Card collecting - Whether Poke'mon, yu-gi-oh or sporting cards, I would say most of us have all experienced this one way or another, including the highs and lows of the trading card game. Poke'mon cards got so big and overpowering that my primary school had them banned.

Don't look now, but while the Spurs are 4th in the Power Ranks this week, they are back atop the Western Conference standings after declaring the year lost a few weeks ago and looking to make some moves to reflect that. They then flipped back the other way a bit again from there, and the line up changed almost entirely around Giannis and Murray, but the blend they have landed with has worked as well as or better than originally, and they are now looking like a legit threat to add a 3rd title to the resume. And who would bet again a Giannis led team?

I am in a serious relationship currently and have been for a long time. I put endless hours into my work and that is my sole focus. I have a hardened exterior but in reality, I am a kind, respectful and compassionate person who wishes the best for others. After a turbulent year, not looking for any big changes in my life at the moment.

Sidekicks - Good pieces, but still feels like they’re playing support rather than leading.

Fight Club - "The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club." There's something quietly destructive happening with this roster that casual observers keep overlooking. The first rule of owning this team is: don't hype this team. Every time someone talks them up, something goes sideways. But here they are, sitting at ten, absorbing punishment, delivering big stat nights and operating like a secret underground operation your opponents don't know about. Volatile, unpredictable, Tyler Durden energy, they might blow up your week, or they might blow up theirs. Either way, it's appointment television when Giannis is around.

The Old-School Teacher: A wild mix-Jamal Murray, an elite 2K-version Giannis, and swapping Trae Young for Jrue Holiday and Robert Williams. It’s unconventional, but there’s defensive grit and serious upside. And it's getting results. GM Nels knows the team he wants to craft before playoffs time. This teacher doesn't mince words - you know what you get when you step into the classroom. Think Whiplash.

Hart/Clarke/Terry/Olbrich/2nd FOR Gobert/Tyson. The Spurs have remained dominant, Atop the West. So I wouldn't exactly class this deal as a 'Turning point'. Rather, another chapter in sustained excellence. Obviously Gobert has since moved on but he DID end up the meat and potatoes in a future deal for Pascal. It's the ability to recognize and address the teams needs and flaws at such a high level for me. As to why Nels is one of the best we have. To be able to continue to trade stars for stars instead of just pulling the pin and losing value... It's the backbone to why, they've been forever a contender.

Holding a door open - this is a dying art, but every now and again those of us that still partake in this ancient ritual of holding a door open for a stranger will get a warm reception when completing this act. A simple thank you or nod is all we ask for, but sometimes you get a little more and it is received with a warm smile and gratitude. This is what makes it all worth it and will keep you fighting this good fight for years to come. The spurs have made plenty of moves but the door remains open!

I love how the Spurs have crafted a very specific identity built around hard nosed defense, positional diversity and athleticism. One of the things I’m keeping my eye on here is what, if anything, comes from a potential Mike Conley deal.

The King’s Speech (2010) – not as flashy as the past, but structured, steady, and always composed. The Spurs are readying themselves. It is a downturn. But they will take the necessary steps to compose themselves, and they will be speaking to the entire league soon. No stutter. No stammer. With new additions, and a renaissance within the organisation, the Spurs will be heard.

The team with the ORIGINAL Alien in Giannis, if they can get him back healthy and keep him healthy, they'll always be a contender if he's around. Jamal Murray is a great guy two run a two-man game with and their third guy being Pascal? Bodes well for this Spurs team.

The Kid Who Farted Really Loudly In Class... Only Twice. His past antics have been spoken about in all sorts of circles, teachers and students, and he's not really loved or dispised, just known as the guy who did it and it stunk.

Master Splinter - Quiet wisdom, fundamentals over flash. Player development, player movement, ball movement, and winning the math battle. San Antonio has mended and mixed the roster more and more, trying to let Giannis take a break. Newly acquired Siakam, bring a triple threat proposition alongside Murray - what does the future look like?

All for You”– Janet Jackson Playful, confident, and energetic, it celebrates freedom, fun, and flow. The theme reflects teamwork, rhythm, and momentum, akin to a team enjoying synergy and riding high-energy performance. This song is what he whispers to Giannis every night before going to sleep.

Basement: Basement’s sound is melodic yet grounded, balancing emotional depth with precise, controlled execution. Never flashy, but always resonant. San Antonio mirrors this approach perfectly. Giannis leads a roster built around Jamal Murray, Wendell Carter Jr., Rudy Gobert, and the surprising emergence of Ryan Rollins off the bench. Like Basement, the Spurs excel through cohesion, consistency, and careful construction, turning a well balanced system into a perennial contender. They may not grab headlines with chaos or spectacle, but their reliability and depth make them a team everyone has to respect.

The Emperor: Embodies authority, discipline, logic, and structure. Encourages taking control or being organized and decisive. No player screams 'emperor' more than Giannis. Nels has his consistent methods of team and roster construction and the discipline tends to pay off big.

Watching the Spurs at #3 is hilarious. Giannis takes so long at the free-throw line he could finish a meditation session before releasing the ball. Jamal Murray spends the entire regular season warming up for the playoffs like it’s some annual holiday he celebrates.

Childhood Reference: Mario Kart’s Rainbow Road. Impossible to guard, impossible to predict. Giannis Antetokounmpo is basically running on Rainbow Road with a mushroom boost—good luck catching him, or staying on the track. The Spurs have the ? boxes perfectly lined up at the moment, and they have shown no signs of slowing. The depth has grown and been given a boost or two in the rating upgrades. Does anyone have a turtle shell to fire to slow this bruiser down?