Yes or No? McHale better than Garnett?

[Pucaccia]

Just watched the 1986 Championship replay on NBATV.

That team was great, but it made me wonder.

Yes or No? McHale better than Garnett?

I say yes!

[celtsfan84]

Just watched the 1986 Championship replay on NBATV.

That team was great, but it made me wonder.

Yes or No? McHale better than Garnett?

I say yes!

I'd lean towards no, but it is pretty close.  McHale's defense was always very good, but Garnett plays D at an all-time level.  Offensively, McHale is far better in the post but KG is a better shooter.  KG in his prime is a better rebounder too.

[CelticG1]

I think absolutely KG. KG I think had a higher peak and was better when they were both at their best then obviously KG's longevity vaults him a lot further in front.

McHale was probably a better scorer and he obviously was a better post player but I think in almost every other aspect KG has him beat.

[Eja117]

Just barely no.

[2short]

I lived through McHale rookie, peak and decline.  Sadly never got to see much of kg until the celtics signed him which was post peak.  I'd have to say KG but Kevin is an all time great so does it matter?
interviews mchale has to be one of the funniest direct spoken guys ever, he was a tv star on cheers cmon!

[Roy H.]

For the Celtics, McHale.

All-time?  At their respective peaks, give me McHale.  For an entire body of work, KG.

[2short]

For the Celtics, McHale.

All-time?  At their respective peaks, give me McHale.  For an entire body of work, KG.

At KG's peak he was league mvp.  McHale finished 3rd or 4th one year and that was his best.  Mind you I think 80's basketball was better quality but too lazy to see who kg topped for his mvp

[Roy H.]

For the Celtics, McHale.

All-time?  At their respective peaks, give me McHale.  For an entire body of work, KG.

At KG's peak he was league mvp.  McHale finished 3rd or 4th one year and that was his best.  Mind you I think 80's basketball was better quality but too lazy to see who kg topped for his mvp

At his peak, McHale had the "misfortune" of playing next to a top-5 player all-time.  If KG played next to Bird, he never would have won an MVP, either.

[Kane3387]

No.

[CelticG1]

For the Celtics, McHale.

All-time?  At their respective peaks, give me McHale.  For an entire body of work, KG.

At KG's peak he was league mvp.  McHale finished 3rd or 4th one year and that was his best.  Mind you I think 80's basketball was better quality but too lazy to see who kg topped for his mvp

At his peak, McHale had the "misfortune" of playing next to a top-5 player all-time.  If KG played next to Bird, he never would have won an MVP, either.

I'm just wondering the reasoning. If it's just watching them play than obviously that's pretty subjective and makes sense.

I just don't see where McHale is better than KG. I'll concede that McHale is a better post player and probably a better scorer (I guess if you want to consider the Bird factor) but I'd say KG has the advantage in everything else defense, passing, stamina, athleticism.

[lightspeed5]

For the Celtics, McHale.

All-time?  At their respective peaks, give me McHale.  For an entire body of work, KG.

At KG's peak he was league mvp.  McHale finished 3rd or 4th one year and that was his best.  Mind you I think 80's basketball was better quality but too lazy to see who kg topped for his mvp

kg was mvp in 04. http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_2004.html

he passed prime timmy duncan, prime JO, prime peja, and prime tracy mcgrady (who was the top scorer), shaq and kobe were still together, lebron was rookie of the year.

[Roy H.]

For the Celtics, McHale.

All-time?  At their respective peaks, give me McHale.  For an entire body of work, KG.

At KG's peak he was league mvp.  McHale finished 3rd or 4th one year and that was his best.  Mind you I think 80's basketball was better quality but too lazy to see who kg topped for his mvp

At his peak, McHale had the "misfortune" of playing next to a top-5 player all-time.  If KG played next to Bird, he never would have won an MVP, either.

I'm just wondering the reasoning. If it's just watching them play than obviously that's pretty subjective and makes sense.

I just don't see where McHale is better than KG. I'll concede that McHale is a better post player and probably a better scorer (I guess if you want to consider the Bird factor) but I'd say KG has the advantage in everything else defense, passing, stamina, athleticism.

It's from watching them play.

McHale was better in the post and a better scorer.  He was a better interior defender, and arguably KG's equal on the perimeter.  He'd usually take the best forward on the opposing team.

KG was a better rebounder (although McHale's numbers would have been better had he not played between Parish and Bird), a better passer, and a better ball-handler.

If I could have either of them for one must-win game, it would be McHale.

[Celtics4ever]

Post offense the nod is too McHale, I agree.   Shot blocking it is close.   But I think KG gets the nod in every other area save toughness.  Kevin played on a broken foot and also just didn't pose that he was tough.  He clotheslined Rambis, KG acts tough but my money is on McHale in this regard.

[GreenFaith1819]

Either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_dtm2rlV_E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VQVYrtnYzs

[celtsfan84]

For the Celtics, McHale.

All-time?  At their respective peaks, give me McHale.  For an entire body of work, KG.

At KG's peak he was league mvp.  McHale finished 3rd or 4th one year and that was his best.  Mind you I think 80's basketball was better quality but too lazy to see who kg topped for his mvp

At his peak, McHale had the "misfortune" of playing next to a top-5 player all-time.  If KG played next to Bird, he never would have won an MVP, either.

I'm just wondering the reasoning. If it's just watching them play than obviously that's pretty subjective and makes sense.

I just don't see where McHale is better than KG. I'll concede that McHale is a better post player and probably a better scorer (I guess if you want to consider the Bird factor) but I'd say KG has the advantage in everything else defense, passing, stamina, athleticism.

It's from watching them play.

McHale was better in the post and a better scorer.  He was a better interior defender, and arguably KG's equal on the perimeter.  He'd usually take the best forward on the opposing team.

KG was a better rebounder (although McHale's numbers would have been better had he not played between Parish and Bird), a better passer, and a better ball-handler.

If I could have either of them for one must-win game, it would be McHale.

Great point with McHale regarding his defense and I remember that they used to even put him on perimeter scorers like Dominique.  His length seemed to bother more athletic players (and McHale in his prime was a pretty good athlete).

But KG has a lateral quickness that few players ever possessed that allows him to play unparalleled team defense.  He is the best pick and roll defender in league history, arguably, covering a lot of ground at once.  McHale might have been an equivalent in post defense and perimeter defense, but not in team / pick and roll defense.