I suspected that my blog would primarily be used as another way for me to argue with Steve and this next blog is purely to prove Steve wrong. In Steve's blog he mentioned how the 2008 USA Basketball Dream Team is "probably the best team since 1992." I disagree adamantly. The 1996 USA Basketball Team would absolutely embarrasses this current team. There were 5 returning players from the 1992 Dream Team they beat the competition by an average of 34 points and it was the year that Barkley stated that their goal was "to embarrass and totally annihilate their competition." That attitude alone is the main problem with our current USA squad. Let's compare their rosters:
1996 USA Olympic Roster
Shaquille O'neal
Charles Barkley
Scottie Pippen
Mitch Richmond
John Stockton
Hakeem Olajuwon
Karl Malone
Grant Hill
Reggie Miller
Penny Hardaway
Glenn Robinson
David Robinson


1800-322-3770


2008 USA Olympic Roster
Dwight Howard
Carmelo Anthony
Lebron James
Kobe Bryant
Jason Kidd
Chris Bosh
Carlos Boozer
Tayshaun Prince
Dwyane Wade
Chris Paul
Micheal Redd
Deron Williams





CENTER:

Shaquille O'neal vs. Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard is a beast. He is a Shaq in the making. He is huge, plays for Orlando, fun loving, all he does is dunk, but as good as Dwight is and will be I doubt he will ever be as dominant as Shaquille O'neal. He gets a lot of attention for the being the next Shaq but in actuality he is probably just the next Shawn Kemp(without all the illegitimate children) Shaq was in shape, motivated and a complete monster in 1996
Advantage: Shaq
Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Chris Bosh
I don't even see the point in explaining why Hakeem Olajuwon would win this match up. Olajuwon is the most underrated player of in NBA History. He is the all-time leader in block shots and had the best footwork of any big man that ever played. Robert Horry, who played with Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Shaquille O'neal, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, when asked who was the best player he ever suited up with his response hands down was The Dream.
Advantage: Olajuwon

POWER FORWARD:

Charles Barkley vs. Carmelo Anthony
I think the biggest reason why the 1996 USA Team would destroy the 2008 team is because of their post players. Barkley would out muscle and out play 'Melo. Barkley might struggle with guarding 'Melo in the open court but even though Melo has 4-5 inches on Barkley, Carmelo would be embarrassed by Barkley in the post.
Advantage: Barkley

Karl Malone vs. Carlos Boozer
Isn't it ironic that we are comparing these two players. Everything that Carlos does well Karl Malone does it ten times better. Karl Malone is the model for consistency and power. Boozer can't play defense and disappears in big games. Malone is arguably the greatest power forward of all time and Boozer will end up his career as a poor man's Karl Malone.
Advantage: Karl Malone

Scottie Pippen vs. Lebron James
This is the hardest match up to decide who has an clear advantage. Lebron James will probably go down as the greatest basketball player of all time. In my opinion (and you obviously care about mine since your reading this blog) Scottie Pippen is the second greatest perimeter defender of ALL TIME behind only Micheal Jordan. If you made an ALL-NBA Defensive team of All-time Scottie would be on it hands down. Pippen wasn't a slob on the offensive end either. Lebron doesn't play any defense and his lack of a consistent outside jump shot hurts him in international play.
Advantage: Push

Grant Hill vs. Tayshaun Prince
Whenever I talk about Lebron James I say that he reminds of when Grant Hill was in his prime. In 1995-96 Grant Hill averaged 20.2 ppg, 7 assists and 9 rebounds. If you were a basketball fan and didn't like Grant Hill then you have a problem. Meanwhile I am giving Prince the 'Christian Laettner Award' for the player that simply just doesn't belong on the team.
Advantage: Grant Hill

SHOOTING GUARD:
Mitch Richmond vs. Kobe Bryant
This matchup is the only clear cut advantage for the 2008 Team. Kobe Bryant could play for the 1992 Dream Team. Richmond is a fantastic basketball player and didn't Jordan once say that he was the second best shooting guard in the league. But Kobe is Kobe and I seriously consider him the best scorer of all-time. Richmond was a great scorer and a fantastic shot but he is no Kobe Bryant. Kobe is probably the only one of the 2008 Team that has the right mind sight and is the only one who cares about playing defensive and bringing the much needed intensity and die-hard attitude the 1992 and 1996 teams had.
Advantage: Kobe Bryant

Reggie Miller vs. Dwyane Wade
Let's just say that Dwyane Wade is healthy and at 100% percent for the Olympics although I seriously doubt he will be. Just like Richmond, Reggie Miller is just a fantastic shot. I don't know why the Olympic committee hasn't picked up on this trend. Both Reggie and Richmond are zone busters and if they had these guys on the team the competition couldn't play zone and the USA team could do what they do best and break the team down with penetration and isolation plays. With that being said I think Dwyane Wade is a better player than Reggie Miller when he is healthy but in international play I might take Reggie.
Advantage: Push

POINT GUARD:

John Stockton vs. Jason Kidd
John Stockton is the greatest point guard of all-time although Jason Kidd is not far behind him. Jason Kidd international experience 34-0 with him running the team is impressive and gives him an edge over John Stockton. But as mentioned earlier you need to be able to hit an outside shot to keep the defense honest and Kidd cannot do that. The international guards are big and strong and Stockton size worries me and I like Kidd's size in that match up. Jason Kidd's biggest strength is his passing and getting everybody involved and Stockton does that better and he can hit a shot.
Advantage: John Stockton

Penny Hardaway vs. Chris Paul
You can't help but get goosebumps when you think of the '96 Penny Hardaway. He ruled the world. I remember that some people even thought he was better than Micheal Jordan and thats sayin something. This was Penny in this prime he averaged 21 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals a game in the 1995-96 season. Chris Paul averaged 21 points, 11 assists and 4 rebounds and 2 steals a game.
Advantage: Push

THE BENCHWARMERS:

David Robinson and Glenn Robinson vs. Deron Williams and Micheal Redd

It is impossible to compare these players but it does show the differences in the teams. The team in 1996 had size and the 2008 team has a bunch of guards who can't shoot with the exception of Micheal Redd. David Robinson is a 1st ballot hall of Famer and one of the 50 Greatest Players of all time. Glenn Robinson is the recipient of 'The Christian Laettner Award' although I am impressed with any basketball player that can play his whole career without jumping or bending over. Deron Williams is a good choice but with Chris Paul and Jason Kidd is he really going to be needed wouldn't Allen Iverson be a better choice. I love Micheal Redd he is really the only player that can consistently hit an outside shot but wouldn't Gilbert Arenas or another big player be a way better selection?
Advantage: David and Glenn Robinson