Evolution is inevitable. It's human nature to increase efficiency as time
progresses. A computer or automobile from 1992 can't compete with a 2012 model,
and neither can an athlete. This is as it should be. Without steady improvement
in all fields how else could society advance? People were outraged when Kobe
Bryant said his 2012 roster could beat 1992's Dream Team but quite frankly he's
right! With the theory of evolution and advances made in sports science and
nutrition over the past twenty years why wouldn't the current team be better?
People get too caught up in the mystique and historical significance of the
players that were on the Dream Team. Magic, Jordan, Bird, Pippen, Barkley
represent the start of the "pro sports renaissance" that created the
hundred-million dollar contract, endorsement driven market of today. To most
fans these athletes symbolize the "golden era" of the sport, and this feeling
manifests itself into the unrealistic belief that they're unbeatable. Of course
they won every game by forty points, the opposition was sub par! Remember, we
only used professional players in 1992 because we didn't win gold in 1988 when
America was represented by college athletes. Nine out of ten times prior to that
American amateurs won the gold. Somewhere along the line the rest of the world
gradually narrowed the gap to a point where they could actually compete with the
American pros.
The current international influence on the NBA is undeniable. In the past
decade we've seen foreign born players like Tony Parker and Dirk Nowitzki win
the NBA finals MVP. Some of the best players in the league are now actually from
over seas, which drastically raises the level of talent for their respective
countries. Players like Marc, and Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony
Parker, Luis Scola, Jose Calderon, Loul Deng and the recently retired Yao Ming
all played Olympic Basketball for a country other than the United States. While
Team USA is still superior its obvious why some of the games in 2012 are more
competitive then those of 1992.
No disrespect to Magic Johnson and Larry Bird but they were certainly past
their prime by the time the Dream Team was assembled. I find it hard to believe
they'd be able to keep up with Kevin Durant, Lebron James or Carmelo Anthony at
this point in their career. John Stockton would look like a sacrificial lamb in
front a point guard like Deron Williams or Russell Westbrook. The evolution of
the sport has resulted in a league of "hybrid players". A league where the
guards are much larger and more athletic, and the big men faster and more
multidimensional. Think of it as "Athletic Darwinism"; future generations
naturally improve upon the talent level established by their predecessors. The
same theory can be applied to the NFL with players like Cam Newton, Michael
Vick, and Robert Griffin III who are athletically superior to the quarterbacks
of the past. In order for them to be successful in today's league they have to
be! Freakishly gifted defensive players like DeMarcus Ware, and Julius Peppers
make the immobile statuesque quarterbacks of yesteryear obsolete. (See Drew
Bledsoe)
Even if you're skeptical about the "Athletic Darwinism" theory and you still
believe the 92 team was better you have to admit the Twenty Twelve-ers are more
than capable of wining a hypothetical one game elimination scenario. If it were
somehow possible for the two teams to meet in a gold medal game who's to say
Kobe doesn't go off for eighty points? Or Lebron doesn't have one of his forty
point, seventeen rebound, thirteen assist performances? Truth is, they don't
need a legendary performance to win but anytime players of that caliber
take the floor such a performance is a possibility. Kobe, Lebron, Durant are the
evolved forms of Jordan, Magic, Bird. The talent level of the NBA will continue
to increase as the game and its players continue to evolve, its human nature.
And if the best players from the U.S. are chosen in 2032 they'll most certainly
be better than the 2012 team. Its okay to revere the players of the past but its
ridiculous to think they set an unreachable precedent, that the last twenty
years have been spent in regression rather than progression.
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The rules often determines the styles. Is the 3 point line only 21 feet away? Etc, etc.
Today, we coddle the players so much, they can zip around the court, and shoot jumpers, or drive to the rim without fear. That wouldn't happen in the past.
We are talking about Player 1 through player 450. Its easier now to get into the NBA than ever. It is watered down.
You want to know why these current teams struggle with some international teams? Its because many NBA players ONLY see decent half court offense during international competition. NBA players see more effective zone defense during international competition. The type of game currently being played in the NBA features poor team offense with lots of jacked up three pointers and only a few players that can hit midrange jump shots. The NBA teams of 70's -80's and early 1990's would literally run circles around the current group NBA players. None of these teams today can stop "pick and roll" basketball. Neither do they move without the ball on offense.
Now we have a collection of high school graduates and "one and done" college players who come to the NBA practically basketball ILLITERATE. This isn't evolution its
You are talking about outside influences like nutrition, physical training etc which of course the 2012 team benefits due to advancements made in sports science. That has nothing to do with sheer talent. If both teams lived in the same era, who do you think would win based on sheer talent alone?
If the question was who has more talent the 92 team or the 2012 team? I would say it is pretty close. But if you are actually asking me who would win. I would say the 92 team easily. Why? It's called team work. Just because you have a team chock full of talent doesn't make you a great basketball team. Basketball is a 5 on 5 sport. And being a great team takes 5 players playing together well.
Let me give you an example... In 2004 our US Olympic Team came away from Athens with the bronze medal. They lost in the opening game by 19 points! This team had Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Tim Duncan, etc.... It was not lacking in talent. It was lacking in team work.
That is why I would pick the 92 team any day.
The athletic difference between the basketball players of the 1980's and 2000's is not that great. This is another myth. Sure you can point to a Lebron James or Kevin Durant but they do not represent the average NBA player. IN FACT, since the introduction of more NBA teams in the 1990's it has become easier to get into the NBA and the competition has been watered down.
We also know that the NBA was really struggling in terms of scoring during the 1990's so the NBA changed the rules that made it easier to score. Calling very minor fouls and making easier for their players to drive to the basket because their superstars could not shoot jump shots.
This article is clearly written by someone who doesn't know much about basketball - although he is probably a "fan"
Today's players can be 7'4" and they want to be a 3 point shooter...no inside game at all...no go to shot...ie....Kareem's Hook shot...Jordan jumper or a Ewing bank shot.
For the reasons listed above is why I consider the "Dream Team" to be one of the greatest basketball team every assemble.