It’s been said that sports fans will always remember players & teams from their childhood as better than the day’s current version. Ignoring the fact that players are getting much bigger, stronger, and faster, the “good old day syndrome” will point to better coaching, fundamentals, and team-first concept believed to have been present in the past. I do have an HSO on this phenomenon but that may be better addressed on its own.

With the 2008 US men’s basketball team set to begin the metal round of play tonight against Australia, it seems like the perfect time to begin the debate for basketball supremacy between the 1992 Dream Team and the 2008 Redeem Team.

Now, the Dream Team of 1992 has long been referred to as the best basketball team ever assembled. In fact, their display of hoops greatness on the Olympic state in Barcelona is responsible for the improvement of the international game. Basically, the Dream Team created the need for a “Redeem Team”. If we were able to suit up the teams led by MJ and Lebron for a winner takes all showdown, who would come up victorious? Basketball IS a team game, but we’ll go ahead and evaluate positional match ups to see where advantages lie.

This process is made a bit difficult due to the fact that changes in the international game caused the 2008 Redeem Team to construct its roster differently but for comparison’s sake, we’ll evaluate the teams based on players’ NBA positions beginning with the center position.

CENTER

1992: Patrick Ewing and David Robinson

I have to admit that I was never a big fan of Patrick Ewing. In his lone NBA finals appearance, Ewing was proven inferior to Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon prompting me to wear my Rockets #34 jersey weekly for several months. Thanks to MJ, Ewing wouldn’t get another chance. NBA accomplishments aside, in 1992, Ewing was easily one of the top 4 big men in the game. Accompanying him on that list would have been his Dream Team running mate David Robinson. The Admiral’s game was incredibly versatile posessing the strength to beat you on the block and the athleticism to step away from the paint. The one-two punch of Ewing & Robinson would make a coach sleep easily at night.

2008: Dwight Howard

I can’t think of a better comparison for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard than David Robinson. Not only are they built identically, but their games are similar as well. Howard still, however, lacks the mid-range game that made Robinson such a threat to slower opponents. Physically, Howard is a freak standing 6′11″ and weighing 240 lbs. With these dimensions, he’s a nearly impossible guard in the post due to his strength and demonstrated his athleticism by winning the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Advantage: Dream Team

Where Dwight Howard may excel in athleticism, he lacks in pollish when compared to the bigs from the ‘92 squad. A comparison between Howard and either Dream Teamer individually would favor the old guys since they were in their prime and Howard’s still developing and due to the fact that the ‘08 roster has only one legitimate center in Beijing and there’s a decided Dream Team advantage at the 5 spot.

Other positions:

Small Forwards:  Bird & Mullin vs. James, Anthony, Prince

Power Forwards: Malone & Barkley v. Bosh & Boozer