Odd Year Spurs' Year?

1999. 2003. 2005. 2007. The NBA's San Antonio Spurs win in the odd years, but with an even stronger resurgence in the Western Conference, the Spurs' goal of a championship seem to be dimming ever so slightly.

Tim Duncan's not getting any older. His stats, while still very, very good and efficient, have been on a steady decline and he's looking at maybe another 2-3 years of looking like "Tim Duncan". Michael Finley, who was re-signed in the 2008 summer off season, is 35 and is 13 years deep in the pro game. Add starting centers Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto to the mix, Bruce Bowen and the as-yet-unsigned Robert Horry and the Spurs are looking ancient by NBA standards. This isn't even mentioning the prospect of Emmanuel Ginobili having a down shift in his game, due to international mileage and a laissez-faire game characterized on the rough-and-tumble nature of his quick cuts and dives out of bounds.

The good thing about the age is the veteran presence, which also adds a favorable wrinkle to the Spurs' squad after factoring in the new, young faces on the team. First round pick George Hill will be Tony Parker's backup at point guard and both of their games compare favorably; Salim Stoudamire is a vet, but still young enough to expand his guard skills and perhaps will join his cousin, Damon Stoudamire, for a season together upcoming. Roger Mason comes from the Washington Wizards to compete for quality minutes with Ime Udoka as three-point shooting defenders at the swingman spots; underdeveloped Frenchman Ian Mahinmi will also attempt to figure into the Spurs' minutes for big man duty with Matt Bonner aiming to do the same.

As is the way, San Antonio doesn't seem to be drastically different, but they're updated enough to really make another push for another championship trophy in June. As long as Ginobili recovers from his Olympic foot injury, Duncan's minutes stay closer to 30-35 minutes a game and the key role players function well in shooting and defense, the Spurs may just reclaim the title after all.

And an odd numbered year is never a bad time for the Spurs to play their best.