RIO DE JANEIRO -- The U.S. womens basketball teams dominating performances at the Olympics over the past two decades isnt the result of simply having the best players in the world.Of course that helps, and continuity plays a major part. But dont discount the players being well versed in the rules and nuances of international basketball. Diana Taurasi and most of her U.S. teammates spend their offseason playing overseas because of the financial incentives.Most of the Olympic players are either teammates of the American players or opponents in leagues around the world -- including Russia, Turkey, France or China.The U.S. mens basketball team, which has won 50 straight international tournament games, is still adjusting to the different style of play in Rio. There are 10 first-time Olympians on that squad, which has been challenged in the tournament.We talk about it all the time. Last night I was talking to Kyrie (Irving) and Kyle (Lowry), talked to Draymond (Green). Its a different type of basketball, Taurasi said. Until you play it, or experience it, you dont understand it. The more games the guys have played, I thought theyve felt more comfortable in each scenario. Everythings way different. Ive been lucky to play overseas for 12 years so I understand it a little bit better.Taurasi wasnt surprised at Serbia point guard Milos Teodosics success against the U.S. mens team in pool play, when he had 18 points and six assists in a 94-91 loss.Ive been watching him play for 10 years and hes one of my favorite players and no ones ever heard of him, Taurasi said. Hes an unbelievable basketball player. Im sure they didnt hear of him. We have the luxury to play against all the Serbians, the French, the Aussies, the Spanish, the Chinese. We played against them for 10 years now. We have that comfort level.The U.S. women certainly have looked comfortable over the past 20 years in the Olympics. The Americans have won 46 Olympic contests in a row with only one game being decided by single digits. The men are also 5-0, but won each of their last two games by three points.Its slower. Teams try to slow the game down, Kevin Durant said of one of the many differences between the NBA and international play. They have a lot of continuity in their sets. Defensively they can sit in the paint, so its different. The floor is a little tighter, but we got a lot of shooters, and we just try to find our rhythm on the offensive end. But, defensively, we got to do a better job of talking to each other.Ten of the 12 U.S. women players have spent a few seasons playing abroad, with only Breanna Stewart and Elena Delle Donne lacking the international experience. Stewart will play in China this offseason.I do feel like its a different game overseas, said Tamika Catchings, who has spent time playing in Russia, Turkey and South Korea. You play USA Basketball and you go over there maybe, but its a different animal when youre in that country and playing.A lot of the guys may not have played with the USA junior level. When you play on this elite level, definitely every country wants to beat us. Theyre training every single day knowing their goal is to beat the U.S. team to win the gold.The U.S. men will learn Monday night who they will play in quarterfinals on Wednesday.The women begin quarterfinal play on Tuesday against Japan, the team in Rio the Americans know the least about. Japans top player, Ramu Tokashiki, plays on WNBA Seattle Storm along with Stewart and Sue Bird.Geno Auriemma has been impressed with how Japan has competed.I dont think theres another team in the world that plays the way they do, the U.S. coach said. Play as quickly as they do, as crisp together as they play and do as many things as Japan does, I think they are unique in the world in that respect.---Online:AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org/---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg Custom Chargers T-shirts .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Custom Jerry Tillery Jersey .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. http://www.customchargersjersey.com/ .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. Cheap Custom Chargers Jersey . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Authentic Custom Chargers Jersey . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The New England Patriots made it official on Sunday and listed All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski as inactive for Sunday nights opener against the Arizona Cardinals.Gronkowski did not make the trip because of a hamstring injury. The Patriots also did not bring starting left tackle Nate Solder (hamstring) and starting right guard Jonathan Cooper (foot).The only Arizona players inactive due to injury were backup outsider linebacker Kareem Martin and backup running back Stepfan Taylor, bothh with knee injuries.ddddddddddddlso inactive for the Patriots were defensive back Eric Rowe, running back D.J. Foster, linebacker Elandon Roberts and tight end Clay Harbor.Other inactives for the Cardinals were safety Marquis Christian, guard Cole Toner, defensive tackle Ed Stinson and nose tackle Xavier Williams.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '