The Spurs have essentially the same team as they had last year set to go in 2012-13, and that is a good thing. Shooting guard Nando DeColo has come to the states to play for the Spurs as their latest import from across the big pond. I think the Spurs are going to win at least 55 games in 2012-13, so I would bet on the over as far as wins go.

63-year old Gregg Popovich got his Spurs to play really well in 2012-13. The Spurs were 50-16 (75.8%) during the regular season and 10-4 (71.4%) in the playoffs last year. The Spurs are now 847-399 (68%) in his first 16 regular seasons with the Spurs. Those 847 wins are #13 in NBA history for a head coach. The Spurs are also 118-77 (60.5%) in the playoffs on Popovich’s watch. He has led the Spurs to four NBA titles so far in his career and he will be trying to win one for the thumb in 2012-13.

It looks as if 30-year old Boris Diaw is going to enter the season as the Spurs’ starting center, but he won’t likely be playing big minutes. Diaw played in 57 games (35 starts) for the Spurs and Bobcats last year in which he averaged 25.0 minutes, 6.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Diaw has now played in 680 games (468 starts) in his first 9 years in the NBA and he is averaging 30.0 minutes, 9.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. 27-year old Tiago Splitter will be Diaw’s top backup in 2012-13. Splitter played in 59 games (2 starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 19.0 minutes, 9.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Splitter has now played in 119 games (8 starts) in his first two years in the NBA and he is averaging 15.6 minutes, 6.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. 23-year old DeJuan Blair is in the Dog House for the Spurs. Blair played in 64 games (62 starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 21.3 minutes, 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Blair has now played in 227 games (150 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he averaged 20.2 minutes, 8.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. 29-year old Eddy Curry is a longshot to make the Spurs’ final roster. He played in 14 games (1 start) for the Heat last year and he averaged 5.9 minutes, 2.1 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. Curry has now played in 525 games (411 starts) in his first 10 years in the NBA and he is averaging 24.9 minutes, 13.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CENTERS IN 2012-13: C

36-year old Tim Duncan keeps rolling along. The Spurs are watching his minutes during the regular season in order to keep him healthy and fresh for the playoffs. Duncan played in 58 games (all starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 28.2 minutes, 15.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 1,111 games (1,109 starts) in his first 15 years in the NBA and he is averaging 35.4 minutes, 20.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.2 blocked shots per game. 32-year old Matt Bonner is Duncan’s caddy, and he has a much different skill set as he hit 42% of his shots from three point range last year. Bonner played in 65 games (2 starts) for the Spurs last year and he averaged 20.4 minutes, 6.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. He has now played in 561 games (87 starts) in his first 8 years in the NBA and he is averaging 18.9 minutes, 6.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. 25-year old Derrick Brown is likely to be #3 in line at power forward for the Spurs in 2012-13. Brown played in 65 games (17 starts) for the Bobcats last year and he is averaging 22.2 minutes, 8.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Brown has now played in 171 games (18 starts) in his first three years in the NBA and he is averaging 14.9 minutes, 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. 29-year old Josh Powell is a longshot to make the Spurs’ roster. He didn’t play in the NBA last year. Powell played in 315 games (28 starts) in his first six years in the NBA and he is averaging 12.5 minutes, 3.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POWER FORWARDS IN 2012-13: A

21-year old Kawhi Leonard is a player on the rise for the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard played in 64 games (39 starts) for the Spurs as a rookie last year and he averaged 24.0 minutes, 7.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Leonard is likely to get more P.T. in 2012-13 for the Spurs as head coach Gregg Popovich loves his potential. 34-year old Stephen Jackson is going to be the top backup for the Spurs at small forward this year. He played in 47 games (14 starts) for the Bucks and Spurs last year in which he averaged 25.8 minutes, 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Jackson has now played in 794 games (670 starts) in his first 12 years in the NBA and he is averaging 33.0 minutes, 15.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SMALL FORWARDS IN 2012-13: B

The Spurs have signed 29-year old center Eddy Curry to a non-guaranteed deal. Curry played in 14 games (1 start) for the Heat last year and he averaged 5.9 minutes, 2.1 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. He has now played in 525 games (411 starts) in his first 10 years in the NBA and he is averaging 24.9 minutes, 13.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Curry is going to be a longshot to make the Spurs’ roster.

UPDATE: (10/23/2012) - The Spurs have waived Eddy Curry.