Mchale Vs. Bird

[JSD]

Is there anyone out there that thought Mchale was better than Bird? If so, I'm curious to hear why.

Watching game 4 of the 2nd round vs Bulls 1981. Mchale is nasty on both ends of the floor.

[Roy H.]

No, I don't think anybody ever did, including McHale's mother.

Larry was a better scorer, passer, and rebounder than McHale.  McHale had the edge in post moves and defense.

[2short]

Knowing a McHale interview I'd love it if a reporter asked him that question.  It would certainly be funny and even Mr McHale would have to say he wasn't in the same league with Bird.  You can argue Bird is the top player ever!
bird, wilt, jordan, magic, russell, big o, kareem (no order)

McHale I love him but doesn't belong at that tier.

[17wasEZ]

No, I don't think anybody ever did, including McHale's mother.

Larry was a better scorer, passer, and rebounder than McHale.  McHale had the edge in post moves and defense.

I don't think Bird was leaps and bounds better than McHale. As a matter of fact, I think McHale is one of the best 4 or 5 PFs we've seen in the last 30 years. I think McHale was just as good of a rebounder as Bird was.

But, I always wanted the ball in Bird's hands.  Absolutely one of the 10 greatest in the history of the NBA.

[ManUp]

Knowing a McHale interview I'd love it if a reporter asked him that question.  It would certainly be funny and even Mr McHale would have to say he wasn't in the same league with Bird.  You can argue Bird is the top player ever!
bird, wilt, jordan, magic, russell, big o, kareem (no order)

McHale I love him but doesn't belong at that tier.

I think he was asked that question on TNT and admitted he never thought he was better than Bird. I thank Webber or Smith kept trying to get him to say he did, but he couldn't.

[Roy H.]

I don't think Bird was leaps and bounds better than McHale.

What do you define as leaps-and-bounds?  McHale is inarguably a top-five PF of all-time;  Bird is inarguably a top-five player.  To me, both are great, but there's still a wide gap. 

I think McHale was just as good of a rebounder as Bird was.

Based upon what?  Larry averaged 10 rebounds per game for his career, while McHale averaged 7.3, despite Larry playing farther from the basket.  In fact, Larry's career average is better than McHale's best season (9.9 rebounds per game).  Larry leads in rebounds per minute, and has a HUGE advantage in career DRB% (22.4% vs. 16.9%) and a significant plus in TRB% (14.5 vs. 13.2).

[thirstyboots18]

McHale never seemed to have Bird's intensity.  I am not saying that McHale did not want to win, but sometimes I got the feeling that Bird lived to win and would do anything to make that happen, while McHale lived to play, and simply expected the winning to follow.  McHale seemed, to this casual observer, to be much more laid back.  This may not be a true or fair assessment at all.  There was much less public access to the private lives of athletes then.

You can't really compare the two different positions, but if intensity makes you a better player, than Bird was the better player.  (Bird never could have done McHale's amazing moves though.)

[BASS_THUMPER]

bird got it all..first time i seen bird dunk i was like whoaaa.

if they played 21 and bird got the ball first mchale wouldnt touch the rock

[cdif911]

McHale was Pippen to Bird's Jordan

[Boris Badenov]

In terms of making players around them better, there is absolutely no comparison.

[Eja117]

Is there anyone out there that thought Mchale was better than Bird? If so, I'm curious to hear why.

Watching game 4 of the 2nd round vs Bulls 1981. Mchale is nasty on both ends of the floor.

Sacrilege. Je refuse

[paulcowens]

No, I don't think anybody ever did, including McHale's mother.

Larry was a better scorer, passer, and rebounder than McHale.  McHale had the edge in post moves and defense.

Larry was a better team defender, and that points to the key difference.  Based solely on individual skills, abilities and contributions, you know, one might even go for Mchale.  He was, after all, arguably the most savage post scorer ever.  But with Bird you get that higher level that few players have;  he was one of the best team leaders ever.

[Roy H.]

Larry was a better team defender, and that points to the key difference. 

Larry was a very good team defender.  I'm not sure about better than McHale, though.  McHale was very good at providing help, rotating, etc., and he could cover small forwards and centers as well as PFs. 

Based solely on individual skills, abilities and contributions, you know, one might even go for Mchale.

 

If the NBA was a one-on-one game, maybe.  However, if you look at individual skills in the 5-on-5 game (i.e., passing, court vision, instincts, etc.), I'd still take Larry.  I think in terms of those individual skills, abilities, and contributions, McHale only trumps in post-scoring and defense, as mentioned.  Larry was better in every other area.

[JHTruth]

Until he broke his foot in 87, Kevin was the best player in the league that year. Health of course plays a factor. If Bird's back and Kevin's foot never breaks, it might be a different discussion. McHale was a 6th man for the first half of his career. Bird was all-around but Kevin was a great player..

[Celtics4ever]

Bird had a higher basketball IQ.  He was a better passer and outide shooter.  Kevin was much better inside and argubly one of the best post players in the history of the game.  Both were match up nightmates for the opposition on offense.  One could shoot anywhere and disrupt your team with passing to rip your heart out.   The other had long arms and post skills that were incredible and almost unblockable.

McHale was hands down the better defender.   Both were good team defenders.   But McHale got all the bad assignments like Worthy or the like.  Bird was better at steals and McHale was a shot blocker.

Bird was a better rebounder, stats don't lie.   But Kevin was a timely opportunistic rebounder.  I recall many a tip or putback when we needed one.   Larry boxed out more and his incredible anticipation, an extension of his nigh unmatchable basketball IQ, led to more boards.   Kevin had better raw tools with his greater height, broader shoulders and long arms but he didn't board as well as Larry.

Bird played with his heart and it's true he was more driven than Kevin.  Kevin was more laid back.  He played hard but not with as much effort as Larry.   Kevin had a lot of grit though playing on a broken foot.  Kevin was laid back though more off court than on.  McHale was not lazy and played hard but who would compare well beside Bird for effort?