Since the closing ceremonies for the XXXI Olympiad basketball insiders around the world are baffled by the dominance of the United States in men’s basketball. The U.S. men’s team won their third consecutive team gold medal in Rio, offing Serbia in a lopsided 96-66 victory. Without a starting lineup of All-Star stat sheet stuffers the U.S. remained unbeatable in Olympic play. The three-peat in Rio marks the end of an era for men’s basketball, it was New York Knicks star Carmel

Flashback to the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta with Team USA rolling through the competition. Their dominance was special; playing at home they won each game by an average of twenty-eight (28) points, and brought home the Gold. With legends like Edwards, Weatherspoon, Leslie, Swoopes and Lobo, Team USA looked a class above the rest. Yes, I’m speaking about the Women’s team. Fast-forward to today, and the just concluded Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio, Brazil where Team

*Photo via Sportsrageous.com The USA men’s and women’s basketball teams decided to forgo the abysmal housing accommodations in the Olympic Village, opting to stay instead aboard a lavish 196-cabin cruise ship docked at Pier Maua in Rio de Janeiro. According to the New York Daily News the players will call The Silver Cloud home during the course of the games in Brazil in what most around the world expect to result in two gold medals. Complete with a spa, several dining areas,

America will look to continue it's basketball dominance of recent Olympics, taking home gold medals in both 2008 and 2012. The United States clearly has the most talent in international play. There will be plenty of NBA All-Stars that will get left off the 12 man roster. Coach Mike Krzyzewski and president Jerry Colangelo will have a difficult time sending some of the most talented players in the world home, but no matter who they cut the team they choose to send to Rio in 20