Paulo Alves

Now they didn't have Fred Van Fleet then they did have Steven Adams.

So they aren't quite the same team X's and O's, but yeah,

Nonetheless, I think it's crystal clear now, at least for the regular season, that's not happening.

The issues are real.

And so all you can do is hope you get to the playoffs, turn over a new leaf, and perhaps that chance to start fresh without being burdened by everything that's happened over the last four or five months.

could be refreshing for a lot of these guys, especially the younger guys who haven't been through the grind before.

And really, so many at the young core here in Houston, the last two seasons, Ime's first year when they went 41-41, coming off of 22-60, and then last year jumping from 41-52, it's been nothing but positive vibes.

This year has been different.

This year at times it's felt like the year from hell, and I think it's weighed on young guys that haven't been through it before.

Perhaps they get a second wind.

And so if Shingun is one of those guys, and I guess the same could apply to any of the other young core as well, but if he builds on this momentum down the stretch of the regular season and continues it into the playoffs, maybe wins you a series against a team like the Lakers, the Nuggets, the Timberwolves, whoever it is that you draw between three and six,

Does that potentially change your view, Paolo, in a way that just extending it over the regular season might not?

It's never going to turn it into a successful season.

And we talked about what a successful season was in previous spots.

But if he sustains this level until the end of the season and into the playoffs, I mean, I think it has to make you a lot more optimistic about next year than...

than it would otherwise.

I think it will buy the front office a lot of leeway with the fan base and a lot of optimism going into next season, which is needed because there's a lot of people that are really mad and typically the fans being really angry at the team is not a good thing.

And as far as, you know, being a playoff riser or not, I do believe, you know, even though all French England stats from last season don't look great in the playoffs, that was a specific type of series that I don't think you can extrapolate his numbers to normal efficiency numbers.

I personally thought that he was a playoff riser and that he played in the big moments.

He wasn't afraid.