In order to battle OKC in getting out of the West this postseason, the Spurs must attack the second half of the season just as they have in the first half.
The San Antonio Spurs enter the 2026 All-Star break riding a six-game win streak and sitting comfortably in the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. That positioning, however, is misleading when you consider the impressive season series San Antonio has put together against the conference's top force and defending champion, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In order to battle OKC for a spot in the NBA Finals, the Spurs must attack the second half of the season just as they have in the first half.
The biggest benefit is the improved health of star big man Victor Wembanyama. He has vowed to compete hard Sunday's All-Star Game, but most Spurs fans wouldn't mind if he took the exhibition easy and rested his body. The 7-4 do-everything forward has missed some time this year and last, but San Antonio will desperately need a fully healthy Wemby, and really, an entire available roster, come playoff time.
What else is on the "to-do" list? We go item by item before the Spurs return home for their next game on Feb. 19.
1 - Survey Buy-Out Market for Jeremy Sochan Replacement
The trade deadline is in the rearview mirror, which means there is also a crop of newly-waived free agents that teams figure won't pan out for their end-of-season push.
One of those players getting released was active Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, a divorce many following the organization saw coming. He's now signing with the New York Knicks, which means it's time San Antonio finds his replacement.
Klay Thompson is an intriguing option from the in-state Dallas Mavericks. He's a team-first veteran who brings as much championship pedigree as you'll find.
The former "Splash Bro" has been hot and cold at times from behind the arc for the Mavs, and given Dallas' recent commitment to a rebuild around Cooper Flagg, the 36-year-old Thompson could get bought out.
Another candidate for some much-needed front-court shooting could include the Lakers' Rui Hachimura.
2 - Solidify Nine-Man Rotation Before Playoff Run
What pushes teams over the hump in the postseason is the production received from role players off the bench in supplementing the star power. San Antonio knows what it'll get from Wembanyama and fellow All-Star De'Aaron Fox, but more depth will be crucial. Might as well get that figured out now.
A factor more significant for the Spurs in this effort is how many players bring inexperience at this stage in the season. Determining which youngsters will get substantial minutes or rely more on veterans during the postseason could make or break Mitch Johnson's chances of making a run.
Sochan occupied about 13 minutes per game, which is right around the ninth spot on this year's roster. Rookie forward Carter Bryant has shown promising traits on rising up the depth chart here, but there could be an opportunity for a young guard like Dylan Harper or Julian Champagnie come into their own with a greater role.
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3 - Close Out Games with Improved Perimeter Shooting
While it hasn't been as much of a problem recently, the Spurs' inability to close out games was just as much of a concern as the three-point shooting at one point this season.
San Antonio came up on the losing end multiple times to close out December and enter the new year in games they could and should have won.
If a more consistent late-game game plan isn't demonstrated coming out of the All-Star break, those concerns could rise again as the urgency increases near the playoffs.
Going forward, the Spurs have the third-toughest remaining schedule in the league, so when they hold a lead late, it's even more important that they grab wins where they can.
Over the last four games, the perimeter shooting has seen an uptick (39.3 percent, five points above season average), lending the belief that it can be an area the team relys on to help close out games.