If you could assemble a team of the best players in the west...

[baseline bum]

More excuses. AI is a HoF'er. If they had spent a year preparing, 2004 USA would have swept the Argentinians.

That doesn't make Iverson a point guard. If they had a point guard, outside shooting, and Duncan wasn't getting called for ticky-tack fouls, then they would have won the gold.

[Allanon]

So how does that one instance prove your point is what I am getting at? I can give you examples that disprove it like I did.

Poor examples. We're not talking about the Clippers getting demolished, these are the World Champion Lakers.

Lakers >>>> any team the Dream Teams faced.

Find me any modern day example of a thrown together team that dominates the compe ion and I'll concede your point.

[Allanon]

That doesn't make Iverson a point guard. If they had a point guard, outside shooting, and Duncan wasn't getting called for ticky-tack fouls, then they would have won the gold.

The 2004 team was a poor defensive team, like most All-Star teams. They were great on offense like #1 or #2.

Their poor defense (around #8 ranked defense) got them the Bronze and a team of mostly non-NBA level Argentinians won Gold.

The embarrassing Bronze medal was the watershed event that made Colangelo require a 3 year playing commitment because he knew you can't just throw All Star players together and beat good TEAMS anymore.

[baseline bum]

The 2004 team was a poor defensive team, like most All-Star teams. They were great on offense like #1 or #2.

Their poor defense (around #8 ranked defense) got them the Bronze and a team of mostly non-NBA level Argentinians won gold.

That team was in no way great on offense. Jefferson and Odom couldn't shoot. Wallace was worthless. Duncan was constantly on the bench in foul trouble. Marbury had one good game mixed with mostly awful ones. James was a kid and still didn't get enough minutes. Anthony got even less respect (and minutes) from Brown than James. Iverson played well, but he wasn't a point guard and the offense always looked lost.

[Allanon]

That team was in no way great on offense. Jefferson and Odom couldn't shoot. Wallace was worthless. Duncan was constantly on the bench in foul trouble. Marbury had one good game mixed with mostly awful ones. James was a kid and still didn't get enough minutes. Anthony got even less respect (and minutes) from Brown than James. Iverson played well, but he wasn't a point guard and the offense always looked lost.

They were like #1 or #2 in offense which is very typical of All Star teams.

But they had only #8 ranked defense; which is also very typical of All Star teams.

Great defensive+good offense teams like the Lakers and Celtics would rage on them.

[The Third Man]

true, only bynum has such a pussy that is tense enough to sprain 's and gets his career done thankfully. Yao used to be a decent player with nice stats including a 20+10 season and probably he was indeed that good as numbers indicated, but he's already done honestly. It's ironic you idiots are still listing him as a "player" while he's already done.

Shut the up, Knick fan. Your franchise is terminally in the toilet. The Nets will rise up before you assholes do.

[024]

Funny, most people just ignore stupid threads...

[024]

i think the argument of 2004 should be how great manu ginobili is. single handily defeating a collection of the best basketball players in the world. ginobili is truly one of the greats and that 2004 performance probably put him in the hall of fame.

[redzero]

i think the argument of 2004 should be how great manu ginobili is. single handily defeating a collection of the best basketball players in the world. ginobili is truly one of the greats and that 2004 performance probably put him in the hall of fame.

[5in10]

CP3
Durant
Carmelo
Duncan
Jefferson

[duhoh]

This Lakers team would beat the 04 Olympic Dream/Joke Team losers.

Just because you have a bunch of talent doesn't mean you're automatically going to play well together.

true, but that's what the original dream team did. they were out on the golf course for a while

D-Will
Melo
Dirk
Duncan
Yao (when he's on the court)

6th man? - Durant?