Then & Now: USA basketball's blowouts
August, 3, 2012
8/03/12
2:47
PM ET
By
Patrick Dorsey | ESPN.com
The Dream Team and today's team: forever linked in history.
As debate subjects -- as in, which one's better?
As gold medalists -- that is, if the 2012 Team USA men win.
And now, after a 156-73 rout of Nigeria, as owners of signature blowouts in the early stage of the Olympics.
Yes, these two pseudo-enemies are more similar than you'd think, with the 1992 team dominating Angola 116-48 -- at the time the largest-ever Olympics win by a team filled with pros -- and the 2012 version offering that stunning win Thursday.
Even the pictures agree. So let's embrace these teams' similarities, not differences, as we look back at those earth-shattering routs:
Getty ImagesTwo teams, two New York Knicks centers (Patrick Ewing and Tyson Chandler) protecting the rim.
Getty ImagesTwo teams, two basketball wizards (Magic Johnson and LeBron James) checking the scoreboard.
Mike Powell/Getty Images
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesTwo teams, two sets of players -- some legendary, some not as much -- who know how to strut.
Mike Powell/Getty Images
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty ImagesTwo teams, two experts at figuring their way through and around flailing defensive players.
AP Photo/John Gaps III
Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty ImagesTwo triumphant teams, but only one general way to celebrate, American-style.
As debate subjects -- as in, which one's better?
As gold medalists -- that is, if the 2012 Team USA men win.
And now, after a 156-73 rout of Nigeria, as owners of signature blowouts in the early stage of the Olympics.
Yes, these two pseudo-enemies are more similar than you'd think, with the 1992 team dominating Angola 116-48 -- at the time the largest-ever Olympics win by a team filled with pros -- and the 2012 version offering that stunning win Thursday.
Even the pictures agree. So let's embrace these teams' similarities, not differences, as we look back at those earth-shattering routs:
Getty ImagesTwo teams, two New York Knicks centers (Patrick Ewing and Tyson Chandler) protecting the rim.Getty ImagesTwo teams, two basketball wizards (Magic Johnson and LeBron James) checking the scoreboard.Mike Powell/Getty ImagesChristian Petersen/Getty ImagesTwo teams, two sets of players -- some legendary, some not as much -- who know how to strut.Mike Powell/Getty ImagesJesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty ImagesTwo teams, two experts at figuring their way through and around flailing defensive players.AP Photo/John Gaps IIITimothy Clary/AFP/Getty ImagesTwo triumphant teams, but only one general way to celebrate, American-style.
Patrick Dorsey | email
PlaybookPatrick Dorsey is a Playbook editor. He has worked for the Web and newspapers, had a cup of craft service coffee in film school, and played in one Division III golf tournament (he shot 105).
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