3 San Antonio Spurs

Last season ended prematurely for the Spurs, who lost in the conference semifinals to the Mavericks, but it gave forward Tim Duncan time for some much-needed rest. By playing in the Finals in 2005 and '03, in the Summer Olympics in 2004 and in the 2003 FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament, Duncan has been pulling much more than regular-season duty since he entered the league in 1997.

So how did the 7-foot Duncan spend his first real summer vacation in four years? After resting his right foot, which had been hindered all last season by plantar fasciitis, he hit the track and the weight room to add extra muscle to his legs and core. "I was really light last year," he says. Any other reason? "I had more time."

Duncan, 30, has missed 29 games because of ankle and knee injuries in the last three years, after sitting out only nine in the previous six. After averaging career lows in points per game (18.6) and rebounds (11.0) last season, Duncan, a power forward for most of his career, will now have to bang away for even more minutes in the middle, where free-agent signees Francisco Elson and Jackie Butler replace Nazr Mohammed and Rasho Nesterovic. "I've been asked, 'What are you going to do for a center?'" says San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich. "But anybody who has watched our team realizes that in the fourth quarter, Tim Duncan is the five."

A nine-time All-Star, Duncan will again be asked to carry the Spurs on his back. Is he fresh and fit enough to carry them to their customary heights?

Projected Starting Lineup with 2005--06 statistics

Record: 63--19 (1st in West)

Points scored: 95.6 (21st in NBA)

Points allowed: 88.8 (2nd)

Coach: Gregg Popovich

(11th season with the Spurs)