Paulo Alves

I think he just needed something of a spark.

He needed to see something go right.

They had a team meeting in Memphis.

It sounded like they bonded.

You mentioned the interview that he had with Alper and Shingun when Alfie had his arm around him.

There's lots of little things that may have contributed, but I don't think it's as simple as he can only function as a six-man.

No, he was really good in that starting lineup when he took the reins on Christmas the first couple of weeks, and then it gradually fell off.

And as his three-point numbers declined, other aspects of his game did as well.

I just don't think it is a...

I don't think it's a requirement that to get this version of Tari, he has to come off the bench.

And if it's not a requirement, then yeah, I do think it makes more sense to start him just because from an X's and O's perspective, it just makes more sense.

But how many high usage guys you have in that starting five to have someone that can do the little things that can defend that is more versatile and

I just think if that's your closing lineup, if you're having to make these quick subs at the eight, nine-minute mark of the first and third quarters, at some point, assuming Tari doesn't fall off again, or unless Reed starts going off for 20-10 again...

I think it's just going to be a situation where if this is clearly the lineup that he may is most comfortable with, why doesn't he just start it?

And the bottom line is the switch.

I know it will cause some heartache for a lot of our fans, but the change was never about, you know, coronating Reed Shepard and saying he's a star in the making.

He's a starter for the.

for the foreseeable future, it was about trying to get Tari Eason right, trying to get him more comfortable.

And now that he is more comfortable, I do think, assuming it continues, my bet would be that he eventually finds his way before the playoffs back in that starting lineup.

Anyway, last segment before we close out, we've talked a lot about the playoffs because truth be told, it's more fun to look ahead to what's going to happen starting the 18th of April than it is these final eight games.