NBA stacks up to ghosts of yesteryear

By Josh Griffin

I hear a lot of people talking about the good ol days of the NBA, when players could make jump shots and bounce passes, sported shorts that make my boxers look baggy and had clean haircuts. Perhaps it is just my young rebellious side, but I don't want to hear any more of it.

The NBA is in an enviable post-Jordan (probably) state, considering the abandonment of their fan base with the mid-'90s labor dispute. The amount of star power in the league is unprecedented in its storied past, and if you don't agree, I'd like to hear counter-arguments not based around cornrows and posses.

In fact, I'm willing to go so far as to say that the prospective Dream Team 2004, assuming Shaq's knee heals and his maturity surpasses that of a 6-year-old, could have made quick work of their 1992 counterpart.

A starting five of Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan and Shaq matches up favorably. While the depth in the middle pales in comparison to the years of the Admiral, Ewing, Barkley and Malone, the flexibility and athleticism of the new lineup is unheard of.

Kevin Garnett, C-Webb and Jermaine O'Neal each bring different new dynamics to the post. As for the backcourt, Allen Iverson and Steve Francis could give the old guys fits and Ray Allen can shoot with any of them. Four guys who can drop 40 points every night and three - Kidd, Webber, and Garnett - who could go for a triple double.

Throw in Ben Wallace and Gary Payton, for defensive tenacity and legal advice, respectively, and you have the greatest conglomeration of basketball talent ever.

At least until 2008. I can't wait to see the haircuts. By then, they'll probably be tripping over their shorts too.