The Dream Teams We Never Got To See

I realize, especially back in 1992, someone else has probably done something along these lines.  I never saw it.  With all the recent controversy about the 2012 US Olympic basketball team being better than 92, I thought I would toy with the idea, just to see if there may have been an even better team.

Before anyone starts the bigger, stronger, faster argument I counter with this.  Prior to the late 80’s/early 90’s, it was taboo for a basketball player to do much upper body weight training.  I know this from my personal experience playing in high school in the early 80’s.  My coaches told weight training would screw up your shot.  The players from past era’s would have taken advantage of the best training methodologies available just as today’s players do.

I decided to look at the teams that would have occurred during my lifetime, which started in 1965, so 1968 is the first team.  I based my selections on the accomplishments of players during the 4 years leading up to the Games in question.  I utilized the outstanding resources at SR/College Basketball and Basketball-Reference.com to do my research.  I looked at consensus college Player of the Year and First Team All America, pro league MVP, all league (1^st or 2^nd team), all star, Rookie of the Year, and league leader in points, rebounds and assists per game.  When 6^th Man of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year started after the 1982-83 season I added those, but never considered Most Improved.  I added the greatest weight to a pro league MVP, bit also added additional weight to pro all-league and college player of the year but I did not consider ABA only players for 1968, weighted them down for 1972, but gave them full credit for 1976 due to the merger they forced.

1968

STARTERS
C	Wilt Chamberlain
F	Jerry Lucas
F	Elgin Baylor
G	Oscar Robertson
G	Hal Greer
BENCH
C	Bill Russell
G	Jerry West
F/G	John Havlicek
G/F	Sam Jones*
C	Willis Reed
F	Rick Barry
F/C	Gus Johnson
G	Dave Bing

The starters speak for themselves. Sam Jones got the asterisk because 1968 was his last year and may not have played, so Dave Bing looked like the next best guard.  The Consensus Player of the Year for 1968 was Elvin Hayes and may have replaced Gus Johnson.

1972

STARTERS
C	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
F	Billy Cunningham
F	John Havlicek
G	Jerry West
G	Oscar Robertson
BENCH
C	Willis Reed
C	Mel Daniels*
G	Walt Frazier
C/F	Wes Unseld
F	Bob Love
G	Lou Hudson
F/C	Spencer Haywood
C	Wilt Chamberlain

Mel Daniels got an asterisk because he was ABA only so is probably replaced by Wilt (my preference), Gus Johnson or Bill Walton (Consensus Player of the Year).  One may argue that aging stars Jerry West and Oscar Robertson would have skipped but I doubt it.  If they did, likely replacements are Dave Bing or Earl Monroe.

1976

STARTERS
C	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
F	Julius Erving
F	Bob McAdoo
G	Tiny Archibald
G	Walt Frazier
BENCH
C	Artis Gilmore
F/C	George McGinnis
C	Dave Cowens
F/C	Elvin Hayes
F/G	John Havlicek*
G	Mack Calvin
G/F	David Thompson
F	Rick Barry*

More age asterisks.  John Havlicek’s next best replacement is the aging Rick Barry, so if he also opts out I think Spencer Haywood is the replacement, but Consensus Player of the Year Scott May could be the guy.  Why no Bill Walton?  Injury plagued during 2 years of this era and they loved them some Dave Cowens back then. 

1980

STARTERS
C	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
F	Julius Erving
F	Marques Johnson
G	George Gervin
G	Paul Westphal
BENCH
C/F	Moses Malone
F/C	Elvin Hayes
G	Pete Maravich
G/F	Walter Davis
F	Larry Bird
G/F	David Thompson
F/C	Maurice Lucas

There weren’t any age issues with this team.  The big switch I can see is in the starting line up because the starters above are both small forwards.  It would make perfect sense to replace Marques Johnson with Elvin Hayes.  Mark Aguirre was the Consensus Player of the Year in 1980, but I can’t see them dropping anyone on this roster in favor of him.  Sadly, what may be the best of these mythical teams would have been barred from competing due to the boycott.

1984

STARTERS
C	Moses Malone
F	Julius Erving
F	Larry Bird
G	Magic Johnson
G	Sidney Moncrief
BENCH
C/F	Ralph Sampson
G/F	George Gervin
C	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
F/G	Adrian Dantley
F	Alex English
G	Isiah Thomas
G	Dennis Johnson

I briefly considered using the asterisk on Kareem because this would have been his 4^th shot, but I am guessing the 1980 boycott would make him want to be there.  The biggest argument that comes up with this team is Consensus Player of the Year Michael Jordan.  But remember, he was the 3^rd pick in the draft and Dennis Johnson was viewed as a savior for the Celtics at this time.  Don’t doubt for a second that Ralph Sampson would be on this team.  Leading up to 1984 he was a 3 time Consensus Player of the Year and the reigning Rookie of the Year. 

1988

STARTERS
C	Moses Malone
F	Larry Bird
F	Charles Barkley
G	Magic Johnson
G	Michael Jordan
BENCH
G	Isiah Thomas
F	Dominique Wilkins
C	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*
C	Patrick Ewing
F	Alex English
F/C	Kevin McHale
G	Alvin Robertson
G	Sidney Moncrief

The asterisk on Kareem is because I am fairly confident he would have bowed out of this one.  The versatility of Kevin McHale led me to include Sydney Moncrief as the replacement but Consensus Player of the Year Hersey Hawkins may have been the man.

In my opinion the 76 and 80 teams would have been unbeatable by anyone and I can’t decide which is better.  68, 72, 84 and 88 seem to me to be about equal.  All these teams would have, at a minimum given 92 fits.  The thing is, if pros were allowed in the Olympics prior to 92, Magic and Larry would not have been on the Dream Team.  Their age and injury situations at the time would have caused them to be a liability versus any of my mythical teams. 

You really have to step back and look at each team through the lens of the time.  You cannot judge these teams based on the entire careers of the players.  Sure, David Thompson Burned out on drugs but he was a force in college and could fill it up at a time when 110 points in regulation was a normal NBA score.  Gus Johnson, Jerry Lucas, Dave Bing.  Who were they?  Great players in their time, that’s who.