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AXEM, you have to understand that the talent gap is getting smaller and smaller as the years drag on. It's bound to happen especially since now you have foreign players coming in to the NBA. Also alot of the international teams are coached by NBA guys. Del Harris is coaching China and Don Nelson's son coached the Lithuana team that almost stunned the Americans in Sydney in 2000. Give Italy some credit, they played fearless and stuck to their gameplan and not play the up and down NBA game (a style that would have got them beaten by 60).
Another thing you have to consider is the "hood" factor. Alot of people see these NBA guys like AI, R.Wallace, etc... and say they grew up in a tough neighborhood and that makes them fearless compettitors. You look at where some of these international guys grew up. They're from places where you can have your arm blown(or chopped) off just for walking to school. They come over here and play a GAME. They ahve no fear whatsoever.
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