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In case you missed it, Tim, Manu, Tony and RJ are on the front page of Yahoo! Sports today, accompanied by two articles about the league-leading Spurs.

Johnny Ludden, formerly of the San Antonio Express-News, writes:

Today, the Spurs look a little more healthy and engaged. They play faster and their bench is considerably longer. Their black-and-silver core, however, remains unchanged: Duncan-Ginobili-Parker-Popovich. In an era when the NBA feels compelled to fine players who publicly ask for a trade (because too many of them would if they could), the Spurs have stayed together.

That wouldn’t have been possible if Duncan had joined Grant Hill(notes) in signing with the Orlando Magic. Or if Ginobili hadn’t put off his own free agency and a chance at greater riches to sign a three-year, $39 million extension in April. Or if Parker hadn’t convinced the Spurs – content to push their point guard into the uncertainty of a new collective bargaining agreement – that he was committed to staying in San Antonio. Parker backed up his pledge by signing a four-year, $50 million extension that becomes even more reasonable with a final season that guarantees him only about $3 million.

Nor would it have been possible had the men who brought them all together not decided to stick along for the ride. Popovich has long joked that he plans to retire about 30 seconds after Duncan plays his final game, and his contract allowed him to do that: Like that of Duncan, it was set to expire after next season. Parker and Ginobili, understandably, wanted assurances their coach would wait another few years to tend to his vineyard.

“I kind of feel I have to commit to those guys,” Popovich said.

The Spurs have clung to Popovich’s pound-the-rock mantra for 15 seasons now, and it’s a big reason why continuity – “corporate knowledge,” as Popovich calls it – is so valued within their roster. Even after Richard Jefferson’s(notes) forgettable first season as a Spur, Popovich spent part of the summer helping “retool” him – then gave Jefferson a four-year contract.

“He loves pushing people and making teams better,” Duncan said. “That’s what he does best.

Kate Hedlin provides a preview of tonight’s game against the Bucks.

The San Antonio Spurs have the NBA’s best record, but they aren’t likely to take their next opponent for granted.

The Spurs look to close out a perfect six-game homestand Wednesday night when they host the Milwaukee Bucks, who shocked another of the league’s top teams in their last game.

The Spurs’ recent games have been so lopsided that Tim Duncan hadn’t played in the fourth quarter in any of the previous three contests. Duncan had eight points, 13 rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes Sunday. The 34-year-old is averaging a career-low 28.7 minutes.

“As the minutes continue to drop and I’m not in the fourth quarter, I’m going to become unbearable on the bench and pretty much annoy (coach Gregg Popovich) to the point where that he has to put me in,” Duncan said. “That’s my goal.”

With the season starting so well for the Spurs, there’s plenty of light-hearted joking. They are holding opponents to 87 points in the last four games and offensively are getting plenty of contributions. George Hill scored a season-high 22 points Sunday while rookie Gary Neal had 11 in 19 minutes off the bench.

Popovich still sees room for improvement despite his team’s stellar play.

“Right now there are about 10 to 15 teams that are doing a better job defensively than we are,” he said. “So we have to pay attention to it.”