USA BASKETBALL
DREAM TEAM 1992 VS. 2012
http://frostwhisper2012.blogspot.com/2012/11/dream-team-1992-vs-2012_6.html
DREAM TEAM 1992 VS. 2012
http://frostwhisper2012.blogspot.com/2012/11/dream-team-1992-vs-2012_6.html
It was in the London Olympics 2012 wherein a nasty Kobe Bryant Online Comment
sparked the debate of
WHO IS THE BEST?
1992 DREAM TEAM VS. 2012 DREAM TEAM
In my opinion and the consensus of experts....
1992 Dream Team HANDS DOWN!
WHY?!
They have the 7'0" Centers - Patrick Ewing and David Robinson
PLUS
They have Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen - 6-TIME NBA World Champions!
11 out of 12 1992 Dream Teamers are BASKETBALL HALL OF FAMERS NOW!
Charles Barkley, now a NBA on TNT Analyst says,
THERE IS NO OTHER DREAM TEAM
1992 WAS THE ONLY DREAM TEAM
NO OTHER TEAM COMES CLOSE
Incidentally, this 2012, is the 20th Anniversary of the DREAM TEAM!
Well, I am writing this topic now because this Debate has triggered
A HUGE Interest in USA Basketball History
by the New Generation.
I am writing this account to share my Personal Experiences on the matter.
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THE 1992 DREAM TEAM
In 1989, FIBA, International Basketball's governing body allowed Professional Players
to participate in the Olympics for the first time.
The USA won the Bronze Medal at the last 1988 Seoul Olympics -- bannered by David Robinson and Collegiate Players. USA Basketball was looking for REVENGE!
The Team assembled by USA Basketball for the tournament in Barcelona in 1992, was arguably the most illustrious collection of talent fielded on an actual competitive team in the history of sports. Of the 12 players on the team, 10 would be named in 1996 to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, the NBA's official list of the 50 greatest players of the league's first 50 years. Because of this star line-up, the team's games usually featured opposing teams asking for pre-game photos with their U.S. opponents — and idols.
The First team to unfortunately feel the Dream Team's WRATH
in Olympic Competition was lowly ANGOLA.
And they were CRUSHED!
USA won the GOLD MEDAL beating CROATIA
Led by Toni Kukoc, a future member of the Chicago Bulls,
Dino Radja and the late-Drazen Petrovic.
In the Victory Ceremony, there was a Marketing Controversy.
The Official Apparel of the US Olympic Team was REEBOK.
Jordan, Barkley, Johnson...all NIKE-contracted Athletes,
Covered the REEBOK Logo on their Jackets with the American Flag.
The American Flag was used for more than Patriotic Reasons that time.
This was also the first time Croatia and Lithuania earned medals
since declaring their independence from Yugoslavia and
the former Soviet Union USSR, respectively.
Team USA cruised through its qualifying round with a 6-0 record. The team then took on Angola in the opening game of the Olympic competition. Charles Barkley had 24 points in a team USA 116-48 romp. Next, the Dream Team took on a talented Croatia team and beat them soundly by 33 points, led by Michael Jordan's 21. The United States team then defeated Germany behind Larry Bird's 19 points and Karl Malone's 18. In the next game, seven USA players scored in double digits and Barkley set the new single game Team USA scoring record with 30 points in a 127-83 rout of Brazil. Team USA then closed out pool play with a resounding 122-81 drumming of Spain.
In the quarter-finals, Mullin scored a team high 21 points as the Dream Team scored a 115-77 victory over Puerto Rico. Team USA rolled on in the semis with a 51 point win over Lithuania. Nine US players scored in double figures. Jordan led the way in the gold medal game against Croatia, scoring 22 points. Patrick Ewing had 15. Barkley had 17. The final game was the closest of the entire Olympics, with the Dream Team winning by 32 points in a 117-85 blowout to take the gold. The average win margin by which the United States won throughout the Olympic tournament was 43.8 points a game.
What is not publicly commonly known about the
1992 Dream Team was the Origins of the Team.
EARLY SCRIMMAGES
A Select Team of NCAA all-stars scrimmaged with the professionals.
USA Basketball selected college players whose play, it hoped, would resemble that of the Europeans the Dream Team would face. Members included the penetrating guard Bobby Hurley, the all-around players Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway, the outside shooter Allan Houston, and the tough Chris Webber and Eric Montross.
Consequently, in the above list, only Hurley and Montross did not become
NBA Legends.
In late June 1992 the Dream Team first met together in La Jolla, California,
astounding and intimidating the collegians who watched the professionals practice.
On June 24, the Dream Team LOST to the NCAA All-Stars 62-54, however, after underestimating the opposition.
Coach Chuck Daly intentionally limited Jordan's playing time and made non-optimal substitutions; Krzyzewski later said that the head coach "Threw The Game" to teach the NBA players that they could be beaten.
The teams played again the following day, with the Olympians winning decisively in the rematch. The college players visited Jordan's hotel room afterwards and asked
Their hero for his personal items as souvenirs.
The Real Competition for the 1992 Dream Team started in the FIBA-Americas Tournament of the Americas. The Dream Team had to win this Tournament in order to qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
AND WIN THEY DID!
The Dream Team made its International debut on June 28, 1992, at the Tournament of the Americas, an Olympic qualifying event in Portland, Oregon. (Home of the Portland Trail Blazers)
The team defeated Cuba 136–57, prompting Cuban coach Miguel Calderón Gómez to say,
"You can't cover the sun with your finger."
Marv Albert, who announced the game, recalled that
"it was as if [the Americans] were playing a high school team, or grade school team.
They were so overwhelming ... a blowout after blowout".
The Cubans were the first of many opponents who were more interested in taking photos
with the Americans than playing them.
The next five games were also easy victories for Team USA,
who ended the tournament on July 5, 1992, with a 127–80 victory over Venezuela.
Magic Johnson in 1991 was diagnosed with the HIV-Virus
and abruptly ending his NBA Career and announcing Retirement.
Magic came back re-instated in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game
in Orlando Arena, Florida to win MVP Honors.
He hit consecutive three-pointers in that Game to cap of his Performance.
The West All-Stars won.
Note that, The last few minutes of the 1992 All-Star Game were not
played any more....as all players stopped playing and celebrated with
Magic Johnson....a fitting Tribute to the Magic Man.
The Final Shot was Magic hitting a turn-around three-point shot capping the night.
“ I look to my right, there's Michael Jordan ...
I look to my left, there's Charles Barkley
or Larry Bird ...
I didn't know who to throw the ball to! ”
— Magic Johnson, on his Teammates
1992 DREAM TEAM LEGACY
Sports Illustrated later stated that the Dream Team was
"Arguably the Most Dominant Squad ever assembled in Any Sport" and compared it to
Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, the Allman Brothers at the Fillmore East, Santana at Woodstock."
The team was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010,
and is one of only eight teams enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Charles Barkley later said,
"I don't think there's anything better to representing your country.
I don't think anything in my Life can come close to that."
Larry Bird called the medal ceremony and the playing of The Star-spangled Banner "The Ultimate" experience.
Magic Johnson said "The 1992 Dream Team was the greatest moment of my life in terms of basketball, bar none."
Michael Jordan said that the biggest benefit for him from the Olympics was that
he learned more about his teammates' weaknesses.
He later defeated Barkley, Malone, and Stockton in Three Future NBA Finals.
Jordan cemented the Chicago Bulls Dynasty in the 1990s winning SIX NBA Championships.
As of 2012, 11 of the 12 players on the roster (except Laettner),
and three of the four coaches (except Carlesimo), have been elected to the Hall of Fame.
Global interest in basketball soared due to the Dream Team.
International Olympic Committee head Juan Antonio Samaranch stated that
"The Most Important Aspect of the Barcelona Games has been the resounding success of the Basketball tournament, as we've witnessed the Best Basketball in the world."
Subsequently, the number of international players in the NBA rose.
On opening day of the 1991–92 season, NBA rosters included 23 international players from 18 countries. At the start of the 2011–12 season, there were 74 players from 35 countries.
THE 2012 DREAM TEAM
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James said they believed their 2012 Olympic Team would win against the Dream Team.
Bryant said,
"They were a lot older, at kind of the end of their careers.
We have just a bunch of young racehorses, guys that are eager to compete."
Charles Barkley said that he "just started laughing" upon hearing Bryant's comment
and that the Dream Team would win by double digits.
Jordan added,
"For Bryant to compare those two teams is NOT one
of the Smarter Things he ever could have done...
Remember now, they learned from us.
We didn't learn from them."
Bird joked,
"They probably could.
I haven't played in 20 years and we're all old now."
| ROSTER | |
| NO | PLAYER NAME |
| 4 | Tyson CHANDLER |
| 5 | Kevin DURANT |
| 6 | LeBron JAMES |
| 7 | Russell WESTBROOK |
| 8 | Deron WILLIAMS |
| 9 | Andre IGUODALA |
| 10 | Kobe BRYANT |
| 11 | Kevin LOVE |
| 12 | James HARDEN |
| 13 | Chris PAUL |
| 14 | Anthony DAVIS |
| 15 | Carmelo ANTHONY |
OLYMPIC TOURNAMENT PLAY
The Americans went an undefeated 8–0 and averaged 116 points per game,
Winning by an average margin of 32.1 points—the fifth highest in US Olympic history.
Team USA trailed in the fourth quarter only once, against Lithuania in the opening round.
Lebron James became the leader of the team with Kobe Bryant—who would turn 34 in August 2012—stepping back.
James facilitated the offense from the post and perimeter, called the defensive sets, and
provided scoring when needed.
After winning the gold, Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said
James "is the best player, he is the best leader and he is as smart as anybody playing the game right now."
Kevin Durant scored a United States Olympics record of 156 Points in the Tournament.
Durant also made 34 three-point field goals, breaking the previous United States mark of 17 set in 2012; Carmelo Anthony (23) also exceed the old record.
Bryant was not in peak condition early, but he played himself into shape and
was a key contributor in the final three games. While Chandler was the team's only true center. Anthony Davis was thin and had no professional experience.
Krzyzewski also played Love, James or Anthony as Team USA's de facto center.
Kevin Love led the team with 61 rebounds (27 offensive).
Compensating for its lack of big men, the US played small ball and spread its playmakers
around the three-point line and with a player penetrating and passing the ball back outside.
They won with "basically five players on the perimeter," Spain coach Sergio Scariolo said.
Bryant and Krzyzewski declared at the completion of the tournament that 2012 was their final Olympic appearance.
They both joined Team USA after the disappointing bronze finish in the 2004 Games.
Krzyzewski left with a 62–1 record and a 50-game winning streak in international play for the Americans. He joined Henry Iba as the only US coaches to lead the team to consecutive Olympic gold medals.
LEBRON JAMES HAD HIS FINEST YEAR EVER IN 2012
NBA CHAMPION, NBA MVP, NBA FINALS MVP, GOLD MEDALIST AND OLYMPIC CHAMPION
Despite all the FLAK he received after joining the MIAMI HEAT,
And Losing to the DALLAS MAVERICKS in the 2011 NBA FINALS.
SOURCES:
http://hoopedia.nba.com
Wikipedia
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