Jordan & Barkley Slam Kobe's Dream Team Comment

[WCDYNASTY]

MJ says Kobe not very smart for saying 2012 team would beat the Dream Team, Charles Barkley chimes in too


A few days ago, Kobe Bryant was asked if the 2012 U.S. Olympic team stood a chance against the 1992 Dream Team. Not one to refuse a challenge, Kobe proclaimed that the current team would win in a close matchup. Two elder statesmen from the 1992 team, Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, were not very happy with the comments. Jordan went so far as to say Kobe was not all that smart for saying such blasphemy.


Via Associated Press
Jordan told The Associated Press Thursday that he laughed — “I absolutely laughed” — when hearing Bryant’s comments that the squad training in Las Vegas could take Jordan and company.

Jordan said there’s “no comparison” which team is better.

“For him to compare those two teams is not one of the smarter things he ever could have done,” Jordan said prior playing in a celebrity golf tournament in Charlotte.

Via ESPN
"I just started laughing," Barkley said. "How old is Kobe Bryant? He's 34? And he's calling us old? At the time, we were only like 28, 29. Michael Jordan and me were the same age. We were both 29. ...

"Other than Kobe, LeBron (James) and Kevin Durant, I don't think anybody else on that team makes our team."

SOURCE:
http://www.iamagm.com/article/mj-says-k ... AG6yol5mc2

[nbaintel1]

1992 was good but it was alot of media hype:

1. It was the first time NBA stars were allowed
2. International basketball was piss poor - no teams even close to the current Spain team
3. It was a big deal because the U.S. had lost previously

If you add Dwight Howard and Wade, this team could easily go toe to toe with the dream team.

They started 2 retired players for god sake.

Barkley and Jordan are just saying what they are suppose to while Kobe/Lebron/CP3 are saying what they are suppose to.

In reality, it's much closer than what the media and general mass think.

[Speedlot]

So where's the "slam" part?

[rockpurple]

It's probably closer than most would admit but dream team gets the edge...they had ridiculous fundamentals, IQ, Shooting, and size...

Magic was more of a political statement at the time:: he wasn't 'Magic' anymore.... The best lineup regardless of 'politics' and rep is probably this:::

John Stockton--31? 6'1
Michael Jordan--29 6'6
Scotty Pippen-- 26 6'7
Karl Malone-- 28. 6'9
David Robinson-- 27. 7'0

Clyde Drexler-- 31. 6'6
Magic-- 33 6'9
Charles Barkley--29 6'5
Chris Mullen--29 6'5
Patrick Ewing--30. 7'1

[Wavy Q]

Again, I'm shocked that people are shocked that 2 of the most competitive people to ever exist are saying their teams could win.

Barkley is a dumb **** but who cares.

[rockpurple]

Chris Paul--6'0. 27
Kobe Bryant--6'6. 33
Carmello Anthony--6'8 28
LeBron James--6'8 27
Tyson Chandler--7'0. 30

Deron Williams--6'3. 28
Kevin Durant--6'11. 23
Russell Westbrook--6'4. 23
Kevin Love--6'9. 24
James Harden--6'5. 23
Andre Iguodala-- 6'6. 28

this year's team would have stifling Defense... Both teams have guys who can CRUSH the zone and FIBA 3 point line...

29 year old MJ vs 33 year old Kobe is a mismatch...., if both were 29, it's a tie...But Kobe could still hang..
Stockton vs Paul is a hell of a fight....
Barkley would get his ass handed to him by Lebron; but Malone on the blocks would be tough for LBJ to deal with.
Carmelo and Durant's size would be an issue for Pippen and Mullin...
The biggest problem is David R/Pat Ewing vs Chandler...

Bench??? Dwill, Westbrook, Durant, Harden, Klove-- all in prime or not even there yet.
Magic, Drexler, Mullin, Ewing, Barkley.. All just past prime


If this year's team had Dwight Howard healthy, I think they beat Dreamteam....

[Imadogg]

If you add Dwight Howard and Wade, this team could easily go toe to toe with the dream team.

In reality, it's much closer than what the media and general mass think.

Lol, if the current team had 2 players that aren't on the team this year, they could easily go toe to toe with the 92 team?

Sounds like you're saying it's not as close as you think it is.


92 Dream Team > this team for sure.

[Sedale Threatt]

Magic was more of a political statement at the time:: he wasn't 'Magic' anymore...

Magic was one year removed from one of his best seasons. The only real flaw to his game at that point was rust. Otherwise he and Jordan, who was in his absolute prime, form the best backcourt in history. Mix in all the bigs and the overall depth, and the original Dream Team is pretty soundly better than this one. I'd call it 4-2 in a 7-game series.

[Brovva Blaqq]

92 team was the reason I started following Basketball and the NBA.

I seriously doubt todays team would have a chance to beat the Dream Team, Chandler would get abused by Robinson/Ewing, Jordan in his prime = unstoppable...

The comparison itself is stupid, Kobe should keep his mouth shut. Those legend players did so many things for the game, no way the league would be this popular without the 92 players/team.

[rockpurple]

Magic was more of a political statement at the time:: he wasn't 'Magic' anymore...

Magic was one year removed from one of his best seasons. The only real flaw to his game at that point was rust. Otherwise he and Jordan, who was in his absolute prime, form the best backcourt in history. Mix in all the bigs and the overall depth, and the original Dream Team is pretty soundly better than this one. I'd call it 4-2 in a 7-game series.

I think 4-2 is likely...... BUT, if Howard is healthy and playing for the Olympic team????? It's then a 7 game series, and possibly a win for this year's team...

If Magic was in the game, I'd play Lebron on him to lock him up; and absolutely foul his ass out quickly on the other end...

And who steps up to stop Durant? ----Pippen,Barkley?? Uh, No!!

Some of those guys from dream team would have no chance vs the speed/power/size ratios of the swingmen on this year's team...Mullin, Drexler for instance...

[Sedale Threatt]

Howard isn't nearly good enough to make that kind of difference. And Pippen was arguably the greatest perimeter defender of all time. Durant is incredible, but he's about the best matchup you could hope for.

Give me him, Magic, Jordan, Barkley and Robinson, and I'm riding until I die.

All that said, I wasn't really intending to get into an inane speculatory breakdown, but to point out that Magic wasn't some token addition. Bird, maybe. But Magic was still one of the best players in the world.

[DEEP3CL]

People can say and think what they want, but Kobe was still right...in one game they probably could get them. I know this for sure. 2012 guards would bust Stockton's ass all game long, no way in hell he can check CP3, D-Will or even Russell. He'd be calling for help on every damn possession, they'd have to cross match and that's where some problems would start. Magic couldn't check them either, he hardly ever guarded the opposing teams point guards even in his prime.

[rockpurple]

I agree..... The difference in power, speed, and athleticism is obvious.... The Dream team players who wouldn't be exposed vs the more evolved present day athletes were MJ(obviously), Pippen, Robinson, and Malone... That's it.. The rest of those guys would likely get abused vs their present-day counterparts....Those 4 guys were 'ahead' of their time...


I just cannot imagine the 6'4.5" 260 pound Barkley getting away with what he did then VS guys like LeBron 6'8 265... He never played perimeter D, and today's top forwards would light him up...

Who is Magic going to guard?

I loved dreamteam... I was at a HS team camp at Pepperdine U back when they were destroying the opposition.... I wore the Olympic Jordans that summer as well... Dreamteam was a different generation, and though they were better shooters, passers, fundamental players;; the physicality and athleticism due to training, plyo, weights, yoga, nutrition etc is lightyears past where it was 20 years ago and these players show it...

[DEEP3CL]

I agree totally rockpurple, what's flying over guys heads for some reason is where the players stand physically today versus back them. Let's take Drexler for example, he wasn't that great of a defender as many would have you to believe. No way he could check Carmelo on the block or contain Durant on the perimeter. And let's not even bring up Chris Mullin......he ain't guarding nobody from this current team without help.

See this is where it keeps coming back to....those guys except MJ and Pippin needing help to check some of 2012's players.

[Sedale Threatt]

Who is Magic going to guard?

Considering 33-year-old Kobe Bryant has a tough time beating guys like Grant Hill off the dribble any more, I'd start there and assume that anything Magic gives up is going to be more than made up on the offensive end.

[Emperor_Earth]

Howard isn't nearly good enough to make that kind of difference. And Pippen was arguably the greatest perimeter defender of all time. Durant is incredible, but he's about the best matchup you could hope for.

Give me him, Magic, Jordan, Barkley and Robinson, and I'm riding until I die.

All that said, I wasn't really intending to get into an inane speculatory breakdown, but to point out that Magic wasn't some token addition. Bird, maybe. But Magic was still one of the best players in the world.

I think you aren't giving Pippen enough credit. Pippen is the greatest perimeter defender the NBA has ever seen, and it's really not that close. Who else could you put up here? Bruce? Not strong/quick enough. Lebron? Decent help D but no on ball. Kobe? Falls asleep and makes bad gambles too often. MJ? Not as long or as strong yet barely any faster. Isiah? Too small. Big O? Not quick enough. Worthy? Not as strong or as quick. I still remember that '91 finals where Magic could barely get from half court to the 3pt line with Pippen's on ball D. Pippen could have stopped Lebron cold more nights than not.

@rockpurple
This is so true. The athleticism difference is very noticeable. Another difference that doesn't get enough run is the statistical difference. With analytics, team Defense is so much better than ever before, even the mid-late 90s when scoring #s dropped so much. Everyone has holes in their games and defenders are making much better decisions than applying a generic overplay. From pseudo zones to shading players to forcing midrange Js, defenses today are much more adept at exploiting everyone's weaknesses.

But I still think the Dream Team wins. But in a 7 game series it's 4-3 or 4-2, and only because we don't have enough answers for Ewing/Admiral. When Chandler is on th bench, we can't defend them without doubling and with the shorter FIBA 3pt line, Stockton/Jordan/Bird could just rain open 3s on us all day.

If it's the NBA 3pt line, I think today's team wins by the same margin instead.

One thing I think is exceedingly hilarious though: Imagine Russel Westbrook doing his best honeybadger fastbreak and Stockton has to try to stop a PUJIT or a dunk. Poor Stockton is going to get posterized so badly... repeatedly

[way2dynamc]

Wow! you Laker fans have to be the most biased basketball homers i will ever come across. People are acting like Stockton couldnt guard CP3 or D Will because he is white. guy is the all-time steal leader im sure he could hold his own. defense is sound fundamentals, hard work and understanding what the offensive player wants to do

Also Magic was still a top 3 player in the world coming off b2b MVPs and only sat out that year because of the HIV test.

Someone had the nerve to call Barkley non athletic lol and lets get this straight 1992 Clyde is as good or better then either Wade or Kobe of 2012. Trying to say a 33 year old kobe would be close to a prime 29 year old MJ is crazy.

The 92 team with MJ and pippen on the perimeter wouldnt have any trouble with athletisism.......this D howard talk can end to because D rob was everybit the athlete and had twice the game.......D rob would murder that guy

[addygrace]

Wow! you Laker fans have to be the most biased basketball homers i will ever come across. People are acting like Stockton couldnt guard CP3 or D Will because he is white. guy is the all-time steal leader im sure he could hold his own. defense is sound fundamentals, hard work and understanding what the offensive player wants to do

Also Magic was still a top 3 player in the world coming off b2b MVPs and only sat out that year because of the HIV test.

Someone had the nerve to call Barkley non athletic lol and lets get this straight 1992 Clyde is as good or better then either Wade or Kobe of 2012. Trying to say a 33 year old kobe would be close to a prime 29 year old MJ is crazy.

The 92 team with MJ and pippen on the perimeter wouldnt have any trouble with athletisism.......this D howard talk can end to because D rob was everybit the athlete and had twice the game.......D rob would murder that guy

It really doesn't matter, but you lost me with the Clyde comment.

I agree with what you said about David Robinson and Barkley, though. Barkley was the greatest little big man the game has ever seen. Maybe Rodman, except Barkley's offense was way ahead.

[Anklebreaker702]

1992 was good but it was alot of media hype:

1. It was the first time NBA stars were allowed
2. International basketball was piss poor - no teams even close to the current Spain team
3. It was a big deal because the U.S. had lost previously

If you add Dwight Howard and Wade, this team could easily go toe to toe with the dream team.

They started 2 retired players for god sake.

Barkley and Jordan are just saying what they are suppose to while Kobe/Lebron/CP3 are saying what they are suppose to.

In reality, it's much closer than what the media and general mass think.

This is an absolute pipe dream even adding those two. The 1992 Dream Team was not over hyped they would run this team badly.

[way2dynamc]

Wow! you Laker fans have to be the most biased basketball homers i will ever come across. People are acting like Stockton couldnt guard CP3 or D Will because he is white. guy is the all-time steal leader im sure he could hold his own. defense is sound fundamentals, hard work and understanding what the offensive player wants to do

Also Magic was still a top 3 player in the world coming off b2b MVPs and only sat out that year because of the HIV test.

Someone had the nerve to call Barkley non athletic lol and lets get this straight 1992 Clyde is as good or better then either Wade or Kobe of 2012. Trying to say a 33 year old kobe would be close to a prime 29 year old MJ is crazy.

The 92 team with MJ and pippen on the perimeter wouldnt have any trouble with athletisism.......this D howard talk can end to because D rob was everybit the athlete and had twice the game.......D rob would murder that guy

It really doesn't matter, but you lost me with the Clyde comment.

I agree with what you said about David Robinson and Barkley, though. Barkley was the greatest little big man the game has ever seen. Maybe Rodman, except Barkley's offense was way ahead.

We are discussing 92' Clyde vs 12' Kobe

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