1996 Dream Team vs 2008 Olympic Basketball Team

Question

I stumbled across someone comparing the 1992 Dream Team to the current olympic team and obviously the '92 Dream Team won out. We all know nothing will EVER compare to the original Dream Team but this got me thinking: how would the current team stack up against the '96 Dream Team? (Which wasn't truly the Dream Team but still a very good compilation of players). I think the '96 Dream Team is still better than 2008 team. Thoughts?

1996 Roster:

Charles Barkley

Karl Malone

John Stockton

Scottie Pippen

David Robinson

Reggie Miller

Mitch Richmond

Anfernee Hardaway

Grant Hill

Gary Payton

2008 Roster:

Jason Kidd

Kobe Bryant

Lebron James

Carmelo Anthony

Dwight Howard

Dwayne Wade

Chris Paul

Chris Bosh

Deron Williams

Carlos Boozer

Tyshaun Prince

Michael Redd

Answer 1

1996 team

Answer 2

The '96 team is way better WAY better. It's no contest, a lot of those guys were still in their prime then. The 2008 team has more speed and athleticism, but the '96 team has great shooters, rebounds and scorers. Plus they have some very athletic players too like Grant Hill and Scottie Pippen.

Answer 3

1996 is not better but they are at the same time....if you look at the match up you'd say '08 all the way but those guys Chuck Reggie Scottie Malone and Afernee(when he was Penny) had game they'd dog '08 they just know how to play better plus Grant Hill before he was hurt is like TPrince time 3...lol

Answer 4

In their prime, '96 team can own the '08 team. They got Barkley, Penny Hardaway, Scottie Pippen, Reggie Miller, Garry Peyton, etc. etc. Their whole team had amazing players.

'08 team has some players they couldve taken out, like instead of Prince, put in Ray Allen.

Answer 5

Well, i never watched much of the Dream Team, since i didnt become an NBA fan until maybe 8 years ago.

Apparently, everyone takes the side of the Dream team rite away.  Sometimes, i think even if you said who was better the Harlem Globetrotters or the Dream Team, the clear choice for them would still be the Dream Team.

But to be fair, i think the Dream Team are better as a team.  They work better in my opinion.  2008 is  brute force.  Both are great.  I see 08' winning the gold.  IN a head to head game, it would tough to decide.  If i had to decide through expericence, i would take 08' team.

Answer 6

2008 is better b/c of the speed difference

Answer 7

Yes 96 team is way better ........especially with Shaq and Olajuwon.  This would be my breakdown of the two:

PG, 08 team they need to start CP3 and then have Deron W. come off the bench and have Kidd come in only very little (so far got this wrong starting Kidd!)

SG, 96 team not anyone close to the shooting ability of R. Miller and M. Richmond.  Kobe B. great .....but not a pure shooter (horrible shooting outside against China)

SF, 08 team between C. Anthony, L. James, and others way more athletic than the 96 team and can plan many postitions.

PF, 96 Barkley and Malone without a doubt better than the 08 team.

C, 96 D. Robinson, Shaq, and Olajuwon this is the weakness of the 08 team.....D. Howard is going to be awesome (almost there) but he needs some big man help b/c if he gets into foul trouble this team is going to have to run!

Answer 8

I think the 2008 is better cus of KB24, LJ23, and D-Wade

Answer 9

Any Team Can Beat Any Team On Any Given Day Thats Why You Have The Word Upset

Answer 10

Youve gotta compare players in 96 at point you had Payton and stockton who were at the top of their game.  This year you have Jason kidd who has slipped and is on the floor just for leadership but the you have paul and williams who are rising stars.   Slight advantage to 96 team at point cause of their polished game

At Shoot gaurd 96 had outside threats with miller and richmon.  08 has edge with bryant and wade but only true outside threat is Redd.  advantage 2008

At three youve got Lebron who is one of the best along a dose of carmello against a young grant hill and pippen, big advantage 08

Big advantage at pf for 96 with barkley and mailman vs bosh and maybe boozer

D rob vs Dwight howard obviously the Admiral is hall of famer and howard is young

overall youve gotta give edge to 08 they have a lack of bigs but they have tremendous depth with james,bryant,mello, and wade theywin out,  

Although they should have brought Peirce and Shaq

Answer 11

Is this a joke or a facetious? The "Real" Dream Team would beat the 2008 U.S.A Basketball team anytime and anywhere.

Answer 12

dey work better as a team, but we got more flashy players and we are more unstoppable on a fast breakk

Answer 13

Almost all of the players who played for the 96 team are finished with their careers (superb ones).  I think if the careers of Kobe, Lebron, Wade, CP3, Kidd, Anthony and Howard are done, then we could say this team is truly special.  

Answer 14

Shaq and Olajuwon in their prime on the same team with hall of fame spot up shooters in Reggie Miller and Mitch Richmond?  This isn't a contest its a slaughter.  96 team by a landslide.  They don't even need PGs or Forwards.

Answer 15

i agree.. the 1996 team is also better than the present version of team usa.. one of the main reasons is because of the outstanding post players on the 96 team.. they had 3 machines in robinson, malone, and barkley..they also had a great one-two punch at point guard with the clever stockton(all time steals and assists leader) and gary payton in his prime.. the only position i would take the current team's players would be on the wing with lebron, kobe, and wade which is a hair better than penny, grant, and pippen.. the defensive stopper of the 96 team(pippen) is also much better than the defensive stopper of the 08 team(prince, he doesnt even play much)..also the designated shooter on the team(miller) is a better scorer and shooter than the 08's shooter (redd)..