Dream Team I -vs- Dream Team 2006

[djack]

Who ya got? In a one game winner take all international rules game.

I\'m going to take Dream Team 2006, as good as that first Dream Team was, this year\'s squad is more of a TEAM than they were. They fell more into the category of a collection of all-stars.

thoughts?

[heelfan]

Who do you have guarding Jordan? Until you can work that out, Dream Team I gets an easy win.

[buckethead]

I think the bigger problem for Dream Team 2006 is who is going to guard Karl Malone and Charles Barkley. Bosh and Howard have the talent but not the bulk, Brad Miller has the bulk but not the talent.

[Jonathanmartin7]

Only way this team beats the Dream Team is if the play in 2006. Since all of the guys are unable to make a lay up now it\'d be a slaughter. Play them straight up as they were and are, Dream team by 50.

[psycho]

I\'d lean towards Dream Team 2006.

Back at the time of the Dream Team I, Michael Jordan had a huge athleticism advantage over everybody that he faced. On DT 2006, you have Wade and Lebron that can run and jump like MJ could in his prime. Also, who guards Lebron??? Scottie Pippen would get physically abused trying to lock down LBJ.

[tamburello]

I won\'t comment until USA beats Argentina or Spain. I don\'t think that USA will beat Argentina, but if they face Spain they\'ll be tough to defeat as well.

Argentina is the best \"team\" in the championships. Also, even if USA will be champions, they are far away being Original Dream Team.

[ziggy]

If Argentina beats them, then theres no way that we can compare them to Dream Team I. Even if they blow Argentina out, I still think that Dream team I was the best collection of basketball players ever assembled.

[tamburello]

There are no ways remaining to compare DT-2006 with Original DT, as they lost Greece in semis 101-95. Very tough Greek defence devastated USA\'s high octane offense. Despite this fact, USA was able to score 95(avg around 106), but Greece\'s offence was uncharacteristically great, they made difficult treys, they made crucial free throws, and they used \"Baby Shaq\" Sofoklis Schortsanitis very effectively in the paint. They deserved the win.

I believe this loss will end the comparisons between these two DT\'s, everybody knows which one is better.

[heelfan]

tamburello wrote:

There are no ways remaining to compare DT-2006 with Original DT, as they lost Greece in semis 101-95. Very tough Greek defence devastated USA\'s high octane offense. Despite this fact, USA was able to score 95(avg around 106), but Greece\'s offence was uncharacteristically great, they made difficult treys, they made crucial free throws, and they used \"Baby Shaq\" Sofoklis Schortsanitis very effectively in the paint. They deserved the win.

I believe this loss will end the comparisons between these two DT\'s, everybody knows which one is better.

This loss pretty much wrecks your theory djack.

I haven\'t seen the game, but did the U.S. have a horrible shooting night, or were they simply outplayed?

[tamburello]

heelfan wrote:

This loss pretty much wrecks your theory djack.

I haven\'t seen the game, but did the U.S. have a horrible shooting night, or were they simply outplayed?

USA had the control of game during first period. But beginning with second period, Greece began making tough defense, they were also good on the offensive end. First half ended 45-41(Greece leading). Everything happened in the third, Greece made back-to-back threes, while USA players were all stone-handed. Greece streched their lead to 12 points, and kept it until the match finishes. USA were 4 points behind at least.

I mean, USA weren\'t outplayed much, Krzyzewski made important coaching mistakes. In the third period, once he even made Carmelo center and LeBron PF. Greece did a lot of pick\'n rolls during the match, and Schortsanitis scored easy baskets. USA weren\'t on a cold shooting night(%50 fg), but missed 14 free throws. And a critical stat, Greece made just 11 turnovers. Points off turnovers were the most dangerous weapon of USA.

USA had never faced such a tough opponent. And USA had never shot from downtown well in this tournament. All the opponents made zone defense, USA couldn\'t open them generally.

USA should regret why they didn\'t pick a pure shooter, i.e. Adam Morrison. Joe Johnson, Kirk Hinrich or Carmelo Anthony had insufficient talent to fill that role, I think.

These are stats of the match

[ashy_larry]

They could have used either Ammo or Gilbert Arenas. Both of those guys can cosistently knock it down from the perimeter.