The dream team of 1992 won all five of their games by 30
points (one game) or more, scoring at
least 103 per game with an 18 point half-time lead in one game and no less than
a 20 point lead at half-time in each of the remaining four games. In other words, there
were no nail biters, unlike the last
game of the 2012 summer games, the USA
versus Spain.
All members of the first “dream team” are in the Hall of
Fame except Christian Laettner – that is 11 out of 12 players and when they first walked out on the floor, there was an electric sense of pride in the USA that transcended the whole of the American population and each of the five Olympic games.
The hype was palpable and the Dream Team more than lived up to its calling.
Compare this to the last game of the 2012 London Olympics, a game won more by luck than than anything. I was proud of this team, but, if some on the team want to start comparing themselves to The Dream Team (of 1992), well, I think they lose. Understand that there is scoring capability (give this to the 2012 team) and, then, there is playing the game. The former makes it exciting, the latter makes for winners and legends.
If you are 55 or older, you will more than remember these men:
David Robinson, center, 7'1" Hall of Fame
2× NBA champion (1999, 2003)
NBA Most Valuable Player (1995)
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1992)
10× NBA All-Star (1990–1996, 1998,2000–2001)
4× All-NBA First Team (1991–1992, 1995–1996)
2× All-NBA Second Team (1994, 1998)
4× All-NBA Third Team (1990, 1993,2000–2001)
4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1991–1992,1995–1996)
4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1990,1993–1994, 1998)
NBA Rookie of the Year (1990)
Patrick
Ewing, center, 7'0" Hall of Fame
11× NBA All-Star (1986, 1988-1997)
All-NBA First Team (1990)
6× All-NBA Second Team (1988–1989,1991–1993, 1997)
3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1988–1989, 1992)
NBA Rookie of the Year (1986)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1986)
NCAA Champion (1984)
NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player(1984)
Naismith College Player of the Year (1985)
Adolph Rupp Trophy (1985)
Larry Bird, 6'9" forward Hall of Fame
3× NBA champion
2× NBA Finals MVP
3× NBA Most Valuable Player
12× NBA All-Star
9× All-NBA First Team
All-NBA Second Team
3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team
NBA Rookie of the Year
NBA All-Rookie First Team
NBA All-Star Game MVP
3× Three-point Shootout champion
John R. Wooden Award
Naismith College Player of the Year
AP National Player of the Year
Oscar Robertson Trophy
Adolph Rupp Trophy (1979)
NABC Player of the Year (1979)
2× MVC Player of the Year (1978, 1979)
2× Consensus NCAA All-American First Team (1978, 1979)
Scottie Pippen, 6'8" forward Hall of Fame
6× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
7× NBA All-Star
NBA All-Star Game MVP (1994)
3× All-NBA First Team
2× All-NBA Second Team
2× All-NBA Third Team
8× NBA All-Defensive First Team
2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team
Michael Jordan, 6'6" shooting guard Hall of Fame - Best of the Best.
Clyde Drexler, 6'7" guard and forward, Hall of Fame
NBA Champion (1995)
10× NBA All-Star (1986, 1988–1994,1996–1997)
He is one of three players in NBA history to have posted
career totals of at least 20,000 points, 6,000 rebounds and 6,000 assists (the
two others being Oscar Robertson and John
Havlicek).[15] As
of 2008, Drexler leads all guards with his career average of offensive rebounds
with 2.4 per game.
Karl Malone, 6' 9" power forward, Hall of Fame
2× NBA Most Valuable Player (1997, 1999)
14× NBA All-Star (1988-1998, 2000-2002)
11× All-NBA First Team (1989–1999)
John Stockton, 6'1" point guard Hall of Fame Best Assist man to play the game (editor's opinion)
10× NBA All-Star (1989–1997, 2000)
NBA All-Star Game MVP (1993)
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr.,
Chris Mullin,
Charles Barkley,
Christian
Laettner
______________________
Player research is from Wikipedia.
Commentary and formatting belongs this blog's editor.
Note: I just ran out of time to complete formatting demands as to the last four players.
No comments:
Post a Comment