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Will the 2006-07 season feature the Spurs return to the Western Conference throne, or is the championship window beginning to close in San Antonio?

It seems an odd question to ask following a franchise-best 63-win season, especially when the Spurs were ever-so-close to upending the eventual NBA champs in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

For the first time, though, Tim Duncan begins an NBA season on the other side of 30. Mr. Do Everything since joining the Spurs as the top pick in the 1997 Draft is still a dominant player, but he played through foot injuries last season and he’s one of several Spurs players who can smell the breath of Father Time.

In a division that features Tracy McGrady, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Paul and Pau Gasol, the Spurs age will eventually become a liability. Will it be this year?

Duncan, one of nine players on the Spurs roster over 30, averaged career-lows of 18.6 points and 11.0 rebounds and wasn’t even the team’s leading scorer in 2005-06. That honor went to Tony Parker (18.9 ppg), who enters camp wounded.

More worrisome than his broken heart is Parker’s broken right index finger, suffered while he trained for the FIBA World Championships. Parker, who is expected to be close to 100 percent before the opener, amazingly represents the only young (24) player in the Spurs rotation, with the possible exception of Beno Udrih, his backup.

Manu Ginobili returns injury free, after missing 17 games a year ago. There’s no doubt that the trio of Parker, Duncan and Ginobili, if healthy, is a talented enough to carry the Spurs to their seventh straight season of 55 or more wins.

Most of the Spurs supporting cast returns, except at the center position, where free agents Francisco Elson and Jackie Butler replace Nazr Mohammed and Rasho Nesterovic. Mohammed signed in Detroit. Nesterovic was dealt to Toronto for Eric Williams, another defensive-minded veteran, and Matt Bonner, a 6-10 forward with 42 percent three-point accuracy.

Coach Gregg Popovich knows disclipline; he’ll need it to avoid overplaying his veterans over the rigorous 82-game schedule to keep everyone fresh for the postseason, where the Spurs defense, leadership and half-court efficency make them as a sure a bet as any team in the league to contend for a conference championship.
-- Bill Evans

2006-07 Spurs Ticket Paks

Elson

He apparently wasn’t their first choice, but Francisco Elson was available on the cheap, and the seven-foot free agent from the Denver Nuggets could just be the Spurs starting center this season.

After Nazr Mohammed signed with Detroit and Rasho Nesterovic was traded to Toronto, the Spurs were in need of some help in the middle. Elson, 30, is coming off his best season, averaging 4.9 points and 4.7 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game. He also had a better plus/minus than more heralded big men Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin.

Mohammed and Nesterovic shouldn’t be a tough act to follow. Neither player was consistent and both were immobile, which doesn’t play against Mavericks. Elson is a little more athletic, which could give the Spurs a little more versatility with their big men.

The Spurs could play ‘big’ with Elson or Jackie Butler, or move Duncan into the pivot and let foes contend with Matt Bonner, a 6-10 three-point shooter.
-- Bill Evans

X&O STRENGTH

Popovich

They get their offense from both the backcourt and the frontcourt ... Pop's teams are going to do whatever it takes to win.

X&O WEAKNESS
Duncan's biggest problem is foul trouble. If he would have stayed on the floor last year, they might have the trophy that Miami's got ... Horry is not the Horry that he was.

HEAD COACH PHILOSOPHY
Year in and year out, he doesn't get outcoached. The thing that stands out to me is that if there's a weakness, he patches it up ... They're going to be strong in all areas ... If there's any problems in the locker room, it never gets out.
-- Bill Fitch (courtesy of the National Basketball Coaches Association)

Tough, well-coached and worry about Duncan – same, same, same.
They have to move the ball. If they get the defense moving, they will be much more effective in one-on-one situations.
Even though they didn’t seem like one of the most dominant teams last year, they had the best record in the West and have the ability to do it again if Parker is healthy.
You might see more out of Fabricio Oberto and Beno Udrih.
They’re loaded; any team with Ginobili, Parker and Duncan will always be a top team.
-- Western Conference Scout

Tim Duncan: After an injury-plagued 2005-06 season, Duncan’s stock has dropped so far that he can now be considered underrated.

Michael Finley: Only Spurs bench player worth owning, but doesn’t offer the all-around fantasy game of old.

More fantasy news

What you see is what you get with the Spurs. Not much excitement or upside for the fantasy crowd but a great team and perennial contender in real life. Tony Parker will continue to prove his worth as a top fantasy point guard and Tim Duncan should have a rebound season if he can stay healthy. The wildcard is Manu Ginobili, who could breakout as the multi-category producer we all know he can be.
-- Brian McKitish
Spurs Preview

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