8.24.2012

McHale v. Joe Barry Carroll: The Duel that Wasn't

November 22, 1980

Neither Joe Barry Carroll nor Robert Parish would admit to any special determination against each other last night following Boston's 108-106 victory over the Golden State Warriors. Carroll was the No. 1 selection in the draft - a choice the Warriors acquired from the Celtics in return for Parish and Golden State's pick, the No. 3 overall choice, which Boston used to take Kevin McHale. He answered with a single word every time a reporter put the inevitable question to him. "No."

Parish was more expansive in his explanation. "I was more interested in avoiding embarrassment after the way I played early in the game," he said. Parish added that Carroll must become more patient in his offensive moves and said that missing training camp probably hurt the rookie. Carroll was delayed by a contract squabble.

The final stats show that Lloyd Free had 32 points, eight more than his season average. But it was a checkered performance, resulting from 24 shots, most of which were one-one-one efforts that interrupted the flow of his team's offense. He also had several attempted shots blocked by Parish and McHale as he drove for the basket . . . Larry Bird endured an embarrassing sequence in the second period. He misfired on a slam dunk, and the next time he had the ball, fired it directly into the hands of Warrior John Lucas, who sped downcourt for a layup . . . Tiny Archibald looked as if he were trying out as a movie actor as he flopped and fell around the court seeking foul calls. But he turned in 36 gritty minutes and scored 15 points while handing out six assists.

2 comments:

FLCeltsFan said...

Larry Bird endured an embarrassing sequence in the second period. He misfired on a slam dunk, and the next time he had the ball, fired it directly into the hands of Warrior John Lucas, who sped downcourt for a layup .

Now that's something you don't see very often. Maybe that's why I only saw Larry dunk once. Fool me once...

No question who got the best of that trade.

Lex said...

jbc

snicker snicker