The NBA has regressed 20 years, yet the strongest teams remain the Pistons and Spurs.

Waking up, it feels like the NBA has gone back two decades, with the Spurs and Pistons still standing as the top teams. This isn’t the start of a time-travel novel but a reality currently unfolding in the NBA. According to the latest power rankings, the Spurs have overtaken the Pistons to claim first place, coinciding with today’s matchup between these two teams.

This game also represents a face-off between the 2021 and 2023 first overall picks. What’s interesting about the Pistons and Spurs is that both teams fell into decline around the same time, only to rise again under the leadership of a number one draft pick.

In the 2023-24 season, while the Pistons suffered a painful 28-game losing streak, the Spurs in the West also endured an 18-game skid. Last season, the Pistons made the playoffs, and the Spurs showed strong competitiveness; now, both teams have become powerhouses in their respective conferences this season.

Excluding today’s game, the Pistons have won 17 of their last 21 games, surpassing the Thunder to rank first in the league. Meanwhile, the Spurs have remained undefeated throughout February (U.S. time). After today’s victory over the Pistons, the Spurs face only the Raptors and Nets, making a perfect monthly record highly likely.

Today’s game lived up to its billing as a top-tier clash, with both sides battling closely for two and a half quarters until the Spurs gradually pulled away in the latter half of the third quarter. The Pistons outscored the Spurs by 18 points in the paint, even with Vembanyama blocking six shots throughout the game. The Pistons showed great hustle, grabbing more rebounds and second-chance points; they lead the league in steals and scored more fast-break points.

However, in modern basketball, dominance in three-point shooting can compensate for many other shortcomings. Today, the two teams’ three-point shooting was on completely different levels. The Pistons shot just 7 of 36 from beyond the arc, a 19.4% success rate. Cunningham was cold, hitting only 2 of 9 threes on 26 attempts overall, with only four players on the Pistons making a three-pointer.

In contrast, the Spurs’ Vassell alone made 7 of 11 three-pointers, matching the entire Pistons team’s three-point output. Despite Fox going 0 for 5, the Spurs still shot 18 of 40 (45%) from deep. Just in three-point scoring, the Spurs outscored the Pistons by 33 points.

Both Vembanyama and Cunningham, the key players for their teams, struggled offensively today. Cunningham also got lost defensively, picking up early foul trouble against Fox, while Vembanyama’s defensive impact was outstanding.

Before today, Vembanyama had blocked shots against every team in the league except the Pistons. Early in the game, he blocked a Pistons three-pointer, completing his block against all 29 teams. And his block party was only just beginning.

Vembanyama finished with six blocks, swatting away Cunningham’s layups at least three times in a dominant display. His interior presence can’t be measured only by block numbers because when he stands near the basket, few dare challenge him, limiting his block opportunities. Most of his blocks come from help defense, making plays no one else can.

The Pistons’ coach said after the game, “We have to break through his defense, but we just can’t get around him.” Against Vembanyama and the Spurs, you must shoot well from outside, especially by pulling Vembanyama’s defender away to create space inside; otherwise, it’s very difficult to play.

Vembanyama shot 6 of 16 today, marking his worst shooting performance in February. Yet his defensive and rebounding influence was so immense that his overall performance remained strong. He scored 21 points with 17 rebounds, including 8 offensive boards, battling in the Pistons’ paint without letting his offensive struggles affect his game.

This game felt like a playoff-level contest, with both teams showing great physicality. Vembanyama was not overwhelmed; instead, he grew stronger under pressure, demonstrating a resilient mindset. Though he hasn’t played in the playoffs yet, his mentality suggests he won’t be fazed by that level of competition.

The Spurs have now won nine straight games, the longest streak in the league, trailing the Thunder by only 2.5 games and possibly contending for the top spot in the West. Many doubt the Spurs’ playoff prospects this year, but the stats show they are 8-1 against the league’s top five teams, including a 4-1 record versus the Thunder, and undefeated against the Pistons, Celtics, Nuggets, and Knicks.

If this doesn’t prove the Spurs’ record is legitimate, then I don’t know what else could.