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It wasn’t that long ago. May 22, 2006. The Spurs were facing an elimination game against the Mavericks. Game 7. Western Conference Semifinals. You remember it, I’m sure. They lost.

Tonight the Mavericks have the Spurs on the brink of elimination once again. The national press, with a few exceptions here and there, are writing nice things, but they’re all in the context of imminent defeat. Mike Freeman, for example, pays respects to the end of the Spurs dynasty. Mike Lopresti offers a salutatory toast. And so it goes. They’ve provided just enough complimentary send off to remind us that we never liked the stuff in the first place.

The problem with all this is that many of the same articles were written back in ’06. The Spurs came back to win the title in 2007. I look at the team and see all sort of issues, too. But I also see a team that is not far from a championship. Honestly. That’s not homerism.

It’s hard not to anticipate the end, and run out ahead shouting about it in your loudest I told you so voice. I’m not immune. I’m sitting on a pile of post ideas that are offseason oriented. I started writing draft stuff two weeks ago. Truthfully, I’m anxious to get all that off the back burner and onto your plate. There’s plenty to talk about. Lots of conversation ahead. The coming offseason is one of the most important in the franchise’s history. It’s not just a prelude to the summer of 2010 in terms of cap management; it’s also crucial in making the Spurs competitive for the balance of Duncan’s career and attractive to next year’s lauded free agent class. I’m gonna follow the bouncing ball up and down with every note. Ya da da, ya da da, ya da da da da.

But that’s the next song. The Spurs are still singing this one. I’m here to sing along.

Here’s how the Spurs win tonight’s game: Bruce Bowen and George Hill. Those two players need to play heavy minutes and slow the Maverick guards. Gregg Popovich has figured this out. He started Bowen last game, as you remember. Then, desperate for something obvious, he finally went to George Hill at the end of the 3rd. Hill never left the game. He played the entire 4th quarter, locking up Jason Terry and knocking down two important 3s. It’s unfortunate that it took the Spurs 4 games to figure this out, but there it is. Everyone come in and take a look.

If the Spurs play solid defense, the next task is to keep Tony Parker fresh for the 4th quarter. He is the offense. It’s helpful when your offense has legs at the end of the game. But as luck would have it, the solution to this problem is to play George Hill more in the first half. Ah, sweet symbiosis.

Finally, the Spurs obviously need a couple more players to score the ball. Mason Jr., Drew Gooden and Matt Bonner preferably.

Those three things are not impossibilities. If achieved, the Spurs win tonight. If maintained, the Spurs win this series.

Non Sequitur: DraftExpress has a provided us with a good retrospective on George Hill, up to now.