Does 18-9 Spurs + Manu = Championship?

Is there another NBA team that could lose an All-Star for 22 games and still post an 18-9 record?

Just asking.

Because that is exactly what the San Antonio Spurs have done since losing Manu Ginobili to a fractured shooting hand January 2.

And the good news for Spurs fans? Manu is back practicing with the team again and may be cleared to play Saturday night at New Jersey.

Coach Gregg Popovich knew he'd be getting his All-NBA shooting guard back around mid-February. He also knew All-Star point guard Tony Parker and Hall-of-Fame center Tim Duncan would keep the Spurs in the playoff hunt while the team awaited Ginobili's return.

But it's what Pop discovered about the rest of his team in Manu's absence that has Spurs fans thinking lofty thoughts.

As Pop himself says, "The bench has surprised us all."

In Manu's absence, Pop discovered that Tiago Splitter's "basketball IQ is off the charts," calling him "the catalyst" to the success of the bench.

Pop has learned that rookie Kawhi Leonard "has a propensity to play defense and he likes the role, kind of like Bruce Bowen did. But he's a lot bigger than Bruce ever was."

Pop knows Daniel Green is "continuing to play, improve, listen and right now he's playing well and been a significant part of what we've done."

Couple that knowledge with the expected role-playing excellence provided by Spur vets Richard Jefferson, Matt Bonner, DeJuan Blair and Gary Neal ... and now you know why I posted the above headline.

After all, the Spurs' Simple Rating System score of +6.19 is already best in the West. Their win-loss record (18-9) is second only to Oklahoma City (20-6) out West.

And this, mind you, was done with Manu missing 22 games.

Who knows? Maybe the Spurs are in prime condition to defend their lockout NBA championship from 1999.