Team page/schedule | Stats: Preseason | Roster
Last year: 58-24, first in Midwest, first in conference
Coach/GM: Gregg Popovich
Arena, first game: Alamodome (20,557); Nov. 5, 1993
All-time franchise record/NBA titles: 1,138-880/1
Notable: Popovich passed Doug Moe for winningest Spurs coach

THE ROTATION
Pos	Player	Key Stat	Skinny
PG	Antonio Daniels	9.4 ppg	Finally, he runs a team, but leash is short
SG	Steve Smith	13.6 ppg	Nightmare in Portland to happy Spurland
SF	Bruce Bowen	.363 FG	Great defender, won't be shooting here
PF	Tim Duncan	12.2 rpg	Superstar became Shaqlike at the line
C	David Robinson	2.46 bpg	Two more years and his career sets sail
6th	Terry Porter	87 threes	Started a bunch; can play more years
7th	Malik Rose	.435 FG	Nearly 6 rebs per game in his best year
8th	Danny Ferry	.475 FG	When used right, he can defend, hit 3s

		The Spurs are very optimistic, but they were that way last year. They seem to have recovered from their shocking demise against the Lakers in the conference finals. The Spurs have one of the league's strongest defenses. A key will be how David Robinson holds up and whether or not he can play at a high level all season, or at least in the important games. Bruce Bowen will help as a tough defender who can score. Defense isn't Steve Smith's strength, but he can score. Antonio Daniels is more than adequate at the point, backed by Terry Porter, who is still in great shape. Off the bench, they'll bring rookie guard Tony Parker, Malik Rose, Danny Ferry and Stephen Jackson. But the Spurs need to get tougher and find a way to slow down Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to get to the next level.

By Marc Stein
Special to ESPN.com

Used to be that Utah was the only Midwest monster that had to listen to the dreaded window-of-opportunity talk. As in: Your window's closing, fellas. Well, it's the same for the Spurs now. Even though only one of their cornerstones is from the John Stockton-to-Karl Malone generation, David Robinson and his pals really have only two more shots at a second title before San Antonio faces the prospect over starting totally over. Maybe only one more shot if they don't challenge next spring.

Almost everyone on the team, save Gregg Popovich and rookie guard Tony Parker, becomes a free agent in the summer of 2003, just when San Antonio is supposed to be opening its new building. Most notable among that group, of course, Tim Duncan, who figures to follow through on leaving next time if the sweepers-turned-sweepees continue to suffer at the hands of the Lakers. So this season is critical. To give Duncan and the fans some hope, the Spurs have to at least get back to the conference finals. Making them competitive this time wouldn't hurt, either. If they keep slipping, human nature says Duncan's eyes will understandably start to wander.

Who's Who
The good news is, no matter how many experts expect some slippage, there's no reason why San Antonio can't win the division again and maybe more. As bad as the off-season started, with an ugly Robinson contract standoff and a nastier fallout with Derek Anderson, the Spurs recovered to score Steve Smith in a sign-and-trade for DA. They also signed Bruce Bowen as a Kobe stopper and fleshed out the bench a bit with Cherokee Parks, Stephen Jackson and Mark Bryant. Malik Rose, Terry Porter and Danny Ferry are still there, too. So as long as Robinson and Smith in particular stay healthy, the Spurs should automatically be deeper than they were. Better? Time will tell.

FANTASY SLEEPER

Antonio Daniels, PG -- Avery Johnson is gone and Daniels has been handed the reins. Last season, he finally started to show glimpses of the talent that made him a fourth overall pick in the '97 draft, averaging 12.4 points, 5.5 assists and shooting nearly 44 percent from beyond the three-point arc as a starter. Those numbers should improve at least slightly with the peace of a clearly defined role.

The Big Question
For now, speculation about Duncan's future is minimal. That'll change, naturally, if the Spurs struggle, but the more immediate uncertainty is point guard. Can Antonio Daniels, whose best minutes have always been logged at shooting guard, finally take over for Avery Johnson? Or can Parker mature quickly enough to enable Daniels to stay at the two? Popovich, not surprisingly, wants to see affirmative answers on both of those issues. But he'll settle for one or the other. And since it's a lot to ask of young Parker to be a starting NBA quarterback at 19, the onus is on Daniels. It won't be enough for AD to form an athletic, defensive-minded tandem with Bowen that offsets Anderson's departure. Pop needs someone who can run the team.

Best Case Scenario
Duncan and Robinson, spurred by their no-show against the Lakers last spring, will enjoy the usual All-Star campaigns. Daniels will finally become the point guard people expected out of college. Smith and Bowen will be more dangerous together than Anderson was alone. And the Spurs' defense, whether it masters zones or not, will continue to smother the opposition. It'll all add up to 60 wins at least and maybe even homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.

Worst Case Scenario
Robinson will break down physically and Duncan will increasingly wonder if he should have gone to Orlando. Daniels will beg Pop to let him play two-guard and Parker will look like a 19-year-old point. Smith, like The Admiral, will also struggle physically. Bowen will struggle from the perimeter as Pat Riley predicted. Worst of all, the Spurs will be passed up by the Kings and Mavericks before they even get another shot at LA. And people will wonder who, besides Pop and Parker, will be working in that new building.

OVERRATED	UNDERRATED	TEAM MVP
Steve Smith. A bit broken down, slow afoot and no Derek Anderson in the paint.	Malik Rose. If he sticks around could be replacing Duncan in three seasons.	Tim Duncan. Without Admiral, would he average 25 and 14? He just might.