It’s been two decades since the Spurs have found themselves in this position. Right now, a slim three-game lead on the ninth-place Denver Nuggets in the chaotic Western Conference is the only thing keeping the team from missing the playoffs for the first time since the ‘96-‘97 season.
While the Spurs recently reeled off a six-game winning streak, that stretch feels triggered by desperation. In past years, the team’s well-oiled machine could have rattled off four or five or six straight wins in its sleep.
Optimistic fans can attribute the Spurs’ struggles to the absence of their leading man, Kawhi Leonard.