Better than the Dream Team? Oh, it’s very possible
By JORDAN HONEYCUTT

With the 2012 Olympic Games right around the corner, the sport I am most interested in is basketball. This year’s version of Team USA is the only one since 1992 that could realistically challenge the dynastic design of the original Dream Team.

2012's "dream" group would consist of: Kobe Bryant; Dwyane Wade; LeBron James; Kevin Durant; Dwight Howard; Derrick Rose; Russell Westbrook; Anthony Davis; Carmelo Anthony; Rajon Rondo; Kevin Love; and Blake Griffin.

I think that those 12 guys would be the best possible lineup to run out on the court for coach Mike Krzyzewski. Now, that you have my proposed roster, let’s look at the comparisons.

At Point Guard: The Dream Team’s point guards were Earvin “Magic” Johnson and John Stockton. Now, as far as point guards go, with the possible exception of “Pistol” Pete Maravich, they don’t come any better than the Magic man, whom I consider the greatest player of all-time. But I do believe that the combination of Rondo, Rose and Westbrook would definitely offset Stockton, but because Magic is that great, I give the slight edge here to 1992.

At the 2 Guard: The Dream Team featured a deadly 2 guard arsenal that consisted of Clyde Drexler and the great Michael Jordan. I know what you’re thinking, how could this year’s team top that? Well, I think many people across the country could argue that Kobe Bryant is right there with Jordan and Magic in the argument of the greatest player to ever lace up sneakers. Wade definitely outweighs Clyde, so I’ll call this one a wash, no edge either way.

At the 3 or small forward position: The 1992 team had Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin and an aging Larry Bird. If this Bird was the one of the 1980’s, this would be a close call but it’s not even. Bird was great, but at this stage of his career, he had more back problems than Quasimoto and wasn't really a factor on Team USA. With 2012’s possible combo of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant, I think you would have to give the edge here to 2012.

The power forward spot is the easiest to dissect. 2012 could feature Kevin Love and Blake Griffin to go against 1992's Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and Christian Laettner. Barkley and Malone are two of the best at the four position of all-time and with Love and Griffin's youth and earliness in their careers, I would probably give the edge to 1992.

Now, for the center position. 1992 had two all-time greats in David Robinson and Patrick Ewing, but 2012’s team could feature that same kind of duo in Davis and Howard. Howard is the defensive bulwark who can score much like Robinson. Davis is unproven in the NBA, but I think he is the biggest can't miss thing since buying stock in Apple computers. Much like Ewing, Davis can step away from the basket and knock down jumpers as well as amass boards and send shots the other way. While the argument is just a possibility and moot because a few of these guys aren't even playing for Team USA, I think it is very legitimate.

The Dream Team of 1992 was brilliant, the greatest team ever assembled, but this year’s Team America could absolutely give them a run for their money. I, as a sports reporter and basketball fan, would love to see the two teams play in their prime against each other 10 times. I guarantee it would be 5-5 or 6-4 in wins one way or the other.

Match-ups: Johnson v. Rondo; Stockton v. Rose/Westbrook; Jordan v. Bryant; Drexler v. Wade; Mullin v. Anthony; Pippen v. James; Bird v. Durant; Barkley v. Love; Malone/Laettner v. Griffin; Robinson v. Howard; Ewing v. Davis.