ROBEY PASSES TEST WITH FLYING COLORS

January 24, 1980

His teacher should be proud today. Even if his left foot is still killing him, Dave Cowens should be very pleased with the work of his prize pupil in the pivot last night.

Rick Robey, the Celtics' 6-foot-10 center from Kentucky, earned a B-plus in a 131-104 rout of the Detroit Pistons. His 24 points and career-high 19 rebounds were easily the highlight of Boston's brilliant effort that made everyone forget that the game had been deadlocked, 54-54, at halftime.

The only reason Robey didn't get an A is because Celtic coach Bill Fitch thinks Robey can do even better. It was his first starting assignment of the season, necessitated by the injury to Cowens, who now may not be able to play before the All-Star break which begins Feb. 3.

"It's nice to know that we have a good man to fill in for Dave, who I think is the best defensive center in our league, and is the key to our offense because he can go outside and shoot," said Fitch. "Rick is an in- between player. He can shoot outside but is also very strong inside. He's earned three stars in the last three games for the way he's played on the boards. He's not there yet. But he's on his way."

Robey finally got the kind of challenge he has wanted. He was happy to come to Boston from the Indiana Pacers last year and to be able to practice and learn from Cowens. Robey occasionally played center last year when Cowens was hurt, and this season has swung between center and forward. Having an All- Star center (Cowens) and forward (Larry Bird) play ahead of him, however, means not nearly as much playing time as Robey would like.

"I got it tonight," he said after a 38-minute outing against the Pistons, a dreadful team that gives garbage time a bad name. "It's hard to get rolling when you're playing only 18 minutes a night. But I can't complain because I'm playing behind the best center around.

"I've learned so much from him since I've been here. Little things about pivot play - positioning, how to defense both the big and small centers. Dave has worked with me a lot. His game is more of an outside game and I'm an inside player right now. But I'm getting there."

Robey certainly got there in the second half. He combined with Bird, Cedric Maxwell and M.L. Carr to help Boston dominate the boards.

"Our problem in the second half was obvious," said Piston coach Richie Abudato. "We don't have enough healthy people to cope with Boston in the middle. Terry Tyler and Bob McAdoo stayed with them in the first half, and we were able to run. But without Bob Lanier, Leon Douglas, with Phil Hubbard in foul trouble, we were no match."

And it wouldn't have been much of a match in the first half if the Celtics hadn't forgotten early that Cowens wasn't there. Boston could score fairly easily, but the Pistons, led by Greg Kelser's 18 points and Tyler's 12, kept fast breaking and penetrating the middle.

In the second half, though, Kelser scored 11 points, most coming during garbage time, while Tyler netted only four.

"I think it's something our first unit had to get used to," said Fitch. "Dave is such a force inside, an intimidator. Guys were used to letting people get by then and then yelling, He's yours, Dave;' only Dave was back in Boston.

"That same group came back and did a much better job in the third quarter. They began to help out more and did more containment than in the first half."

In the third quarter the Celtics settled into their offensive patterns and jumped to a 74-64 lead thanks to basic execution. Once the Pistons began to tire, Boston's fast break and some sharp shooting by Chris Ford and Bird produced an 83-64 lead.

When the Pistons tried to come back, they faced an inspired defense. Detroit's first fast-break basket of the second half came with 3:49 left in the game.

"It was frustrating," said McAdoo. "I was so tired out there in the second half, I could hardly lift my arms. We just ran out of gas. The Celtics are a good team, certainly not like last year.They move the ball well and play excellent defense. We're a 50 percent or better shooting club at home. Tonight, we were even close (45 percent)."

McAdoo said he is simply doing his job and trying to make the best of a very dismal situation.

"Let's face it," he said. "We just don't have the talent. We don't have as good a blend of young players and veterans as we had in Buffalo. The fans are on you. I hear what they say and it hurts your concentration. That, plus reading about trades all the time. I don't know what is going to happen."