:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/30611857/20140322_jla_se9_752.0.jpg)
There you have it. A 13-game win streak, a healthy team, and -- amazing though it may sound -- number-one rankings all around. The Spurs have reached a new high for the 2013-14 season and are keeping their sights focused on the big prize. The proof? They sat both Timmy and Manu on Saturday at Golden State, obviously the toughest part of their three-game road trip.
Not that it mattered. San Antonio handled the Warriors and now gets to take part in the Sixers' push into the history books. Philadelphia hasn't won since January and, as they look to seize the league's worst record from the Bucks, one can expect the Spurs' win streak to reach a cool 14 tonight.
On the rankings front, the last domino finally fell as Marc Stein at ESPN deemed San Antonio worthy of the number-one spot. I'm not sure what that will mean for the stream of hate mail between the 210 and Bristol, Connecticut, but there could be a sustained lull if the Spurs can take care of a reasonably easy week, which includes games against the Pels and aforementioned 76ers, sandwiched by back-to-back games against the Nuggets.
In the meantime, Spurs fans can put a little 70s soft rock on, kick their feet up, and let the good times roll.
Marc Stein from ESPN, (Spurs rank: 1, last week's rank: 2)
One more win and the Spurs will have their longest winning streak in the Duncan-and-Pop Era. San Antonio is also the West's first team to clinch a playoff spot and ranks first in two more telling categories, sporting a 12-4 record in the second game of back-to-backs and a road record of 27-8.
Marc J. Spears from Yahoo! Sports (Spurs rank: 1, last week's rank: 1)
When asked if he'd honor his contract through next season, Tim Duncan said he's taking it "game by game."
Jason Patt from SBNation NBA (Spurs rank: 1, last week's rank: 1)
The Spurs rested Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili on the road against the Warriors on Saturday ... and they still won by nine. Thirteen wins in a row. Ho hum.
USA Today (Spurs rank: 1, last week's rank: 1)
Landing a third No. 1 seed in four years and the fourth 60-win season of the Tim Duncan era.
John Schuhmann from NBA.com (Spurs rank: 1, last week's rank: 1)
After scoring almost 115 points per 100 possessions over the first 11 games of their winning streak, the Spurs' offense came back to earth at Sacramento and Golden State (where they were without Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili). But the streak lives on, because they're playing their best defense since November. That streak meets Philly's streak at the AT&T Center on Monday. Prediction? Pain.
Matt Moore from CBSSports.com (Spurs rank: 1, last week's rank 1)
The past month of their play is the exact same process as when Skynet became sentient in the 'Terminator' movies.