Post-All-Star Game Burning Question #3: Do the Spurs have any burning questions?

Honestly, I'd like to give the Spurs more attention in general, but they provide little in the way of controversy, failure, or pizzazz. (Interestingly, dictionary.com considers pizzaz, pizazz, and pizzazz valid spellings, but however you spell it, the Spurs lack it.) Coming up with a burning question to answer has been difficult, and, frankly, if I were a Spurs fan, I'd consider that a good thing.

Shouldn't they be worried about losing the top seed to the Mavs?
Pffft. Yes, it would mean something to Dallas to get over the hump against San Antonio in the regular season, but the Spurs couldn't -- and shouldn't -- care less about home court in the second round. They closed out their last playoff meeting in Dallas on the back of Steve Kerr's 4 4th-quarter 3-pointers. They've already won a close, physical contest filled with post-season intensity in Big D this season. The only guys on their roster without at least one ring are former Mavs Van Exel and Finley. And remember, because of the convoluted way the NBA handles its playoffs, the Spurs would probably have home court against Phoenix in the conference finals. Unless they're terrified of playing on the road against Dallas, which they aren't, being the 4th seed won't be much of a downer.

Shouldn't they be worried about the lingering injuries to their star players?
If they absolutely had to gut out the top seed, yes. But if they're worried about Tim Duncan's plantar fasciitis, they can rest him in April and coast into the 4th seed. Heck, as occasional texasnba.com contributer Ben points out, San Antonio could rest Duncan in the first round and still advance with ease. Ginobili's always dinged up, but he thrives on physical contact and has no qualms about playing with pain.

It's possible the pain in Duncan's foot will wear him out in the playoffs. But for the purposes of this piece, we're only worried about burning questions as they relate to the rest of the regular season, and the Spurs' injuries aren't cause for concern yet.

Well, they suddenly have the worst center tandem in Texas. How about that?
Okay, that is a little weird, seeing as how this is the Team David Robinson Built. Given that they play Duncan almost exclusively at the four, the Spurs are left with Nazr Mohammed and Rasho Nesuckovic to man the middle. I doubt many Spurs fans would take issue with Yao Ming and Dikembe Mutombo being considered the strongest center pairing in the Lone Star State, but Dallas's DeSagana Diop and the newly revitalized Erick Dampier are outplaying both of the San Antonio big men, too. In fact, since his benching, Dampier leads the league in boards per 48 minutes, collecting more than 9 per game despite averaging less than 30 minutes a night.

The frontcourt has traditionally been an advantage for the Spurs, but with Nowitzki, Howard, and their centers, the Mavs may have them beat. Fortunately for the black and silver, the backcourt of Parker and Ginobili knows no equal. In other words, leave the centers to the runners-up and let that guard tandem carry you to the Finals.