Spurs’ high expectation season has 3 tiers of success or failure

The Spurs are entering a season with the highest stakes they have had in years. The foundational core of a playoff-caliber team is finally in place, and the group is expected to achieve great things. With Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox at the helm, the Silver and Black are preparing to shift things around tremendously.

With the overwhelming odds and uncertain future comes a variety of different outcomes. These outcomes are separated into tiers. Included are the Spurs ceiling, floor, and middle ground. At the top, Spurs fans will be jumping for joy, while at the bottom, management will begin to reassess their team-building philosophy. This season is sure to bring a rollercoaster of emotions.

The Spurs launch into the top of the conference

This is the dream scenario. Not needing any additional time to gel and learn how to be great, the Spurs would be thrust to the top of the conference and instantly become contenders for the finals. While it may sound crazy, it is not entirely out of the realm of possibility.

The Thunder have done it, the Rockets have done it, and even the Grizzlies have done it, all in the Western Conference. The Houston Rockets are the most recent example. Just last year, they went from a team that was entirely out of the playoff mix to the second seed in the conference in the blink of an eye.

With a young, dynamic, and hungry squad, they propelled themselves up the conference with strong determination. The Spurs have a similar structure. They can play robust defense, they have a pair of stars, and they have a coach capable of making positive changes. If all goes well, the Spurs could be competing for championships before you know it.

The Spurs end the season comfortably in the Play-In

In the most likely scenario, the Spurs don't have enough to conquer the West yet, but find themselves in a lively position in the West's Play-In tournament. This would allow the Spurs to still crack the group of eight and present Spurs fans with their first ticket to a Wembanyama playoff masterclass.

In this middle-tier scenario, there would be no reason to be upset. The playoffs should be the goal for the Spurs this season, no matter how it happens. So long as they can make it, we should hold a smile. This accomplishment would be a stepping stone towards the Spurs' greatest goal. However, this can't be the objective for long. The Spurs' dreams are greater than this.

Should this plot unfold, General Manager Brian Wright will likely be seeking upgrades in the offseason. A finish in the middle of the conference means that either injuries happened or more work needs to be done to become true contenders.

Disaster strikes and the Spurs miss the playoffs entirely

Last and very much least, in this case, the Spurs tumble into disaster. In a season full of ambition, the Spurs sputter and can't even manage to make the Play-In. While unlikely, it should be known that the West is full of great teams, and there is plenty of talent out there to stop the Spurs in their tracks.

A scenario like this would likely be due to injuries. If Wembanyama once again misses time, the Spurs' season is toast. The core cog of the Spurs' success, everything works around the Frenchman. Without him, the defense would vanish, and the offense would take a significant step back. Let's pray our superstar can stay healthy and we can avoid this deathly outcome.