Power rankings consensus tell a devastating story about the Spurs

The calendar hasn't even turned yet, and the Spurs have skyrocketed to the top of power rankings everywhere—at least, the ones that matter. San Antonio has been placed number one on the NBA's and Bleacher Report's most recent lists and second on The Athletic's. We'll forgive the latter for their indiscretion and accept their decision begrudgingly. It's close enough to the truth.

That loss to Utah was very forgettable, but the run they went on before that was anything but. Mitch Johnson's ball club had the league's longest winning streak (8) and beat OKC three times within a two-week window. The Spurs are ranked fifth in offensive and defensive ratings. They're the only team in the league that can say that.

There's more than that, though. When you repeatedly dominate the teams that everyone touts as the most elite, people have to take notice.

They should have seen the Spurs coming

This isn't even the first example of an allegedly bad team becoming elite that we've seen in the past two years. Detroit just did this. They went from the very worst record in basketball in 2023 to making the playoffs as a sixth seed in 2024. It was a terrific story, and everyone always loves an underdog, so their success was applauded, but the lessons weren't received. There's a takeaway that was lost here.

There are no rules about how quickly a team can turn things around. You can look to history as somewhat of a guide, but the past doesn't dictate the future. When you have a generational talent, all the norms need to go out of the window.

Analysts, writers, and pundits all acknowledged the unyielding ability of Victor Wembanyama, but they wouldn't allow themselves to predict a leap for San Antonio. When you listened to their reasoning, most of it revolved around the idea that growth doesn't happen that quickly. But improvement isn't some linear equation. Players, coaches, and schemes take leaps.

I can't tell you how many times I heard somebody say, "They only won 34 games last year, so I can't see them winning 50 that fast." I hate to break it to those people, but that's not analysis, nor is it a good reason for making any predictions. You'll always be behind the curve if you're waiting for the thing to happen first.

This team is full of lottery picks. That part of the roster's construction has been swept under the rug. Wemby, Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, and Dylan Harper were all top-15 picks in their respective drafts. Even Kelly Olynyk, Jeremy Sochan, and Carter Bryant were selected highly. There is immense talent in San Antonio, and now, they're being recognized for it.