manning the middle, Paul and Williams would have had a difficult time penetrating. Like Jordan, Johnson didn’t retire due to a decline in his skills. When Johnson retired in the fall of 1991, the HIV virus was not nearly as well understood as today. Physically, Johnson wasn’t sick; today, in fact, he still exhibits no symptoms of AIDS.  The thirty-three year old Johnson was coming off a finals loss to Jordan’s Bulls and was still playing at high level, having been named to the All-NBA First Team in ’91. Johnson was only two years removed from winning back to back MVPs. Old and past his prime? More like aging like fine wine.  His backup? Only Hall of Fame and career assist leader John Stockton.

The third factor brought up when discussing the 2012’s team’s chances is the Lebron factor. Who would stick Lebron? What would Michael Jordan do with a physical specimen like Lebron draped all over him? As to who would stick Lebron, I’d put Pippen on him. The 6’8 Pippen was 27 years old and an absolute terror defensively. Lebron would have had some strength on him, but he wouldn’t have dominated Scottie the way he does most of today’s players. While James is bigger, stronger and arguably as quick as Jordan was, there is one thing that separates the two. Jordan lived for the big moment.  Lebron had a truly great 2012 playoff run, but the one knock on him had been his tendency to shirk from big moments. Jordan was an assassin and a legendary trash talker. If anybody could get into James’ head, the combination of Jordan and Pippen could.