Best in West?

It doesn't matter that the Spurs have a point guard, Tony Parker, who's playing in just his second season. It doesn't matter that their center, David Robinson, is a shell of the player who's had a Hall of Fame career. And it doesn't matter that their two athletic swingmen, Stephen Jackson and Emanuel Ginobili, have played few NBA games with much at stake.

What does matter is that the Spurs are legit contenders in the Western Conference, and it boils down to two key factors: coach Gregg Popovich has done a remarkable job in assembling the top "character" team in the league; and, most important, Tim Duncan has been phenomenal in pulling together a roster populated by a bunch of no-names.

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