Create the Dream Team of the past 20 years

[jaxjaggywires]

So, just for something to do and discuss, build the best team from the players on each U.S. Olympic team since 1992. This list includes:

1992: Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Chris Mullin, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen, Clyde Drexler, Christian Laettner
1996: Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Hakeem Olajuwon, Reggie Miller, Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton, Mitch Richmond, Barkley, Malone, Pippen, Robinson, Stockton
2000: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Ray Allen, Vin Baker, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Tim Hardaway, Allan Houston, Jason Kidd, Antonio McDyess, Alonzo Mourning, Steve Smith, Payton
2004: Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Dwyane Wade, Carlos Boozer, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Emeka Okafor, Shawn Marion, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tim Duncan, Lamar Odom, Richard Jefferson
2008: Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Redd, Chris Paul, James, Wade, Boozer, Anthony, Kidd
2012: Tyson Chandler, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, James, Bryant, Anthony, D. Williams, Paul

So, make the best 12-man squad from those players. Take into account the "best version" of repeat players (for example, I'd take today's LeBron over past years, and would want 2008 Kobe over this years)

My team: Jordan, James ('12), Shaq, Olajuwon, Barkley ('92), Pippen ('96), Paul ('12), Kobe ('08), Kidd ('08), Malone ('96), Durant, Wade ('08)

Now, this isn't taking team chemistry into account...I think Jordan and Kobe would literally try to murder each other, especially with Bryant being relegated to the bench on this team.

 

[ralaw]

PG: Chris Paul (12), Deron Williams (12)
SG: Jordan (92), Bryant (08), Wade (08)
SF: James (12), Pippen (96), Durant
PF: Duncan, Barkley (92)
C: Shaq, Olajuwon

 

[Argath]

Not taking any chemistry into account..

1: Magic Johnson, Chris Paul
2: Jordan (92), Bryant (08), Ray Allen
3: Lebron (12), Durant
4: Larry Bird, Duncan
5: Howard, Shaq, Olajuwon

 

[Realist]

PG - P. Hardaway, Paul
SG - Jordan, Bryant
SF - James, Pippen, Durant
PF - Barkley, Duncan
C - Shaq, Olajuwon, Howard

Didn't feel like listing years but my list is with them all in their prime and healthy.

 

[ZoneBlitz]

Sorry, i instead decided to create the worst team from that group:

PG: Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson
SG: Michael Redd, Allan Houston
SF: Richard Jefferson, Andre Iguodala, Shawn Marion
PF: Vin Baker, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Carlos Boozer
C: Christian Laettner, Emeka Okafor

 

[ralaw]

Sorry, i instead decided to create the worst team from that group:

PG: Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson
SG: Michael Redd, Allan Houston
SF: Richard Jefferson, Andre Iguodala, Shawn Marion
PF: Vin Baker, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Carlos Boozer
C: Christian Laettner, Emeka Okafor

Itwould have been much easier just to say the 2000 team.

 

[Senser81]

Itwould have been much easier just to say the 2000 team.

Exactly. Its like instead of debating who the worst posters on VSN are, we just ask "Who posts in the NHL forum?"

 

[Argath]

Exactly. Its like instead of debating who the worst posters on VSN are, we just ask "Who posts in the NHL forum?"

:shotsfired:

 

[JimLeavy59]

I'll just take the 1992 team.

 

[MattD56]

wow that 2000 team sucked donkey nuts

 

[JimLeavy59]

Also could I get Chuck Daly?

 

[Jmiles]

wow that 2000 team sucked donkey nuts

And they still won gold. :jonesy:

 

[TheImmortalGoud]

PG: Chris Paul (12), Deron Williams (12)
SG: Michael Jordan (92), Kobe Bryant (08)
SF: Lebron James (12), Kevin Durant (12), Chris Mullin (92)
PF: Tim Duncan (04), Karl Malone (92)
C: Hakeem Olajuwon (96), Shaquille O'Neal (96), David Robinson (92)

 

[JimLeavy59]

PG: Chris Paul (12), Deron Williams (12)
SG: Michael Jordan (92), Kobe Bryant (08)
SF: Lebron James (12), Kevin Durant (12), Chris Mullin (92)
PF: Tim Duncan (04), Karl Malone (92)
C: Hakeem Olajuwon (96), Shaquille O'Neal (96), David Robinson (92)

I would take Clyde Drexler over Kobe.

 

[Senser81]

I would take Clyde Drexler over Kobe.

Thats terrible.

 

[calgaryballer]

Lots of Paul/Williams over Stockton. Stockton averaged 38% from three for his career, played nasty (dirty?) defence and was an amazing passer. For an international tourney, that's my PG

 

[ralaw]

Lots of Paul/Williams over Stockton. Stockton averaged 38% from three for his career, played nasty (dirty?) defence and was an amazing passer. For an international tourney, that's my PG

You say that with such conviction.

:lol:

Stockton was a solid player, but he wasn't anything near what Chris Paul and Deron Williams are.Stockton was a good defender, but nothing special.

 

[Realist]

You say that with such conviction.

:lol:

Stockton was a solid player, but he wasn't anything near what Chris Paul and Deron Williams are.Stockton was a good defender, but nothing special.

I. Thomas should have been on that team anyway instead of Stockton

 

[Senser81]

You say that with such conviction.

:lol:

Stockton was a solid player, but he wasn't anything near what Chris Paul and Deron Williams are.Stockton was a good defender, but nothing special.

I'm a big Deron Williams fan (not as much of a Chris Paul fan), but doesn't Stockton hold the NBA record for most steals? And 5 time All-NBA defensive 2nd team.

 

[ralaw]

I'm a big Deron Williams fan (not as much of a Chris Paul fan), but doesn't Stockton hold the NBA record for most steals? And 5 time All-NBA defensive 2nd team.

Yes, but he his defensive prowess wasn't on some elite level either. He was a good defender that knew proper positioning. IMO his defensive ability isn't any more elite than Chris Paul's who routinely is among the best in the league in steals.....maybe Deron Williams, but given his size and ability I'd take him over Stockton as well. Much of Stockton's numbers also are directly tied to the fact that he played 19 seasons in the league.