The Spurs landed in the eighth spot on [the NBA's power rankings](https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2025-26-week-7) list for the second consecutive week. They likely could have been slightly higher, but they keep losing the day before the next reveal. Regardless, they've found a way to remain in the top ten after playing two weeks of games without Victor Wembanyama. That should tell everyone that this team is a real threat.
Had they played the weakest schedule in the league during this stretch, opinions would be different, but you can't deny the body of work they're putting together. Beating Denver in a game with real stakes makes what they've been doing undeniable. This isn't a fringe team. This is a true threat in a vicious Western Conference, and you can't really make a rational argument otherwise.
Spurs' list of impressive wins is growing
-----------------------------------------
The Silver and Black have wins over some of the best teams in the league. On this very same power rankings list, John Schuhmann has the Denver Nuggets second and the Houston Rockets third. Since the Spurs have beaten them both, one of them without two of their best players, it's clear that there's a growing monster everyone should be paying attention to down in the 210.
Let's take a look at the trajectory of this rocketship starting from the expectations set before the season began. If you're a nut like me, you consumed a lot of media from different publications to see whether analysts and writers were hot or cold on San Antonio. As it turned out, they were lukewarm on the crew because of a myriad of factors.
Questions persisted about the roster construction; there was supposed to be a lack of space with too many downhill point guards. League executives were uncertain about Mitch Johnson's viability as the head coach. Not to mention having to fight the widespread idea and overwhelming consensus that teams can't make leaps that large in one season.
Ignore the fact that the Pistons went from having the worst record in the league to an outright playoff team that didn't need the play-in tournament to make it to the postseason from one year to the next. So, we literally just watched it happen, but for some reason, a team with a player with the capacity to be a top-five hooper ever wasn't getting the benefit of the doubt.
I have immense respect for Cade Cunningham, but he's no Victor Wembanyama. They stormed out of the gates to a 5-0 record and, since then, have beaten several top teams from each conference. They've had three three-game winning streaks before reaching a quarter of the season, and their last seven [games have been played without Vic.](https://airalamo.com/spurs-injury-riddled-lineups-have-dominated-in-an-important-area)
They've earned their spot in the top ten of the NBA's power rankings, and when Wemby returns, who knows where they'll end up?