OFFICIAL FIBA World Championship USA (8-0) vs. Turkey (8-0)

[JustOneFix]

European system (although that wasn't the case before) crushes every trace of individuality.

US's not only allowing their talent to flourish, they encourage them as well.

Second, it's difference of mentality. US likes to specify things, unlike Europe who're stuck with "do it all" approach. In Europe, guard has to play good D, shoot well, pass well etc etc. Basically, they're looking for a perfect player (and in return they usually get nothing). In the States, if you're only good at one thing, coach will exploit that and use your strenght rather then concentrate on your weaknesses. The distribution of roles are way more natural and diverse. In Europe, everyone shoots 3's, everyone plays defense, everyone's getting the same % of shots, everyone's doing everything. Off course, in return you get players who're doing a little bit of everything but aren't great in anything (see Ricky Rubio for instance).

In US, it's totally different. You got players who're great at penetration but are bad shooters and coaches are using them for the inside game, you got people who're only good at rebounding and rebounding is the only thing they do, you got players who are great shooters but can't play D and rarely go inside, you have players who are phenomenal defenders but terrible offensive players (see Ben Wallace), etc etc. Rather then doing everything, everyone is doing their little part and in return the game itself is way more natural, diverse, attractive and with more meaning.

That's why Europe will never ever catch up with the States, not even with a population of 1 billion.

[doctorfunk]

I think so too, but fortunately having superior athleticism doesn't not make you unbeatable.
Anyway I don't think euro basketball is on decline in fact it seems it's getting more attractive
and they have bigger budgets than few years ago. Well economic crisis had impact on budgets of some teams but it seems Europe is recovering pretty well.

I'm not talking about money. I'm talking about the talent and inherent abilities.

Athleticism certainly doesn't make you unbeatable, but it's definitely an asset if you possess it. If you formed a team of the NBA's best athletes and made them compete in the WC, you'd probably get mixed results. However, that's not what Colangelo and Coach K did. They took players with a combination of skills. It just so happens that most of them are fantastic athletes. In the NBA, the best players are, for the most part, great athletes (Bryant, Lebron, Wade, Melo, Howard). There are exceptions (Nash, Nowitzki, and Gasol), but this is usually the rule. Because of the court size and rules, FIBA has levelled the playing field for unathletic players. I don't see this athleticism gap ever being closed. Actually, in my opinion, the rule changes are going to make the gap even larger. This was Europe's last chance to win the WC for a very long time. What I love about the upcoming rule changes, is that it'll force European players to adapt to our rules. Good luck!

I don't think the rule change will give usa a major advantage; being a sharp shooter means you that this 2 feet longer 3pt line means little to you, obviously it will decrease amount of shots taken from behind the line(i guess that;s the point of it) but still Europeans will be way better shooters on average. In fact a lot of shots are taken at the distance of us line during fiba play. 2feet longer court is marginal won't change anything. I expect more international players in the nba, this year it was around 80players i don't expect this number to drop in fact i think it will continue to increase slightly.
I don't think rule change will make gap larger.

In US, it's totally different. You got players who're great at penetration but are bad shooters and coaches are using them for the inside game, you got people who're only good at rebounding and rebounding is the only thing they do, you got players who are great shooters but can't play D and rarely go inside, you have players who are phenomenal defenders but terrible offensive players (see Ben Wallace), etc etc. Rather then doing everything, everyone is doing their little part and in return the game itself is way more natural, diverse, attractive and with more meaning.

true, though it's a pleasure to watch skilled euro big guys in the nba, who have good passing game and are v.good shooters
NBA to me is more pleasant to watch, still I think international players brought a lot to the NBA and made it even better to watch.