Ben DuBose

Hopefully, Jory and Finney-Smith, then maybe Fred Van Fleet.

Not going to worry if you get really lucky.

Coming back and getting back something close to healthy will further help.

But I just... I think it comes down to the upside.

And if you look at it through that lens...

I can understand it, even if it's frustrating.

And I think the results bear it out.

Like, the one thing we have to keep reminding people, they've beaten some really good teams, Paolo.

The Spurs, the Nuggets, the Celtics, the Lakers.

This team has upside.

It's just it's counteracted by the fact that they lose to terrible ones, like the Kings, like the Trailblazers twice.

Well, the Trailblazers aren't terrible, but you know what I mean, a team you should beat.

They certainly lost to other bad teams.

The Pelicans last month, and they had a 25-point lead.

this team just inherently has a lot more volatility, but I think they just, they made a bet that in the playoffs, that extra upside is going to be worth it.

And that's how I'm choosing to contextualize it.

If you look at it through that lens, does that make you feel any better?

And we should note that for the season overall, they are still fifth in defensive rating and third on offense.

But there is a lot of volatility within those performances.

And I think that's what you're getting to.