Piston game

[DJessen33@aol.com]

We lost this game, I believe, on coaching mistakes. The Celts fell back on 
some old bad ways by totally relying on Mercer to go one-on-one on his player 
or to shoot off the curl. It took the rest of the team out of the up-tempo 
offense. Barros began to walk the ball up. Pitino took Jones out way too 
early at the start of the 4th for Barros who played the rest of the game. 
Also, I didn't like the fact the Pitino didn't play Battie and VP at the same 
time, instead going using Walter at power forward (ugh). Walter had a nice 
game, for him, but couldn't keep Williams from looking like an All-Star. 
Battie would have been alot more effective on the boards. Instead he was VP's 
relief...The C's also stopped going to VP offensively. I think VP is losing 
his confidence because of his funk at the free throw line. However, it sure 
nice to have a inside player who can get the other team's center in foul 
trouble consistantly. VP will have to work on his hands and free throw 
shooting this summer...Instead of going to Mercer, the Celts should have 
isolated Pierce in the post and played through him. In one play, I saw Dana 
with the ball in the wing with Pierce posting up. Dana looked at Pierce for a 
moment and then looked toward the other side where Mercer was coming on a 
curl. Dana then passed it to him who then shot at the top of the key, almost 
a three. It was a rushed shot and like most rushed shots crossing the basket, 
a miss. It was obvious that the game plan was not to go to Pierce but rather 
to Mercer, regardless of the situation. This is a coaching error; IMO, one of 
the main things that has hurt us throughout the season...A thing that has 
really irritated me the last few games is that Walter has refused to give the 
ball up to the point guard and electing to bring it up himself and start the 
offense. At least once a game, he gets the ball stolen from him resultingly. 
This is just plain stupid and should be corrected by the coach...I have to 
throw Dana a bone. He is at least playing as well as Anderson was...

DJessen33