Ever since the Spurs added LaMarcus Aldridge and David West while managing to retain their core of the "Big Four" plus Danny Green, they've been regarded if not as the odds-on favorites to win the Western Conference next year, then at least in the conversation. I don't quite think it's going to be the formality that some think it will be. For one thing, Tim Duncan will be entering his fifth decade on this planet during the first round of the playoffs. For another, Tony Parker played like the team's third-best point guard last year (not a compliment).