Consistently Contending Spurs

The lifespan of greatness in professional sports is about the same as your average car battery. Dominance generally lasts three or four years.

Then there are the San Antonio Spurs.

Bill Clinton had just begun his second term in the White House the last time the Spurs were lousy. San Antonio has won at least 53 games in each of the past eight full seasons.

It would appear 2006-07 will prove no different. San Antonio is now tied with Dallas atop the Midwest Division at 13-5. The most fundamentally sound team in the NBA simply outclasses the competition.

The Spurs have outscored their opponents this season by a league-best 7.5 points a game. Their .398 3-point shooting percentage ranks atop the NBA. They have surrendered just 92.4 points a game, second to Houston. They are among the leaders in most statistical categories.

Individual consistency translates into team consistency every season. Tim Duncan is again scoring 21.9 points with 11 rebounds a game. Guard Tony Parker is averaging 19.5 points and 5.2 assists. Bruce Bowen is playing his usual lockdown defense. Manu Ginobili and reserve guard Michael Finley have yet to find their shooting accuracy, yet the Spurs continue to win.

If revenge is a motivator, they should win Wednesday night as well. According to WagerWeb.com, they are 8-point favorites in Charlotte, which stunned the Spurs in San Antonio earlier in the year.