San Antonio Spurs By Eric Weinstein, NBA.com HEAD COACH Gregg Popovich (Seventh year) 2001-02 RESULTS 58-24 (2nd in West) SEASON OUTLOOK: The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Spurs spent most of the offseason providing fresh depth for their backcourt and re-signing key free-agent contributors. But the main focus of their team remains intact. Having lost to the NBA champion Lakers in the playoffs the last two years, the Spurs are very in touch with the team's major obstacle. Reigning league MVP Tim Duncan comes off his finest NBA season in which the sixth-year forward posted career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, free-throw percentage, and minutes. But those numbers meant nothing during the Spurs' fourth-quarter collapses against the Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals. It was obvious that the Spurs needed to find more offensive help for Duncan during crunch time. Whether they got the right help is the main question. The growth of point guard Tony Parker should ease some of the burden, but the team is most excited about the arrival of outstanding Argentinean guard Emanuel Ginobili. Ginobili is coming off a fantastic World Basketball Championship, and the 6-foot-6 marksman could be the extra scorer the Spurs so desperately need. Don't be surprised if Ginobili works his way into the starting lineup. Beyond these three, the Spurs have a collection of talented role players. Whether starting or coming off the bench, Steve Smith is still one of the game's top marksmen. Small forward Bruce Bowen is one of the game's top defenders, and was named to the 2002 NBA All-Defensive Second Team. And finally, center David Robinson puts the cap on a Hall of Fame career, as this season will be his last. If nothing else, the Spurs would love to send him out with another title. If they can find someone to help Duncan dominate the game, that is. VIDEO FLASHBACK: GREAT CALL OF 2001-02 Steve Smith finds Tim Duncan for the alley-oop: "What a feed and what a finish!" 1,100k avi | QuickTime WHO'S IN: Last season the Spurs shuffled their starting backcourt, this season they'll be shuffling the bench guards. Spark plug Speedy Claxton becomes the backup point guard. Former Spur Steve Kerr returns, along with Erick Barkley to make sure the backcourt has no holes. Even though he's 40 years old, veteran big man Kevin Willis has shown he can still play, and the Spurs are counting on quality minutes up front. WHO'S OUT: The quick rise of Parker made Antonio Daniels expendable from the backcourt. Daniels, who signed with Portland, never got to be a consistent starter for the Spurs, sitting behind Avery Johnson before Parker. Bench players Charles Smith (to Portland) and Mark Bryant (to 76ers) were also traded away. The Spurs' biggest loss might be the retirement of veteran leader Terry Porter, who is now an assistant coach with the Kings. BENCH: Do-everything sixth man Malik Rose was re-signed, along with Danny Ferry and free-agent center Kevin Willis to solidify the frontcourt. The draft-day trade for Claxton gives them a solid spark plug off the bench at point guard. Stephen Jackson showed some promise with the Nets in 00-01, but only got into 23 games last season with the Spurs. THE SPURS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IF ... : Tim Duncan continues to dominate. THE SPURS MISS THE PLAYOFFS IF ... : The rest of the West has figured Tim out (which is not likely).		If Tim Duncan and the Spurs want to repeat their Finals appearance of 1999, they need to find a way to conquer Shaq and the Lakers. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images P R O J E C T E D   S T A R T E R S POS PLAYER SCHOOL YRS PG Tony Parker France 1 SG Emanuel Ginobili Argentina R SF Bruce Bowen Cal St. Fullerton 6 PF Tim Duncan Wake Forest 5 C David Robinson Navy 13 S C O U T ' S   T A K E "Even with the great season they had last year, they've done a great deal to help themselves with some additions. They got (Emanuel) Ginobili from Argentina, who will give them a great deal of offense at the two guard position ... Speedy Claxton will put some pressure on Tony Parker and is a great backup. I don't think they'll have any fall-off when they go to the bench at point guard. I think they addressed two of their biggest problems, which were a backup point guard and more offense on the perimeter." -- Western Conference assistant coach 2 0 0 1 - 0 2   L E A D E R S PPG Tim Duncan 25.5 RPG Tim Duncan 12.7 APG Tony Parker 4.3 SPG Tony Parker 1.16 BPG Tim Duncan 2.48 G A M E S   T O   W A T C H 10/29 L.A. Lakers 10:30 ET, TNT 11/13 New Jersey 7:00 ET, ESPN 11/14 Philadelphia 7:30 ET, TNT 12/11 Dallas 9:30 ET, ESPN F A N T A S Y   S L E E P E R Emanuel Ginobili - Guard Ginobili showed he can do it all in this summer's WBC. Whether it's driving to the hoop, connecting from long range, or hitting midrange jumpers, the Spurs feel that this Argentinian sensation will be one of their key players for years to come. T H E   S T A T 82 Number of regular season games left in the Hall of Fame career of David Robinson, who is playing his final NBA season.
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