This notion that somehow the '08 squad is superior to the Dream Team because they faced tougher competition is overblown, regardless of how sparingly it's mentioned. The focus of this thread is which team is greater, which I take to mean better.
- It's not as if the Dream Team rolled over nobodies. The Croatian team that they defeated for the Gold had 5 guys who would play in the NBA. Lithuania, who won the Bronze, had a couple of players too. The edge in competition certainly favors today's international teams, but the reason everything in sight was destroyed in Barcelona wasn't because of weak competition; it was because the Dream Team was that good. For all the talk about 'the world catching up', the Redeem Team still won their games by an average of 28 points, with only one real test. While notable, I believe the aspect of increased competition is a bit overstated. A lack of concern/urgency with international competition, less continuity and structure in building the team, as well as a decline in the quality of play in the NBA have all played a part. This squad still pretty much thrashed everything in sight ...just not at a Dream Team-level clip.
- One of the slights going into Beijing was whether or not the USA had enough of a presence in the post with Boozer, Bosh and Howard. It specifically got mentioned heading into the final game against Spain; whether they could handle the physicality. Hell, Carmelo and LeBron were logging time at power forward. Now, compare that against Barkley, Malone, Robinson and Ewing. It's not even close. There's nothing to be done against that line. Rebounding would have been even more of a concern than it was in this competition. The Dream Team's big guys would have destroyed the '08 squad.
- The Dream Team didn't have any problems with 3 ball. Bird, Mullin (who was shooting them like they were layups), Drexler, Pippen, Jordan, even Barkley threw some up. They used the 3 much better. Redd was the best shooter on the Redeem Team and he barely was noticed. The execution improved down the stretch (notably Wade and Bryant), but there's a big edge in favor of '92 here.
- It was cited that if someone could slow down Team USA's relentless fast break, that they might be in trouble (largely because of lack of a strong post game and inconsistency with the 3). Speed was the primary factor, as in the international teams simply couldn't prepare to deal with the American's breakneck pace. That advantage largely goes bye-bye when dealing with another group of players familiar with the NBA style (which is why the matchups with Argentina and Spain were particularly noted to be a challenge). There would have been a greater emphasis on executing in the halfcourt, which I saw practically none of in the games/clips I watched. I'm not saying Kidd, Paul and Williams couldn't get them into those sets, but it would have been a much different dynamic in scoring then what Team USA just went through. The Dream Team used to fast break people to death too, but they also incorporated the screen and roll/catch and shoot aspects of the game that the Redeem Team struggled with.
- Outside of their overwhelming advantage in talent, what separates the Dream Team is their mentality/attitude. How many times was it mentioned that the Redeem Team's success depended on their intensity or commitment to defense? There were no such concerns in '92 because the players had their heads on differently. On top of that, the Dream Team's roster came from arguably the best era of basketball that the NBA has ever seen; far superior to today's brand. Players hustled more, they shot better from the outside, there was a better focus on cooperative play (as opposed to the one-on-one/isolation style that's so prevalent today) and they actually could play defense back in '92, not this watered down version of what passes for D today (largely due to rules that heavily favor the offensive player). Additionally, the Dream Team boasts some of the headiest, most intelligent players in the game's history.
Look, I'm thrilled that Team USA 'redeemed' USA basketball. They were clearly the best team, from start to finish, and I hope the new approach to these competitions results in continued and unquestioned American dominance in hoops. However, these comparisons just need to stop. The Dream Team would have kicked the Redeem Team's ass just like they kicked everyone else's. They were simply better. I doubt a more impressive collection of talent is ever assembled.
To borrow a phrase; the best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be.
