Hubbard: News flash: Spurs and James Bond have nothing in common

While Parker got going, the Spurs began stopping the Jazz. San Antonio allowed Utah only 15 points in the fourth quarter on 7-of-23 shooting.

“That’s how we’ve always won games,” Tim Duncan said. “When it comes down to the fourth quarter, we can turn that defense up and make some stops. We use the first three to learn and see what we can change and adjust to and, hopefully, that fourth quarter comes around and we know exactly what we want to do and have the right set of guys on the floor that are willing to do it.”

Popovich is by far the best NBA coach at managing playing time, although it is a talent not fully appreciated by the league office. Then again, when you have a team that is older than dirt, you have no choice except to develop that skill.

After 10 games, Parker is the only Spurs player to average more than 30 minutes. Seven players are averaging between 20 and 28 minutes and three more are averaging between 11 and 15.

Five Spurs are scoring in double figures and, again, several of the players have shown quiet improvement. Most significantly for Popovich has been 11-year veteran Boris Diaw, who averaged only 5.8 points last season but is averaging 11.4 points this season. His playing time has increased less than two minutes a game.

“He went and talked to a guru in India or something,” Popovich said, explaining Diaw’s early performance. “I don’t know what he did, but he catches and shoots now. I got nothing to do with it. I’ve been begging him since he got here. His previous coaches have begged him. All of a sudden he’s a catch-and-shoot guy. It’s continued and we’re happy about it.”

The Spurs have made other changes, adding veteran guard Marco Bellinelli and promoting Patty Mills over Cory Joseph as the backup point guard to Parker. Parker is at the top of his game, but even though Duncan, 37, and Manu Ginobili, 36, are not, they still have the effect great players have on teammates – their presence makes everyone better.

In the latter part of the Duncan era, it has become habit to overlook the Spurs. Yes, they are always good and yes, they will win 55 or 60 games. But they never seem to be the best team.

Flying under the radar, however, suits Popovich and the players well. They accept and embrace the fact that they are not a glamorous team. But that’s OK. Like Popovich, the players never wanted to be James Bond, either.

CHECK OUT JAN HUBBARD’S ARCHIVE FROM SHERIDAN HOOPS.COM. TERRIFIC STUFF ON THE NBA, PAST AND PRESENT.

Jan Hubbard has written about basketball since 1976 and worked in the NBA league office for eight years between media stints. Follow him on Twitter at @whyhub.