[ChewyParticipant]

 The Olympics are starting today, and in honor of that I wanted to share this article. It was a good read. I can’t argue too much with their list.

usatoday.com/2016/06/2016-olympic-basketball-united-states-dream-team-rankings

Cheat sheet for those of you who are lazy:

1. Barcelona 1992

2. London 2012

3. Atlanta 1996

4. Beijing 2008

5. Rio 2016

6. Sydney 2000

7. Athens 2004 (duh)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RigelzParticipant]

 I almost entirely agree with you, my point is that 1996 team was a bit better than 2012 team.  

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 With shaq, Hakeem, David Robinson, Karl malone and Barkley, the 2012 team would have had a tough time dealing with 96 team down low. I’d give the 2012 team the edge on the wings and in the backcourt. Would be an interesting contrast of styles if they were to match up, but I feel like the 96 team would just overwhelm them in the paint.

The 96 team may have actually had more overall talent than the 92 team, especially when you consider bird and magic were basically retired at the time. Of course, the big difference is that the 96 team didn’t have Jordan.

 

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

96 is probably the most talented team top to bottom…that collection of bigs speaks for itself, but I’d take 2012 in a game played with international rules. I’d play a 2-3 zone with the paint heavily packed against them to prevent post ups…outside of Reggie who do they have that’s a consistent long ball shooter? I don’t see any of their forwards defending Melo and KD with the way they shoot from the FIBA 3pt line. There’s only 1 Pippen, and they still have to worry about Kobe & LeBron who create more mismatches. They’d negate Admiral and Dream’s interior defense considering they don’t play a traditional 5 man who stands around the basket.

The lineup combinations 2012 can put together create more problems for a defense than the ones 96 has at it’s disposal.

 

[SpacegrassParticipant]

 When the talent is equal in the case of  96 v 2012 teams.  I always side with the more physical team.  Plus the best player for 2012 Lebron…. biggest offensive weapon of attacking the rim would be stopped with Robinson and Olajuwon.  Olajuwon in his prime is the one old school big man that would of thrived in this day and age of spread basketball.  He could defend the pick and roll plus guard smaller players well.  IMO he is the greatest defensive big man ever.  Those 2 guys make Lebron a jump shooter which is where he is highly inconsistent.  So I would say 4-3 in favor of 96 in a 7 game series.  It’s close though.

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