Where Do the Spurs Rank After Recent Success?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonah Kubicek | Last updated Nov 26, 2024 11:58 AM ET

Siting at 9-8, the San Antonio Spurs have 13 teams ahead of them record-wise, and most of them are in the Western Conference. The last winning season in San Antonio was the 2018-19 campaign, and since then the Spurs have been middling to bad, although they are currently riding a hot streak, having won five of their last seven games and all of their last three.

With statement wins over the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder, who were both atop the West when they came rolling into the Frost Bank Center, the Spurs are finally being taken seriously. Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul have been better than advertised, Stephon Castle is one of the best rookies in the NBA, and Victor Wembanyama continues to be incredible.

Finally, the Spurs are being rewarded for their patience. The Athletic publishes a semi-regular NBA power ranking and divides teams up into tiers. "Top Contenders," "In a Good Place," "The Bubble," "Not the Tier to Fear," and "Basement Floor." In recent years, the Spurs have been frequent fixtures of the last two, but after the hot stretch, they come in at number 12 in the NBA and "In a Good Place."

"Barnes is the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week and shooting a career-best 43.9 percent from 3 and 52 percent from the field," wrote Law Murray. "Paul is in his 20th NBA season and still is one of seven players averaging at least eight assists per game while playing in at least 10 games."

The Spurs were in 21st last ranking, a spot now occupied by the Detroit Pistons. The Spurs have found themselves ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and Phoenix Suns, all of whom were expected to be contenders this season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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