Spurs' most hated rival is embarrassing themselves at the perfect time

A few of their fiercest competitors have blocked the Spurs' quest to the top of the conference. One of which is their in-state rival, the Houston Rockets. For the first two months of the season, the Rockets ranked among the top three in the conference and halted the Spurs' upward movement. But not for long.

As several teams lie neck and neck at the top of the conference, every win matters. That makes the Rockets' most recent losses all the more damning. Over the past week, Houston has lost to both the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans. If you didn't know, this pair sits lowly at the bottom of the west. For a team as good as the Rockets, this is pretty embarrassing.

The Rockets haven't been as good as advertised

The Rockets lost not one but two horribly ugly games. This is concerning for a team that has championship aspirations. In these losses, Houston has brutally struggled to close out. With the game on the line, they have not been able to finish.

In the Spurs' matchup with the Rockets earlier this season, San Antonio took over as the game wore on. When it mattered the most, Houston was unable to capitalize or create any extra edge over the Silver and Black.

On the flip side, our guys have been able to thrive in clutch situations. The Spurs have won numerous clutch battles, and with their deep set of finishers, they have what it takes to make the extra play in the game's final minutes. As we look forward to playoff matchups, this is something to keep in mind.

The Spurs have launched into the second seed

These two losses, paired with the Rockets' win over the Denver Nuggets, have propelled San Antonio to the second seed in the Western Conference. Thank you, Houston. It was hard to anticipate the Spurs being this good during the offseason, yet here we are.

Earning the two seed, no matter when it comes, is an incredible accomplishment for this young team. As the journey to the top once looked impossible, the Spurs have done it and won't be looking back.

Now sitting pretty at the two seed, the Spurs will control their destiny going forward. Every game counts, and they must keep the pedal to the metal at all times. The Spurs should look at the Rockets' losses to inferior opponents as an example of why you should never get comfortable during the NBA's grueling 82-game season.