A forgotten year in San Antonio Spurs history, the 1996-1997 season in many ways set the foundation for the culture of the Spurs. Before the multiple foreign All-Star imports stolen with late draft picks, or mining Europe for role players, or even before Tim Duncan-back when an inexperienced front office Gregg Popovich was acquiring the Vernon Maxwells, Charles Smiths, and Carl Herreras of the world-there was a MASH unit of players led by a future hall of famer wearing a familiar no. 21 jersey.

The Hawks are facing San Antonio without Joe Johnson, but Al Horford is a legitimate MVP candidate at this point. What can the Spurs do to limit him?

Obviously, we shouldn’t make too much of the early NBA season results, but what team statistics are the most important for predicting future performance?

Tony Parker left the game in the third quarter after rolling his Plantar Fasciitis-stricken left ankle during a layup. Tim Duncan corralled 27 rebounds, breaking a career single game record. The Spurs beat a +.500 team, a frustratingly elusive achievement this season. In other words, what would normally be a workmanlike affair against a team [...]