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The Spurs didn’t find an upgrade from Richard Jefferson after the lockout, and in a sign of how badly they need big men, couldn’t talk 37-year-old Antonio McDyess into playing another season.

That leaves Duncan, entering his 15th season and the end of his contract, making perhaps his last try for a fifth title with largely the same group that hasn’t come close lately.

“This is basically the same team,” Duncan said. “We have as good an opportunity as anyone else. We have that experience a lot of people are going to work for.”

Duncan arrived at training camp insisting he’s not yet thinking about retirement. He’ll be 36 when the playoffs roll around and will make $21 million this season, behind only Kobe Bryant ($25 million) and Rashard Lewis ($22 million).

The big payday is Duncan’s reward for making the Spurs the winningest franchise in major professional sports the past 14 years, surpassing even the New England Patriots or New York Yankees in winning percentage. Even last year, against all expectations, the Spurs won 61 games and reclaimed the Western Conference’s top seed.

It still wasn’t good enough.

It was easy to read into San Antonio’s first-round loss as more than an upset. The Memphis Grizzlies, quick and big, made the Spurs look slow and small.

Weeks after losing to Memphis in six games, Parker was in Paris telling French journalists that was the last chance for the aging Spurs, whose last title was in 2007. “We will always have a good team but can no longer say we’re playing for a championship,” he said.

Parker later backed away from those remarks, and returned to San Antonio this month with a cheerier outlook.

“A lot of young teams are coming up, so we just have to make sure we can keep up and be competitive,” Parker said. “You have to be positive and you have to believe in your team. I definitely believe in my team. Hopefully we can stay healthy and not have those little bumps like last year.”

If San Antonio does have another run left in them, it’ll be up to mostly the same cast. That includes Jefferson, who survived last week’s amnesty deadline after the Spurs had a chance to part ways with the underachieving swingman who is due $9.2 million this season.

The Spurs courted free agents Caron Butler and Josh Howard. Though after it became apparent Jefferson would make it to opening day, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich defended his starting small forward as an improving defender and reliable 3-point shooter.

“It’s kind of interesting. Everybody always asked about amnesty, and I always wondered why Richard, Richard, Richard,” Popovich said. “As if we didn’t advance in the playoffs because of Richard. I don’t think anybody played great.”

Be that as it may, the Spurs may have landed Jefferson’s eventual replacement in rookie Kawhi Leonard. Selected 15th overall by Indiana, the 6-foot-7 forward was dealt in a draft-day trade for guard George Hill, who was Parker’s backup and a budding star in the Popovich’s eyes.

Yet it was a price Popovich says he was willing to pay. The 20-year-old Leonard brings not only youth and size but a knack for defense, which Popovich is reprioritizing after the Spurs were — rather atypically — better known for outscoring teams than stopping them last season.

Parker (17.5 points per game) and 34-year-old Ginobili (17.4 points) will again drive San Antonio’s offense from the backcourt, and veteran T.J. Ford replaces Hill off the bench. The frontcourt is a larger concern: with McDyess gone, the big men left are 3-point marksman Matt Bonner, undersized 6-foot-7 center DeJuan Blair and 7-footer Tiago Splitter.

Then there’s Duncan. The two-time MVP, whose scoring and rebounding (13.4 and 8.9) were career lows last year, is the only Spurs player left from the 1999 team that won the franchise’s first championship in that lockout-shortened season.

Duncan draws no comparisons to then and now. He just knows the toll awaiting him in the compressed schedule ahead.

“It wasn’t a grind to me then,” Duncan recalled of 1999. “I was running like a deer up and down every day. I wanted to play. But this is going to feel different, I know it.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The San Antonio Spurs took another step toward securing home-court advantage throughout the NBA postseason with a 111-102 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday.

Having wrapped up the top seeding in the Western Conference, the Spurs are 1.5 games ahead of Eastern Conference leaders Chicago, with the Bulls having three games left to play.

San Antonio seized control of a close first half with a 15-2 run that straddled halftime, and held off a surge by the Jazz early in the fourth that saw the Spurs’ lead narrowed to 91-85.

Richard Jefferson scored 20 points and Tony Parker had 13 as all five Spurs starters scored double digits despite seeing limited action after opening up a large lead.

“All year long, and pretty much most of my career, whenever I score big numbers it’s because my teammates got me the ball,” said Jefferson, who connected on 4-of 7 from three point range.

“A lob from Gary Neal, some passes from Tony Parker early really got me going. Last year I struggled a little bit, especially from the 3-point line.

“This summer when I worked with the coaches I really focused in on that because that was my role. It’s really helped me this season.”

The Spurs bench added 44 points, led by Tiago Splitter’s 13 and Gary Neal added 12 points, as San Antonio cruised to their fourth win in a row.

“I feel that is what makes their team so special,” Jazz forward Paul Millsap said. “They have guys that can come off the bench and score the basketball. They truly play basketball out there.”

Al Jefferson led the Jazz with 23 points.

Reuters

Jazz at Spurs boxscore

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs have clinched the Western Conference’s top spot. They’ve racked up 61 wins. They’ve bounced back from a rare slump with four consecutive victories.

They also have one of the most talented trios in the league with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

But while falling 111-102 at the AT&T Center, the Utah Jazz learned firsthand what really makes the Spurs such a dangerous team as they head into the playoffs.

Tiago Splitter. Gary Neal. George Hill. Matt Bonner. DeJuan Blair.

Who cares if they’re not exactly household names outside of the Alamo area?

They were as important to the Spurs’ success Saturday as the seven dwarves were for Snow White.

“I feel that is what makes their team so special,” Jazz forward Paul Millsap said. “They have guys that can come off the bench and score the basketball. They truly play basketball out there.”

On a night when defense was as nonexistent as snow in scorching San Antonio, Utah managed to hold the Spurs’ Big Three in check.

Duncan only had 10 points, three rebounds and played just 22 minutes. Parker scored 13 points with seven assists, which were decent but hardly dazzling stats. And Ginobili chipped in a dozen points with six assists, four boards and zero bat swats.

Even so, the Spurs led by as many as 17 points, shot 57.7 percent and controlled the tempo and game after running into the locker room at halftime on a 9-0 run.

With his 20-point outing, revived forward Richard Jefferson was one big reason for that. But the Spurs had seven players in double figures and nine guys with at least seven points as San Antonio earned this impressive all-for-one, won-by-all victory.

Even the Spurs’ victims were impressed.

“That’s simply how good their team is,” Jazz center Al Jefferson said. “You can maintain their ‘Big Three,’ but still have other guys on their team that beat you.”

Utah actually had a good offensive night, shooting 53.8 percent and getting 23 points from Jefferson and a career-best 17 from rookie Derrick Favors.

But the Spurs simply had too many weapons. Splitter torched Utah with 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting, Blair and Neal each had 12 points, while George Hill (nine) and Matt Bonner (seven) gave Jazz-killing contributions.

“That’s who they are. They are a great ballclub,” Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. “They don’t care who leads them in scoring every night, as long as they win the game. They do a great job of sharing the ball. If one guy is struggling, they go to the next guy.”

If there was a silver lining in this game for the Jazz, it was how well Favors played — including in stints with a big lineup that also included Jefferson and Millsap (16 points).

The San Antonio Spurs took another step toward securing home-court advantage throughout the NBA postseason with a 111-102 win over the Utah Jazz.

Having wrapped up the top seeding in the Western Conference, the Spurs are 1 1/2 games ahead of Eastern Conference leaders Chicago, with the Bulls having three games left to play.

San Antonio seized control of a close first half with a 15-2 run that straddled half-time, and held off a surge by the Jazz early in the fourth that saw the Spurs’ lead narrowed to 91-85.

Richard Jefferson, pictured, scored 20 points and Tony Parker had 13 as the Spurs’ starters saw limited action after opening up a large lead.

The Spurs bench provided 44 points, led by Tiago Splitter’s 13, as San Antonio cruised to their fourth win in a row.

Al Jefferson led the Jazz with 23 points.

REUTERS
   

Jazz at Spurs boxscore

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs have clinched the Western Conference’s top spot. They’ve racked up 61 wins. They’ve bounced back from a rare slump with four consecutive victories.

They also have one of the most talented trios in the league with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

But while falling 111-102 at the AT&T Center, the Utah Jazz learned firsthand what really makes the Spurs such a dangerous team as they head into the playoffs.

Tiago Splitter. Gary Neal. George Hill. Matt Bonner. DeJuan Blair.

Who cares if they’re not exactly household names outside of the Alamo area?

They were as important to the Spurs’ success Saturday as the seven dwarves were for Snow White.

“I feel that is what makes their team so special,” Jazz forward Paul Millsap said. “They have guys that can come off the bench and score the basketball. They truly play basketball out there.”

On a night when defense was as nonexistent as snow in scorching San Antonio, Utah managed to hold the Spurs’ Big Three in check.

Duncan only had 10 points, three rebounds and played just 22 minutes. Parker scored 13 points with seven assists, which were decent but hardly dazzling stats. And Ginobili chipped in a dozen points with six assists, four boards and zero bat swats.

Even so, the Spurs led by as many as 17 points, shot 57.7 percent and controlled the tempo and game after running into the locker room at halftime on a 9-0 run.

With his 20-point outing, revived forward Richard Jefferson was one big reason for that. But the Spurs had seven players in double figures and nine guys with at least seven points as San Antonio earned this impressive all-for-one, won-by-all victory.

Even the Spurs’ victims were impressed.

“That’s simply how good their team is,” Jazz center Al Jefferson said. “You can maintain their ‘Big Three,’ but still have other guys on their team that beat you.”

Utah actually had a good offensive night, shooting 53.8 percent and getting 23 points from Jefferson and a career-best 17 from rookie Derrick Favors.

But the Spurs simply had too many weapons. Splitter torched Utah with 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting, Blair and Neal each had 12 points, while George Hill (nine) and Matt Bonner (seven) gave Jazz-killing contributions.

“That’s who they are. They are a great ballclub,” Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. “They don’t care who leads them in scoring every night, as long as they win the game. They do a great job of sharing the ball. If one guy is struggling, they go to the next guy.”

If there was a silver lining in this game for the Jazz, it was how well Favors played — including in stints with a big lineup that also included Jefferson and Millsap (16 points).

Jazz at Spurs boxscore

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs have clinched the Western Conference’s top spot. They’ve racked up 61 wins. They’ve bounced back from a rare slump with four consecutive victories.

They also have one of the most talented trios in the league with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

But while falling 111-102 at the AT&T Center, the Utah Jazz learned firsthand what really makes the Spurs such a dangerous team as they head into the playoffs.

Tiago Splitter. Gary Neal. George Hill. Matt Bonner. DeJuan Blair.

Who cares if they’re not exactly household names outside of the Alamo area?

They were as important to the Spurs’ success Saturday as the seven dwarves were for Snow White.

“I feel that is what makes their team so special,” Jazz forward Paul Millsap said. “They have guys that can come off the bench and score the basketball. They truly play basketball out there.”

On a night when defense was as nonexistent as snow in scorching San Antonio, Utah managed to hold the Spurs’ Big Three in check.

Duncan only had 10 points, three rebounds and played just 22 minutes. Parker scored 13 points with seven assists, which were decent but hardly dazzling stats. And Ginobili chipped in a dozen points with six assists, four boards and zero bat swats.

Even so, the Spurs led by as many as 17 points, shot 57.7 percent and controlled the tempo and game after running into the locker room at halftime on a 9-0 run.

With his 20-point outing, revived forward Richard Jefferson was one big reason for that. But the Spurs had seven players in double figures and nine guys with at least seven points as San Antonio earned this impressive all-for-one, won-by-all victory.

Even the Spurs’ victims were impressed.

“That’s simply how good their team is,” Jazz center Al Jefferson said. “You can maintain their ‘Big Three,’ but still have other guys on their team that beat you.”

Utah actually had a good offensive night, shooting 53.8 percent and getting 23 points from Jefferson and a career-best 17 from rookie Derrick Favors.

But the Spurs simply had too many weapons. Splitter torched Utah with 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting, Blair and Neal each had 12 points, while George Hill (nine) and Matt Bonner (seven) gave Jazz-killing contributions.

“That’s who they are. They are a great ballclub,” Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. “They don’t care who leads them in scoring every night, as long as they win the game. They do a great job of sharing the ball. If one guy is struggling, they go to the next guy.”

If there was a silver lining in this game for the Jazz, it was how well Favors played — including in stints with a big lineup that also included Jefferson and Millsap (16 points).