Since their Christmas Day win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs have gone 8-8-a stretch that’s been more “meh” than memorable. But here’s the twist: despite the .500 record, they’re still sitting at No. 4 in the NBA’s latest power rankings.
That might raise some eyebrows, but it’s not just about San Antonio's performance-it’s about the league-wide landscape. And right now, nobody’s lighting it up.
Yes, the Spurs have been inconsistent on offense-painfully so at times. They’ve struggled to string together strong scoring nights, and it’s clear that their rhythm has been off.
But they’re not alone in that department. Scoring is down across the league, and that context matters.
It’s not just the Spurs who are sputtering-it’s the NBA as a whole.
January’s Offensive Dip Is Real
Let’s break it down. The numbers from the past few months tell a clear story.
In October, the top-scoring team was putting up 127.8 points per game, and the 15th-ranked offense was at 118.2. Fast forward to January, and those numbers have dipped to 120.5 and 114.0, respectively.
That’s a significant drop, especially when you consider that we’re talking about the best and middle-of-the-pack offenses.
This isn’t just a blip-it’s a trend. And it’s affecting everyone, from title contenders to teams fighting for a Play-In spot.
Fatigue is part of the equation. We’re deep into the grind of the 82-game season, and even the most elite players can hit a wall.
Focus wanes, legs get heavy, and the offensive flow that was crisp in November starts to look sluggish in late January.
Coach Mitch Johnson summed it up pretty well recently when he said, “It’s January in the NBA.” At the time, it might’ve sounded like a throwaway line, but it’s proving to be spot-on.
This is the dog days stretch-when teams are trying to push through the monotony and get to the All-Star break in one piece. That midseason pause can’t come soon enough.
It’s a chance to reset, recharge, and refocus for the final push.
San Antonio’s Ceiling Is Still High
Despite the recent inconsistency, there are still flashes of what this Spurs team can be. They’ve picked up quality wins this month over tough Western Conference opponents like the Lakers and Timberwolves.
Those are the kind of games that remind you there’s still a sleeping giant in San Antonio. The defense may not be elite, and the offense has been hit-or-miss, but the potential is still there.
The Spurs’ spot in the power rankings reflects more than just their recent record-it’s a nod to the bigger picture. This team has shown it can compete at a high level, even if the results haven’t always followed. And with two and a half months left before the playoffs, there’s time to recalibrate and find that groove again.
Bottom line: the Spurs aren’t alone in their struggles, and that might be the best news of all. The league is in a bit of an offensive slump, but slumps don’t last forever.
The All-Star break is coming, and with it, a chance to reset. If San Antonio can rediscover its rhythm and tap back into the energy that carried them through December, they’ll be right in the mix when it matters most.