That was evident. Today's American players have mastered attacking the basket and dunking, so the other squads simply played zone defense and packed bodies around the lanes. Without a Ray Allen or Reggie Miller style shooter, the U.S. was unable to make its opponents pay for failing to maintain a serious defensive presence on the perimeter

Not necessarily correct. Today's players don't focus on shooting, free throws, and passing. Ball movement is not anything what it used to be because these players prefer isolation and penetration. The skills are there, it's just a matter of what is emphasized in the American game.

I don't think it's the skills' deterioration. In fact I think it's the opposite. Players have gotten so skilled that they become overcondifent. They break it down to 1-on-5 offense and no defense. It's not the skills' deterioration, it's the team-play deterioration.

ACK! Whutz a jump shot? Whut duz it meen wen he sez D up? Whut du yu meen we dont git payd? TARDS!

No question. NBA teams draft athletes and try to turn them into players. This incents the entire american basketball world to reward athleticism over fundamentals. No we are seeing the result. Dwyane Wade (who I love as a player), can't make a 12 foot jump shot.