Southwest division: It's a tossup: Spurs, Mavs or Rockets

Tim Duncan isn't close to being the flashiest player in the NBA. His replica jersey doesn't sell as well as, say, Kobe Bryant's or LeBron James'. His 10-foot bank shots don't get a lot of ohs and ahs — or even much airplay on SportsCenter.

But Duncan gets the job done and is, arguably, one of the top two or three basketball players on the planet. He's led the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA title four times since 1999.

Will the Spurs repeat? History says no.

As good as San Antonio has been, they have yet to win the title in back-to-back years. Plus it seems the Spurs only win in odd-numbered years — '99, '03, '05 and '07. This being the 2007-08 season, it looks like it may be another team's turn.

That would be good news for the Dallas Mavericks, who had a brilliant regular season spoiled by their old coach Don Nelson and the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs last spring. The team as a whole — and star forward Dirk Nowitzki, in particular — will continue to have the label of playoff chokers if the Mavs don't win a league title in one of the next couple of years. The good news for Mavs owner Mark Cuban is that his elimination from "Dancing With the Stars" came just prior to the regular season beginning. He can now watch his team — and scream at officials — from his courtside seats instead of practicing his tango.

Houston, the other talented team from Texas, could actually push the Spurs and Mavs for the division crown. The Rockets have a new coach and a new attitude. This just might be the year Tracy McGrady is able to get his team out of the first round of the playoffs.

1. DALLAS MAVERICKS

2006-07 RECORD: 67-15

DIVISION FINISH: first, lost to Golden State 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs

COACH: Avery Johnson, fourth season

TOP ROOKIE: F Nick Fazekas

KEY ADDITIONS: G Eddie Jones, G Trenton Hassell

KEY LOSSES: G Greg Buckner

STRENGTHS: The roster is pretty much intact from the team that won an NBA-best 67 games last season — led by MVP Dirk Nowitzki, F Jason Howard and G Jason Terry. There is no reason this team shouldn't win at least 55 to 65 games again.