246 replies to this topic

[koufax32]

Mods, feel free to move to the Olympics forum.


http://espn.go.com/o...m-double-digits


Kobe's word vs. Barkley's word. Vegas says the Dream Team would be favored by 8. What does SoSH say? What pace would this game be played at? Would that even matter in dtermining the outcome? What matchups would be exploited by each coach? Would Chuck Daly need to stand up?


My 2 cents: Kobe is a clown. Dream Team 90-72.

Discuss

Edited by koufax32, 11 July 2012 - 10:30 PM.

[Hendu's Gait]

Step 1. Get Chandler in foul trouble by drives to the basket by Jordan, Pippen, and Drexler.

Step 2. Dominate the post with Barkley, Robinson, and Ewing due to lack of bigs by 2012

Step 3. Profit

[Dick Pole Upside]

MJ on Kobe, Pip on LeBron.

Feed those two Bulls some raw meat, and they would absolutely salivate at the opportunity to destroy the 2012 Peacocks. Malone, Barkley, and Ewing would beat the crap out of anybody in the 2012 front court.

Team 2012 may be more athletic, but the Dreamers had more "Alpha's" and would wear 2012 down.

Only thing that would make the Dreamers even more rabid would be to stick Isiah on 2012. Dreamers would burn that sh!t down.

There would be some hella woofing on that court, fo sho.

[Reardons Beard]

The 2012 players aren't nearly as tough as The Dream Team. Too many whiners, not enough heart, and they don't have the size.

[CreightonGubanich]

I don't know about heart and alphas, but the '92 team was just better. They'd have to slow the pace down a bit and use their size, but they're just a lot more skilled. They've got the single person in the history of basketball built to guard LeBron James in Pippen. And they have Jordan in his prime, who is far and away the best player on either team. One interesting question in this scenario is who LeBron would guard. If you give him MJ, he's probably not quick enough, and you're removing one of your two players on the entire roster who's capable of guarding big men. But if you don't, the only person you can put on Jordan is Kobe, and Kobe's not athletic enough anymore.

The Dream Team is a much better rebounding team, a better outside shooting team, a better defensive team, and they've got a clear pecking order in terms of scoring. The 2012 team is still figuring that last bit out.

[bougrj1]

The only place I give the 2012 team a SLIGHT advantage is at PG... and that's just because Magic was coming off a year where he didn't play. The bigs on the '92 team would have their way with the '12 roster.

I think the conventional wisdom is that the '92 team was old... but that was really only Bird & Magic. Many of the other players were in the primes of their careers - most notably Jordan/Pippen/Barkley.

[wutang112878]

The two things that jumped out at me from the Dream Team was their offensive efficiency and their passing. On offense they were patient, and I was always amazed that 5 stars could be on the court and would actually share the ball and more around, there was very little 'let me take over' type of basketball, it was amazing that everyone put their egos aside and were willing to make one another look better. The passing was also amazing, the only guys with real 'speed' on the team were PIppen, Jordan and Drexler, but they ended up having a lot production on fast breaks because their passing on the fast break was so good.

Defensively they had just enough height in Ewing, Robinson and Laettner to clog up the middle and compensate for the lack of speed and lateral quickness from the guys guarding people on the wings. They made their opponents take difficult shots and were very effective at rebounding as well.

The team really complimented one another very well and easily hid their deficiencies because they together so well, it really was amazing.

One interesting question in this scenario is who LeBron would guard. If you give him MJ, he's probably not quick enough, and you're removing one of your two players on the entire roster who's capable of guarding big men.

This brings up a dream matchup, watching Lebron and MJ in their primes going back and forth against one another would be amazing. Jordan is one of the few players in the history of the NBA that had the athleticism and strength to matchup against Lebron, and from a mental strength standpoint I am pretty sure Jordan might be able to make Lebron cry. If it was possible, that would be very fun to watch.

The only place I give the 2012 team a SLIGHT advantage is at PG... and that's just because Magic was coming off a year where he didn't play.

Hindsight being 20/20, Magic was very effective in the olympics. He wasnt as fast as he once was, but he did not lose anything from a passing perspective. I dont think Chris Paul is going to be more productive than Magic was in 92, and there is zero chance that D-Will is going to be better than Stockton, and then once Westbrook enters the game the rest of his offensive teammates can basically save their energy for defense. I would give the edge to the 92 team in PG play simply because Magic and Stockton were so much better at passing and getting their team into high efficiency offense, and while Paul and D-Will are good at this they are not anywhere near Magic and Stocktons level.

[ishmael]

Defensively they had just enough height in Ewing, Robinson and Laettner to clog up the middle and compensate for the lack of speed and lateral quickness from the guys guarding people on the wings.

Just enough height? The Admiral was the reigning defensive player of the year and the perfect physical prototype of a center. Ewing blocked 3 shots per game in '91-92 and was second team all defense.

That team was ridiculously stacked and would wash the floor with the 2012 team. Every player except for Laettner (who was the feel good college pick) made the Hall of Fame*. No chance that's the case with this year's crew...

*And they didn't even bring Isaiah or Shaq!

[wutang112878]

Just enough height? The Admiral was the reigning defensive player of the year and the perfect physical prototype of a center. Ewing blocked 3 shots per game in '91-92 and was second team all defense.

Solid point, I should have clarified mine. The PFs were Malone and Barkley, both great rebounders but neither of whom were really considered to be elite defensive players. So, IMO the height advantages we had with Robinson and Ewing were a big part of what made us great defensively, kept most teams out of the paint and if Ewing and Robinson werent great or got into foul trouble there was not a lot of depth behind them.

[jose melendez]

Was this playing stupid international rules, or real NBA rules. The 1992 team has a bigger advantage playing NBA ball because of their superior Center play.

[bowiac]

Bigger, faster, stronger and all that jazz. Modern players win, just cause that's how sports go.

[RedOctober3829]

Since there's no Olympic basketball thread, I'll put this here.

Blake Griffin hurt his knee and had to return to LA to get an examination. Anthony Davis has been called back to join the team in his absence.

https://twitter.com/...472172306399233

[zenter]

I'm curious about speed. Outside of Jordan, Pippen, and Malone, I don't see much explosive transition speed on the 1992 team. I simply can see the 2012 team destroying on fast-break, and the 92 team killing everywhere else.

[Lose Remerswaal]

'92 team is all in their 50's.

So 2012 team wins, but they don't sweep a best of seven

[DannyDarwinism]

I'm curious about speed. Outside of Jordan, Pippen, and Malone, I don't see much explosive transition speed on the 1992 team. I simply can see the 2012 team destroying on fast-break, and the 92 team killing everywhere else.

Clyde was a beast on the fast break.

[zenter]

Clyde was a beast on the fast break.

Totally forgot about him. Yes. Him too.

[Zomp]

Bigger, faster, stronger and all that jazz. Modern players win, just cause that's how sports go.

Agreed.

I don't think the 92 team has a match up for Lebron or Durant.

[Double Jeopardy]

No love for the 96 team?

Guards:

Stockton
Payton
Mitch Richmond
Penny
Reggie Miller

Forwards:

Pippen
Barkley
Malone
Grant Hill

Centers:

Admiral
Shaq
Hakeem


While the 96 team did not have the same pedigree as the 92 squad, there were many fine players in the prime of their careers. The 96 group also boasts the best front court of any US team, in my opinion.

P.S. Out of all the players in the history of USA Basketball, who else besides 1996 Gary Payton could guard 1992 Jordan?

[koufax32]

Was this playing stupid international rules, or real NBA rules. The 1992 team has a bigger advantage playing NBA ball because of their superior Center play.

Good question. I assume the discussion and subsequent Las Vegas line implies international rules.

[wutang112878]

Bigger, faster, stronger and all that jazz. Modern players win, just cause that's how sports go.

Thats true most of the time, but not in the case of the Dream Team IMO. Those guys never played together, but their ball movement and ability to play team basketball was really amazing. The 2012 team is faster and more athletic, but the Dream Team would probably force them into a half-court court game [negating their athleticism advantage somewhat] and in a half-court game I think the Dream Team would shoot a higher FG% and be a better rebounding team as well.

[lars10]

Agreed.

I don't think the 92 team has a match up for Lebron or Durant.

You don't think a 29 year old Jordan could match Lebron?

Do you think Durant would be able to guard Bird who was basically the same height?

I'm intrigued who Pippen would guard..and who would guard Barkley, Magic or Robinson/Ewing?

Edited by lars10, 12 July 2012 - 02:15 PM.

[zenter]

You don't think a 29 year old Jordan could match Lebron?

Do you think Durant would be able to guard Bird who was basically the same height?

No and yes.

Jordan was fast and athletic, but he has two significant things working against him: height, strength. LeBron might lose a footrace, but that doesn't really matter when Jordan's playing D. LeBron can basically force Jordan into a bunch of fouls powering to the rim, or get Jordan to over-commit on a fake. On the flipside, Jordan would run circles around him on offense.

1992 Bird was slow and broken. The only things he had were hands and eyes. Durant would be forced to pay attention since Bird was a playmaker, but in isolation, Durant would be just fine.

[wutang112878]

Jordan was fast and athletic, but he has two significant things working against him: height, strength. LeBron might lose a footrace, but that doesn't really matter when Jordan's playing D. LeBron can basically force Jordan into a bunch of fouls powering to the rim, or get Jordan to over-commit on a fake. On the flipside, Jordan would run circles around him on offense.

I have to completely disagree. The main reason being that you glossed over Jordans greatest advantage: his competitive nature. Lebron is a little bit taller, but Jordan was strong enough that he would probably be able to keep Lebron outside. Also, if Jordan was guarding Lebron, Lebron wouldnt be getting all the calls that he normally gets. Furthermore, Jordan would be talking to Lebron non-stop until he broke him mentally.

1992 Bird was slow and broken. The only things he had were hands and eyes. Durant would be forced to pay attention since Bird was a playmaker, but in isolation, Durant would be just fine.

Durant is not Mr Defense, and he is never going to even sniff an all defensive team. Durant is faster than Larry, but you arent thinking about Larry's passing and his little get the defender off balance moves. Towards the end of his career, physically Larry was toast, but he was still pretty effective and could create just enough space to get his shot off. Larrys advantage would be his offensive mind vs Durants total defensive abilities, and thats a huge advantage for Larry.

[DannyDarwinism]

I have to completely disagree. The main reason being that you glossed over Jordans greatest advantage: his competitive nature. Lebron is a little bit taller, but Jordan was strong enough that he would probably be able to keep Lebron outside.

Lebron has about 50 lbs of muscle on Jordan, no way MJ is able to keep him outside. Pippen or even Barkley should be guarding Lebron, with lots of help. Luckily '92 has some great interior D.

[zenter]

There's a troubling trend in your posts, wutang. You put quite a lot of stock in intangibles and unmeasurables, and draw big conclusions from them. You almost exclusively judge by feel - Rondo's an ass, Melo's not going to amount to anything, and now this:

I have to completely disagree. The main reason being that you glossed over Jordans greatest advantage: his competitive nature. Lebron is a little bit taller, but Jordan was strong enough that he would probably be able to keep Lebron outside. Also, if Jordan was guarding Lebron, Lebron wouldnt be getting all the calls that he normally gets. Furthermore, Jordan would be talking to Lebron non-stop until he broke him mentally.

Dude. Jordan's simply not as strong as LeBron. And for all the talk of LeBron's mental weakness and Jordan's mental toughness, there's really no data supporting what you say. What we know is that LeBron is stronger and that he is taller. We know that Jordan is quicker (hands) and faster (feet).

Durant is not Mr Defense, and he is never going to even sniff an all defensive team. Durant is faster than Larry, but you arent thinking about Larry's passing and his little get the defender off balance moves. Towards the end of his career, physically Larry was toast, but he was still pretty effective and could create just enough space to get his shot off. Larrys advantage would be his offensive mind vs Durants total defensive abilities, and thats a huge advantage for Larry.

Hence - references to Bird's playmaking ability and saying that Durant would be fine in isolation.

[collings94]

This is one of those debates that only Bill Plaschke thinks is an actual arguement. What is this years teams big weakness? Size. The 1992 team has two hall of fame centers to control the paint, plus Jordan and Barkley in his prime AND Malone and Stockton, plus Larry and Magic for leadership. In a 7 game series I would have the dream team in 5, only because you know Chuck and MJ will get in at least one of the court gambling incident during the series that might fuck them up for a game.

[Spacemans Bong]

I'm sure some of the size advantage would be neutralized by the really great drugs you can do in 2012.

[mandro ramtinez]

Durant is not Mr Defense, and he is never going to even sniff an all defensive team. Durant is faster than Larry, but you arent thinking about Larry's passing and his little get the defender off balance moves. Towards the end of his career, physically Larry was toast, but he was still pretty effective and could create just enough space to get his shot off. Larrys advantage would be his offensive mind vs Durants total defensive abilities, and thats a huge advantage for Larry.

Plus, Larry was so beat up that he didn't play that much on the dream team. You could play Larry for short bursts against the 2012 team but Pippen would play more of the SF minutes and a lineup with Magic, Michael and Drexler would be plenty potent on the break.

Also, Stockton is perennially underrated and he could run with any of the current superstar PG's. Stockton was a legendary player in his prime in 92.

[collings94]

Agreed.

I don't think the 92 team has a match up for Lebron or Durant.

Zomp meet Scottie Pippen.

[mandro ramtinez]

Jordan played mostly shooting guard, he wouldn't spend that much time covering Lebron. The current USA team is fantastically loaded and would create some matchup problems for the dream team but I think the talent level, experience and overall team makeup of the dream team is simply better than the 2012 version.

[DrewDawg]

I'm curious about speed. Outside of Jordan, Pippen, and Malone, I don't see much explosive transition speed on the 1992 team. I simply can see the 2012 team destroying on fast-break, and the 92 team killing everywhere else.

How many fast break opportunities will they have when the Dream Team can pound it down low all game long?

[Zomp]

Zomp meet Scottie Pippen.

Which one is he guarding?

[MentalDisabldLst]

Pippen's on LeBron at the 4, backed up by Malone and Barkley. Jordan is on Durant at the 3 or Kobe at the 2, backed up by Drexler and Mullin depending on substitutions.

[collings94]

Don't forget that since Chandler isn't that much of an offensive threat, Ewing and Robinson can help out on Lebron when he beats his man.

[A Bartlett Giamatti]

The biggest problem this team would have (and honestly, that they currently have) is the inability to run any sort of screen game to exploit their clear PG advantage. Chandler is a good screener, but you're not running a pick and roll with him with the options you have on the court. So you're up against a better opponent and can't pound down low, can't run a screen game and are reliant on isolation and transition.

I like 92--they are a much better built team.

OE: I think I just scared myself for this team against Spain. What if they can't get out and run because the Gasol's pound down low the whole time and we start jacking up 20 footers?

Edited by A Bartlett Giamatti, 12 July 2012 - 03:55 PM.

[Kid T]

Jordan was fast and athletic, but he has two significant things working against him: height, strength. LeBron might lose a footrace, but that doesn't really matter when Jordan's playing D. LeBron can basically force Jordan into a bunch of fouls powering to the rim, or get Jordan to over-commit on a fake. On the flipside, Jordan would run circles around him on offense.

Jordan had something else working for him too - brains. I think he (and most Dream Teamers) would have played LeBron loose. We all know how streaky LeBron's outside shot is. We also know how nasty his first step is. That having been said, I think LeBron would present the biggest mismatch for the current team.

1992 Bird was slow and broken. The only things he had were hands and eyes. Durant would be forced to pay attention since Bird was a playmaker, but in isolation, Durant would be just fine.

I don't think either player would have been very successful defending the other. If anything, I would give Bird a slight advantage due to his ability to draw fouls.


All in all, this would be a fascinating game to watch...especially if the referees eschewed the "star treatment" and called all traveling violations.

[gammoseditor]

When you have a collection of stars together passing becomes much more important. The 12 team is a collection of individuals most of which don't know how to share the ball. I think passing would be the difference.

[DannyDarwinism]

I don't think either player would have been very successful defending the other. If anything, I would give Bird a slight advantage due to his ability to draw fouls.

Career free throw attempts/36
Durant- 7.4
Bird- 4.6

Bird has some advantages over Durant- passing and rebounding to name two- but ability to draw fouls doesn't appear to be one.


I think one of the biggest problems the current team would face is the '92 team's dominance on the glass. Having to contend with the offensive rebounding of Barkley, Malone, Robinson and Ewing would limit their ability to get out on the break, and the '92 sqaud would be very happy to turn it into a half court game, where they could play zone to try and force '12ers into jump shots. On offense, the '92ers moved the ball beautifully for a bunch of guys who hadn't really played together. The 12ers would have to do the same to keep up.

[Cellar-Door]

The biggest problem this team would have (and honestly, that they currently have) is the inability to run any sort of screen game to exploit their clear PG advantage. Chandler is a good screener, but you're not running a pick and roll with him with the options you have on the court. So you're up against a better opponent and can't pound down low, can't run a screen game and are reliant on isolation and transition.

I like 92--they are a much better built team.

OE: I think I just scared myself for this team against Spain. What if they can't get out and run because the Gasol's pound down low the whole time and we start jacking up 20 footers?

John Stockton is being criminally underrated on this thread, as is Magic both were better players than anyone at the point for the 2012 team, on both ends of the floor.
Can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree witn Chuck, outside, Lebron, Durant and maybe Kobe (maybe), none of the other guys on the 2012 roster would even sniff the 92 team. As to the game, The 92 team would coast, their huge interior advantage would be devastating, almost impossible for the 2012 team to run off made dunks and layups. Defensively other than lebron and maybe Durant they would struggle to get into the lane, and the depth and size inside would make it difficult to finish.
On offense beyond the obvious size advantage, who checks Jordan in his prime? Who do the 2012 teams small PG cover when the 92 team's starting 5 is out there? Dream team had 1 player under 6'6" and he was the backup PG.

Edited by Cellar-Door, 12 July 2012 - 05:24 PM.

[collings94]

The biggest problem this team would have (and honestly, that they currently have) is the inability to run any sort of screen game to exploit their clear PG advantage. Chandler is a good screener, but you're not running a pick and roll with him with the options you have on the court. So you're up against a better opponent and can't pound down low, can't run a screen game and are reliant on isolation and transition.

I like 92--they are a much better built team.

OE: I think I just scared myself for this team against Spain. What if they can't get out and run because the Gasol's pound down low the whole time and we start jacking up 20 footers?

Love is a great screener, plus he has the option to go to the perimeter and pound it down low. Imagine Stockton trying to stay with Westbrook and trying to get around a Love screen.

[Zomp]

John Stockton is being criminally underrated on this thread, as is Magic both were better players than anyone at the point for the 2012 team, on both ends of the floor.

Now I think you are criminally under rating LeBron James and Kobe Bryant

[Zomp]

Oops. Thought that said at THIS point and not THE point. Carry on.

[Greg29fan]

I'm not sure how this team would even deal with the 1994 Dream Team 2 that competed at the World Championships. 1994 Shaq would destroy Tyson Chandler and Alonzo Mourning would be unstoppable at the defensive end.

[Cellar-Door]

Love is a great screener, plus he has the option to go to the perimeter and pound it down low. Imagine Stockton trying to stay with Westbrook and trying to get around a Love screen.

He would probably go under the screen and do it easily, John Stockton was an elite defender. Of course he also barely played on the dream team. Magic played 6 games at the point, their passing was so good they often played Jordan, mullin, drexler or pippen at the point.
The 1992 team was insane, they had 12 guys 11 of whom were first ballot easy hall of famers, and all but Bird were in their primes. They had no defensive weak spots, every player was a good shooter and passer, they didn't even take Isaih thomas because jordan hated him.

Edited by Cellar-Door, 12 July 2012 - 05:44 PM.

[Was (Not Wasdin)]

1992 Bird was slow and broken. The only things he had were hands and eyes. Durant would be forced to pay attention since Bird was a playmaker, but in isolation, Durant would be just fine.

Sadly, I think this is 100% correct. I think people are giving 1992 Larry too much credit-his back was really in bad shape by then. I think Durant would have had his way with him defensively-he really wouldnt have had to worry about Bird going to the hoop at all.

[DannyDarwinism]

He might have been slow and broken, but in the 91-92 season he still was putting up 20-10-7 for the season, albeit in 45 games. When he played, he was effective.

[wutang112878]

Lebron has about 50 lbs of muscle on Jordan, no way MJ is able to keep him outside. Pippen or even Barkley should be guarding Lebron, with lots of help. Luckily '92 has some great interior D.

Lebron has the muscle, but he really hasnt developed the post game. If he had Jordans post game that he utilized during his last 3 titles with that turnaround to reduce the hits he took, then yeah Lebron would be a difficult guard for MJ. And it wouldnt be an easy guard for Jordan, but I really have a difficult time saying 'Jordan couldnt handle that challenge' for any reasonable basketball challenge anyway. Because MJ was an amazing athlete, and probably one of the greatest competitors that entire world of sports has ever seen.

Rather than having Barkley guard him you might as just have me guard him, because Lebron would go by Barkley before he could even swipe and foul him intentionally.

There's a troubling trend in your posts, wutang. You put quite a lot of stock in intangibles and unmeasurables, and draw big conclusions from them. You almost exclusively judge by feel - Rondo's an ass, Melo's not going to amount to anything, and now this:

I go on feel sure, but some of the examples you mention can only be done on feel. There isnt data to use to determine if Rondo is a jerk and if he is the effect him being nice might have on the Celts. Projecting Melo with little basketball experience and only playing the zone in college, to the NBA game and playing a switching/help defense can only be projected.

Dude. Jordan's simply not as strong as LeBron. And for all the talk of LeBron's mental weakness and Jordan's mental toughness, there's really no data supporting what you say. What we know is that LeBron is stronger and that he is taller. We know that Jordan is quicker (hands) and faster (feet).

I completely agree on your physical assessment of the two of them, but as I mentioned above I just have a tough time betting against MJ when it comes to a basketball challenge. He wouldnt shut Lebron down, but I am pretty confident that he would make things difficult for him. And when MJ is on offense, I am more confident that MJ would be more effective than Lebron.

Also, there is zero chance I can support my opinion here with data, unless we could actually develop a realistic Jordan vs Lebron [instead of Jordan vs Bird] then how else could we use data to come to a conclusion? Would you agree that there are certain athletes that can 'raise' their game in key situations, games or challenges? And if you do agree, do you have any theory on how to calculate that ability with data? And if you dont agree [that certain athletes can raise their game] then we probably have to agree to disagree.

Edited by wutang112878, 12 July 2012 - 07:02 PM.

[DannyDarwinism]

I don't agree to that.

But seriously, having Jordan cover Lebron is a terrible idea. He'd take an absolute beating trying to cover a guy so much bigger that him. It's a misuse of your best all-around player. And Barkley was a better defender at that age than you're giving him credit for, at least when he wanted to be. Jordan, of course would have a much easier time staying in front of Lebron, but so would Avery Bradley, and I wouldn't want him d-ing up LBJ. Plus it's not as critical when you have Robinson or Ewing back there protecting the rim. But Pippen is clearly the better choice.

[wutang112878]

But seriously, having Jordan cover Lebron is a terrible idea. He'd take an absolute beating trying to cover a guy so much bigger that him. It's a misuse of your best all-around player. And Barkley was a better defender at that age than you're giving him credit for, at least when he wanted to be. Jordan, of course would have a much easier time staying in front of Lebron, but so would Avery Bradley, and I wouldn't want him d-ing up LBJ. Plus it's not as critical when you have Robinson or Ewing back there protecting the rim. But Pippen is clearly the better choice.

Lets look at Pippen and MJ for a second:



Pippen has maybe an inch or two on MJ, and they both have about the same reach, but you have to concede that MJ was the stronger and more physical player and probably a little faster than Pippen right? Pippen was a great, elite defender dont get me wrong, but I dont see why Pippen is clearly a better choice.

Perhaps where we differ is the defensive strategy against Lebron. My first priority would be to take away his greatest offensive skill and to me thats driving to the hoop. So I put a big premium on a guy that can stay in front of him, even if Ewing or Robinson was behind the defender because Lebron could quickly get those 2 in foul trouble and then the game could quickly change. If MJ could force him to just shoot jumpers, I think that would be considered excellent defense.

[Soxy Brown]

Which one is he guarding?

I think I'd put Pippen on Durant. His wingspan and footspeed could give Durant problems. I don't know who the hell guards Lebron (Barkley? Jordan? Drexler? Bueller?), but Lebron is a matchup nightmare for any team he plays against, from any era. It would have to be a team effort based around solid rotations, which I'm pretty confident the '92 team could pull off. Either way, I'm not sure why that should be the deciding factor here. Unless I missed the part where every team Lebron's been on has gone undefeated. And who the hell guards Jordan? From what I can recall, he was pretty good at basketball.

As already mentioned, the '92 team his big advantages at C and PG, not to mention their depth. The '92 team has HOFers coming off of the bench. The 2012 team is starting Tyson Chandler. Barkley is right: no one outside of Kobe, Lebron, or Durant even sniffs the '92 roster (excluding Laettner, who was the token college guy).

I think the whole "modern players will always win because of more advanced training methods" argument is stupid and completely misses the point. You have to assume a level playing field with that stuff, otherwise why even bother having a discussion about teams between generations? Of course modern players have access to tools that prior generations didn't. You need to control for that shit, yo.