- (Sports Network) - Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are still the nucleus of the San Antonio Spurs and it's an odd year. In case you are wondering, that's a good thing. The Spurs' last three championship rings came in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Gregg Popovich's trio of stars are truly battle tested and still have the desire and skill to compete with anyone in the league.

Ginobili led the Spurs, who won more than 50 games for a ninth straight time last year, in scoring (19.5 ppg), while All-Star forward Duncan posted a team-best 11.3 rebounds per game and Parker handed out a club-high 6.0 assists per contest.

The Spurs will continue to go only as far as Duncan, Ginobili and Parker can take them. Ginobili, however, will be sidelined until January with an injured ankle.

After first hurting the ankle in last year's playoffs, the swingman tried to give it a go for Argentina in the Beijing Olympics only to aggravate the injury. He finally elected to have surgery in September, leaving the Spurs without his late game skills early in the season.

Popovich does have a solid supporting cast as well. Defensive stopper Bruce Bowen performs the dirty work and Michael Finley adds veteran savvy in the backcourt while Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto are serviceable up front.

A veteran club that is built to win now, San Antonio, which lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference finals last year, is primed for another run at the top.

2007-08 Results: 56-26, lost to LA Lakers in Western Conference finals.

ADDITIONS: Malik Hairston (G) - Trade with Phoenix; Roger Mason (G) - Free Agent; Salim Stoudamire (G) - Free Agent; Anthony Tolliver (F) - Free Agent.

SUBTRACTIONS: Brent Barry (G) - Signed with Houston.

RE-SIGNINGS: Michael Finley (F/G), Kurt Thomas (F).

2008 DRAFT PICKS: 1.(26) George Hill (G, IUPUI); 2. (45) Goran Dragic (G) - Traded to Phoenix; 2. (57) James Gist (F, Maryland).

PROJECTED STARTING FIVE:

PG- Tony Parker SG- Michael Finley SF- Bruce Bowen PF- Tim Duncan C- Fabricio Oberto

KEY RESERVES: Matt Bonner (F); Manu Ginobili (G); George Hill (G); Roger Mason (G); Salim Stoudamire (G); Kurt Thomas (C/F); Ime Udoka (F)

FRONTCOURT: Duncan is still playing at a high-level but the Spurs like to limit him to about 32-to-34 minutes a night. A wonderful low-post player, rebounder and defender, about the only hole you can find in Duncan's game is his free throw shooting.

Bowen is aging but he's still one of the best on-ball defenders in basketball and gets under the skin of the opposition with his unwillingness to let up at any time. Bowen has also made himself into a solid, weak side three point threat.

Oberto was up to 20 minutes a game last year and shot over 60 percent from the floor. A skilled player, Oberto has turned into a solid role player playing next to Duncan.

BACKCOURT: Parker has always had amazing quickness that enables him to get to the rim at will. He's also improved his jumper to the point that you can't sag off of him defensively, making him one of the best point guards in the game.

"He's definitely improved on his jump shot, and he'll improve another step this year," Popovich said. "It's a matter of confidence at that position, and understanding what the defense is giving you."

Finely, who lost about 20 pounds in the offseason, is aging but still has the ability to score and defend, helping the Spurs become the most balanced group in the league.

BENCH: You all know the cliche. It's not who starts, it's who finishes and Ginobili is the Spurs' best finisher but he will be sidelined for two months thanks to a left ankle injury. Any time you have a leg injury on a player that relies on his quickness and driving ability, you have to be concerned and the Spurts will be holding their collective breath, hoping the old Ginobili shows up in January.

Thomas is a veteran big men that brings tough interior defense and good rebounding off the bench.

The Spurs drafted George Hill and would like to see him take some of the backup point guard minutes away from Jacque Vaughn; They also brought in Roger Mason as a free agent in case Finley slips.

Salim Stoudamire is another option for Popovich in the backcourt but has been hampered by a strained right groin in the preseason.

OUTLOOK: This may be the last hurrah for this group.

While San Antonio focused on getting younger and more athletic in the offseason with Mason, Hill and Stoudemire, this is still a veteran driven team. The core stars are clearly aging but if Duncan and Parker stay healthy and Ginobili returns at a high level, expect the usual odd year championship in the Alamo City.

"Things may work out for us and they may not, but we want to give ourselves the best opportunity we can," Popovich said.



























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