3 Questions the San Antonio Spurs must answer after the all-star break

Are the Spurs really this bad?

Prior to the All-Star break, the Spurs had lost a season-worst 14 straight games, and it may take them a while before they earn an elusive win. Their first four games back include three road games at Dallas and consecutive games at Utah, as well as a home game against Indiana.

A 17- or even 18-game losing streak would be incredibly ugly, though it does solidify their chances of selecting first in this year’s draft. Still, it begs the question of whether the Spurs are truly that bad. They did start the season 5-2 only to tumble, including a separate 11-game losing streak that effectively ended their hope of a spot in the play-in tournament.

They have several good players, including Vassell and Johnson, but traded away two key veterans in Jakob Poeltl and Josh Richardson. They also have a shocking -10 point differential, which is far and away the worst in the NBA despite only having the second-worst record. That’s particularly surprising considering Houston and Detroit have both looked far worse at various points this season.

Ultimately, whether they are really this bad is a moot point. They will finish with one of the worst records in the NBA, and they could be better for it in the long run.