This team could have even been better if you replaced Laettner/Mullin with Isiah Thomas/Hakeem Olajuwon. At that point, I believe the worst player on the team, historically speaking, would have been Clyde Drexler.
Three other points I'd like to make- Magic and Bird were past their primes and were defensive liabilities. They didn't look that great in this tournament (I've watched all the games).
Also, as for the Yugoslavia vs. Dream Team argument, I'm sure that the Yugoslavia team could have given this Dream Team as good of a run as anyone but it wouldn't have been close. In watching these games I only felt like the U.S. team "turned it on" and played at their highest level for small spurts every game. Had they played Yugoslavia, Jordan and Coach Daly would have had everyone on the team ready to go from the opening whistle.
Last point- Barkley's a disrespectful idiot. I'm glad Jordan dominated him in the 90's, can you imagine if Barkley had dominated the league, we'd have been hearing all that trash talking day after day.
Three other points I'd like to make- Magic and Bird were past their primes and were defensive liabilities. They didn't look that great in this tournament (I've watched all the games).
Also, as for the Yugoslavia vs. Dream Team argument, I'm sure that the Yugoslavia team could have given this Dream Team as good of a run as anyone but it wouldn't have been close. In watching these games I only felt like the U.S. team "turned it on" and played at their highest level for small spurts every game. Had they played Yugoslavia, Jordan and Coach Daly would have had everyone on the team ready to go from the opening whistle.
Last point- Barkley's a disrespectful idiot. I'm glad Jordan dominated him in the 90's, can you imagine if Barkley had dominated the league, we'd have been hearing all that trash talking day after day.
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