Scout's Take

On the defending champion Spurs, who at week's end had won 10 straight after a 9-10 start:

'They're winning with defense, but there's reason to believe that they can get better offensively. During this streak Tony Parker has taken over the game down the stretch when the defense has surrounded Tim Duncan. Not too many centers have a better touch than Rasho Nesterovic, who is an improvement offensively over David Robinson. Though Manu Ginobili is shooting only 38.6 percent, he's an impact player who can create his own shot. They're showing that they can be better than they were last year."