Tim Duncan is hoping he can squeeze one more title run out of the Spurs.

The San Antonio Spurs proved to everyone that the legs might not be what they used to after being downright embarrassed in the Western Conference Finals at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1 last season. The Spurs just seemed to run out of gas (literally), giving all they had left to rally past the New Orleans Hornets in the Semi’s.

The Spurs, being a year removed from yet another championship just simply couldn’t keep up with the more physical and adrenaline charged efforts of the New Kids on the Block in the Utah Jazz and Hornets, not to mention the defiant will of the Lakers.

San Antonio seemingly looked past what had worked before, when the team was headed for Dynasty status, winning four championships (1999, 2003, 05, 07) and rightfully being considered only to the Chicago Bulls of the 1990’s.

The most valued championship that the Spurs most is their next one (whenever that may be), and have their sights set accordingly. In order for that to happen, head coach Paul Popovich needs to buy into the youth movement that continues to run circles around the tired and worn legs of the Spurs.

Tim Duncan continues to spur San Antonio towards another title, hoping that this year will be his best before drifting off into the Texas sunset on the heals of a fifth championship.

With the ages of the Spurs frontcourt between 33 (Fabricio Oberto), 37 (Bruce Bowen), 36 (Kurt Thomas), and the aforementioned Duncan who is a spry 32, the field is pulling away at a faster rate than the Spurs care to admit

The Spurs finally said their collective goodbye’s to seven time champion Robert Horry, and welcomed 23-year old Anthony Tolliver into the fold in hopes of not only keeping up with the youth movement but also adding some much needed pop from the outside. The 6’8” Tolliver has a smooth shot from beyond the arc along with the rebounding savvy that could provide help for Duncan.

Popovich is hoping to overhaul the offense by drafting first round pick George Hill, a guard from little known IUPUI, along with former Washington Wizards free agent pick-up Roger Mason. Hill might be another diamond in the rough that the Spurs hope to polish into championship caliber players.

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow continues to be Tony Parker, who, like fine wine gets better with age. Parker has so many weapons in his arsenal that it just doesn’t seem fair at times. Whether it is in the form of a contortionist as he goes in for a lay-up or glides through the air for his patented teardrop finger roll that finds nothing but net.

Parker (26) is considered the complete package as far as San Antonio is concerned and can score at will from the inside as easily as pulling up for a fade away at the line. Last season Parker’s average continued to climb netting 26.9 points a game while finding his teammates leading the Spurs with 8.5 assists per contest.

Some publications show Manu Ginobili (31) as the first man coming off the bench for San Antonio but anyone that has seriously followed the Spurs know that this magician is definitely starter material. The 6’6” stealth frame of Argentinean born Ginobili is the straw that stirs the drink both on and off the court.

Ginobili led the Spurs with 30.1 ppg with his awkward uncanny ability to score from anywhere on the floor, at times making the Spurs a “Must See TV” simply because of his theatrics, which come into question from time to time.

The Spurs are no longer championship caliber material simply because of their increase age at the skilled positions, but buy the same token aren’t ready to be put out to pasture. Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and the rest have at least one more productive year under their belts, and experience goes along way in manufacturing wins. But in the long run San Antonio will be just like last year only bowing out earlier in the playoffs.

Prediction:  4th