A Recent History of Failed Dream Teams

"Dream team." "Super team." Whatever you call it, the alignment of multiple big name players on one team is a great thought...usually, on paper and/or in video games. But, when it comes to real life, combining superstars isn't always the answer. In fact, more often than not, it's rarely the best approach because for every widely successful 1927 New York Yankees Murderers' Row lineup, there are teams like the 2003-04 Los Angeles Lakers, who win big in the regular season only to fall short when it matters most, in the playoffs.

In honor of the impending failure that is this season's Los Angeles Lakers, which includes stars like Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, we're taking a look at the other squads that attempted to create a super team only to get met with disappointment. Here's A History of Failed Dream Teams.

Record: 57-25
Finish: Lost to the Jazz in the Western Conference Finals
Standout Players: Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon

Before the Miami Heat Big 3, there was the 1997 Houston Rockets. While Houston's three-headed monster were near the end of their respective careers, all the guys were still extremely competitive. At the end of the '96-97 season, Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 23.2 points and 9.2 rebounds, Charles Barkley posted 19.2 points and 13.5 rebounds per game and Clyde Drexler had a solid 18 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game.

They performed well throughout the regular season, going 57-25. Then, after they swept the Timberwolves in the first round, the Rockets apparently tired out. After a 3-1 lead over the Sonics, Houston nearly lost the series after Seattle forced a Game 7. They eventually advanced to the Western Conference Finals against the Jazz where they lost in six games, effectively ending Sir Charles' quest for a ring.

Record: N/A
Finish: Lost in the Final to France
Standout Players: Ronaldo, Cafu, Rivaldo, Bebeto, Roberto Carlos, Giovanni

We could go on and on naming the incredible players on the 1998 Brazil World Cup roster, but you get the picture, right? This squad was stacked with top-tier talent, but for some reason, they weren't able to win it all. They did stumble into the final against France after narrowly defeating the Netherlands on penalty kicks, 4-2. Their match-up against France was an entirely different story. Brazil was easily crushed 3-0.

Record: 21-10-7
Finish: Champions League Quarter-Finals, Copa del Rey Runner-up, Fourth place in La Liga
Standout Players: Roberto Carlos, Zinédine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, David Beckham

Going into the start of the 2003-04 season, the prospects for a solid year from Real Madrid seemed very, very likely. They just picked up David Beckham, adding him to an already potent lineup that included Roberto Carlos, Zinédine Zidane, Ronaldo and Luis Figo. But they couldn't turn that talent into success. Real Madrid came in fourth in La Liga, seven points behind first-place Valencia, they lost to Real Zaragoza in the final of Copa del Rey and lost in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. To put it nicely, it was a complete waste of time and, more importantly, money.

Record: 56-26
Finish: Lost in the Finals to the Detroit Pistons
Standout Players: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone, Gary Payton

Going into the 2003-04 season, the Los Angeles Lakers had one of the most intimidating starting lineups that sported a total of 53 All-Star appearances. Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone and Rick Fox in the frontcourt and Kobe Bryant and Gary Payton in the backcourt. During the season, the Lakers played as expected, going 56-26 and grabbing the second seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers coasted through the playoffs until they met the Detroit Pistons in the Finals, who won the series 4-1. At the conclusion of the season, the Lakers supposed "Dream Team" was dismantled, leaving only Kobe Bryant with the likes of Chris Mihm and Chucky Atkins. Yikes!

Record: 101-61
Finish: Lost in the ALCS to the Boston Red Sox
Standout Players: Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Gary Sheffield, Mariano Rivera, Kenny Lofton, Kevin Brown, Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui, Javier Vazquez, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada

When the New York Yankees started the 2004 season, they fielded a team with an astronomical $200+ million payroll, which featured Alex Rodriguez and what was once the richest contract in baseball. The Yanks' roster also included big name, high earners like Kenny Lofton, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui. The Yanks finished the regular season with a 101-61 record and looked like a shoe-in for a World Series appearance when they took a 3-0 lead over the Red Sox in the ALCS. Then, one of the biggest collapses in sports history occurred and Boston became the first team in MLB history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a series. The BoSox went on to win the World Series and broke the 86-year "Curse of the Bambino."

Record: 5-3
Finish: Bronze medal
Standout Players: Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, Stephon Marbury, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Amar'e Stoudemire, LeBron James

This "Dream Team" consisted of the NBA's future and its present in LeBron, Wade, 'Melo, Amar'e, Starbury, Tim Duncan, and Iverson. But the US Olympic Committee didn't realize that the rest of the world had caught up to the mighty Stars & Stripes. They struggled throughout those Summer Games, losing their first game to Carlos Arroyo's Puerto Rico squad and barely beating Lithuania for the bronze medal. That was America's first third place finish since the 1988 Seoul Games. It's gold or bust for Team USA basketball.

Record: 16-0
Finish: Lost in Super Bowl to the New York Giants
Standout Players: Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, Junior Seau, Tedy Bruschi, Vince Wilfork, Rodney Harrison, Asante Samuel

Batman had Robin, Jordan had Pippen, and in 2007, Tom Brady had Randy Moss. A top flight quarterback with a true No. 1 receiver and boy, did it show. That season, Brady threw a remarkable 50 touchdowns on 4,806 passing yards while Moss had 98 receptions, 1,493 receiving yards and 23 TDs. In the process, the Patriots set a new record for most points in a season with 589. The Pats eventually went 16-0 in the regular season but fell short of perfection in Super Bowl XLII when they lost to the Giants, 17-14.

Record: 58-24
Finish: Lost in the Finals to the Dallas Mavericks
Standout Players: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh

James, Wade, and Bosh took the basketball world on a wild goose chase during the 2010 summer culminating in all three teaming up to form a Superpower in South Beach. LeBron made the "Decision" with teams finding out where he was going to sign on national television. Everyone all but penciled them in to win the 2011 NBA Finals. Well, everyone except for the Dallas Mavericks. Filled to the brim with veterans that never won a championship (Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, just to name a few), the Mavs overcame a 2-1 deficit to beat the newly-formed Heat in six games.

Record: 102-60
Finish: Lost in the NLDS to the St. Louis Cardinals
Standout Players: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, Hunter Pence, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Brad, Lidge

Prior to the 2011 season, a New York Times writer proclaimed that the pitching staff was "hailed as the best four-man rotation in baseball, maybe the best ever." With starters like Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, the road to the World Series should've been an easy one. During the regular season, most of the staff held their weight, except for Oswalt and his basic 9-10 record. Philly ended the regular season with an impressive 102-60 record, but they were bounced out in the NL Division Series by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Record: 8-8
Finish: Missed the Playoffs
Standout Players: Michael Vick, Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Steve Smith, Asanta Samuel, Trent Cole, Jason Babin

When the Philadelphia Eagles signed Vince Young, he didn't waste any time in making his presence felt. At his introductory press conference, Young called his new team a "Dream Team," referencing their recent acquisitions of Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Jason Babin, who would play alongside the likes of DeSean Jackson, Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy.

While it is true that the Eagles had a "Dream Team," of sorts, on paper, it's a known fact that games aren't played on paper. After easily defeating the Rams, 31-13, Philly struggled mightily and lost their next four games. They did eventually turn things around by winning their last four games of the season, it was too little, too late as they ended up going 8-8, finishing second in the NFC East, and failing to make the playoffs.