February 24, 2012; Orlando FL, USA; TNT anchor Kenny Smith introduces Team Shaq general manager Shaquille O

The new tradition at NBA All-Star Weekend regarding the game between the rookies and sophomores is letting Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley draft teams from a pool made up of the two classes.

Last year was the first time the NBA did this. Barkley’s team won 146-133 as rookie Kyrie Irving captured MVP honors with 34 points and nine assists.

The two were back at it again last night drafting their teams. So which team is the favorite this year? Who had the better draft?

Well, you nearly have to give them both failing grades because Irving wasn’t taken until the third pick. Shaq went first and took rookie Damian Lillard then Barkley picked the No. 1 overall pick from the 2012 NBA Draft, Anthony Davis.

The fact that Shaq at least still ended up with Irving gives him a pass for now. Barkley taking Davis isn’t a horrible idea either since the game often hinges on who can finish the most alley-oops, something Davis is already one of the best in the league at. It’s still a head scratcher that Barkley wouldn’t draft his MVP from last year.

The key to this game is not only dunks but point guard play and three-point shooting. It also doesn’t hurt to end up with a few guys who are going to play hard.

Let’s break down which team is made up of the most of these four categories:

Dunkers

Team Shaq: Andre Drummond, Harrison Barnes, Dion Waiters
Team Chuck: Anthony Davis, Kenneth Faried, Tristan Thompson

Point Guards

Team Shaq: Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker
Team Chuck: Ricky Rubio, Brandon Knight, Isaiah Thomas

Three-Point Shooters

Team Shaq: Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson
Team Chuck: Bradley Beal, Brandon Knight

Going to Hustle and play a little D

Team Shaq: Chandler Parsons, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Tyler Zeller
Team Chuck: Kenneth Faried, Kawhi Leonard, Nikola Vucevic, Alexey Shved

As you can see, the amount of each type of player that each team has is pretty even. You gave to give Team Shaq a big advantage when it comes to point guard play and shooters. Team Chuck has better dunkers and finishers of alley-oops and also has better alley-oop passers with Rubio and Shved.

A key matchup will be Parsons and MKG vs. Faried and Leonard in the hustle category. You know MKG only knows one speed and should have a big game but who on Team Shaq is containing the Manimal?

At the end of the day, it will probably come down to which team has a player who is likely to just go off and take over. This is where Team Shaq has the edge. Between Irving, Lillard and Thompson, one of them is probably going to knock down five-plus treys. Team Chuck simply doesn’t have a player like that.

The edge goes to Team Shaq but it’s only a slight advantage.

The game will be played Feb. 15.

Now we can finally end the debate on which team is the greatest ever.

#NBA2K13 will feature the iconic ’92 Dream Team! Play as the greatest. Spread the word, tweet #NBA2K13 twitter.com/2KSports/statu…

— 2K Sports 2K12 (@2KSports) August 15, 2012

NBA 2K has been featuring classic teams since NBA 2K11 when Michael Jordan was on the cover and the “Jordan Challenge” was the big draw for the game.

NBA 2K12 stuck with the classic theme including Magic Johnson and Larry Bird on the covers as well and even more legends and classic teams.

One of the players that was most notably left out of NBA 2K12 was Charles Barkley. 2K Sports planned to have Barkley in the game and featured the 1985 Philadelphia 76ers and was also going to feature the 1993 Phoenix Suns but they couldn’t get him last year.

Barkley appears in the photo 2K released today standing with the rest of the 1992 Dream Team in digital form.

Scottie Pippen, however, will not be on the team which is a pretty big letdown. This also means Pippen probably won’t be on any classic Bulls teams which means maybe there won’t be many classic teams after all.

NBA2K13 game features every 1992 Dream Team player but Scottie Pippen. Couldn’t strike deal with ex-Bulls star.

— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) August 15, 2012

2K Sports hasn’t released other information about which classic teams will be on the game but there should still be some. They did say they would be focusing more on the future than the past as evidence by their new cover athletes, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin.

2K Sports also announced a few days ago a major change to the controls. The right stick will now be used to control dribble moves. This was how dribble moves were controlled in some of the old NBA Live games. 2K is promising this will be a better version of that in NBA 2K13.

Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE

There has been a ton of talk and debate surrounding who would win between this 2012 USA Olympic Basketball team and the 1992 Dream Team.

Kobe Bryant got things started when he originally said he thought the 2012 team would beat the Dream Team. Then the likes of Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley came out laughing at Kobe’s remarks.

Now, LeBron James has echoed Kobe’s statement telling ESPN: “The ’92 Dream Team paved the way for all of us… We understand what they did for our game, but we also are big-time competitors as well, so if we got the opportunity to play them in a game we feel like we would win too.”

What are LeBron and Kobe really supposed to say though? That they would get killed if they played the ’92 team? Of course neither of them would say that.

The biggest problem with all of this is how the question is being phrased to these guys. It shouldn’t be asked: “Could you beat them?” It should be: “Which team is better?”

Both teams are loaded with a ton of talent and there is a scenario out there in which the 2012 team could beat the Dream Team even though the Dream Team is without question the better team.

“It would be a tough one but I think we would pull it out,” Kobe said at a news conference. “People who think we can’t beat that team for one game, they are crazy. To sit there and say we can’t, it’s ludicrous. We can beat them one time.”

Kobe’s right. They could beat them once. It might take a few tries but it could happen.

That’s really enough though with comparing these two teams. The debate was never really one anyway. The Dream Team is the best ever and that’s that.

Team USA will begin playing in the Olympics Sunday and that’s what the focus should be on from now on.

A few members of the 2012 Olympic USA Basketball team were asked to come up with a starting five including themselves and four other members from the 1992 Dream Team.

Chris Paul, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love were asked this question and all answered about the same. All of them picked Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley. Harden, Westbrook and Love chose Larry Bird as well while Paul took David Robinson.

Almost none of these starting fives make sense if you had to play this game, mainly because Bird really shouldn’t have been picked by any of these players. It seems everyone loves forgetting how past his prime Bird was in 1992.

These current players are also very affected by the fact that Barkley and Magic are on T.V. these days and don’t remember some of the other options that would have made sense like Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing or Scottie Pippen.

The question really is: If you could combine the 1992 Dream Team and 2012 Olympic Team, what starting five would you ultimately put out on the floor?

PG – Magic Johnson
SG – Michael Jordan
SF – Kevin Durant
PF – LeBron James
C – Patrick Ewing

It’s really tough to go wrong with any combination. Jordan and Durant are probably the most obvious ones because Jordan was the best player ever and Durant’s game is so perfect for international play with the short 3-point line.

I like LeBron at the four because he can handle that spot and it gives the team more versatility. It may actually make more sense though to move LeBron to point instead of Magic and start Barkley or Malone at the four.

Magic is just so perfect on team with multiple scoring options so it’s hard to consider not starting him.

And here is who I’d have coming off the bench as the second 5-man lineup:

PG – John Stockton
SG – Clyde Drexler
SF – Scottie Pippen
PF – Charles Barkley
C – David Robinson

That’s right. The ultimate team would have a 10-man rotation with only two players coming from the 2012 team.

The toughest decision was Drexler over Kobe Bryant. Kobe is just too old right now and these teams are all about getting out in the open floor. Drexler has the advantage in ’92 over Kobe now in that department so that’s why I went with him. Plus, Kobe would hate coming off the bench in general so he’d probably refuse to even play on the team.

Now there’s only one thing to do: fire up NBA 2K12 and play with this team.

Jordan surprises no one here as he, like fellow Dream Teamer Charles Barkley, knows there is no way that Dream Team is losing.

Jordan told The Associated Press Thursday that he laughed, “I absolutely laughed” when hearing Bryant’s comments that the squad training in Las Vegas could take Jordan and company.

Jordan says there was “no comparison” which team was better, adding that Bryant comparing the two teams “is not one of the smarter things he ever could have done.”

via ESPN

Kobe’s comments are probably being taken a little too seriously right now. It’s not like Kobe said he thinks the 2012 team would kill the Dream Team or anything. He just said he thought they could take them. What’s he supposed to say?

Jordan and Barkley have to feel insulted though when they hear anything about the Dream Team and losing. It just couldn’t happen in their eyes and they’re probably right

We quickly forget the past in sports so much while so eager to crown new stars. Luckily we have egos like Michael’s and Chuck’s to keep us in line.

Kobe Bryant was asked if he thought the 2012 Olympic Team could beat the ’92 Dream Team and said, “I think we’d pull it out.” In describing the potential matchup, Kobe said the ’92 team would have an advantage inside but that their wings were a lot older.

Charles Barkley responded to Kobe’s comments a little more confidently.

“I just started laughing,” Barkley told The Mike Missanelli Show. “How old is Kobe Bryant? He’s 34? And he’s calling us old? At the time, we were only like 28, 29. Michael Jordan and me were the same age. We were both 29. Other than Kobe, LeBron (James) and Kevin Durant, I don’t think anybody else on that team makes our team.”

So what would happen if these two teams did played? How would each player do and which team would win?

The game would obviously be played with FIBA rules. These rules have affected the more recent U.S. Olympic teams and the rules would affect this game somewhat but it wouldn’t be as drastic since both teams are comprised of NBA players.

Both the ’92 team and this year’s team take advantage of their ability to pressure other countries’ guards in the backcourt. That wouldn’t happen in this matchup and the pace would resemble more closely an NBA game.

Let’s go through the matchups.

David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone vs. Tyson Chandler, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin

This is the most obvious advantage for the ’92 team. Their size advantage would be tremendous and it probably would prove impossible for this year’s team to overcome.

Looking at the rosters it feels like Chandler would have to try and play the entire game for the 2012 team. Love and Griffin would have no chance against Robinson-Ewing-Malone.

The ’92 team definitely gets a huge edge here and would get a ton of second-chance looks and be able to run much more of their offense in the post.

Clyde Drexler, Chris Mullin vs. Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook

These are the backup wings that would get the most run. Let’s assume that Bird, Laettner, Iguodala and Harden don’t play much in this matchup.

This one is a little closer and maybe a tossup between the two teams. All four of these players should be effective in this game but not enough to swing the game either way.

Westbrook may have the most trouble because he will be playing the two-guard for the 2012 team and matching up with Drexler or Jordan will be very tough for him.

Carmelo could be effective on offense playing the four but would have trouble on defense and rebounding.

Mullin went 14-for-26 on threes in the ’92 Olympics so would be pretty automatic if left open. Drexler’s specialty would be an automatic two points on the fast break.

Magic Johnson, John Stockton vs. Chris Paul, Deron Williams

Magic was past his prime in ’92 but not by that much. Stockton was realizing his though so the ’92 team would have another advantage here.

Magic would be a huge mismatch problem of course and whenever Paul was on him he would probably take him into the post. This would be near impossible for the 2012 team to contend with.

If Magic has to try and guard Paul then that’s not a great thing for the ’92 team though.

Magic’s personality would win out though. When you envision this matchup you envision him dominating, talking trash throughout the game and picking up a ton of assists.

This one is close but an advantage again for the ’92 team.

Charles Barkley vs. Kevin Durant

Barkley and Durant won’t necessarily be guarding each other in this matchup but their effect in the game would be similar. Both would score a lot of points, possibly leading their team in that department.

Durant might be the best international style player ever and would be a really tough matchup for the ’92 team especially with the shortened 3-point line.

With the 2012 team’s lack of size, Barkley would feast on them down low. Barkley will struggle with whoever he has to guard though on the 2012 team.

This one is a tossup too. The point being that these two would both underrated-ly dominate in this game and score a ton.

Scottie Pippen vs. LeBron James

LeBron is obviously the better player but Pippen is probably the best shot at guarding him. In this setting, LeBron is not his usual dominant self and defers more than ever to teammates so Pippen should be able to do a decent job on him.

LeBron might be asked to do other things like guard Barkley or Malone or even Magic at times.

This one is closer than you think but the edge has to go to the 2012 team.

Michael Jordan vs. Kobe Bryant

This is really what this matchup would come down to. Not because they are the two best players but because you know if somehow these two were able to go at it like this, they wouldn’t hold anything back.

The matchup is really not close at all. Kobe is a shell of himself while MJ was at the peak of his powers in ’92. Even Kobe in his prime vs. this MJ would have no chance.

It would be the coolest part about this matchup though watching MJ and Kobe isolate on each other. Jordan would torch Kobe though and shut him down on the other end.

The 2012 team should probably put LeBron on Jordan but there’s no way Kobe would allow that by backing down from the challenge so get ready for Jordan doing pretty much whatever he wants while Kobe has a nice 6-for-19 shooting night or something.

This is where we stand. At the end of the day no one is beating the Dream Team. They are the best basketball team ever assembled and having the best player ever playing in his absolute prime is a big reason why.

We’ll never truly know what would happen though but it’s always fun to think about.

The 2012 team will kick off their exhibition games tonight at 9 p.m. EST on ESPN vs. the Dominican Republic. The London Olympics begin July 27.

The NBA Sprite Slam Dunk Contest hit an all-time low tonight. And to think I actually had any sort of expectations.

Everything about it was horrible beginning with the painfully forced emphasis on creativity. There were about three good dunks out of the 12 and the best ones didn’t even come on the first attempt.

It’s pretty obvious how now we need stars in this competition now. It’s all up to LeBron James really. He has the chance to save the dunk contest by competing in it next year. But just like he decided not to go play in New York and save the Knicks, he probably won’t due this either.

Utah Jazz benchwarmer Jeremy Evans won the contest with 29 percent of the popular vote. Out of four guys 25 percent would have been a tie so at least it was one of the closest dunk contests in history.

The silver lining was the performance by the TNT crew and Charles Barkley in particular. They were great and provided some laugh out loud moments. They knew it was terrible and Barkley didn’t hold back and was honest as usual.

The three-point contest is really the only decent thing left and I’m sure a lot of people are burnt out on that too. It always seems to provide some drama though and basketball junkies have to love seeing great shooters go through that drill.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant had a chance in the three-point contest but fell just short losing to Kevin Love in the finals. The greatest possible outcome of the night would have been is Durant just went stupid in the three-point contest and hit like 25.

Excitement was not in the cards tonight though.

Until the best players start competing in the dunk contest and take pride in winning it, the contest will continue to die and rightfully so.