The Spurs are drawing closer to a complete NBA power rankings takeover

The NBA's post-All-Star Weekend power rankings are out, and the Spurs come in at number two for the second consecutive week. The Pistons are the only team ahead of them, but I anticipate that changing in the near future since Detroit and San Antonio are set to go face off for the first time this season on Monday, February 23.

There's no better way to jump a team in the power rankings than beating them straight up, and the Silver and Black are about to get their chance to do exactly that. First they'll have to win the two games in front of them, but that only presents them with another opportunity to get a leg up on the rest of the league.

The Spurs can control the narrative from here on out

First, let me acknowledge the understanding that power rankings don't play games. No matter where San Antonio ranks by the end of the season, their success in the playoffs will be determined by their play on the court. However, I enjoy seeing my team at the top of the charts. Sports are about competition, and I won't apologize for wanting my squad to be considered the best of 30.

With that being said, their first game out of the break is against Phoenix. The Suns are one of the few teams that have had the Spurs' number this season, so they'll finally be presented with an opportunity to get some payback.

You may remember that De'Aaron Fox and Luke Kornet missed the first game, and both members of Area 51 were out for the second. But there are two sides to that coin, as Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green also missed their early November meeting. Green also missed the matchup later that month, and Brooks is set to miss the upcoming contest.

Regardless, the Spurs need to beat them. If they lose again, all of a sudden, we would have to consider the real possibility that Phoenix is San Antonio's kryptonite. A team with Dillon Brooks on it can't be allowed to own that kind of perception. He already believes it himself because, and we have to tell the truth here, he's been effective at disrupting Victor Wembanyama.

In seven games, Brooks is 5-2 against the Alien. He's usually the primary defender for Wemby, and in those games, Alamo City's franchise star is only averaging 16.7 points per game. Again, he won't be participating in Thursday night's meeting in Austin, but the Suns could end up as a first-round matchup for San Antonio, so these are things worth considering.

The Spurs aren't far off from being the best team in the NBA

The Spurs' second game will be against Sacramento, but they're terrible this season, so as long as the guys don't look past them, it should be an easy dub.

They'd be on an eight-game winning streak at that point, and knocking off Detroit next would almost guarantee their spot atop the power rankings—though it's important to note that John Schuhmann usually drops those on Mondays, and San Antonio won't play the Pistons until that night.

So, they'll have to keep handling business and wait one more week to see their names at number one. But how cool would it be to see Mitch Johnson's ball club reach that spot at this point in the season? It's his first full year as the head coach, Wemby is only on his third campaign, and De'Aaron Fox went from fresh out of the basement straight into the penthouse.

The storylines are just tremendous. Not to mention, if they could hold onto the top spot, it would likely enhance the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year's chances at stealing the MVP at the eleventh hour. But it all starts with taking control of the league and establishing themselves as the best team in the NBA, and that begins on Thursday.