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Spurs, not Mavs, primed to win title

San Antonio has toughness, defense to return to top

Image: Tony ParkerAP
This time, Tony Parker and the Spurs will get past Dallas, writes columnist Sam Smith.

Q: As a Suns fan, I am drooling over the possibility of them eventually getting their hands on Mike Conley from Ohio State. He seems to me to be one of the few types of point guards who sees the floor well enough to run Mike D'Antoni's offense someday. What do you think are the odds?
— Mike, Phoenix

A: Finally, a point guard. I like Conley a lot and think he's the best point guard in the college crop, and though he hasn't declared for the draft, I think he will leave with Oden, with his father the agent for both. I think he's better than Acie Law to be an NBA point, though if the Hawks get top three, and they could, the pick goes over to 2008 unprotected.

Q: What are the chances of San Diego ever getting an NBA team again? a) Never b) Fat chance or c) One in million?
— Steve, San Diego

A: Unlikely, I'd say, though it seems to me the major issue is an arena. They'd certainly have to have a new one, and I don't think that part of the world — or most, really — is up for taxpayers paying for an arena for some rich guys. The one thing Michael Jordan warned us all when he kept retiring and unretiring was in the NBA to never say never.

Q: Dwyane Wade injured his non-shooting shoulder. How do you think it will affect his shooting in general?
— Andrew Bridgemohan, Owings Mills, Md.

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A: Sort of a play on the old joke about the guy who has surgery and asks the doc if he could play the piano and the doc says yes and he says, good, he never could before. Wade wasn't a very good shooter before. His brilliance was getting into the lane and bouncing off guys and moving back and forth until he could make space to get off a shot. The issue is going to be whether he can take the hits on his shoulder the way he plays and if he decides to stay outside and shoot, he's going to be less effective.

Q: Will Grant Hill still be with the Magic next season?
— Mike, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska

A: I hope not. Grant still has some game left in him and I'd hate to see him play it out with the Magic, who are years away from being a serious NBA contender. I'd like to see him get a chance with a team that is close like the Mavs or Spurs, though he does feel loyalty to the Magic for sticking by him through all his injuries. I'm not sure he wants to uproot his family, so I'd say the chances are he returns to the Magic, though probably 60-40. And if a good opportunity comes up, I think he'll take a hard look.

Sam Smith is a contributor to MSNBC.com and a columnist for the Chicago Tribune.


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