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NBA Power Rankings week 17: OKC Thunder and peers enter break

By Tamberlyn Richardson

FEBRUARY 11: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the OKC Thunder handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
FEBRUARY 11: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the OKC Thunder handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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FEBRUARY 11: Steven Adams #12 of the OKC Thunder handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /

29. . 23-31. Previous: 16th. San Antonio Spurs. 17. team

San Antonio Spurs:

Offense: (111.6)  10th
Defense: (112.7) 25th
Net: (minus -1.1) 16th

 Results Week 17: (1-1) Won vs.Thunder: 114-106,  Lost vs. Nuggets: 120-127
Games Week 18: (2 games) Fri at Jazz | Sun at Thunder

Five games back of the eight seed things are looking grim. Factor in five losses in six matches to start the annual rodeo trip (the lone victory over the OKC Thunder).

Pops crew will begin the stretch run with two more road games to finish the trip as the Jazz and a second shot at the Thunder are on tap.

After this trip, the Spurs will have 11 road games left through to season end. That’s the good news — the bad news is 16 of their remaining 28 games are against currently seeded clubs.

More than ever before this feels like the season the Spurs streak of consistently (since 1997) making the playoffs is in jeopardy. And yet, there are scars to prove underestimating Popovich or the Spurs is simply a bad choice.

Unlike those 22 years of excellence there simply aren’t the typical factors to point to. This iteration of the Spurs isn’t a stellar defensive unit (25th) or a good road team. They don’t move the ball like a Pops crew nor score from the perimeter as past teams have. But, the most concerning aspect of this crew is they don’t take advantage of the lower tier teams. In season’s past, that was a ‘money in the bank’ bid — not so much this year.

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