Spurs rule new power rankings by leveling up in terrifying way for the NBA

San Antonio is still entrenched at number one in the power rankings after today's release from John Schuhmann. The reason for that is simple, yet terrifying: the Spurs have returned to the top five in both defensive (3rd) and offensive rating (5th). Their timing couldn't be more perfect with barely over a month left in the regular season.

The Silver and Black have maintained their elite defense for the vast majority of the year, but their offense hit a major snag in January. From the opening game of the season up until Christmas, the Spurs were fifth on both ends of the floor, but they've leveled up over the past 16 games, and they look as crisp as a fresh haircut before a first date.

The Spurs have finally clicked and it didn't take long

What this team was doing during the first half of the season was impressive because they were almost never whole. Just about every rotational player on the roster has missed at least a handful of games, and it prevented the Spurs from developing true cohesion. The injury bug plagued this roster until late January, when Devin Vassell returned from a 13-game absence.

They've been mostly whole ever since—at least until Harrison Barnes' recent ankle ailment. He's missed the past four games, but that hasn't slowed down San Antonio because he was already in a reserve role, and Carter Bryant has been a revelation. Fans are beginning to question whether the 13-year veteran should even get his spot back when he returns.

That's the kind of depth this team has. They made the Rockets look slow and weak, when in the past, Houston had imposed their will via physicality much more effectively than what we saw last night. It almost looked like a completely different team, but that was because the Spurs have been as sharp as they've been all season.

They're 15-1 in their last 16 games, and over that stretch, they actually have the top offensive rating and the fourth-best defensive rating. Playing this well for so long has firmly re-established the fact that this is and has been a monster of a team for the vast majority of the year. Forget about January completely. Erase it from your minds. It's proven to be nothing but a lone outlier.

Victor Wembanyama looks almost too comfortable with aggressive teams now. That will truly be tested in the playoffs, but so far, he's acing every exam placed in front of him. He's been the leader of this absurd run, and the Spurs are on the verge of heading into the postseason as the NBA's hottest team if they can keep this up.