Spurs-Mavs features two all-time greats

While San Antonio Spurs steamrolled toward their fourth 60-win season in 11 years, coach Gregg Popovich was asked if there is a secret formula for the franchise’s almost unfathomable run of excellence.

“Yes there is,” said Popovich, in typical deadpan fashion. “Get the No. 1 pick in the draft every 10 years and make sure that it’s a franchise player. That’s the formula. That’s how lucky you have to be. You’ve got David (Robinson) for a decade and then Timmy (Duncan) comes. Well, I think most anybody could build around that.”

Of course, Popovich is oversimplifying. What the Spurs have created is a program unlike any other in the league, one built on the willingness of three stars to take less money, band together and establish a culture and a pecking order under their no-nonsense coach.

The Spurs finished with an NBA-best 62-20 record, wiping out last season’s heartbreaking loss in the NBA Finals in emphatic fashion. Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are back for another run, and standing in their way is another one of the league’s most enduring forces.

In his 16th season, Dirk Nowitzki has enjoyed a renaissance, averaging 21.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and shooting 49.7 percent from the field to lead the Dallas Mavericks back to the playoffs. That patented one-legged step-back jumper is as dangerous as ever. He’s battled Duncan for 16 years now, and one more matchup should be a thriller.

“This is a treat for people that appreciate NBA basketball and the history of the game,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “And you’ve got two guys whose love and respect for the game is so high and their work ethic and standards are so high.”

ROCKETS VS. BLAZERS

The Houston Rockets were happy simply to return to the playoffs last season.

A year later and with the addition of Dwight Howard, the Rockets are back in the postseason and looking to make some noise. They play Game 1 of their first-round series against Portland on Sunday night.

“Just being here is not good enough,” said Chandler Parsons, who made his playoff debut last year. “We want to win and we want to contend for a championship and we want to be the last team standing.”

The Rockets returned to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009 and battled back from a 3-0 deficit in the first round before being eliminated by Oklahoma City in Game 6.

James Harden, who is fifth in the NBA in scoring with 25.4 points a game, believes the experience of last year will help Houston this time around.

“I think last year that first-round playoff series gave us a little taste of what it feels like to be in the playoffs,” he said. “So hopefully we’re familiar with the playoffs and whatnot and we go out there and just play basketball.”

The Trail Blazers haven’t advanced to the playoffs since 2011. LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum lead their group of players with postseason experience, but a number of their teammates will be making their playoff debuts.

Second- year point guard Damian Lillard is among the Trail Blazers who are new to the postseason.

“I’m just going to try to go into it and play it like another basketball game,” Lillard said, “and not put too much pressure on the fact that it’s my first playoff game or that we’re on the road or all those other things.”

BULLS VS. WIZARDS

Never mind all they overcame. The only obstacle that matters now for the Chicago Bulls is the one in front of them.

The Bulls head into Sunday’s playoff opener against the Washington Wizards as one of the hottest teams in the NBA. After losing to Miami in the second round last year, Chicago is looking to make a run at the Heat and Indiana Pacers this time around.

The Wizards might have something to say about that after winning 44 games to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2008 behind John Wall.

“I think a lot of people are writing us off, not saying we really have a chance,” Wall said. “We know what’s ahead of us.”