benchclearingsports

 After my short hiatus in Hungary, I am back and ready to jump on board the topic that everyone (and when I say everyone I mainly mean Skip and Stephen A.) has been talking about… the 2012 Olympic basketball team.  In recent ears, it has been tradition to compare the current Olympic basketball team to the 1992 Dream Team and this year is no different.  I am not an ignorant teen who thinks that this years’ “Dream Team” would beat the ’92 squad (especially since they are missing Howard, Wade, and Rose), but I do believe that there are at least four players who could have made the ’92 team.

1^st Comparison: Lebron vs Scottie Pippen

Lebron James had one of the best seasons of all-time with a dominating PER of 30.80.  There is no question that Lebron has to be considered as one of the top 5 basketball players ever to live.  Sorry Scottie, but just based on positioning Lebron would make the team over you.

2^nd Comparison: Kobe vs Clyde Drexler

While Kobe did not have one of his more dominating seasons, he is Kobe Bryant, he is a five-time NBA Champion and he does have ice running though his veins.  Kobe is one of the most clutch players of all-time and while it may be hard to take the ball out of Michael Jordan’s hands late in the fourth quarter, if there was a second option it would have to be the Black Mamba.

3^rd Comparison Kevin Durant vs Chris Mullin

            Chris Mullin is a great shooter and should not be over looked, but what Kevin Durant brings to the table is much more.  Durant is not only a fantastic shooter, but he also can take over the game with his length, ball handling, and his driving abilities.  Mullin ended up being the 11^th man on the USA Dream Team, and I do not want to sound crazy, but there would be a chance for Durant to start on that team or at least be the 6^th man.

4^th Comparison Chris Paul vs Christian Laettner

            I did not feel like it was nessecary to even post Laettner’s college stats because they will not compare to Paul’s stats vs NBA PLAYERS.  Just based on the fact that Laettner was a college kid, I had to take him off the team and replace him with an NBA super-star.  And while Chris Paul may serve the same purpose as Laettner did (Water Boy), Paul is a better player based on what Laettner ended up turning out to be and what Laettner was at the time.

Obviously there could be other players from the 2012 team that could have had a shot at the dream to (ex: Deron Williams) and had Wade, Howard, and Rose been healthy they might’ve switched a couple of my decisions, but overall, that 1992 Dream Team was the best basketball team ever assembled in history and will most likely remain that way in the near future.