How would McHale fare in today's game?

[Q_FBE]

I thought the original question was whether drafting a young McHale in '98 would have made us better off than getting Paul Pierce. 

I don't think the combination of Walker and McHale would have yielded more success than Walker and Pierce. 

As far as the summer of '07 goes I don't think we would have gone after Garnett if we already had McHale. 

I vote Pierce who has already played the same amount of seasons as McHale did for his career and who I guess has three more productive years left in him. 

I think Rick Pitino wanted to draft Nowitzki and trade Walker for that Indiana center - Dale Davis? He might have had better luck rebuilding the Celtics.

[slamtheking]

I thought the original question was whether drafting a young McHale in '98 would have made us better off than getting Paul Pierce. 

I don't think the combination of Walker and McHale would have yielded more success than Walker and Pierce. 

As far as the summer of '07 goes I don't think we would have gone after Garnett if we already had McHale. 

I vote Pierce who has already played the same amount of seasons as McHale did for his career and who I guess has three more productive years left in him. 

I think Rick Pitino wanted to draft Nowitzki and trade Walker for that Indiana center - Dale Davis? He might have had better luck rebuilding the Celtics.

By all reports, the C's did want Dirk in that draft. 

If they had gotten him and traded Toine for just Dale Davis, that would have been getting 10 cents on the dollar.  After his second year, Antoine was looking like an all-star talent while Dale Davis was looking serviceable as a 4/5.  If the deal was for Reggie Miller or Davis and another starter or Rik Smits--maybe it would have been worth considering.  Then again, C's may have ended up sinking more $ into Ron Mercer which would have backfired.

[Fafnir]

Others have said it so I'll just pile on.

Around Dirk's offensive production (from the post more than Dirk and less driving) and rebounding along with being a plus defender rather than a liability.

So a Top 5 to Top 10 player along with an legit MVP canidate for his peak years. But post-injury he'd be a great deal lower than that, not sure how far.

[dysgenic]

I think McHale would be a much less effective player in today's game.

[2short]

Come now fellow posters, surely you aren't aware of how athletic players are today in comparison to the players of McHale's era? Ok, enough sarcasm but I couldnt resist.

McHale would tear today's league apart! I'm trying to think of a power forward who could guard him and fortunaely for the Celtic's that player is already on our team in KG. I still say if it weren't for an injury he would have been the best player in the game in 86. Was it here I read where a reporter said that year that Bird was the best player in the league and the sedond best player in the game? That's how good McHale was.

Yes anyone impressed with al jefferson's low post game that didn't see mchale would have a heart attack.  Kevin in his prime right now would be a candidate to lead the nba in scoring, great defender, very good rebounder etc etc
man also was TOUGH played with what was it a broken ankle through the playoffs (i forget) of course in today's game a large group here would be wanting to trade him 

[celticsleyte]

Come now fellow posters, surely you aren't aware of how athletic players are today in comparison to the players of McHale's era? Ok, enough sarcasm but I couldnt resist.

McHale would tear today's league apart! I'm trying to think of a power forward who could guard him and fortunaely for the Celtic's that player is already on our team in KG. I still say if it weren't for an injury he would have been the best player in the game in 86. Was it here I read where a reporter said that year that Bird was the best player in the league and the sedond best player in the game? That's how good McHale was.

Yes anyone impressed with al jefferson's low post game that didn't see mchale would have a heart attack.  Kevin in his prime right now would be a candidate to lead the nba in scoring, great defender, very good rebounder etc etc
man also was TOUGH played with what was it a broken ankle through the playoffs (i forget) of course in today's game a large group here would be wanting to trade him 

I recall it being a broken foot. If he played today he would be the best low post scorer, top notch defender, an enforcer and best interview in the league.

[JSD]

I don't have insider.  However, I think McHale would have a Duncan-like impact in today's game.  He'd be the most dominant offensive big man in the NBA, I think, and he'd be the best one-on-one post defender in the NBA.  I think his rebounding would also improve, assuming his front court running makes weren't on the level of Parish and Bird.

[LarBrd33]

We had Parish and Bird on those teams too (hence the low rebounding numbers)...

In reality, McHale was over 7 feet tall and probably would play center today... and dominate.  I'd see him as far better than Pau Gasol.  Likely even better than Duncan due to his low post moves and footwork.

Article from 2007:
"To the naked eye, Kevin McHale appears to be quite a bit taller than Al Jefferson. And that's because he is, even though Jefferson is listed at 6-10 and McHale played his entire NBA career listed at 6-10. What gives? Is Jefferson really more like 6-8? "Oh, no, he's pretty much legit," McHale says, and then he shares a secret: "I'm 7-foot tall in socks." Then what was with that 6-10 business for 13 seasons with the Celtics? "See, things were different back then. We weren't self-promoters. Why should we tell them how tall we really are? That's the way we looked at it."

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2007-10-11/mchale-sizes-jefferson?story-topic-NBA=NHL#ixzz1kKUEUGvI"

Also, you guys might like this fun video from last year of McHale and Big Al together on TNT.  Towards the end they stand pretty close to each other and you can see McHale is a bit taller. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCXuv2V2vuk 

[Celtics4ever]

McHale would do just fine.   He did great in Larry's shadow and if he was on his own team look out what he could have done.  No one has ever had better footwork or shot as good from the low post and line combined.

[33_Larry Legend_33]

Pick your best low-post, back to the basket threat in today's game...  Picture him in your mind... Review his stats...

NOW, think of a guy who's probably 50% more talented, and when healthy, could run the floor, block shots and provide instant-offense on the low block...

McHale would be a 1st team All-NBA choice in today's game...  I watched him play on a nightly basis in the 80's/early 90's and he was as good as they came.  If he got outside of Larry's shadow, just imagine how he would have been viewed...

[Fafnir]

Zombie threads are bad especially when bumped by a one-line response, I see we have some amount of discussion here so I won't lock it yet.

[TitleMaster]

Well, if the question was Pierce & McHale, as the cornerstone of a Pitino era dynasty, then the answer is 'Yes'.

The reason for that is that starting in 2000, the Celts would in effect, have the type of game which Walker couldn't provide to Pierce and that was an interior game PF/C, mixed with a wingman extraordinaire, who could take it inside or outside, whenever he wanted.

And thus, once you have that combination, the next piece is to fill in with role players like a back big man banger type like Potapenko (see cheaper Perkins), backup small forward shooters like a Rodney Rogers or a Devan George, guards like Strickland or Payton. And hopefully, one defensive specialist, like a James Posey/Bruce Bowen type, will fall in our laps, from the free agency, and then, we have a shot at a title.

[Inside-Out]

McHale vs. Duncan.

McHale was much, much quicker, a far superior passer, and better shooter from range than Duncan was at his own peak.

So...imagine a Tim Duncan, but much better.

[Eja117]

he'd be a 1rst rounder in fantasy ball....that's for sure

[CelticG1]

Who was McHales competition back in the day? What was the PF pool looking like? Gota imagine it being scarier in 1999 moving forward...