Could the 2012 Dream Team beat the Original?
So I was on my show Saturday night on Fox Sports Radio and XM 169 when the discussion about our latest 2012 United States Olympic basketball team started.
I made an offhand comment, like I so often do, that I thought the original Dream Team would beat this current edition by 12 to 14 points. I thought it was a foregone conclusion.
So imagine my surprise later when Chuck Esposito, the director of the race and sports book at Sunset Station in Las Vegas, came on the show and said differently.
For those of you not familiar with Chuck, he is one of the sharpest guys I’ve known over the past 20 years, especially when it comes to the numbers and overall knowledge of sports.
So I asked Chuck straight up: “What would Dream Team One be favored by in a game against our current squad?”
He said 6 points, and that’s when I almost fell out of my chair!
Here’s the translation for the people who follow sports but have never put down a wager in Las Vegas. Dream Team One is only two possessions, or 6 points, better than the 2012 team.
Basically, Dream Team One is still king but not by much.
I knew this would be a topic of discussion this week, and with good reason because there’s no right or wrong answer — only lots of opinions.
We all know some computer will pick the 2012 team as the winner vs. the 1992 team in a high-tech online match.
But to me it just doesn’t count. It is not possible to have an absolute answer to who would win overall.
I am shocked some people think LeBron and Kobe would roll over against Michael Jordan and the originals.
Let me say this, if I’m in Las Vegas, Nevada, I’m taking the 6.
When I first heard it, it didn’t make sense, but I see it differently now.
Don’t forget, Magic Johnson was at the end of the road, and Larry Bird’s back was gone; he was at best an 11th man.
Our 2012 squad might have Kevin Durant as your third-best player. The 2012 Dream Team, top heavy with superstars, is pretty tough with their younger legs.
But a lack of total championships leads me to believe if there was one game only, Dream Team One would get it done.
Why?
Because of the greatest closer of all time namely: Michael Jordan.
Dream Team One, led by MJ with his will, determination and competitive drive, pushes them to come from behind to win over the 2012 team. The score: 102-97.
A seven-game series would be absolutely amazing.
It could go six or seven, but once again I have to take Dream Team One in 4 games to 2.
I know it doesn’t sound like real domination, but it does sound familiar to the basketball world. No matter who the players are 2 through 12, when Michael Jordan is your No. 1 all discussion is over.
I’m looking forward to our current team bringing home the gold, but thank God they don’t have to play the originals for the big prize.
ŸMike North’s column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.