The 2004 team didnt have our best players, Melo, Lebron, Wade, Amare were all rookies/2nd yr players, I think only Duncan and Iverson, were established superstars maybe im missing someone else but I remember most of that team being really young.
The Redeem team in 08 and 12 London & 16 Rio US teams were dominate. 21 Toyoko had a good squad and still lost a game but Steph, Lebron sat out.
I think today what was different was the US played a really good game and it didnt matter. Serbia has enough talent to compete even win dispite the US sending its best and having a good shooting night.