2012 Men's Team vs. 1992 Dream Team Debate Continues...

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The London Olympics have finally kicked off from Olympic stadium in beautiful England the firework display was a treat. Watching and viewing the Queen and the James Bond skit was wonderful and to the unbelievable remarks given by American Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. All is safe in peaceful in the beautiful surroundings of London. Now the battles and competition can start as old rivalries continue China vs. Japan Mens Gymnastics and great rivalries coming to a end Michael Phelps vs. Ryan Lochte in Mens Swimming. The Women's competitions of Allyson Felix  (USA) vs. Veronica Campbell Brown (Jamaica)  and of course one of our favorites Australia vs. Great Britain for Medal "Lord of the Rings" medal count supremacy. 


Yet, one debate rages on, a debate so debatable that legends have spoken out and we will never truly experience the outcome. It's the debate of the 1992 USA Olympic "Dream Team" the greatest team ever assembled in the sport of basketball vs. the 2012 USA Mens Basketball team. Debates and conversations from Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Charles Barkley describing how the 1992 Dream Team will never be touched on the court to Kobe Bryant and "now" LeBron James quoting that the 2012 Mens Team could beat the 1992 version. 


The original Dream Team led by Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird defeated Olympic opponents by an average 43.8 pts and a gaudy number even for a team full of NBA Hall of Fame players. The international competition was not the same compared to 2012.  International players have evolved in the sports of basketball over the last two decades and Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski agrees when asked about the difference. Krzyzewski is also Head Coach at Duke University and was an assistant coach on the 1992 Dream Team that dominated the world in Barcelona. 

So even with improved international play omitting the 43.8 pts per game winning average the comparisons between the two teams continue with the question of what would have happened had the 1992 Dream Team faced the 2012 Men's Team led by Bryant, James and Kevin Durant. Navigating the roster the #1 weak spot for the 2012 Men's Team is the depth chart. Team USA 2012 players have been hit with a rash of unfortunate injuries Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard have all been removed or replaced on the Men's Team for the 2012 Olympics. 


#2 Weak spot the interior post game, the Dream Team was comprised of several dominating big men. David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley a list of the greatest power forwards and centers to ever set foot on any basketball court. To compare the down low post game of the 1992 team to the 2012 squad would be cruel and down right murderous. 2012 Men's team post players include Tyson Chandler, Anthony Davis and Kevin Love serviceable players on NBA teams but not 1992 Dream Team qualified. 


The two weak points listed are just an example of why the debate that continues to fuel fire should be extinguished with liquid hydrogen. The only real question is with the high level of competition would the Dream Team average more 20 point wins vs. 40 point wins if faced with the Marc and Pau Gasol's of Spain or the Manu Ginobili and Luis Scola Argentina. How far has international competition gone and where is it going. I agree with the words of Bryant when addressing NBA Commissioner Stern's comments of a 23 and younger team "only" being allowed to enter the Olympics. "It's a stupid idea," Bryant told reporters. 


Truly with international players Tony Parker (France), Anderson Vareajo (Brazil), Serge Ibaka (Spain) etc... the USA fielding a 23 and under team would be ridiculous and put the USA at a great disadvantage in an American dominated sport. 

Bottomline: 1992 Dream Team would out perform the 2012 USA Men's Team, International competition has increased around the globe and a 23 yr old and younger USA Men's Team is no Dream Team for America it's stupid, it's a nightmare. The last and only Dream Team to ever play was in 1992 all other teams are simply USA Men's Basketball Team's.


Of course this last statement must be added NBA 2K we have a request to help with some of the virtual debates. "In honor of the 2012 London Olympics, JMC Sportsbook would like to propose a valuable 2K13 feature include the Dream Team and all the USA Men's Teams since 1992 for the soon to be highly anticipated sports game of the year NBA 2K13 just a thought"

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OKC Thunder Creating History?

Congratulations to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Nick Collison and the crew. The 2012 Western Conference Champions have created history their own history. A history that belongs to the fans in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Thunder have been in existence for four seasons writing history in a city they can call their own.

The trip to the NBA Finals is a quick victory for a young franchise. Led by 23 and 22 year old super star buddies Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. Thunder's historic four years has been awesome for the city, their franchise and their fans. Sam Presti has organized an energetic bunch of NBA professionals. A young squad with veteran savvy combining Durant, Westbrook, and Harden with 6 NBA Championship rings Derek Fisher and Kendrick Perkins. Now the Thunder seek their first championship in franchise history chasing history into the Oklahoma sunset.

OKC Thunder have done more for Oklahoma City fans in four years "2 Western Conference Finals trip +1 NBA Finals Appearance" than most teams have done in 50 years worth of history. Oklahoma City Thunder can go on to become one of the best franchises in NBA or sports history. Media Networks are whispering that if Durant wins the NBA Championship he could go down as one of the best players in NBA history. So  if the OKC Thunder abandon the history of the Sonics could OKC  Thunder go down as possibly the best franchises in sports once Durant, Westbrook and Harden retire?


This is why the Sonics history should remain in Seattle a franchise that won the 1979 NBA Finals and celebrated with a parade in downtown Seattle. Sonics fans have fond memories of the Sonics the sunny days but as a pure franchise the fans of Seattle have also endured heartbreak. I blame Howard Schultz for some of those hearbreaks but I also remember upset loyals fans in 1994 as Dikembe Mutombo laid on the court floor grasping the basketball.

The hard times can not be remembered as Sonics moments and the good times re-manufactured in "STAT BOOKS"  as part of  Thunder history. No one announced the Nuggets beat the Thunder but when great moments scroll on the bottom of the  "Have Your Cake and Eat It Too" screen and stats are shown it's included as Thunder history.

Sonics history belongs in Seattle Jack Sikma, Dale Ellis, Nate Mc Millan, Lenny Wilkens, Detlef Schrempf, Xavier Mc Daniel, Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp are Seattle memories. Durant, Westbrook, and Harden memories belong to the fans of OKC. The Sonics faced Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman in 1995 not OKC Thunder.  The Sonics history is too valuable and rich for it to be passed off as some type of OKC adoption papers. Sonics history has a home in Seattle.

Shawn Kemp's and Gary Payton's jerseys will never hang in the rafters in OKC the players will never be retired in Thunder Blue and Orange. OKC holding onto to the history of the Sonics is bad for coaches, fans, players and the organization. Seattle will have a Sonics team again, the City owns the name, so where is the spite coming from why does Clay Bennett insist to hold on to history? Thunder history looks great in OKC don't destroy what OKC fans, players, coaches and organizational staff are building. Leave Sonics history in Seattle it works out for both cities and fan bases.


Keeping OKC Thunder history separate from Sonics history is the key ingredient between Russell Westbrook being the best PG in franchise history or #4 on the franchise list. I was told holding onto to the history of someone else can do that to a player. OKC Thunder "create history don't be history" Fours Years 2 Western Conference Finals and a square off with LeBron James in the 2012 NBA Finals. Leave Sonics history in Seattle be an intervator mold your own history. Sonic fans will never die and neither will the message as long as Thunder continue to thrive and OKC fans make t-shirts. Sonics voices will be heard and as the NBA Finals continue the voices will become louder. SuperSonics fans and former Greats of the Sonics franchise will never accept OKC and OKC should not except Sonics history. Both sides should unite and tell Clay Bennett and David Stern what we really feel......

Western Conference Finals 2012: "Hunger Games"

The JMC Sportsbook @ Box on Twitter is filling up with questions regarding the NBA playoffs and our NBA playoff outlook for the Western Conference Finals. Here's the call and outlook according to Book of JMC Sportsbook NBA Playoffs 2012 "Hunger Games".

Like Katniss Everdeen the Oklahoma City Thunder are young yet feisty athletic phenoms coming into their own hitting their stride prior to their prime. OKC Thunder play tough interior defense with PF Serge Ibaka nicknamed "IBlocka" by NBA fans for his defensive prowess and ability to block shots in the paint. I feel he should be nicknamed "Blanka" for his monster type ability to block, grab rebounds, and command the paint but that's a different article.


The OKC Thunder are led by new "King of Clutch" Kevin Durant known for his accurate and precision type shooting "Durantula" led the NBA in points averaging 28.0 ppg during his 2011-2012 campaign. Equally important to the Thunder's success is Russell Westbrook and James Harde. Russell is a dynamic NBA All Star Point Guard and James Harden is the glue that holds this team together his "Sixth Man of the Year" play off the bench has risen the Thunder to new heights. Thunder return to the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive season.  Durant, Westbrook, Harden and company are more poised and confident than ever after defeating the NBA version of  "Career Tributes" Los Angeles Lakers.  Their next test? the San Antonio Spurs.

San Antonio Spurs we all know the story of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli but the real play here comes from the addition of Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard. Two young star buds that look to be the future of the Spurs. Greg Popovich the best active coach currently in the NBA has done a masterful job this season. Giving Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli time to rest throughout the season to increase the maturation process of Green and Leonard.  The two young talents have been incredible breathing new life into the Spurs organization on and off the court.

Spurs have been the best team in the NBA for two consecutive seasons posting a 2010-2011 season record of 61-21 and completing 2011-2012 season 50-16. In 2011 the Spurs playoff chances were cut short when Manu Ginobli sprained his elbow in the last game of the regular season. Fast Forward to 2012 and the Spurs are back riding a 18 game winning streak the into the Western Conference Finals.

The Call: This is totally unfair to the OKC Thunder and their new fans in Oklahoma after defeating the Lakers with last second clutch shots in the playoffs teams should automatically be advanced to the NBA Finals. Well just like in Hunger Games that's not the case because in this latest version the Spurs represent the biggest challenge the Thunder have faced in their four year existence.

Here's my exhort as I explained it to Israel Sports Radio Producer and CEO Ari Louis and Raphael Gellar in Jerusalem. Manu Ginobli is the original James Harden they cancel each other out.  Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker are equal parts slight edge to Tony Parker then you examine Tim Duncan vs. Kevin Durant all the stars equal each other out with very slight advantages. Now your left with the Spurs bench and counter pieces against the Thunder's spare parts and you have a 4-2 Spurs Series in San Antonio's quest to an NBA Finals Championship in 2012. Sorry Miami- Greg Popvich and David Stern "President Snow" would like to thank everyone for playing.

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