Still, the Spurs haven't clinched anything, and that's why tonight's (Tuesday) game against the Jazz at the Delta Center is vital to their hopes of repeating as NBA champions.

San Antonio (57-16) trails Detroit (59-14) by two games in the race for best overall record and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Spurs' lead over Dallas (55-19) for best record in the West and the No. 1 seed in the conference is only 2 1/2 games.

Clearly, San Antonio can't afford a loss in Utah if it hopes to: 1) catch the Pistons and 2) pull away from the Mavericks.

Asked about the playoff positioning that is still at stake for his team, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said, "Do we talk to our team about it? No. . . . We just try to win every game. That's what we've been about and that's what every team in this league is about."

At the same time, Popovich knows the tremendous advantage the Spurs would get if they pass Detroit and have a homecourt advantage in a possible Finals matchup with the Pistons.

"It can be done either way," he said. "We've won championships both ways. If you're the best team, you're the best team. Having said that, no one in their right mind would turn down homecourt."

The Spurs, who beat the Pistons in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last year in San Antonio, have won three straight heading into their game with the Jazz.

Is Popovich happy with the way his team is playing?

"'Happy' is not a word coaches use," Popovich said at Tuesday morning's shootaround. "Neither is 'unhappy.' They just don't fit the situation. . . . It's about being satisfied. And coaches are never satisfied. But I'd say we're closer now than we have been to the level we were playing at last year in the playoffs."

Point guard Tony Parker leads the Spurs in scoring (19.3) and assists (5.9).

"Utah is trying for that eighth spot," Parker said, "and they always play well here. . . . It's going to be one of those tough games."

In 2001, the Jazz had a chance to take Parker in the draft. He worked out in Utah and interviewed with team officials.

But on draft day, the Jazz took Spanish point guard Raul Lopez with the 24th pick in the first round. Parker slipped to the Spurs at No.

28.

At first, Parker enjoyed playing against the Jazz because he wanted to show them that they - along with several other teams - made a mistake.

"Not any more," Parker said. "My first two years, I wanted to show I could play in the league. . . . But it's worked out well. I'm very happy to be in San Antonio. I've been blessed to be in San Antonio and to play on some good teams."

If the Jazz had taken Parker, he would have joined Andrei Kirilenko in Utah.

"Andrei and I are very good friends," Parker said. "We talked about it and were loving the idea playing on the same team."