Spurs’ Hot Streak Spurs Rumblings of Historic Championship Push
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The San Antonio Spurs have ripped off a 23-2 record since Feb. 1, closing to within two games of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Western Conference lead and claiming a 4-1 edge in the season series. The surge has prompted coaches, scouts and executives to wonder whether a roster packed with players in their 20s — and guided by a first-year head coach — can leap from last season’s lottery to an NBA title in June.
‘Full-on nightmares’ for opponents
League observers point squarely to rookie star Victor Wembanyama. One veteran Eastern Conference scout, after watching the 7-foot-4 center swat a shot and finish a coast-to-coast dunk, declared, “He’s my favorite now … by Game 4 they’ll be having full-on nightmares.”
An executive whose club faced San Antonio recently called Wembanyama “absolutely unguardable” and praised the club’s balance and coaching. Another East executive downplayed concerns about postseason inexperience, noting that Harrison Barnes and Luke Kornet own championship rings and guard De’Aaron Fox is a proven late-game performer.
History says ‘not yet’ — but Wembanyama may be different
Since the 1976-77 merger, only the 1977 Trail Blazers and 2008 Celtics won a championship after missing the playoffs the previous year, and both clubs added Hall of Famers in the offseason. The closest parallel offered for San Antonio is the 1995 Orlando Magic, who reached the Finals behind Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee Hardaway before being swept by Houston.
“History projects against it,” one veteran scout admitted, “but [Wembanyama] is generational.”
Thunder still loom, potential Denver matchup noted
Oklahoma City is 15-2 since the All-Star break and a combined 141-37 over the past two seasons, yet insiders believe Wembanyama can neutralize Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s deadly mid-range game with his 8-foot wingspan. One Western coach added that if Denver slots into the No. 4 seed, a potential seven-game repeat of last year’s series could sap the Thunder before a possible showdown with San Antonio.
Shooting worries linger in San Antonio
Playoff game-planning is expected to target the Spurs’ perimeter weaknesses: Fox, rookie Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle are all below-average three-point shooters. Scouts predict opponents will double off Castle and dare him to hit open looks.
Board of Governors: expansion interest and award-eligibility debate
At this week’s owners meeting in New York, commissioner Adam Silver underscored growing support for expansion, with Seattle and Las Vegas considered front-runners amid what league officials describe as “an ocean of capital.”
The 65-game requirement for end-of-season awards also drew scrutiny after Cade Cunningham’s collapsed lung left him stuck on 60 games, short of the 62-game injury exception. Despite complaints, executives noted star participation is up, and sources said the rule is unlikely to change in the near term.
Tanking concerns ahead of 2026-27
Silver reiterated plans to overhaul the draft lottery before the 2026-27 season, acknowledging that flatter odds introduced in 2019 have not curbed the annual race to the bottom; insiders estimate eight to 10 teams now shut down veterans after the All-Star break.
Health stories dominate the Eastern race
Cleveland welcomed Max Strus back and hopes Jarrett Allen (knee tendinitis) returns this weekend, though the Cavaliers rank just 19th defensively since reshaping the roster at the deadline. Miami continues to search for chemistry between Norman Powell and Tyler Herro after repeated injuries.
In Philadelphia, Paul George and Joel Embiid combined for 63 points in Wednesday’s win over Chicago, and Tyrese Maxey plus Kelly Oubre Jr. are expected back soon. The 76ers, once bracing merely to avoid 10th place, sit seventh — one game out of fifth — and believe they can challenge any opponent if healthy.
The NBA calendar now turns to April with San Antonio chasing Oklahoma City, executives debating awards eligibility, and medical reports shaping the Eastern playoff bracket.
Source: ESPN
