Are we seeing some bad habits returning?

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>]

First, let me say results mean everything at this time of the season. Win
ugly... fine. Just win, baby.

Having said that, some things are happening with the Celts that concern me.
The team peaked in the back-to-back demolitions of Orlando and Detroit.
Everything was clicking, the ball was moving, everyone was contributing and
defending and passing the basketball. Of course, there was no way they could
consistently meet that level of play.

But what we've seen since, even as the win streak continued, is worrisome. 

We've seen a return to the Antoine and Paul show. Antoine, in particular,
has been guilty. In case you weren't counting, he's hoisted 60 shots in the
last two games, including 25 3-pointers. He's had just 23 assists in the
five games since the high-water mark. It's not that he's playing poorly-he's
not. But when the streak started with the win in Philly, and in those two
great games against Orlando and Detroit he attempted just 16, 11 and 21
shots. He had 19 assists in those three games alone. He attempted 15
3-pointers in those three games. I think Antoine is falling into some bad
habits. His numbers certainly aren't terrible-38 points on his 33 shots
against Memphis-but is that how the TEAM functions best? I think Antoine
played much better in the Orlando and Detroit games, when he scored much
less, than he did against Memphis. But it seems that when Antoine has a
little success, it translates into the kind of confidence that leads to
quick, frequent 3-pointers-the "I can do no wrong" approach. Confidence is
great, but direct it toward the team.

Pierce, on the other hand, actually has seen fewer shots of late. 20, 23,
18, 15 and 18 field goal attempts in the last five games. Those numbers are
a little low. Should we ever see a game where Antoine jacks up 33 shots and
Pierce only gets 15? Where Antoine MISSES 20 shots and Pierce only attempts
15? I think Antoine's competitiveness may be getting the better of him.
Instead of working to get others easy shots, like he was just a week and a
half ago, he's taking the quick shot himself. He can't do it himself and,
more importantly, he doesn't need to do it himself. They've put weapons
around him. There's no need for 60 shots in two games when you're still
firing away at a lousy 41 percent clip.

Also, we've seen the defense slip just a little. Whereas the team
consistently was holding teams in the low-90s, now we're seeing those scores
creep into the mid-to-high-90s. They  had some big offensive nights,
specifically against Orlando and Detroit, and that tends to cultivate an
"outscore them" mentality. This team can't afford that. They have to play
defense to win. Hopefully giving up 111 points in San Antonio served as a
reminder.

They're little things that can be ignored when the team is winning. But
sooner or later those little things will add up and turn into a loss-or
worse, a losing streak. The team needs to guard against that.

Mark

P.S. Is Obie deliberately trying to put his players at size disadvantages
whenever possible? It's maddening. He'd be much happier coaching in one of
those 6-feet-and-under leagues.