Is it a dream team? (olympics, game, legends, NBA)

[BigSwede]

I am asking because I don't know any NBA players.
It seems like every US national team in basketball is a dream team nowadays, but are they really?
Has there been a dream since 1996?
I think the teams of 1992 and 1996 were real dream teams which consisted of real legends when somebody like me with only a slight interest knows all the names.

[Mathguy]

You are probably asking this in the wrong forum because most of us follow the NBA too much to be able to answer your question. <shrug>

Ask around of some casual or non-fans and see if they've heard of the guys on the roster.

It's a tough comparison though when you have arguably some of the most famous NBA players of all time in Bird\Magic and then of course Jordan.

Jordan makes more endorsement income at 50 than todays big stars....by far in most cases.

[BigSwede]

I saw in the newspaper that Kobe and LeBron is there, so it is at least a dream duo.

[Back to NE]

It IS a dream team, despite having less fame than the "original." That team BTW was a tad old, most members a bit past there primes.

But in general, unless the rules are changed limiting players to age 23 or under, the US will always be sending a 'dream team' consisting of some of the best hoopsters in the world.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by Back to NE

It IS a dream team, despite having less fame than the "original." That team BTW was a tad old, most members a bit past there primes.

But in general, unless the rules are changed limiting players to age 23 or under, the US will always be sending a 'dream team' consisting of some of the best hoopsters in the world.

The original DT only had 1 guy really past his prime at that was Bird @35.
Magic was only 32 (Kobe is almost 34).
Jordan, Pippen and much much more were all in their primes. (Jordan was 29 and arguably at his peak)

The US could still field a REALLY brutal under 23 squad IMO.

Durant, Westbrook and Derrick Rose are 23 right now (scary isn't it?)
(Blake Griffin too)

Yeah, they'd never be the best in the world but the imbalance in talent at age <24 would still be there.

[Big Country!]

Originally Posted by BigSwede

I am asking because I don't know any NBA players.
It seems like every US national team in basketball is a dream team nowadays, but are they really?
Has there been a dream since 1996?
I think the teams of 1992 and 1996 were real dream teams which consisted of real legends when somebody like me with only a slight interest knows all the names.

On paper, they are a dream team when you compare them to the other international teams. But, comparing them to past US teams such as the 92 dream team, I wouldn't put them on that level, even though there are future Hall of famers on this current team such as Kobe, Lebron and Durant. Although possible, the others I'm not so sure if they are future hall of famers but nonetheless great basketball players of this current generation.

Just watching the game against Luthuania yesterday, I would not consider this another dream team. An Olympic upset was brewing in the 4th quarter until, Lebron bailed them out scoring 9 of his 20 points in the final four minutes of the game. A great team but not a Dream Team.

[FBJ]

Any team with

Tyson Chandler
James Harden
Andre Iguodala
Carmelo Anthony
Russel Westbook


Is nowhere near a dream team

[Roman77]

Originally Posted by Back to NE

That team BTW was a tad old, most members a bit past there primes.

Huh?

Jordan 29
Magic 32
Bird 35
Admiral 27
Pippen 27
Barkley 29
Ewing 30
Malone 29
Stockton 29
Mullin 29
Drexler 30
Laettner 23


With the exception of Magic, Bird, and Laettner, those guys were either in their prime or coming into it( Admiral, Pippen).

[Back to NE]

Originally Posted by Greg1977

Huh?

Jordan 29
Magic 32
Bird 35
Admiral 27
Pippen 27
Barkley 29
Ewing 30
Malone 29
Stockton 29
Mullin 29
Drexler 30
Laettner 23


With the exception of Magic, Bird, and Laettner, those guys were either in their prime or coming into it( Admiral, Pippen).

I apologize, only Magic and Bird were on the down side of their careers. But I stand by my post that until it is changed to Under 23, we will always send a Dream Team to the Olympics.

[Roman77]

Originally Posted by Back to NE

I apologize, only Magic and Bird were on the down side of their careers. But I stand by my post that until it is changed to Under 23, we will always send a Dream Team to the Olympics.

That's cool, I didn't take issue with the rest of your post. I'm not sure how or why they would do an age limit, though. Do they have age limits for other events? How would they justify it?