Every year, there is one team that makes a significant jump from the lottery to the inner depths of the playoffs. Each of them features a ready-to-launch young star, an added co-star, and a potent cast of role players. After a busy summer, the Spurs have precisely that. They are no different from the pole vaulting teams of years past. However, the internet consensus doesn't seem to agree.
In a recent article on NBA.com by author John Schuhmann, the Spurs were ranked 10th in the Western Conference hierarchy. Despite the moves they have made and a fully healthy Victor Wembanyama returning, the Spurs were left as the last team to sneak into the Play-In tournament.