The San Antonio Spurs are expected to hit the ground running after the All-Star Break, but they have one key priority as they hope to rival the OKC Thunder and make a push to the NBA Finals.
The San Antonio Spurs, at the unofficial midway point of the NBA season, have been one of the league's most surprising success stories.
Most fans expected the Spurs to be in the playoff mix, narrowly missing out on the play-in tournament. Instead, the Spurs are three games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, are second in the Western Conference, and hold a commanding 4-1 season series lead against the defending champs.
In short, the Spurs aren't just "in the mix," they are very much a championship-caliber team.
As the Spurs hope to keep the good times rolling after the All-Star Break, there is one major priority that will define how they finish the regular season.
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San Antonio Spurs Must Stay Healthy
Sounds simple, right?
There isn't a lot a team can do to ensure proper health. Sure, a reliable training staff helps, and minute management is certainly a factor, but freak injuries can happen. The Spurs boast two of the more reliable players in the league in Harrison Barnes and Julian Champagnie, but they need their stars to be healthy, as well.
Victor Wembanyama's sophomore season was cut short last year thanks to blood clots. While he has fully recovered, it's a stark reminder that injuries and illnesses can derail a season without warning. Of course, Wemby isn't "injury prone," as his only major health concern was a random illness, but some of the Spurs have very real durability concerns.
Stephon Castle has already missed ten games this season, and both Luke Kornet and Dylan Harper missed time, as well.
Devin Vassell, meanwhile, is the team's most reliable shooter, but he has already missed 13 games. On top of that, he has played in 65 or more games only twice in his career. A late-season injury to him could derail a playoff run.
In seasons past, my "All-Star Break priorities" would include rotation changes, on-court improvements, or pulling certain players from the lineup entirely. This season, there is more on the line than at any point since 2018, although the Spurs are doing things the right way. They have been cautious with Wembanyama all season, clearly saving him for when they will need him most. In terms of health, there's not much the Spurs can do other than hope.