[159] The Pistons never recovered as they were eliminated in Game 6, 9882. Jan 30 @ ATL, DET (30-14) beat ATL, 112-95, 45. Top Moments: Pistons shock NBA world, win championship in 2004 Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. [25] Howell had previously been dealt to the Baltimore Bullets in 1964 and former Pistons guard Gene Shue, who was the head coach of the Bullets at the time, assessed the Pistons thusly: "Detroit has the worst management in the league. Now, more than 30 years. The Pistons battered the Boston Celtics and smacked around the Chicago Bulls. [257], On January 29, 2018, the Pistons announced they had acquired all-star forward Blake Griffin along with Willie Reed and Brice Johnson from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Avery Bradley, Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, a 2018 first-round draft pick, and a 2019 second-round draft pick. Mar 11 @ CHH, DET (47-15) beat CHH, 98-88, 64. It was also the final game of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's storied NBA career. [276] It was their first 60-loss season since 199394. After the teams split the first four games of the series, the turning point came at the end of Game 5 in Detroit, which went into overtime. During this time, he was the subject of a series of rumors linking him to other job openings. The. BAAAAD BOYS, BAAAAD BOYS, they sang, arm in arm on the bench, as the Pistons swept the Los Angeles Lakers in four games with a 105-97 victory Tuesday night to capture the NBA championship. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Just How Bad Were the 'Bad Boys'? - FiveThirtyEight [4][283], Hooper is the mascot of the Pistons. [134][138][139] In addition, the team set an NBA record by starting the same lineup in 73 consecutive games from the start of the season. The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. Franchise history [ edit] 1937-1957: Fort Wayne (Zollner) Pistons [ edit] In that game, Isiah Thomas scored an NBA Finals record 25 points in the third quarter while playing on a severely sprained ankle. 9 overall pick", "Lawrence Frank fired by Detroit Pistons", "Detroit Pistons Relieve Maurice Cheeks of Head Coaching Duties", "Pistons owner Tom Gores: Poor progress under Mo Cheeks; John Loyer interim coach", "Detroit Pistons Announce Organizational Changes", "Detroit Pistons Name Stan Van Gundy Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations", "What We Learned About the Detroit Pistons During the 2014-15 NBA Season", "2014-15 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats", "Pistons get Ersan Ilyasova from Bucks for Butler, Williams", "Pistons get small forward Marcus Morris in trade with Suns", "Pistons agree to deal with Spurs center Baynes", "Pistons acquire Steve Blake for insurance at point", "Pistons draft Johnson No. Nov 11 @ MIA, DET (3-3) lost to MIA, 84-88, 10. [71] The decisive game came down to the final second. [156][157][158] In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons faced the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nov 28 @ SAC, DET (8-5) beat SAC, 93-81, 14. [56] However, the Lakers won the game, 103102, on a pair of last-second free throws by Abdul-Jabbar following a controversial foul called on Bill Laimbeer, referred to by many as a "phantom foul". [147] The Pistons quickly began playing better basketball. [191][192] The trade was marked as the start of a new rebuilding process due to Iverson's free agent status at the end of the season. That moment came 31 years ago Saturday night, at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. I cant describe it, I cant, Isiah Thomas said afterward, his face dripping champagne. Do you have a blog? I loved how they played and how they didn't back down. [64], The Pistons successfully defended their title in 1990, despite losing Rick Mahorn to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the expansion draft. The 2004 Finals did far more than redefine the blueprint to championship contention. [13][14] The Nationals won on a free throw by George King with 12 seconds left in the game. "[292] David Stern, Commissioner of the NBA at the time, said, "If I had it to do over again, we would be more aggressive in regulating, shall we say, that style of play, because it led to our game becoming much more physical. [143][144], During the off-season, the Pistons offered Ben Wallace a four-year, $48 million contract, which would have made him the highest-paid player in franchise history at the time. [267][268] The Pistons finished the season with a 2046 record. The Detroit Pistons 'Bad Boy' team won back to back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. [146] He struggled to fill the team's void at center, however, and the team began looking for additional help. MORE: Michael Jordan's hatred for Isiah Thomas, 'Bad Boy' Pistons is still very, very real That takes away from what Detroit really was. The Bad Boys : nbadiscussion - Reddit . At the very end of the third quarter, Chauncey Billups hit a three-point field goal that gave the Pistons a three-point lead. [102], In the 2002 off-season, Joe Dumars revamped the roster by signing free agent Chauncey Billups, acquiring Richard "Rip" Hamilton from the Washington Wizards, and drafting Tayshaun Prince from Kentucky. The Air Jordan 6 Helped Deliver Michael Jordan His First Championship - GQ Though Boston prevailed in six games, Detroit's surprise performance promised that a rivalry had begun. Michael Jordan 'Last Dance': A timeline of Bulls, 'Bad Boys' Pistons Nov 29 @ PHO, DET (9-5) beat PHO, 111-103, 15. [78][79] In the 199192 season, the Pistons finished with a 4834 record. [221], Following the 201213 season, Frank was fired as head coach on April 18, 2013, after two losing seasons,[167][222] and on June 10, 2013, the Pistons hired former player and coach Maurice Cheeks. Detroit Piston Bad Boys - Basketball Noise [13][14] In the following season, the Pistons made it back to the NBA Finals. 'Bad Boys' Pistons' true greatness swept aside by 'The Last Dance' The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division and play their home games at Little Caesars Arena, located in Midtown Detroit. Jan 27 @ MIN, DET (29-14) beat MIN, 85-83, 44. [1] They also won the World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1944, 1945 and 1946. [263][264], On March 11, 2020, the 201920 season was suspended by the NBA after it was reported that Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. Not anymore. Win the Lakers did, battling through a seven-game NBA Finals and even trailing the Bad Boy Pistons of Detroit three games to two before eking out a one-point win in Game 6 and getting 36 points . [253], On June 20, 2017, Detroit City Council approved the Pistons' move to Little Caesars Arena. Follow Marlowe Alter on Twitter:@Marlowe Alter. Mar 20 @ MIL, DET (51-15) beat MIL, 117-96, 67. No more waiting. [35][36][37][38] Hope was then placed in Dick Vitale in 1978, the former head coach at the University of Detroit, but he was fired the following season, and the team limped into the 1980s with a 1666 record in 197980. [114][113][115] Many analysts gave the Pistons little chance to win against their opponent, the Los Angeles Lakers, who had won three out of the previous four NBA championships and who fielded a star-studded lineup that included Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton, and Karl Malone. "[75][76][77], After getting swept by the Bulls, the Pistons traded James Edwards and waived Vinnie Johnson during the off-season. [216] In the 2011 NBA draft, the Pistons selected Brandon Knight, Kyle Singler and Vernon Macklin. [1] The Zollner Pistons were NBL champions in 1944 and 1945. [129] Meanwhile, Brown was forced to leave the team on two occasions due to health concerns. [282], On May 16, 2017, the Pistons unveiled a new logo, which is a modernized version of the previous "Bad Boys" era logo used from 1979 to 1996. [258], The Pistons finished the 201718 season with a 3943 record. This time, the Pistons came out victorious in a four-game sweep to win their first NBA championship. [129] It resulted in heavy fines and suspensions for several players and a great deal of NBA and media scrutiny. They were swept in four games in a highly competitive series. Our first NBA champions? [51], In 1987, the team reached the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics. This is so great!. Who were the Detriot Piston Bad Boys? Bill Laimbeer was the most hated man in the NBA during his playing days. [47] However, the team took a step backwards, losing in the first round of the 1986 playoffs to the more athletic Atlanta Hawks. In 1984, the Pistons lost a tough five-game series to the underdog New York Knicks, 32. [126] The Pistons fought back to win Game 6 in San Antonio, setting up the first NBA Finals Game 7 since 1994. (Series Stats)Won NBA Eastern Conference Finals (4-3) versus Chicago Bulls Join our linker program. The league's all-time leading scorer, then 42 years old, had just seven points on 2-for-8 shooting in his farewell. [269], On June 18, 2020, the Pistons hired Troy Weaver as the new general manager. [121][122][123] In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons faced the Miami Heat. Mar 22 @ HOU, DET (51-16) lost to HOU, 110-115, 68. While they started the season 420, they won half their remaining games to finish a lockout-shortened season with a record of 2541. At the height of their success they were the dirtiest players in the league. National Basketball Association team in Detroit, Michigan, 20032008: Six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, 20112015: New ownership; more struggling, brawl between the Indiana Pacers and the Pistons, Memorial Building (University of Detroit), National Basketball Association rivalries, "Detroit Pistons Unveil Newly Updated Primary Logo", "NBA LockerVision - Detroit Pistons - Association Edition - Story Guide", "Detroit Pistons Reproduction and Usage Guideline Sheet", "Detroit Pistons and United Wholesale Mortgage Announce Jersey Partnership", "World Professional Basketball Tournament", "Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1950", "25 Things You Probably Didn't Know About the Pistons' First 10 Years in Detroit", "George Yardley, 75, Shooter Who Broke N.B.A. The Pistons were storming the throne room, grabbing the basketball, stealing it, owning it, banking it off glass, slamming it through the rim, counting the seconds until destiny lifted her veil and gave them that long-awaited kiss, smack on the lips. He was named series MVP, scoring 27.3 points per game on 57.6% shooting. Jan 31, DET (31-14) beat WSB, 133-109, 46. [167] Detroit finished the season with the second-best record in the league at 5923. [65][66] After winning 59 games and a third straight division title, the Pistons cruised through the first two rounds of the playoffs before playing a tough Eastern Conference Finals series against Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and the Chicago Bulls. [208][209] On March 23, 2010, the Pistons were eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Indiana Pacers. 10", "Detroit Pistons Q&A: Rick Mahorn on the Bad Boys, Laimbeer & Barkley, the '04 champions", "Hawks Beat Pistons and Move on to Boston", "25 years ago the Pistons snatched Salley and Rodman in NBA Draft", "How the Detroit Pistons came to be known as the Bad Boys", "25 years later, remembering 'a steal by Bird', "Boston Celtics Rivalries That Defined Generations of NBA Basketball", "Edwards added a key piece to the championship runs for the Pistons", "Top NBA Finals moments: Thomas scores 25 in quarter on injured ankle", "Pat Riley Admits '88 Lakers Benefited from Phantom Foul vs. Detroit Pistons", "Twenty years in, the Palace still shines", "Dantley-for-aguirre Deal Doesn't Go Down Well in Detroit", "What's the best trade the Pistons ever made? [1][9] George Yardley set the NBA single-season scoring record in the Pistons' first season in Detroit, becoming the first player to score 2,000 points in a season. [52][53] While the Pistons did win Game 6 in Detroit, they lost the series in a tough Game 7 back in Boston. Van Gundy signed a 5-year, $35 million contract to become the head coach and president of basketball operations for the team. draft, the culmination of years of mediocrity. He didn't have much of an impact on the team, as he averaged only 2 points-per-game. [151] The team advanced to face the Chicago Bulls, marking the first time that the Central Division rivals had met in the postseason since 1991. Nov 7 @ CHI, DET (2-1) lost to CHI, 114-117, 4. [240] The Pistons surpassed their win totals from the 200910 season to the 201415 season on March 9, 2016, when they defeated the Dallas Mavericks 10296. Detroit Pistons coach Dwane Casey has stepped down after the team lost to to Chicago Bulls to end the 2022-23 season Detroit Pistons, American professional basketball team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, outside Detroit. 104.3 (19th of 27) Who were on the Bad Boy Pistons? - Wise-Answer The Detroit Pistons built a team in the late 80s that were considered to be Bad Boys, literally. [250][251], On November 22, 2016, the Pistons officially announced their intention to move to Little Caesars Arena, and the site of The Palace of Auburn Hills was to be redeveloped and sold, with the arena likely to be demolished as part of the redevelopment. Technically they won a 3peat if we gauge the 1988 NBA Finals properly, in terms of how the refs cheated the Pistons out of two games literally. [184] In Game 6, the Pistons entered the fourth quarter leading 7060, but a lack of focus, a poor game from Rasheed Wallace, and a rally-killing turnover by Tayshaun Prince ultimately led to their demise; the Pistons ended their season with an 8981 loss. [271][272] In the 2021 NBA draft, the Pistons selected Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick. [1] Although it was the fifth largest city in the United States at the time,[16] Detroit had not seen professional basketball in a decade. MORE: Michael Jordan's hatred for Isiah Thomas, 'Bad Boy' Pistons is still very, very real That takes away from what Detroit really was. Larry Bird stole the inbound pass and passed it to Dennis Johnson for the game-winning layup. He played before the the existence of the three-point arc, yet consistently took shots from. ", "Pistons Fans Feel Good Looking Real Bad", "Pistons 'Bad Boys' special on ESPN evokes emotions a quarter-century later", "The Bad Boys Capture Back-To-Back Championships: Pistons Fans, Players Remember The Team's Golden Years", "The Weirdest Celebrity-Based Video Games", "Don't buy into Michael Jordan's narrative: The 'Bad Boys' Pistons deserve your respect", "Michael Jordan says he still hates the 'Bad Boys' Detroit Pistons", "1948-49 Fort Wayne Pistons Roster and Stats", "1949-50 Fort Wayne Pistons Roster and Stats", "1950-51 Fort Wayne Pistons Roster and Stats", "1951-52 Fort Wayne Pistons Roster and Stats", "Allen County War Memorial Coliseum - History", "Reflections on the Humble Beginnings of the Detroit Pistons", "NBA Salary Cap FAQ 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement", "DETROIT PISTONS ACQUIRE RIGHTS TO GABRIELE PROCIDA, NO. [74] The Conference Finals is best remembered for the Pistons walking off the court in the last game just before it ended, willingly letting the final seconds tick away, unwilling to shake hands with the Bulls. No, the Pistons were turning a page, and for some damn reason that meant burying the history of the best team in franchise history. John Salley, one of the Bad Boy Pistons, was notably not a part of that. Wallace in particular developed into a defensive stalwart in the coming years. [100][101] They lost, however, to the Boston Celtics in five games. In the 197879 season, the team featured a uniform with lightning bolts on the sides and in the wordmark on the front of the jerseys. Members of the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons: Where Are They Now? 10 jersey out of respect for Dennis Rodman", "Bill Russell's No. Dec 8 @ PHI, DET (11-7) lost to PHI, 101-107, 20. ", "Villanueva vows to make up for poor debut in Detroit", "Pistons hand Timberwolves franchise record-tying 67th loss", "Pistons fire coach John Kuester after two seasons", "Karen Davidson and Tom Gores Reach Agreement on Sale of Detroit Pistons", "Detroit Pistons Sold To Billionaire Tom Gores", "Dennis Mannion named president of Detroit Pistons, Palace Sports & Entertainment", "Detroit Pistons hire Lawrence Frank as new head coach", "Pistons show improvement, but rebuilding continues", "NBA Draft 2012: Detroit Pistons select Andre Drummond with No. The NBL and BAA merged to become the NBA in 1949, and the Pistons became part of the merged league. Wilson underwent surgery by the top athletic foot surgeon in the field, Dr. Robert Anderson, to repair a fracture . Miami defeated the Pistons in six games en route to the 2006 NBA championship. 6 jersey to be retired throughout NBA", "NBA permanently retires Bill Russell's No. [113][117] The Pistons posted double-digit wins in three of their four victories and held the Lakers to a franchise-low 68 points in Game 3. [42] They later acquired center Bill Laimbeer in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers in February 1982. Dec 12 @ DEN, DET (13-7) beat DEN, 121-108, 21. Talks intensified just as the Pistons were set to open their 201617 season, and as part of the terms of the agreement, there was discussion of a possible merger between Olympia and PS&E. [108], Despite the team's improvement, Rick Carlisle was fired in the 2003 off-season. [153][154][155] The Bulls avoided elimination by winning Games 4 and 5, but the Pistons closed out the series, 9585, in Game 6 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth consecutive season. Are the 1989 championship-team Bad Boy Pistons overrated? In particular, there are accusations that the team may have intentionally lost the 1955 NBA Finals to the Syracuse Nationals. [24] In November 1981, the Pistons acquired Vinnie Johnson in a trade with the Seattle SuperSonics. [259] On May 7, 2018, the Pistons announced that Stan Van Gundy would not return as head coach and president of basketball operations. Yardley, Lanier, and Bing all ended their Pistons tenure being traded away, frustrated with the direction and opportunities with Detroit. ", "NBA Expansion Draft: Timberwolves Get Mahorn; Lakers Lose Rivers", "1989-90 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats", "1990 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Bulls vs. Pistons", "An Historic Look At The NBA Finals' 2-3-2 Format", "From every angle, the Microwave could get hot on the court", "Pippen and Bulls first had to beat Detroit's Bad Boys", "Thomas' Injury Signals Finish of Pistons' Reign", "Why did the Pistons walk off the court without shaking hands with Jordan's Bulls? [224][225] In April, the Pistons announced that Joe Dumars would step down as president of basketball operations but remain as an advisor to the organization and its ownership team. [4] There have been 36 head coachesfor the Pistons franchise since joining the NBA. Do you have a sports website? . Hooper became a part of the team on November 1, 1996, replacing Sir Slam A Lot. WERE THE BAAAD BOYS!. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. [140][141][142] Things did not improve against the second-seeded Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. . Feb 17 @ MIA, DET (37-14) beat MIA, 97-79, 53. [177], Detroit advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth straight season, squaring off against the Celtics. Joe Dumars led the waywith 23 points, making 13 of 17 free throws. The '88-'89 Pistons dominated the regular season, finishing with a 63-19 record. Dec 30, DET (18-11) beat NJN, 117-106, 30. Feb 25 @ NYK, DET (40-15) beat NYK, 98-87, 56. He ultimately settled on Detroit. Dan Hauser, Pistons Vice-President of Marketing said, "Al sent us Raiders sweaters, and when we played Golden State in Oakland, Al had Raiders warm-ups for us with our names and numbers on them. Joe Dumars was named NBA Finals MVP. Jan 2 @ ORL, DET (19-11) beat ORL, 115-113, 35. "In the end, there would be no denying them; they wanted this more than life itself.". These bunch of players were known for their very aggressive playing style that saw their. [241] On April 6, 2016, following a 108104 win over the Orlando Magic, the Pistons reached 42 wins and were assured their first winning season since the 200708 season. The Bulls outplayed the Bad Boys Pistons and won each game by at least eight points. 'The Jordan Rules': What to know about the defense the 'Bad Boys (Heinjured his left hamstring late in Game 2, and played just five minutes in Game 3). 98.3 (1st of 27), SRS: 5.41 (4th of 27) John Salley explains why he didn't take part in Bulls-Pistons - RSN [148][149] On April 11, the Pistons clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference, which guaranteed them home-court advantage for first three rounds of the playoffs. Wallace was absolutely crucial for the Pistons 2004 championship win with his interior defense. [242] On April 8, 2016, the Pistons defeated the Washington Wizards 11299 and clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2009. [238][239], The Pistons entered the All-Star break at 2727. [15], Though the Pistons enjoyed a solid local following, Fort Wayne's small size made it difficult for them to be profitable, especially as other early NBA teams based in smaller cities started folding or relocating to larger markets. [24][84][85][86] They bottomed out in the 199394 season, finishing with a 2062 record. Pistons won the game 101-79, gaining a 2-1 series lead. Here's the opening excerpt fromAlbom's game column in the Free Press: In the end, there would be no denying them; they wanted this more than life itself. [231][232][233][234] They also drafted rookie Stanley Johnson with the eighth pick in the 2015 NBA draft and re-signed point guard Reggie Jackson. In 1989, the Pistons were stronger and posted a season-best record of 63-19. After the series, Michael Jordan said, "You see two different styles with us and them. Dec 13 @ LAC, DET (13-8) lost to LAC, 79-83, 22. [128], The Pistons' 200405 season was marked by a major controversy, as well as distracting issues involving Larry Brown. [39] The 197980 team lost its last 14 games of the season which, when coupled with the seven losses at the start of the 198081 season, constituted a then-NBA record losing streak of 21 games. [227], After starting the 201415 season with a 523 record, the Pistons waived Josh Smith, who was acquired in the summer of 2013. The Pistons made a solid run during the 1989-90 season as they chased the repeat. Hopefully, that will be eliminated from the game. [46] They also acquired Rick Mahorn in a trade with the Washington Bullets. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The game is best remembered for LeBron James' performance where he scored the Cavaliers' final 29 of 30 points, including the team's final 25 points, to help defeat the Pistons 109107 in double overtime. The team failed to hit the three-peat the following season and Henderson ended his career with the Houston Rockets following the 1991-92 season. LeBron James snubs Grizzlies in Lakers' win over Grizzlies [73] The most critical injury during this time belonged to Isiah Thomas, who had suffered a wrist injury a few months prior to the NBA playoffs. Pace: 94.4 (26th of 27), Off Rtg: 109.9 (11th of 27) [132][133], During the 200506 season, the Pistons recorded the NBA's best overall record. [260] On June 11, 2018, Dwane Casey was hired by the Pistons to be their new head coach, agreeing to a five-year deal. [278] The regular radio announcers are Mark Champion with play-by-play and Rick Mahorn with color commentary. He is depicted as a horse wearing a Pistons jersey. [51][287] Due to these factors, the name and image was embraced by the players and fans. He would have been expected to win championships with Shaq. You might remember the late-80s early-90s Pistons as the head-crunching bad boys who were rough with Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, and won two championship. Now, before anyone calls me a hater, let me just make it clear- the Pistons are an all-time great team, I just don't see how they frequently get ranked in the top 5 or top 10 teams of all time. Nov 8 @ IND, DET (2-2) lost to IND, 74-95, 5. [168] The Boston Celtics held the first seed, and many speculated that Boston was their main competition in the Eastern Conference. In NBA playoffs vs. LeBron, Memphis Grizzlies have 'Bad Boys' attention For the full season-by-season history, see List of Detroit Pistons seasons. It was the exclamation point on a. [213][214][215] According to Crain's Detroit Business, the final sale price was $325 million, far lower than expected. After the "Bad Boys" era, he claimed the NBA's inaugural Sportsmanship Award in 1996 and transitioned to the front office, where he built the 2004 Pistons' title-winning team. An hour after the round ended, McDaniels and Ziegler unwound in the draft room. [188] On November 3, 2008, the Pistons traded key members Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson. Nov 10 @ ORL, DET (3-2) beat ORL, 125-121, 6. The "Bad Boy" Pistons won back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, earning their reputation through a willingness to stop opponents by any means necessary. In 1989, Mahorn - dubbed by Piston announcer George Blaha the "Baddest Bad Boy of them all" - won his only NBA championship with the Pistons. [82] Chuck Daly resigned as head coach after the season. Are the championship-team Bad Boy Pistons overrated? [244][245], Beginning with the 197879 season, the Pistons played their home games in suburban Oakland County, directly north of Detroit/Wayne County, first playing ten seasons at the Pontiac Silverdome and then playing at The Palace of Auburn Hills starting in the 198889 season. The Pistons would win the series in six. [22][246][247] Pistons owner Tom Gores, Palace Sports & Entertainment vice chairman Arn Tellum, and Olympia Entertainment, the Ilitch family's holding company that controls the Red Wings and Tigers, had been in negotiations over a partnership since the summer of 2015, with the Pistons possibly relocating to the new Little Caesars Arena as soon as the 201718 season. [174], In addition to losing Game 3 badly, 11186, the Pistons also lost all-star point guard and team leader Chauncey Billups to a hamstring injury. [182] Game 4 saw the Pistons win 9475. [103][104][105] The Pistons posted consecutive 50-win seasons and advanced to the 2003 Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1991. Twenty-six years ago yesterday, the Detroit Pistons beat the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to claim their second consecutive championship. No more excuses. [113] The Pistons then defeated the Pacers, coached by Rick Carlisle, in six tough games to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1990. [30][31][32], In 1974, Zollner sold the team to glass magnate Bill Davidson, who remained the team's principal owner until his death in 2009. 'Bad Boys' Pistons' true greatness swept aside by 'The Last Dance' He may have been the most popular basketball. However, the clock had stopped shortly into the play. "[28][29] Howell would go to win two championships as a member of the Boston Celtics.