Spurs stand pat at trade deadline, double down on roster despite legitimate worries.

R.C. Buford & Popovich only make smart moves.

The trade deadline has come and gone, with the Spurs declaring faith in this roster, one born from risky yet beneficial moves over the last summer and before last season's deadline. Joe Harris has been up-and-down, Taurean Prince hasn't quite put it all together yet & Jeremy Lin at times has been outplayed by Derrick White (whose performance increasingly warrants a contract extension before next summer).

Ingram and Murray had shown promise, delivering on the big contracts given to them in the off-season and Jarrett Allen's play should make him a hot target for a hefty offer sheet. Nik Stauskas has come on amazingly, nearly finding himself out of the league, before becoming the Spurs go-to sniper, en route to a solid future in San Antonio, scorching past Harris in the rotation.

Dragan Bender still shows promise, yet a lot of inexperience, despite a more-winning culture than he knew in Phoenix. Big names continue to lure the Spurs interest, but Coach Pop & R.C. Buford were simply not willing to pull the trigger, despite the pain of staggering losses to new western conference superpowers Los Angeles Clippers & Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. Meanwhile, the Warriors prominence has tarnished in the wake of Durant's venture to Brooklyn and a broken hand for Steph Curry, with D'Angelo Russell not quite making up for Klay Thompson's lengthy torn-ACL laden absence. The Rockets haven't quite figured out the tandem of Westbrook & Harden, so after a win over the Nuggets (who are having the same problem with Jokic & Murray), the Spurs have reclaimed the #1 seat in the west, in what has been a throne room of nine championships--a bonafide dynasty.

All*Star Weekend is coming!

This could very well be the year the streak is broken, as Anthony Davis & LeBron James have ignited a firestorm in the City of Angels, for the inevitability of having to defeat them (and the stifling defense of the Clippers) in the playoffs looms in the distance. First, though, the Spurs visit Oklahoma City, where Chris Paul has remained, most likely to be moved this coming summer instead. For good measure, Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped 50 points the other night, declaring his desire to meet the Spurs in the NBA Finals for a third consecutive season...unless Ben "I just made a 3PTer!" Simmons (who also had a career-high 51 last season v. the Spurs) wills the 76ers over the Bucks, despite losing Jimmy Butler to Miami.

Brandon Ingram will sit out the game in OKC, much deserved rest after putting on a 40-PT clinic.

All*Star Weekend comes afterward, with Team LeBron & Team Giannis duking it out with the league's brightest stars. What comes beyond that weekend of respite for the best basketball players in the world, including those on the San Antonio Spurs championship dynasty roster, remains to be seen.

As the roster stands, the Spurs are doubling-down on their squad. Whether they figure out the formula...or determine a new free agent face is the solution?

Only time will tell...in the Alamo City.