Basketball - NBA Breakdown of the San Antonio Spurs

SAN ANTONIO SPURS 40-12

What has changed: After starting 17-3 the Spurs haven't changed much, other than that the Mavs are now leading the division.  For all we've heard about the Pistons being the League's best the Spurs are just 1½ back of Detroit. And with Ginobili getting healthier  it could be the Spurs to have the NBA's best record.

The usual suspects are continuing to play great for the Spurs. Tim Duncan is once again a MVP candidate with 19.5 PPG and 11.5  rebounds. But emerging as a star is Tony Parker with 19.4 a game. As long as Duncan, Parker and Ginobili are healthy the Spurs are Finals  contenders.

Which is the main reason San Antonio doesn't have the best record in the West. Ginobili has only been able to start 30 games this  year due to an injury and Brent Barry and Robert Horry have missed games as well. Bruce Bowen and Michael Finley have received extra  playing time and for the most part have performed rather well.

The Spurs allow just 88.4 a game, are 3rd in opponent's FG% and 6th in opponent's 3P%. They are 3rd in FG% and are in the top 15 in  rebounds and assists. Even in the lax regular season their stats are very impressive. And their strength isn't just from Duncan or Parker,  it's as a whole. It's that bringing Van Exel and Finley and Horry off the bench makes this one the deepest teams in recent memory.

San Antonio has been coasting through the regular season all year. At the moment they still have some work to do. If they can get  the #1 seed they can face either the Lakers, Jazz, or T'Wolves which would be a lot easier than facing the Clippers. Even more importantly  they are behind the Pistons for home court. Since it's very likely the Pistons will represent the East it would be bad for the Spurs to  not get home court.

San Antonio is locked to be either #1 or #4. Which one will matter to Greg Popavich but not to the majority of America. The Spurs  have won the Finals 3 times over the Nowitzki-Mavs because of their defense. And while Dallas may be improved substantially the Spurs  haven't done anything to hurt themselves. They'll be playing in June when the games really begin to matter.