Spurs Power Rankings Week 18: Shaking off those Rodeo Blues

Looking back on previous Rodeo Road Trips would lead us to think 2015's would be another mechanical thumping of teams on their home turf -- the pivotal Hollywood moment we were all hoping for. Something like this maybe.

But even after closing with two wins, the team's annual promenade across the country will still go down as the worst since the team began doing them in 2003, leaving the lasting image looking more like:

Unfortunately, crushing the Suns and the Boogie-less Kings wasn't enough to raise the Spurs in the estimations of many this week. They're still clinging to that seven spot in the West, and there's still an opportunity to move up, but it's anyone's guess if they'll string together enough good games to do so.

San Antonio plays the next six at home, where it's looked far better (20-7) this season than on the road (16-16). This week's games all seem like Ws, in theory, with a Sunday matinee against a very shorthanded Bulls crew the most notable. But you never know when Tony Snell will have a career game.

Marc Stein, from ESPN, (Spurs rank: 8. Last week's rank: 6)

The committee (of one) has been accused of overrating the champs all season. Only now after their first-ever losing record on the Rodeo Road Trip -- including the Spurs' first four-game skid coming out of the All-Star break since 1989 -- are we forced to concede that there might be something to the accusations.

Drew Garrison, from SB Nation NBA, (Spurs rank: 9. Last week's rank: 10)

The Spurs are awfully quiet for being defending champions. San Antonio was left off the hook through a chunk of the season because Kawhi Leonard was out, but he's been back for a bit and the Spurs still haven't really taken off. A week against the Kings, Nuggets and Derrick Rose-less Bulls might help them get on a bit of a roll.

Marc J. Spears, from Yahoo Sports, (Spurs rank: 11. Last week's rank: 12)

After averaging 16.7 points in November, Tony Parker (hip) has averaged less than 13 points in each of the last three months.

USA Today, (Spurs rank: 11. Last week's rank: 10)

In Year 18 of the Tim Duncan era, we all should know the futility of writing off this team.

John Schuhmann, from NBA.com, (Spurs rank: 10. Last week's rank: 10)

The Spurs ended the rodeo trip with two wins and now play their next six games at home, where they're 11-2 since Christmas. Saturday's win in Phoenix was just the second time that their standard starting lineup (with Tiago Splitter at center) played at least 10 minutes together. Tony Parker (13-for-50 and just 20 assists in his last five games) is still struggling.

Matt Moore, from CBS Sports, (Spurs rank: N/A. Last week's rank: 12)

Coming soon.

Consensus track: