Why are they playing better?

[DJessen33@aol.com]

Why are the Celtics winning? They are definitely playing better, regardless 
that they are playing at home and have had some less than quality opponents. 
During this improvement, a couple of players, Anderson and VP, actually 
aren't shooting well. So for the Celtics to excel, they must be doing 
something else right. Some reasons, not necessairly in importance:

1) Eric Williams has improved his shooting, though let's wait to see if it 
sticks.
2) No pressing.
3) Playing Battie more at the power forward spot along with VP or Fortson 
(haven't I've been saying this for 2 years?)
4) Walker is playing the veteran role that Pitino just announced that this 
team needed.
5) The team may have been thinking that Pitino was an outsider since he is 
always changing the team and saying they couldn't do it without Duncan. When 
Pitino lashed out at Boston fans last week (saying Bird etc weren't going to 
walk through the door and rescue them), he severed himself from the Boston 
past and tradition. He was now one of them, one of the Celtic players, 
instead of one of the typical Boston fans or media who just keeps on wishing 
for the glory years. Now, this team is Pitino's team. He has exercised the 
ghosts of Celtic past. Now the players who had been tuning him out are buying 
into the coaches plan. If not, he will be gone after next year.
6) More Overton, less Dana. Even though Overton isn't hitting, he is getting 
the ball up quickly and passing quickly....

DJessen33