Dream Team versus 2012 Olympic Team

By now you've probably heard the story, and also read what everyone said.   I myself have gotten in a couple arguments about Dream Team versus this year's team.   In every single argument I've been blown away by the ridiculous arguments people have been making.  This years team is "more athletic."  "How would the Dream Team stop Lebron?"  And worst of all "Wouldn't the Dream Team get distracted by the brow?"  (Actually I made that last one up, but it's still probably just as likely if not more than those other arguments)  Last night I felt vindicated.  After one quarter it was 27-17..... Brazil.  The U.S. ended up getting their act together and winning 80-69, but seriously?  Would the Dream Team ever lose a quarter to a starting lineup of Leandro Barbosa, Marcelo Huertas, Alex Garcia, Tiago Splitter, and Nene?  No.  They would destroy that lineup.  Magic and John Stockton would abuse Leandro Barbosa.    Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, and Scottie Pippen on the wings versus Marcelo Huertas and Alex Garcia would be an embarrassment.   Inside Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, and David Robinson would dominate Nene, Splitter, and Anderson Varejao.  Otherwise known as, this would be a blowout, because I have not even gotten to Michael Jordan.  MJ would never allow such a less talented team to jump out to an early lead like that.  Mike would make Huertas and Garcia lose their will to live as he blew by them and proceeded to dunk on Tiago Splitter.   

I totally understand the fact that today's international competition is much tougher than the Dream Team's, but even if you look at the match-ups between the two of them it is no contest.  Magic and Stockton are not as athletic as Westbrook, D-Will, and Chris Paul.  However none of the 2012 guys have Magic's size, and Stockton is just as good an all-around player as any of them.  On the wings Iguodala is just a much worse version of Pippen, and Chris Mullin is basically equal to Harden.  Barkley is a good match up with Carmelo and both would score on each other, but because of Barkley's rebounding he would win the match up.  Larry Bird was old and not very effective at this point, but Clyde Drexler was right in his prime.  Clyde the Glide in his prime is as good if not better than an old Kobe, and would be able to provide a fast break threat for the Dream Team.  Then it comes down to Jordan Lebron and Durant.  Obviously the combo of Lebron and Durant is better than Jordan alone, but this years team will not play them both at the same time without weakening their front court.  With Malone, Robinson, and Ewing matching up against Tyson Chandler, Kevin Love, and Anthony Davis inside the 2012 team will get crushed.  In my opinion the two best lineups for this years USA team is Paul, Kobe, Lebron, Love, Chandler and replacing Love with Durant for a small lineup.  Meanwhile the Dream Team's best lineup is Magic, Jordan, Pippen, Barkley, and Robinson arguably.  Against the first proposed 2012 team lineup neither Magic nor Paul would be able to contain each other, but if Stockton were put in it would be even also.  A in his prime Jordan would absolutely dominate Kobe, but if Lebron was switched onto Jordan then the Dream Team would have other mismatches (plus Jordan would still find a way to get his).  Pippen would do as good a job on Lebron as anyone in the history of basketball, and be able to contain him more than Lebron can contain Jordan.  Barkley would not be able to guard Love, but could do a pretty good job on Durant.  If Love was in Malone would check in and be able to neutralize that match up.  Inside Ewing or Robinson (especially Robinson) would dominate Chandler.  The Dream Team all in all has more superstar level depth off the bench and is clearly better than this years team.  Scottie Pippen might be going to far when he says that they would beat this years team by 25, but they certainly would beat this years Brazil team by 25.  In a seven game series it is conceivable to say that the 2012 Olympic team could steal one game from the Dream Team, but it still seems very unlikely.  Overall the Dream Team is maybe the greatest team possibly ever assembled in an era.  It was one of the strongest competitive stretches in NBA history, and the team contained 11 hall of fame players.  It also so happens that one of those 11 hall of fame players was the undisputed greatest player of all time in the heart of his prime.  Overall, it is absolutely absurd to suggest that this years team is better, and the exhibition game against Brazil just proved that.