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DREAM TEAMS REVIEW
| The Original DREAM TEAM |
The 1992 USA Olympic Squad, also known to the world as "The Dream Team", cruised to the gold medal, defeating opponents by an average margin of 46 points. |
For all intent and purposes, the competition for the Olympic Gold medal at the 1992 summer games in Barcelona, Spain, ended in 1989 when the international governing body of basketball voted to allow professional basketballers to compete in the Olympics. College players had always represented the United States before in the summer games and had only lost one game before the 1988 Olympics. At Seoul, 1988 U.S team struggled throughout and were forced to settle for the bronze medal ( sounds familiar ? ). It was clear that the rest of the world was improving and that American amateurs could no longer dominate international competition. Given the opportunity to use pro stars, the USOC readily agreed to send a "Dream Team" loaded with NBA superstars to the 1992 Barcelona games.
The most exciting thing about the Dream Team was the selection of the roster. Tryouts were held in the middle of the summer in Portland, Oregon. Coach Chuck Daly, who led the Detroit Pistons to two NBA crowns in 1989 and 1990 and then retired temporary, was chosen to be the choreographer for the greatest team ever assembled, though he would face hairy decisions about who would make the team. Daly and his staff decided on a roster of eleven NBA stars and one collegiate. Daly was an old-school NBA coach who loved tough defense, but also had no compulsion to make controversial selections. Thus, everyone knew from the start that Magic Johnson had a place on the team if he wanted one, even though he was HIV-positive. Likewise, Larry Bird made the team even though chronic back injuries would force him to retire following the Olympics. The other obvious selection was Air. After leading the Chicago Bulls to consecutives championships in 1991 and 1992, Michael Jordan made the team ( understatement of the year ! ). The others were Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Karl Malone and, Clyde Drexler, who led the Portland Trailblazers to the NBA Finals.
The remaining four selections were more difficult. First, Daly chose Duke's Christian Laettner as the token amateur. Daly wanted two more scoring forwards , and many assumed he would select the Human Highlight Film Dominique Wilkins, who the fifth highest scoring average in NBA history entering 1994-95 and is among the top ten in points scored. But Wilkins was never much of a team player or a defensive stalwart. Thus, the two remaining forward positions were awarded to Scottie Pippen of the Bull, who was just emerging from Jordan's shadow and gaining deserved recognition, and Chris Mullin, who was being touted as the game's deadliest outside shooter post-Larry Legend.
The other point guard selection was actually made early on, but still sparked some controversy in the media.Daly chose John Stockton, whom the coach felt could be relied on to run the team for an entire game should Magic be unable to compete. Ironically, Stockton was the only Dream Teamer to get injured in Barcelona; a tiny leg fracture forced him to miss a couple of games. The public and the media, however, were shocked that Daly bypassed Isiah Thomas, who is the highest-profile player on Daly's championship Pistons. However, word leaked out that the final guard to be cut was Tim Hardaway, who was the king of the crossover at that time ( still is, sorry Iverson, Kobe ). Magic apologized to Hardaway, because his inclusion on the team meant there was no space for the then-Golden State point guard.
The roster : At Center, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson. At Power Forward, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and Christian Laettner. At Small Forward, Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen and Chris Mullin. At Shooting Guard, Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler. At Point Guard, Magic Johnson and John Stockton.
Everyone in the team ( except Laettner, huh ), was capable to take over a game in their respective teams in the NBA. Their team relied on them in the clutch. Imagine prime time players playing for the SAME team... The first time Magic Johnson was able to throw up a no look alley oop to Michael Jordan...
Imagine no more.
After the selection process, The Dream Team still had to qualify for the Olympics from its region. It did so without ever being challenged.
The United States cruised to the gold medal during the Olympics. Their closest game was in the championship game, in which Croatia, led by Toni Kukoc and the late Drazen Petrovic, remained close to the Dream Team in the first half before the U.S pulled away for a typically resounding victory, 117-85.
This was the greatest basketball team ever assembled.
THE PLAYERS Earvin Magic Johnson
5 Championship Rings... the biggest point guard ever at 6-9, but the best in the business. Has tremendous vision running the floor. He will not give it to you if you weren't ready to catch it. Out of nowhere his pass will come. Just run the floor and get open. Great 3 point shooter, ultimate floor general.
Larry Bird
3 NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics. Just when you think all hope is gone he'll do something special. Deadly shooter, 3 consecutives long-distance champ. Great vision and averages double-double in his career stats.
Michael Jordan
Led the league in scoring prior to his selection to the Dream Team. Spectacular player ( no, I cannot define him completely ), fearless leader who refuses to lose. He'll somehow find a way to win in crunch time. No one defenses like he does. The best ever. Period. 'Nuff said.
Charles Barkley
'Any butthead can score' is his life motto. But not just any butthead can rebound, dunk and get into a fight like he can. Despite only 6-4, uses his wide frame to his advantage to box out players. Foul mouth and technical prone.
Karl Malone
Powerful forward who can score down low or shoot from 10-15 feet. Out-muscle opponents in the paint, runs the floor very well. One of the best in drawing fouls. Most of his points come from the FT line. Not overly spectacular, but gets his points nevertheless.
Patrick Ewing
One of the best big man shooter. Reaches high for his shot, making it almost impossible to block. Good passer, shotblocker and rebounder. Big mouth, even bigger game.
Clyde Drexler
The Glide dribbles with his head down, passes with his head down and jams like no other. He has Magic's charisma. Larry's court vision. Mike's drive to the hole. As SLAM mag quoted him, "He was Grant Hill when Grant Hill was twelve. He was Scottie Pippen when Pip was having migraines. He was Penny Hardaway when Penny was just, well, Li'l Penny."
Scottie Pippen
No, he's not Mike's sidekick. He's Mike's equal. Well, sort of. He's the ultimate versatile player. At 6-7, he runs the three and the two, he could pass like a one, rebounds like a four and block shots like a 5. The best defensive forward ever to play the game. The backbone of the Bulls' championship teams.
David Robinson
The most athletic center post Bill Russell. Did you see him do a 360 dunk in some video footage ? Nah, even Shaq can't do that. He's pretty accurate in his turnaround jumper, too. Great shot blocker and rodman, er, rebounder.
Chris Mullin
Just don't leave him open. Instinctually alert and quick hands to steal the ball from anyone. Street smart player and passes the rock like Magic.
John Stockton
The NBA all time assists leader and steals leader. Definitely a team player. Can hit clutch shots better than any other point guards. Great court vision and master of delivering the pick and roll. Especially with you-know-who.
Christian Laettner
College player of the year with Duke. Hit the off balance game winning shot to defeat Jamal Mashburn and the Kentucky Wildcats in the 1992 NCAA Final Four. That's about it..
- RELATED :
- NBA LIVE 99 DREAM TEAMS PATCH 4.1.
PLAY THE DREAM TEAMS AGAINST LEGENDS OF THE NBA !
- NBA LIVE 99 DREAM TEAMS PATCH 2000.
PLAY THE DREAM TEAMS AGAINST THE CURRENT TEAMS ( SEASON 1999-2000 ) OF THE NBA !
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Air Assault November 1998