The Athletic NBA Daily

Episode: Spurs Stay Hot + Who Are True Contenders?
Date: February 24, 2026
Host: Zena Kada
Guests: Law Murray, Jared Weiss

Episode Overview

This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily spotlights two main themes:

1. Power Rankings and Playoff Contention:
   Host Zena Kada and Law Murray dive deep into the NBA’s evolving power rankings, debating which teams are legitimate contenders, how movement in the rankings works, and the factors that go into evaluating teams post-All-Star break.

2. Spurs vs. Pistons Recap and Spurs’ Ceiling:
   Joined by Jared Weiss, the crew analyzes the San Antonio Spurs’ gritty win over the Detroit Pistons—examining the game’s physicality, individual player performances, and how the Spurs’ identity as a contender is crystallizing.

Power Rankings: Process, Tiers, and True Contenders

(02:18 – 14:22)

Inside Law Murray’s Power Ranking Process

• Dynamic, Not Static: Law explains that he doesn’t like static rankings, instead updating them weekly based on play, context, themes, and upcoming matchups.
• Mix of Numbers and Narrative: He looks at standings, net ratings, injuries, playing style, and who teams are about to face, aiming for “a feel for the conversation.”
• Quote:

  “Describing it is like Dennis Rodman talking about the angle of a rebound. ... If y’all want to argue about this, we’re going to do that. … I do look at the standings. I do look at net ratings. But I also look at who’s playing, who’s got a reason to feel they can be better.”
  —Law Murray (04:00)

Sticky, Not Stuck

• The rankings are “sticky, but not stuck” (06:50), reflecting that teams can—and do—move significantly from week to week, especially after the All-Star break or trade deadline.

On the Cavaliers, Rockets, Nuggets, and Knicks

• Knicks: Recent wins (notably in Boston) kept them top-tier, but concerning losses led to a slight slip.
• Cavs: James Harden’s arrival and a six-game win streak boosted their standing.
• Nuggets & Rockets: Each has strengths and recent struggles, notably Denver’s defensive issues.
• Key Quote:

  “Do you feel good about the Denver Nuggets? Yes, because they have championship equity. But what they don’t have is the kind of defense that makes you think they’re going to repeat that.”
  —Law Murray (10:00)

Health and Narrative Remembering

• Injuries are folded into assessments, but teams can’t be exempt or excused for missing guys every week—history and progression matter in rankings.

The 82-Game Subway Analogy

• Law draws a memorable analogy between the NBA schedule and a subway line, emphasizing how every team faces one another and past matchups still shape narrative (“the train is going to stop at all these stations”) (13:00).

Spurs Outlast Pistons: Statement Win Analysis

(17:39 – 35:50)

Game Recap: A Playoff-Style Brawl

• Spurs beat Pistons 114–103: Physical, bruising basketball compared to a “boxing match” by assistant Mitch Johnson.
• Quote:

  “The refs are just like, you know, if somebody dies, somebody dies, whatever. This is playoff basketball. We’re going to simulate it tonight.”
  —Jared Weiss (17:54)

Devin Vassell’s Offensive Spark

• Vassell caught fire in the first half, giving the Spurs a vital early cushion.
• Pistons tried to muscle Wembanyama out of rhythm early, but he—and the Spurs' offense—eventually adjusted.

Victor Wembanyama: Defensive Anchor and Late-Game Closer

• Wemby’s Defensive Masterclass:
  • Estimated to have altered 15+ shots and officially recorded 6 blocks.
  • His 4th quarter stat line: 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, 5/6 FT.
• Quote:

  “He had six blocks. There was probably close to 10 other shots that he just completely ruined. ... Probably one of his best games of the season, even if he only shot 6 for 16.”
  —Jared Weiss (19:26)

The Steph Castle Factor: Cade Cunningham Neutralized

• Rookie point guard Steph Castle smothered Cade Cunningham, holding him to just 1 of 15 shooting after halftime.
• Castle’s gliding defensive footwork and timely steals kept the Pistons from getting comfortable offensively.
• Quote:

  “Castle is turning into one of the best point of attack defenders in the NBA because he’s very, very strong, super quick, but his balance is just amazing.”
  —Jared Weiss (20:35)

What This Means for the Spurs and Pistons

Are Spurs True Favorites?

• The win moved San Antonio past the “40-in-60” marker—historically a sign of true contention.
• Weiss: “Now we have to start thinking about the Spurs of whether they’re the favorite to win the championship at this point because they’ve done enough against the Thunder. ... Wemby is healthy and finally playing like up to MVP potential.” (21:59–22:23)

For Detroit:

• Pistons showed heart and skill (led in paint points, midrange, and made more free throws), but lacked three-point shooting—a single Spur (Vassell) matched Detroit’s team total.
• The podcast signals not to overreact: Detroit gets another shot in the rematch, with Isaiah Stewart likely returning (23:47–25:20).

Chess Match Ahead:

• With “Beef Stew” back for Detroit, the rim battle will intensify. Spurs haven’t consistently attacked the rim, but transition chances for Wemby are rising (26:01–27:07).

Spurs’ Playoff Credentials and Remaining Questions

Championship Ceiling, Playoff Readiness, and Youth

• Spurs are now 7–1 against top-five teams; “nothing left to prove at this point. ... Their championship credentials are pretty much locked in” (30:26).
• Parity rules the NBA; Weiss notes there are “like nine teams that you can see winning the championship right now.”
• Key Question: Does this young squad have the playoff reps and offensive polish to adjust in the postseason when defenses clamp down?
• Quote:

  “Running offense is unbelievably hard in the playoffs. ... I would feel pretty confident about them winning a first-round series right now. After that, you have no idea.”
  —Jared Weiss (33:48)

Can Wemby Be an MVP-Level Closer?

• Wemby’s defense is elite, but his offense—while much improved—still lacks the total control of a Jokic or SGA.
• Jared Weiss:

  “Wemby isn’t ... on that level. ... He’s going, it looks like he’s going to get there. I’m not too concerned about him getting to that level one day. But he’s not there yet.” (34:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Law Murray (on rankings process):

  “It’s like a video game for me ... sometimes, if you ever played the Mario games ... it’s gonna be harder the next time.” (04:30)

• Jared Weiss (on the Spurs’ team identity):

  “This game was a confirmation of who they are. It wasn’t a discovery. This was a confirmation.” (21:59)

• Law Murray (on NBA’s parity and the playoff challenge):

  “This reminds me of the Thunder from two years ago ... Are there, is there anything these next six weeks can do ... to prepare for the scrutiny of that stage?” (32:43)

Important Timestamps

• 02:18 – Episode content begins: rankings process discussion.
• 08:00 – Knicks, Cavs, Nuggets, Rockets: who belongs in “top tier.”
• 13:00 – NBA season as a subway/train analogy.
• 17:39 – Spurs-Pistons game breakdown with Jared Weiss.
• 19:26 – Wembanyama’s defensive dominance and in-game dynamics.
• 20:35 – Steph Castle’s breakout defensive performance vs. Cade Cunningham.
• 21:59 – Spurs’ status as potential title favorites.
• 30:26 – Spurs’ playoff credentials—What’s left to prove?
• 33:48 – Challenges ahead for young contenders in the postseason.

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers an insightful blend of macro-level ranking analysis and micro-level tactical breakdown—balancing hard data, narrative context, and on-court detail. Listeners come away with a nuanced sense of the Spurs’ rise, the uncertainty and drama of playoff forecasting, and the heavy demands of both regular season grind and postseason spotlight.

Essential Takeaway:
The Spurs are ascending fast, but sustaining that excellence—and translating it to the playoffs—will require further growth from their young core. The league’s parity demands constant adjustment, and every “statement win” only raises the stakes for what’s next.