Raising His Game

Photo: Steve Lipofsky

You've heard it all before come playoff time, "he needs to step it up a notch" or "raise his game to another level". These are all common phrases that the average sports fan has come to detest. Whenever a commentator mutters those phrases, we all scratch our head and think, "what does that mean". But as the Celtics first round series with the Indiana Pacers has unfolded, there is no other way to describe the contributions of Walter McCarty.

While watching the Celtics first round series with the Indiana Pacers, we now understand, because McCarty has flat out "stepped it up a notch", actually a few notches. During the 82 game regular season, McCarty averaged 6.1 points and 3.5 boards in 23.7 minutes per game, and those were highs for McCarty since the 1998-99 season. His minutes were more consistent than they had been in the past, but still not what they could have been.

But with his minutes being increased in the playoffs, McCarty has proven that he can play in the most intense situations, playing a majority of his minutes in crunch time. And through the first five games of the series, in which the Celtics hold a 3-2 edge, McCarty is scoring 11.8 points on 48.9 percent shooting from the field, while grabbing 4.2 boards in 36.4 minutes per game.

"I know coach had a lot of confidence in me as well as the team. They knew I could contribute and go out there and be productive. It doesn't matter if I'm starting or coming off the bench. I just knew if given the chance, I could be productive and help our team win."

After playing well in the first two games, in Indiana, Walter was added to the starting lineup. He did start eight games in the 2002-03 season, with the Celtics going 7-1. His insertion into the lineup in the playoffs has been mainly about matchups, and Walt certainly has exploited those matchups.

"There are a number of reasons. Walter's playing really well", Head Coach Jim O'Brien said. "I thought throughout the game it would allow us to match up better with them, not only at the beginning of the game, but as the game wore on."

Though McCarty's offensive game has given the Celtics a big boost, his impact can be felt even more on the defensive end. McCarty has been asked to play many of his minutes trying to slow Indiana's all-star forward Jermaine O'Neal, which is no easy task, and looking at the stats it seems that O'Neal has been having his way. O'Neal is averaging 22.4 points and 17.2 rebounds in the series, but what Walt has done, with the help of his teammates, is not allow O'Neal to take games over, especially in the fourth quarter. When the games have been tight it has been Walter and the Celtics who have been the aggressors.

"Walter, because he's thin and quick, he hasn't allowed O'Neal to put his body or his arms on him and he can break the contact and get around in front of him", O'Brien commented. "Walt's an energetic guy and has to force them to throw the ball over the top of O'Neal's head in hopes that we can rotate into a trap."

As the Celtics look to close out the series and advance to the second round, you can expect to see a lot of Walter McCarty. And if the Celtics do advance to the second round you're guaranteed to hear your favorite announcer scream, "Walter McCarty has flat out raised his game to another level!!" But now you will know what he is talking about.