Mills' scoring bursts off the bench were a major factor in the Spurs winning last year's championship, but he missed the first two months of this season after shoulder surgery.

The 26-year-old has reached double-figures in scoring just five times this season, and is in danger of losing a big chunk of his court time in the playoffs to back-up point guard Cory Joseph.

Longley said he could relate to what Mills was going through, having injured his shoulder in a body surfing accident during the 1996-97 season.

Longley returned in time to help the Bulls secure their second title in their run of three championships.

"It's really hard to come back from such a long-term injury when everyone else has been up and running for a few months," Longley said. "He hasn't had the momentum he had at the end of last year.

"It was tough, you do a lot of stuff above your shoulders in basketball so you're always up in that awkward zone. And when I did my injury, I was only out for six weeks."

Longley said it would be even tougher for an impact shooter such as Mills to rediscover his touch.

"There's all sorts of mechanical things you have to get used to, but shooting's about volume and rhythm," Longley said. "You're not sure about your range of motion and there's a bit of pain to deal with, it takes time.

"I've never been a shooter like Patty, but I had to go through the same things. He'll just be getting that volume and finding his rhythm, and his opportunity will come."

After a stuttering start due mainly to a number of key injuries, the Spurs are the hottest playoff team, having won 11 of their past 12 matches.

They have secured the sixth seed in the heavyweight Western Conference and will take on the LA Clippers in the first round, beginning Monday Australian time.

Longley said defending a championship is tougher than the first, but has been impressed by how the Spurs have nursed their veteran roster into the post-season.

"Their attempt is in different circumstances, we [the Bulls] really didn't have any injuries and didn't have to change too much," Longley said.

"The Spurs seem to have consciously taken their time and have been careful not to put too many miles into ageing veterans.

"They're peaking at the right time of the year, which seems to me has always been the plan."

Fellow Australian Andrew Bogut is also ideally placed to shoot for his maiden NBA title with Western Conference leaders Golden State Warriors.