ML Carr Gets Tossed for Elbowing Laimbeer

1983-84 Boston Celtics
Celtics 114, Pistons 99
Record: 11-5
11/28/1983

K. C. Jones wanted his Celtics to get physical at the start of the fourth quarter last night. Detroit had melted a 21-point Boston lead to six points, so Jones brought M. L. Carr off the bench to join Dennis Johnson, Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale at the start of the fourth. M. L. lasted a total of 2:57 before he was heaved for tossing an elbow at Detroit center Bill Laimbeer.

Carr's version: "Laimbeer came down to set a pick and I was trying to deny John Long the ball. I hit Laimbeer as I went through the pick. I really didn't have time to plant it and he faked and fell back. I didn't think it was flagrant, but they got to try to control the game." Laimbeer's version: "He took a cheap shot at me. He tried to hit me in the face with his forearm. He missed and hit under my chin instead of my face. That's the way he always plays. He tries to hurt people. If the league keeps letting him get away with it, that's their fault, not mine."

Is Robert Parish playing too many minutes? Parish is averaging 37 minutes a game (39 if you exclude the first two games of the season). He averaged 28, 31.5 and 31.5 minutes per game in his first three Celtic seasons, and has had problems in the past with sore feet. He complained of fatigue often last year and wound up having a disappointing playoff - he didn't score 20 points in any of Boston's seven post-season games.

"The way he runs up and down the floor, I'd say he's playing about as many minutes as I want him to," Jones said before last night's game. "He's getting breathers here and there. It all depends on how he's going. Robert is not the type to ask out, so you have to keep an eye on him to see when he's drooping a little." Parish would not comment on his playing time, or anything else. "I got nothing to say," snapped the Celtic center.

MISC

Parish held Laimbeer to seven points. On the opening night of the season, Laimbeer scored 26 with 13 rebounds while Parish had only six points and four rebounds . . . Substitute officials Neil Kay and Ken Mauer were brutal. In addition to Carr's ejection, there were three technical fouls (Larry Bird, Chuck Daly and Detroit trainer Mike Abdenour . . . The Celtics outrebounded Detroit, 51-42, and have been outrebounded only twice in 16 games . . . Bird was 8 for 18 and is 41-113 (.363) in his last six games . . . Isiah Thomas led the Pistons with three blocked shots . . . The Celtics are in the middle of a five-game homestand. Boston plays host to San Antonio on Wednesday.