3 Definitive signs the San Antonio Spurs aren't tanking this season

When Doctor Strange willingly gave Thanos a crucial piece of his evil puzzle in Avengers: Infinity War, nobody understood his decision. The audience could not see the light at the end of the tunnel like the mystic wizard could, but business was handled when it was time for the revenge tour. The San Antonio Spurs are in a similar situation as they step into the 2023 regular season with their own version of Captain Marvel in the uniquely talented Victor Wembanyama.

Oddsmakers have set the Spurs' win total projection at 28.5 games, while some fans and media members have suggested another tanking season. The Spurs are past the tanking phase. Giving last season away was a necessary evil to lead the Silver & Black on the only viable path back to dominance. The bill has come due and opposing teams will now have to deal with a re-energized Spurs team showing up to reclaim the spot of bullies on the block.

3.) The Starting Lineup

In the preseason, San Antonio rolled out their new long limbs lineup with Jeremy Sochan starting at point guard. While this group had a few clunky offensive possessions, they still managed to score a handful of easy buckets all around the hardwood. Opponents were already rotating extra defenders to Wemby, allowing the Spurs to make opponents pay with their unselfish play and great shooting.

The defense was mesmerizing. San Antonio's effort, attention to detail, and coverage were pristine as they suffocated offense after offense. Some clubs were shorthanded in these games, and it was only the preseason, so take these observations with a grain of salt. Regardless, there was a noticeable difference in the intensity from the young Spurs. A tanking team wouldn't relegate opposing point guards to the shadow realm by setting the Polish Prince loose on them from the first whistle.

2.) Gregg Popovich Extension

If Gregg Popovich has shown anything over the years, it is his desire to compete at the highest level. It is rare for a head coach to stay with one organization for as long as he has. While age is a factor, the 74-year-old signing a five-year extension this summer indicates he intends to reach the mountaintop again. But time is of the essence. The familiar phrase "father time is undefeated" does not only apply to athletes, and Coach Pop could call it quits at any given moment.

The team started showing genuine flashes of excellence in small spurts last year. When fully healthy, the Spurs beat the eventual champions, the Denver Nuggets, in a thrilling contest that went down to the wire in early March. Yes, it was only one game, but there were numerous matchups where San Antonio showed a capacity for high-caliber basketball. After offseason growth and the addition of Wemby, it is time to take the next step, which would be consistent production.

1.) Wembanyama is Too Good

Most rookies enter the NBA with glaring weaknesses that a clever coaching staff can exploit. This learning curve often stops dynamic newcomers from impacting winning on a massive scale until they address those shortcomings. An inability to make free throws, consistently self-create offense, play sound defense, and shoot from distance can hamper their success. Wemby is in the beginning stages of showcasing the capacity to do each of those things at a pretty good to exceptional rate.

He will have a serious chance to be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate during his rookie season. And scoring over 20 points per game is well within reach for the 7-foot-3 alien. The front office built the bench unit upon versatility, and the man at the helm is the greatest coach of all time. The NBA is nothing like the NFL. One player can completely change the trajectory of a franchise, and that change can come faster than anyone expects.

Everyone has opinions about the young French phemom. As Wembanyama gets acclimated to the playstyle of the NBA, he has looked every bit like the extraterrestrial prospect draft experts projected he would be. Past and present superstars are already eating their words about how long it would take for him to adjust to the league. Some players were even complimentary with their first takes on Victor. They just weren't complimentary enough.