I guess San Antonio is the real-life Hawkins because the Silver and Black have been battling the oddest circumstances in their mission to conquer the pitfalls of an NBA season. With Victor Wembanyama the most powerful in the bunch, they've been overcoming vicious obstacles from the very beginning of episo- I mean, the first game of the year.
The calm came before the storm
Walk with me down Juxtaposition Alley for a second. Spurs Nation was excited about what the season could bring before a single player stepped foot on the court. The offseason was good to us, but it didn't take long after the first tipped ball to feel "it was all good just a week ago" vibes. They rattled off five straight wins before suffering back-to-back losses, reminding everyone that the road they'll have to travel is a treacherous one.
In the first episode of Stranger Things, everything seemed so normal. Hawkins is just a small town with friendly vibes, and the main characters were carefree as ever. They excitedly played their Dungeons & Dragons game with youthful exuberance and innocence, but soon, Will was snatched, taken to the Upside Down, and the chaos ensued from there.
Spurs have had to navigate adverse circumstances
The Spurs and De'Aaron Fox opted to end his last season early so he could be ready for the start of the next campaign. Despite their best efforts to protect their players, it's pro sports, though; somebody always gets hurt. It wasn't supposed to be him. Not that fast. The guys were having success without him, though. Then Dylan Harper went down, followed by Stephon Castle shortly after, forcing others to step up.
The kids have gone through similar struggles; if Will isn't being kidnapped, Hopper is in trouble, Max is getting her limbs broken, or they're all split up for some other random reason. Regardless of who's in the immediate group, they find a way to come out on top, fighting some of the ugliest and scariest creatures they've ever seen.
While San Antonio hasn't faced the worst of the worst yet, they've certainly seen their fair share of ugly (I'm looking at you, specifically, Houston). This hasn't been the cakewalk schedule that some naysayers have led you to believe. The Spurs have wins over the Rockets, Heat, Raptors, Bulls, and Hawks. Three of those squads are in the top four of their respective conferences, and they're all currently playoff teams.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes
The way the Spurs are set up, they may have a superpowered friend on their side, but they get strong contributions from their entire cast. On any given night, the hero could be Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Julian Champagnie, or Luke Kornet. The crucial plays can be made in the form of made shots, offensive boards, stout defense, or however else they need to get the job done.
How is that different from Steve Harrington's revelation of heroism, Nancy and Robin figuring out that music can stave off Vecna to give Max more time, or Argyle's clutch salt scheme in a time of dire need?
San Antonio has been holding it down without the complete sum of their parts at their disposal. That won't stop them from battening down the hatches when the storm comes. They're prepared for it. The culture of togetherness is strong, and when you combine teamwork and talent, you triumph. That's the lesson you learn from Hawkins' monster-slaying crew. But am I talking about the kids or the Spurs?