So, don't get me wrong here, I'm happy to see the Spurs back in the top ten of power rankings across different publications, but I'm only human. I need things to make sense, and the NBA's list doesn't really sit well with me, so now I'm making it your problem, too. We're going to, together, try to figure out how San Antonio dropped a spot after losing one game.
You're going to think of me as a real stickler when I tell you that they only dropped the guys one spot. But that's not the point. To understand the issue, you have to look at the teams they placed above the Silver and Black. Several opponents don't deserve their standing, so it really only leaves us with one conclusion: the writer, John Schuhmann, still doesn't trust the Spurs... yet.
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— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) November 3, 2025
The Spurs are fighting an uphill battle with the NBA ranking system
We can make this really simple by looking at the ratings for each team in question and their record. Starting with the Lakers. Honestly, I don't have a huge problem with LA's spot. Luka Doncic is playing out of his mind, and Austin Reaves is at the height of his powers. My problem with them is that their defensive rating is 17th, and they're counting on a 41-year-old LeBron James a little too much for my liking.
The 4-3 Warriors are this year's all-hype squad. "Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green rarely lost when they all played last season," they'll tell you. That's a three-man core with an average age of 36. They're ninth in defensive rating and 17th in offensive rating, and they just lost to a Giannis-less Bucks team and the 1-5 Pacers. There's no way they should be ranked above the Spurs.
The Knicks are even worse. They're 3-3 and had a three-game losing streak when they went out on the road. What are we even talking about here? They're 11th in offensive rating and 16th in defensive rating. Putting this team in the top ten with squads like Philly and Chicago on the outside looking in, with only one loss on the season, is just wrong. At the very least, put them below San Antonio.
The Cavs are 4-3. They've also dealt with injury issues so far this season, but their woes have led to a 26th-ranked offensive rating... 26th. They're 6th in defensive rating, but that hasn't been enough for them to look like a real threat in a down year for the Eastern Conference. They have a net rating of +0.3 (16th). They haven't earned a spot above the Silver and Black.
Speaking of the Spurs, they have the ninth-highest offensive rating and the second-best defensive rating. Their net rating is +8.8. That's the fourth best in the league. They're also 5-1 with five important pieces missing from their lineup.
Again, I'm thrilled to see the guys back in the top ten, but it's head-scratching to see the teams ahead of them. They'll have to regain their footing and, I guess, not lose a game until February. Maybe then, they'll crack the top five.