What’s the difference between Walter McCarty and Brian Scalabrine?
Their roles on the Celtics are the same. They both can contribute when others handle most of the workload, and they’re asked to only to work hard and make a couple of open shots. Neither can handle more than that.
But WE…. LOVE…. WALTAH!… while Scal gets the nickname “Veal”… and and most of us want him gone.
But our problem isn’t really with Scalabrine. He was never billed as more than the off-the-bench role player who could hit a shot if you ignored him. No… our problem was with (a) his contract… and (b) the Celtics lack of talent. Yes… he’s probably making too much money… but if your boss offered you three times what you were worth… would you say no? Me neither. And it’s not Scal’s fault that Doc played him 25 minutes a game. He was never supposed to be asked to do that much. But nothing else was working out… so into the game he went.
I feel bad for Scal, actually. If this was his first year with the C’s… I bet we would love him like we love all of the other less-than-talented scrappers like McCarty and Gabe Kaplar. He’d get his 10 minutes a game… set a few screens… hit a couple of shots… and do a few local car or furniture commercials. I hope we can let the past go… and so does he… because he knows he can contribute to this team.
Do yourself a favor today and print out Steve Bulpett’s column today on the Celtics trip to Europe…. and bring it into the bathroom with you. The trip might have been the best thing that happened to these guys:
Kendrick Perkins: “I think in these last two weeks in Rome and London we’ve done a very good job of getting to know each other. Everybody likes each other. You can feel it coming together. You can just tell guys enjoy each other. We compete hard on the court, we support each other and we’ve all got one goal. This was about learning, and we did a lot of that.”
It makes sense when you think about it. Instead of driving to and from Waltham from wherever they live… and then maybe getting together to get to know each other… these guys had to do things as a group every day. They had no choice. They were in a foreign country… and the only people they could relate to were the other guys on the team. They were all doing things they’d never done before… seeing things they’ve never seen… and they were forced to do it together…. which, in turn, forced them to bond into a cohesive unit faster than anyone could have imagined.
I’m not a big believer in destiny… I believe you make your own luck. But something is going on here. Instead of bemoaning our top draft pick’s season-ending knee surgery… we’re celebrating 3 future hall of famers on the court together. This European trip was planned long before any of this happened… but it might just be the reason why we’re better than even WE thought we could be.
I just like what I’m hearing.
Also: Check out the 51st Carnival of the NBA… the theme: They Might Be Giants.
Also today: Rough Road for Leon Powe | Eddy Curry should be ready for C’s Wednesday | Posey surprised to be a Celtic | Hoopsworld: Up close with Eddie House | *gasp*… KG healthy for way too long? | Ricky Davis might be trade bait
McCarty was a better player than Scalabrine. He was a better shooter and defender. Maybe that’s why we loved Walter….
How much better?
Don’t romanticize the past.
On a scale of 1-10 (say KG and Pierce are 10s, and Allan Ray is a 4) I would place McCarty as a 6 and Scalabrine as a 5.
So he’s a little better. I won’t argue that. Still the point is that it’s not Scal’s fault…. and if this was his first year with the team he’d fall into that loveable, marginally capable guy role.
We didn’t give him that nickname.
Absurd contract aside, I really haven’t seen him do anything on the court. He can’t run, jump or defend, and has a marginal jumper. He was needed for his basketball IQ due to the immaturity of the team at the time. He is no longer needed….
[...] for around the world of Green: Steve Bulpett is still talking Europe. Mark Murphy and Reds Army are both having love affairs with Brian Scalabrine. The Globe is giving Leon Powe some love, and [...]
First off, one major thing Scal can do that Walter can’t is pass up taking a bad shot!!!!!!
Scal just looks uncomfortable with the ball in his hands the last two years. Lots of times he will be wide open, think about shooting, then not shoot. Or he’ll think about it too much, then throw up a bad shot. He looked better in the last game. With more of a defined role this year I think he will do fine. He’ll be more comfortable and just play. Thinking too much with the ball in his hands was causing him problems. It would do it to anyone.
[...] Celtic MetroWest Daily Two day break no problem Red’s Army Why don’t we love Scal? Celtics.com Anticipation still high for Garden debut Asbury Park Press [...]
[...] Red’s Army Why don’t we love Scal? [...]
[...] Red’s Army Why don’t we love Scal? [...]
I never much liked McCarty, either. He didn’t seem to shoot all that well for the number of shots he took, and I was skeptical as to the overall value of his game. Nothing against either man, but I feel pretty much the same about Scalabrine.
“Scalabrine was clearly our best player off the bench this year.”-Rod Thorn, Owner of the new jersey nets.
FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
.392 .346 .698 .7 1.9 2.6 1.1 .64 .20 .88 2.00 5.2
.393 .349 .787 .7 1.8 2.5 1.0 0.4 .20 .81 1.80 3.7
Can you guess who’s career stats are who’s??????????????
ummm…. nope
Top one is McCarty, bottom Scal………….you are right they are the same player………I’d still take Scal, better help D
Ummm… yep.
Thanks for doing the research I was too lazy to do. Feel free to call in tonight and confirm other things I say.
I think Scal will gain more acceptance this year. He’ll play better….and if he doesn’t… we’ll send him and Eric Gagne off in the same rocket to the sun.