1996 and 2000 Team USA basketball

[WhiteKyrie]

Both easily could have and should have easily been the best national teams for our country, of all time. And were just a few notable exclusions swapped out for lesser tier stars.

1996

End of Prime MJ for Aging Stockton.

Peak Kemp for Aging Hakeem (rapport with GP, youth and athleticism) … was not invited due to 1994 crotch grabbing

G- GP / Penny
G - MJ / Reggie / Mitch
F - Pippen / Hill
F - Kemp / Malone / Barkley
C - Robinson / Shaq

That is an intense level of defense. Size. Rebounding. Shot blocking. Post scoring. Shooting. Scoring. Ball handling. And god tier perimeter defense.

That is a better team than the Dream Team.

Who had out of shape Magic, well past his prime injured back Larry Bird, and injured Stockton instead of Isiah who was black balled. Beyond peak MJ, Pippen, D-Rob and Barkley Â… who are still amazing here in 1996.

2000

Peak Webber for McDyess

Start of Prime Kobe for Shareef

Start of Prime McGrady for Aging S. Smith

Peak Shaq for Aging Mourning

Peak Iverson for Aging T. Hardaway

Prime Duncan for Aging Vin Baker

G - Kidd / Iverson / GP
G - Kobe / Allen / Houston
F - VC / McGrady
F - KG / Webber
C - Shaq / Duncan

And good lord. While keeping all their shooting, defense, IQ and size elsewhere.

@ both teams would have been totally absurd.

They have all the greatest attributes, while also being better at them in certain regards than subsequent teams that were amazing like the 2008 redeem team, and the 2012 re-dream team.

But they also have aspects neither one of those teams had.

Amazing size, shotblocking, and great interior play on the blocks. Both of those teams can play a variety of different styles. Vastly more physical. They have tremendous isolation superstars, but they also have amazing scores and shooters who did not need the ball in their hand to command defensive gravity.

Thinking about this year’s team USA Olympic team got me thinking about previous USA teams. And their even greater, more dominant potential.

[L.Kizzle]

Both easily could have and should have easily been the best national teams for our country, of all time. And were just a few notable exclusions swapped out for lesser tier stars.

1996

End of Prime MJ for Aging Stockton.

Peak Kemp for Aging Hakeem (rapport with GP, youth and athleticism) … was not invited due to 1994 crotch grabbing

G- GP / Penny
G - MJ / Reggie / Mitch
F - Pippen / Hill
F - Kemp / Malone / Barkley
C - Robinson / Shaq

That is an intense level of defense. Size. Rebounding. Shot blocking. Post scoring. Shooting. Scoring. Ball handling. And god tier perimeter defense.

That is a better team than the Dream Team.

Who had out of shape Magic, well past his prime injured back Larry Bird, and injured Stockton instead of Isiah who was black balled. Beyond peak MJ, Pippen, D-Rob and Barkley Â… who are still amazing here in 1996.

2000

Peak Webber for McDyess

Start of Prime Kobe for Shareef

Start of Prime McGrady for Aging S. Smith

Peak Shaq for Aging Mourning

Peak Iverson for Aging T. Hardaway

Prime Duncan for Aging Vin Baker

G - Kidd / Iverson / GP
G - Kobe / Allen / Houston
F - VC / McGrady
F - KG / Webber
C - Shaq / Duncan

And good lord. While keeping all their shooting, defense, IQ and size elsewhere.

@ both teams would have been totally absurd.

They have all the greatest attributes, while also being better at them in certain regards than subsequent teams that were amazing like the 2008 redeem team, and the 2012 re-dream team.

But they also have aspects neither one of those teams had.

Amazing size, shotblocking, and great interior play on the blocks. Both of those teams can play a variety of different styles. Vastly more physical. They have tremendous isolation superstars, but they also have amazing scores and shooters who did not need the ball in their hand to command defensive gravity.

Thinking about this year’s team USA Olympic team got me thinking about previous USA teams. And their even greater, more dominant potential.

1996
Hakeem just became a US to play for team USA. He states for that reason alone.
Take off Barkley for Kemp of anything.

2000
McGrady wasn't even a starter yet, he wasn't even thought about for the 2000 team.
Shaq and Zo were drafted the same season. Zo wasn't Aging.
Keep Baker. Baker in 2000 was okay. Tim wasn't a US citizen yet.
Replace Steve Smith with Grant Hill. Though I think Hill got hurt in the 2000 playoffs. I'd say Sprewell but just choked his couch. Not sure what wings in 2000 you could go with ... Finley, Stackhouse. Glenn Robinson.

[WhiteKyrie]

1996
Hakeem just became a US to play for team USA. He states for that reason alone.
Take off Barkley for Kemp of anything.

2000
McGrady wasn't even a starter yet, he wasn't even thought about for the 2000 team.
Shaq and Zo were drafted the same season. Zo wasn't Aging.
Keep Baker. Baker in 2000 was okay. Tim wasn't a US citizen yet.
Replace Steve Smith with Grant Hill. Though I think Hill got hurt in the 2000 playoffs. I'd say Sprewell but just choked his couch. Not sure what wings in 2000 you could go with ... Finley, Stackhouse. Glenn Robinson.

Hill was hurt and the very next year just a couple months later McGrady put up 27 ppg, bro. That’s the point.

[GrayGoat]

This years team usa will be fine. Booker and holiday are joining soon. The ball movement is much better and defense on point

[And1AllDay]

2012

cp3
kobe
bran
kd
ad

/thread

[Hey Yo]

MJ had no interest. He was telling those who were going to be prepared for how hard it's going to be. The conditioning it takes etc...

It takes a lot out of a guy whose team was winning games by an avg of 45ppg.

So grueling and mentally draining playing 15mins per game during a blowout

[WhiteKyrie]

Of course he had no interest. As a 21 year old he led a collegiate team over European professionals, basically by far and away the best player on the team.

By comparison sake, LeBron at the same age along with Finals MVP D-Wade, at roughly the same age led a team of professional NBA players to a disappointing bronze metal in 2006.

Luckily, Kobe Bryant finally was able to join them the next summer after his knee surgery, and instituted playing defense again and restored the luster of American pride, dominance and intimidation factor and other countries.



Mike won a second gold medal in dominant fashion in 1992.

But in ‘96 was coming off the championship at 33 years old. I didn’t expect him to play in the Olympics.

I’m just saying if he did, he wouldn’t of had to put up much effort, and would’ve had his third gold medal. And that team would’ve been absolutely even more dominant and frightening than they already were.

[GrayGoat]

Of course he had no interest. As a 21 year old he led a collegiate team over European professionals, basically by far and away the best player on the team.

By comparison sake, LeBron at the same age along with Finals MVP D-Wade, at roughly the same age led a team of professional NBA players to a disappointing bronze metal in 2006.

Luckily, Kobe Bryant finally was able to join them the next summer after his knee surgery, and instituted playing defense again and restored the luster of American pride, dominance and intimidation factor and other countries.



Mike won a second gold medal in dominant fashion in 1992.

But in ‘96 was coming off the championship at 33 years old. I didn’t expect him to play in the Olympics.

I’m just saying if he did, he wouldn’t of had to put up much effort, and would’ve had his third gold medal. And that team would’ve been absolutely even more dominant and frightening than they already were.

Holiday and Booker are going to play after the finals and didn’t need a two year break to achieve this ;)

[Airupthere]

As a kid, Lebron probably saw these lineups and thought that it would be his dream to actually superteam in the NBA and not just for team USA.

[L.Kizzle]

Hill was hurt and the very next year just a couple months later McGrady put up 27 ppg, bro. That’s the point.

But at that time the team played, Mac was still in Toronto and not a star yet (and a starter at that.)

Grant got hurt in 2000 playoffs.

[WhiteKyrie]

But at that time the team played, Mac was still in Toronto and not a star yet (and a starter at that.)

Grant got hurt in 2000 playoffs.

Yeah he was coming off the bench for Toronto, but anybody who was watching the game at the time knew his potential.

He was putting up prime Scottie Pippen offensive numbers off the damn bench.

He was putting up 20 points per game off the bench in 99-00. That’s why he left his cousin in Toronto, to join the Magic the very next season. He was going to have his own team and get more opportunities and more shots.

He went from 20 points per game to 27 points per game over the course of a summer. People get better when they play for team USA going into the next year, anyway, you don’t think this extrapolates that even quicker or even more profound?

Everyone knew he was a budding superstar in the making. He wasn’t going to start over his cousin at the shooting guard spot in Toronto, who already was a perennial All-Star superstar SG averaging over 25 a game.

Having him on that 2000 USA Team makes way more sense than old ass Steve Smith. Who could barely move. Wasn’t very athletic to begin with, let alone by then. Couldn’t play defense. Had a wet ass jumper, yes, but you already have in their prime Ray Allen and Allen Houston on the team to stretch the floor

And McGrady is a way better ball handler if need be. And running the break with Jason Kidd? With VC, McGrady and Kobe on the wings? Dunk city. Which increases the intimidation factor.

[WhiteKyrie]

As a kid, Lebron probably saw these lineups and thought that it would be his dream to actually superteam in the NBA and not just for team USA.

Meanwhile, as a college kid at 21 years old, Michael Jordan curb stomped at the time the two greatest players of all time.

MJ dog walked Magic Johnson and Larry Bird and Isaiah Thomas in 8 exhibition games, leading his team of college players over perennial NBA All-Stars and sure fire Hall of Famer’s.

Without even the second best player of his class, because Bobby Knight didn’t like him and didn’t want Charles Barkley on the team.

[Nowoco]

Prime Duncan for Aging Vin Baker

Vin Baker was 28 during that Olympics.

[WhiteKyrie]

Vin Baker was 28 during that Olympics.

For some reason I was thinking he was in his early to mid 30s by that point. But either way

2000 Duncan or 2000 Vin Baker?

This way, Tim Duncan wouldn’t be relied upon as being the best player in international competition, for Team USA as we are all obviously aware of that he failed miserably because his game doesn’t translate as well.

And he plays defense with his hands and couldn’t move his feet to keep from getting in foul trouble. The team would have Kevin Garnett, the superior player and defender to handle that.

Duncan, playing his natural position at center and could come in and relieve peak 2000 Shaq.