Create the Dream Team of the past 20 years

[JimLeavy59]

But the post you quoted and responded to listed Kobe Bryant (2008).

EDIT: Don't want to "dis" your strong intial VSN postings, but I do think it makes a difference in the argument. The 2008 Kobe was much better than the 2012 Kobe, IMO

Sorry for missing that.

[ralaw]

IDK, as Kobe said one game I could see 2012 being able to beat the 1992 team. Due to a host of issues people make it out to seem as if the 1992 team was untouchable, but for one game I think the 2012 to could it done and this is what Kobe was talking about.

PG: Magic/Stockton vs Paul/Williams/Westbrook - advantage? push. defensively Magic would be a problem, but none of these guys would be guarding Magic anyways (James). Conversely who is going to guard Paul/Williams or Westbrook on the 1992 team? Can't take Jordan/Pippen off of LeKobDurantula Monster
SG: Jordan/Drexler vs Kobe/Iggy/Harden - advantage 1992 prime Jordan = done, sorry Kobe this isn't 2008.
SF: Pippen/Mullin/Bird vs James/Durant - advantage 2012 - Prime James would be too much and you add in Durant and it's done. Bird was aging and Pppen wasn't yet in his prime.
PF: Barkley/Malone/Laettner vs. Anthony/Love/Davis - advantage 1992. 2012 would struggle with Barkley and Malone's strength and athleticism.
C: Ewing/Robinson vs. Chandler/Love/Davis - advantage? push. This is the area where everyone just gives it to the 1992 team, but lets not forget that both Ewing and Robinson were jumpshooting bigs, neither really was the type that would get you in the low post and eat you alive in the paint. This plays into the strength and more importantly avoids the weaknesses of Chandler/Love/Davis' lack of size.

[Senser81]

IDK, as Kobe said one game I could see 2012 being able to beat the 1992 team. Due to a host of issues people make it out to seem as if the 1992 team was untouchable, but for one game I think the 2012 to could it done and this is what Kobe was talking about.

PG: Magic/Stockton vs Paul/Williams/Westbrook - advantage? push. defensively Magic would be a problem, but none of these guys would be guarding Magic anyways (James). Conversely who is going to guard Paul/Williams or Westbrook on the 1992 team? Can't take Jordan/Pippen off of LeKobDurantula Monster
SG: Jordan/Drexler vs Kobe/Iggy/Harden - advantage 1992 prime Jordan = done, sorry Kobe this isn't 2008.
SF: Pippen/Mullin/Bird vs James/Durant - advantage 2012 - Prime James would be too much and you add in Durant and it's done. Bird was aging and Pppen wasn't yet in his prime.
PF: Barkley/Malone/Laettner vs. Anthony/Love/Davis - advantage 1992. 2012 would struggle with Barkley and Malone's strength and athleticism.
C: Ewing/Robinson vs. Chandler/Love/Davis - advantage? push. This is the area where everyone just gives it to the 1992 team, but lets not forget that both Ewing and Robinson were jumpshooting bigs, neither really was the type that would get you in the low post and eat you alive in the paint. This plays into the strength and more importantly avoids the weaknesses of Chandler/Love/Davis' lack of size.

The teams are so different from one another, that its hard to look at it from a positional breakdown. It would defintely be a good game. I think when all the comparisons are made and cancel each other out, the 1992 team still has Karl Malone and Charles Barkley, and the 2012 team doesn't really have an answer for those two.

[FirstTimer]

IDK, as Kobe said one game I could see 2012 being able to beat the 1992 team. Due to a host of issues people make it out to seem as if the 1992 team was untouchable, but for one game I think the 2012 to could it done and this is what Kobe was talking about.

PG: Magic/Stockton vs Paul/Williams/Westbrook - advantage? push. defensively Magic would be a problem, but none of these guys would be guarding Magic anyways (James). Conversely who is going to guard Paul/Williams or Westbrook on the 1992 team? Can't take Jordan/Pippen off of LeKobDurantula Monster
SG: Jordan/Drexler vs Kobe/Iggy/Harden - advantage 1992 prime Jordan = done, sorry Kobe this isn't 2008.
SF: Pippen/Mullin/Bird vs James/Durant - advantage 2012 - Prime James would be too much and you add in Durant and it's done. Bird was aging and Pppen wasn't yet in his prime.
PF: Barkley/Malone/Laettner vs. Anthony/Love/Davis - advantage 1992. 2012 would struggle with Barkley and Malone's strength and athleticism.
C: Ewing/Robinson vs. Chandler/Love/Davis - advantage? push. This is the area where everyone just gives it to the 1992 team, but lets not forget that both Ewing and Robinson were jumpshooting bigs, neither really was the type that would get you in the low post and eat you alive in the paint. This plays into the strength and more importantly avoids the weaknesses of Chandler/Love/Davis' lack of size.

I'll disagree/take issue with two things here.

1. What span of years would you consider Pippen's prime? Pippen was coming off a ridiculously good 1991-1992 campaign. 21-8-7 50%+ from the field

2. I think we tend to forget what a freak Robinson was an an athlete as well. He'd give this team fits. Plus him and Ewing had a good enough back to the basket game to push the 2012 teams poop. I see generally what you are saying but I think calling the center match up a "push" is giving the 2012 team too much credit, or taking WAY too much away from a pair of HOF centers. Maybe the advantage isn't as cavernous as some would believe or want to believe but no way it comes out as a "push"

[ralaw]

The teams are so different from one another, that its hard to look at it from a positional breakdown. It would defintely be a good game. I think when all the comparisons are made and cancel each other out, the 1992 team still has Karl Malone and Charles Barkley, and the 2012 team doesn't really have an answer for those two.

In a 7 game series I actually agree that the 1992 team would win, but for one game I could see the 2012 team being able to keep it close and hang with them. I'm just amazed that people actually think the 1992 team would wipe the floor of the 2012 team. I don't see that happening. If I we were making a draft of the players from the 1992 and 2012 teams it would be something like this.

1. Jordan
2. James
3. Barkley
4. Durant
5. Kobe
6. Paul
7. Williams
8. Magic
9. Ewing
10. Love

[ralaw]

I'll disagree/take issue with two things here.

1. What span of years would you consider Pippen's prime? Pippen was coming off a ridiculously good 1991-1992 campaign. 21-8-7 50%+ from the field

I see Pippen's prime as being from 1993-1998. IMO this is when he became an elite player across the board and played with conistency.

2. I think we tend to forget what a freak Robinson was an an athlete as well. He'd give this team fits. Plus him and Ewing had a good enough back to the basket game to push the 2012 teams poop. I see generally what you are saying but I think calling the center match up a "push" is giving the 2012 team too much credit, or taking WAY too much away from a pair of HOF centers. Maybe the advantage isn't as cavernous as some would believe or want to believe but no way it comes out as a "push"

You might be right, but I wasn't much of a Robinson fan. I'd be willing to give a slight advantage to the 1992 team.

[Senser81]

You might be right, but I wasn't much of a Robinson fan. I'd be willing to give a slight advantage to the 1992 team.

I remember one year in the mid-90's when Robinson needed to score a ton of points in the the last game of the year to win the scoring title. Robinson ended up winning the title by scoring 71 points. Thought it was funny, because, to me, Robinson could have been better than Ewing (perhaps he already was) and Olajuwon...when he tried he could score 70+ points on any night.

[Villain]

I'd just like to thank Kobe for something more interesting to talk about than Jeremy Lin.

[ralaw]

I remember one year in the mid-90's when Robinson needed to score a ton of points in the the last game of the year to win the scoring title. Robinson ended up winning the title by scoring 71 points. Thought it was funny, because, to me, Robinson could have been better than Ewing (perhaps he already was) and Olajuwon...when he tried he could score 70+ points on any night.

lol, I remember that.........Shaq was pissed. Meh, I still was never much of a fan of The Admiral.

[JimLeavy59]

That turnaround jumper was nasty.

[Warner2BruceTD]

In a 7 game series I actually agree that the 1992 team would win, but for one game I could see the 2012 team being able to keep it close and hang with them. I'm just amazed that people actually think the 1992 team would wipe the floor of the 2012 team. I don't see that happening. If I we were making a draft of the players from the 1992 and 2012 teams it would be something like this.

1. Jordan
2. James
3. Barkley
4. Durant
5. Kobe
6. Paul
7. Williams
8. Magic
9. Ewing
10. Love

I can't believe, after that video proved it really isn't even all that close, that you would not only draft '12 Kobe ahead of '92 Drexler, but that you don't even have Drexler on your list, while Kobe is 5th.

And Ewing & Robinson would eat the 2012 team for lunch. The 2012 team has no answer for either of them on either end. Same for Barkley & Malone. I think you are underrating Pippen, too. Lock down defender, as good of an athlete as anybody sans Lebron on the '12 team.

This whole thing is kinda stupid anyway, because of the different defensive rules in '92 & '12. Today's offensive players don't face the physical defenses the guys in '92 were facing. Jordan & Drexler without a forearm constantly on their back would make a huge difference, too. Either way, I think life on the line '92 wins.

[Senser81]

I can't believe, after that video proved it really isn't even all that close, that you would not only draft '12 Kobe ahead of '92 Drexler, but that you don't even have Drexler on your list, while Kobe is 5th.

And Ewing & Robinson would eat the 2012 team for lunch. The 2012 team has no answer for either of them on either end. Same for Barkley & Malone. I think you are underrating Pippen, too. Lock down defender, as good of an athlete as anybody sans Lebron on the '12 team.

This whole thing is kinda stupid anyway, because of the different defensive rules in '92 & '12. Today's offensive players don't face the physical defenses the guys in '92 were facing. Jordan & Drexler without a forearm constantly on their back would make a huge difference, too. Either way, I think VSN Account/Poster Of The Year Status on the line '92 wins.

FIXED

[Warner2BruceTD]

I missed the post where ralaw gave a "push" to the centers.

Wow. Two hall of fame big men, two of the best defensive centers ever, against Tyson f'n Chandler and...who, exactly? Two guys playing out of position, one of which is like 19 years old?

ralaw, has your account been hacked?

[Senser81]

I missed the post where ralaw gave a "push" to the centers.

Wow. Two hall of fame big men, two of the best defensive centers ever, against Tyson f'n Chandler and...who, exactly? Two guys playing out of position, one of which is like 19 years old?

ralaw, has your account been hacked?

Who is "Davis"? Antonio or Dale?

[FirstTimer]

I can't believe, after that video proved it really isn't even all that close, that you would not only draft '12 Kobe ahead of '92 Drexler, but that you don't even have Drexler on your list, while Kobe is 5th.

And Ewing & Robinson would eat the 2012 team for lunch. The 2012 team has no answer for either of them on either end. Same for Barkley & Malone. I think you are underrating Pippen, too. Lock down defender, as good of an athlete as anybody sans Lebron on the '12 team.

This whole thing is kinda stupid anyway, because of the different defensive rules in '92 & '12. Today's offensive players don't face the physical defenses the guys in '92 were facing. Jordan & Drexler without a forearm constantly on their back would make a huge difference, too. Either way, I think life on the line '92 wins.

There was some confusion over the 08 Kobe and 12 Kobe thing.

The underrating of Drexler Ewing and Robinson though is troubling. I'd personally take Drexler over Deron, Magic, and Love.

Using the same comparison that we saw earlier:

Kobe/Drexler
FGA:20.6/19.4
FG%:46/47
3p%:36/34
FTA:9/5
FT%:84/79
Reb:6.3/6.6
Ast:5.4/6.7
Stl:1.8/1.8
Blk:.5/.9
TO:3.1/3.2
PPG:28.3/25.0
PER:24.2/23.6
WS:13.8/12.8

You'd likely still have to take Kobe but it's close enough that if you have Kobe at #5 it would be tough to leave Drexler off a top 10 of the players available to draft from.