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NBA Power Rankings Week 5: How good are the Utah Jazz?

By Corey Rausch

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in action during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 21, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in action during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 21, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

17. team. 29. . 8-8. Previous: 17th. San Antonio Spurs

Last Week: Beat Portland Trail Blazers 125-104, Lost to Golden State Warriors 121-99, Lost to Dallas Mavericks 122-117

This Week: 1/24 vs. Washington Wizards, 1/25 at New Orleans Pelicans, 1/27 vs. Boston Celtics, 1/29 vs. Denver Nuggets, 1/30 vs. Memphis Grizzlies

The San Antonio Spurs are slowly coming back down to earth. The youth movement has been fun but it is ultimately unsustainable against the top teams in the Western Conference. The attack of the team is so widespread that there is never anyone that truly takes over often enough to lift the team over a strong individual performer.

The biggest drop this week comes from Lonnie Walker IV. He only averaged 5.7 points per game this week, down from his season average of 12.3 points per game. This week happened to focus on the old heads more with their four leading scorers being DeMar DeRozan (21.3 points), LaMarcus Aldridge (17.3 points), Rudy Gay (16.0 points) and Patty Mills (13.3 points). This has not been the recipe for success for the Spurs all season and it was not this week, save for a win against the undermanned Portland Trail Blazers.

Hopefully, for the path forward, this level of production continues for the veterans and they can be shipped out for some sort of future return. Do not let early-season wins trick anyone into thinking this is the start of a rebuild. While the Spurs may have a head start with some impressive young wings, that does not change the projections for the season.