Q: The San Antonio Spurs have been formidable since they've had Tim Duncan. Does it look to you like their age is finally showing? Other than Tony Parker, most everyone of importance on the team seems to be 30 or older.
— Bob Maine, Santa Clarita, Calif.

A: No. If you remember, about this time last season the Spurs were being written off as old, slow and unathletic. Popovich announced he wouldn't be making trades and that was the team. And then they were champions again. Popovich is one of the best now at pacing his team through the season. Already he has given Parker, Ginobili and Duncan injury breaks. More are likely coming. He's had Robert Horry starting at center lately to give him some time and timing. No one prepares a team better for the postseason than Popovich, and there's that Duncan guy. They've managed his career magnificently and I see their group in championship contention for several more seasons.

Q: Coming off their surprise 47-35 record last year, what is wrong with this year's Toronto Raptors? They are hovering around the .500 mark and losing games they should win.
— Stephen, Toronto, Ontario

A: There's a major philosophical difference in the organization that I believe is going to lead to a major meltdown. General manager Bryan Colangelo, who made terrific changes, believes in a Phoenix/European style, so he has gotten more finesse, perimeter players. Coach Sam Mitchell is an old fashioned physical, get to the basket guy. He doesn't have the athletes and tough guys he feels he needs. But the team did so well, Colangelo didn't feel he could change coaches, even though it's usually what new general managers do. Chris Bosh is getting the bosh beaten out of him and something's got to give and it will not be pretty for the home fans.

Q: It's early, but whom do you see as the best player going into the next NBA draft. We need some help!
— A Timberwolves fan, Maple Grove, Minn.

A: I don't see it coming yet. I don't follow the colleges much yet, though the top prospects are considered Michael Beasley from Kansas State and a bunch of freshman guards like Derrick Rose of Memphis, Indiana's Eric Gordon and Southern Cal's O.J. Mayo. All are flawed in some ways, young and hardly ready to make a major impact. This isn't quite lining up yet as a great draft. The Timberwolves figure to be in the lottery at least five more seasons and by then they should have the elements of a new team.

Q: What is the opinion of folks around the NBA about the Atlanta Hawks? Do you think they are for real? Might the long playoff drought finally end?
— Joe, Atlanta

A: Probably not, though they could finally be getting closer. The general thought is they have good, young talent that doesn't always play very smart or hard. It's a team that seems mentally weak and clouded by the years of failure. There doesn’t seem to be a true star, though Joe Johnson is very good and a lot of teams would love to have him. Until the ownership thing sorts itself out and there's one voice running the show, it seems unlikely they'll be much of a regular playoff contender.

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