NBA opens 60th season with Spurs seeking fourth crown in eight years
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-10-31 09:21

"This is the deepest team we've had talent-wise," Popovich said entering his 10th season as Spurs coach. "What I am hoping is that it ends up being the deepest team we've had knowledge-wise - professionalism, basketball IQ."

Duncan remains the pivotal player in San Antonio's bid to extend the reign after prior titles in 2003 and 1999.

"The pieces have to fit around him," Popovich said. "The fortunate thing for us is that it seems that, given enough talent, all pieces fit around Timmy. He figures it out."

The Heat, led by O'Neal and star guard Dwyane Wade, won 59 games last season but lost to Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals. Miami has added forwards James Posey and Antoine Walker and guards Jason Williams and Gary Payton.

If Miami coach Stan Van Gundy can manage the egos and unify the talent, the Heat should be hard to beat. But the coach said the Spurs are the team that knows itself better than any rival as the curtain rises.

"There's no question in my mind that they have the best understanding of what their game is," Van Gundy said.

The Pistons replaced Larry Brown, now coaching the New York Knicks, with Flip Saunders, who takes over a team that knows how to win and came within a game of back-to-back NBA crowns.

"Before when you had coaching changes, you always wonder what he's going to do new," Pistons center Ben Wallace said. "I'm confident in this team. Right now we could play for any coach. It doesn't matter who's coaching us."

Artest's return alongside Jermaine O'Neal boosts Indiana's chances, with European star guard Sarunas Jasikevicius trying to replace retired long-range legend Reggie Miller. Building teamwork will be the Pacers' big challenge.