1987–88 Detroit Pistons season

The 1987–88 Detroit Pistons season was the 40th season for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association, and their 31st season in Detroit, Michigan. This was also the team's final season in which they played their home games at the Pontiac Silverdome in suburban Pontiac, Michigan.

After a 7–5 start to the regular season, the Pistons posted a 10-game winning streak in December, and later on held a 25–16 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team acquired James Edwards from the Phoenix Suns. The Pistons posted a seven-game winning streak in March, finished in first place in the Central Division with a 54–28 record, and earned the second seed in the Eastern Conference; it was the first Division title for the franchise since moving to Detroit in 1957.

Adrian Dantley led the team in scoring with 20.0 points per game, while Isiah Thomas averaged 19.5 points, 8.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and Joe Dumars provided the team with 14.2 points and 4.7 assists per game. In addition, Bill Laimbeer averaged 13.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, while Vinnie Johnson contributed 12.2 points and 3.3 assists per game, and second-year forward Dennis Rodman provided with 11.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Rick Mahorn averaged 10.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, and second-year center John Salley provided with 8.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, Thomas was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Thomas, a native of Chicago, dished out 15 assists as the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference, 138–133. Thomas also finished in twelfth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Dantley finished tied in 14th place, and Rodman finished tied in eighth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the Pistons faced off against the 7th–seeded Washington Bullets, a team that featured All-Star center Moses Malone, All-Star guard Jeff Malone, and Bernard King. The Pistons won the first two games over the Bullets at home at the Pontiac Silverdome, before losing the next two games on the road, which included a Game 4 loss to the Bullets at the Capital Centre, 106–103. With the series tied at 2–2, the Pistons won Game 5 over the Bullets at the Pontiac Silverdome, 99–78 to win in a hard-fought five-game series.

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 3rd–seeded Chicago Bulls, who were led by All-Star guard, Most Valuable Player, and Defensive Player of the Year, Michael Jordan, Charles Oakley and Sam Vincent. The Pistons won Game 1 over the Bulls at the Pontiac Silverdome, 93–82, but then lost Game 2 at home, 105–95 as the Bulls evened the series. The Pistons managed to win the next two games on the road at the Chicago Stadium, before winning Game 5 over the Bulls at the Pontiac Silverdome, 102–95 to win the series in five games.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, and for the second consecutive year, the Pistons faced off against the top–seeded, and Atlantic Division champion Boston Celtics, who were led by the All-Star quartet of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Danny Ainge. The Pistons won Game 1 over the Celtics on the road, 104–96 at the Boston Garden, but then lost Game 2 on the road in overtime, 119–115. With the series tied at 2–2, the Pistons won the next two games, including a Game 6 home win over the Celtics at the Pontiac Silverdome, 95–90 to win the series in six games, and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1956, when the team was based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

In the 1988 NBA Finals, the Pistons faced off against the top–seeded, and defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, who were led by the quartet of All-Star guard Magic Johnson, All-Star forward James Worthy, Byron Scott and All-Star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Pistons won Game 1 over the Lakers on the road, 105–93 at the Great Western Forum, but then lost the next two games as the Lakers took a 2–1 series lead. The Pistons managed to win the next two games, including a Game 5 home win over the Lakers at the Pontiac Silverdome, 104–96 to take a 3–2 series lead.

However, in Game 6 at the Great Western Forum, Thomas suffered a gruesome ankle injury; on the sidelines, camera shots displayed the critical condition of Thomas's foot, as he could barely fit his shoe back on, but he insisted on playing. Hobbling badly for the rest of the game, Thomas put on a show, scoring 25 points in the third quarter, and 43 points in the game. In the closing seconds, and with the Pistons ahead, there was a controversial call on Laimbeer. Abdul-Jabbar feinted over his right shoulder to the middle, then pivoted to his left for his classic sky hook along the baseline; Laimbeer raised his hands straight above his head to show he was not fouling, and yet was called for what Lakers head coach Pat Riley would call a "phantom foul". The Pistons lost to the Lakers, 103–102 as Abdul-Jabbar made both free throws to even the series. In Game 7 at the Great Western Forum, and with a very limited Thomas, the Pistons lost to the Lakers, 108–105, thus losing in a hard-fought seven-game series, as the Lakers won their second consecutive NBA championship.

The Pistons led the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 1,066,505 at the Pontiac Silverdome during the regular season. Game 5 of the NBA Finals was the franchise's last game at the Pontiac Silverdome, as the Pistons would move to another Detroit-area suburban arena, the purpose-built arena known as The Palace of Auburn Hills, the following season.

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Game logs

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 || November 6, 1987<br />7:30 PM EST || New York | W 110–99 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />28,676 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | November 7, 1987<br>9:00p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 105–119 | Dantley,<br>Dumars (20) | Rodman (8) | Thomas (8) | MECCA Arena<br>11,052 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 || November 10, 1987<br />7:30 PM EST || @ Indiana | L 118–121 | | | | Market Square Arena<br />11,885 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 || November 13, 1987<br />7:30 PM EST || @ Philadelphia | W 113–94 | | | | The Spectrum<br />12,302 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | November 14, 1987<br>7:30p.m. EST | @ Cleveland | W 128–113 | Thomas (32) | Rodman (10) | Dumars,<br>Thomas (9) | Richfield Coliseum<br>10,157 | 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 || November 18, 1987<br />7:30 PM EST || Philadelphia | L 109–113 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />17,445 | 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 || November 20, 1987<br />7:30 PM EST || Golden State | W 131–108 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />20,362 | 4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 | November 21, 1987<br>8:30p.m. EST | @ Chicago | W 144–132 (OT) | Dantley (45) | Mahorn,<br>Rodman (8) | Thomas (10) | Chicago Stadium<br>18,466 | 5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 || November 24, 1987<br />8:00 PM EST || @ Houston | W 97–83 | | | | The Summit<br />16,611 | 6–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 10 | November 25, 1987<br>8:30p.m. EST | @ Dallas | L 107–113 | Dumars (19) | Rodman (10) | Thomas (15) | Reunion Arena<br>17,007 | 6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 || November 27, 1987<br />7:30 PM EST || San Antonio | W 143–111 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />30,743 | 7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 28, 1987<br>7:30p.m. EST | @ Washington | L 102–124 | Dantley,<br>Thomas (22) | Mahorn (14) | Dumars (8) | Capital Centre<br>13,028 | 7–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 || December 1, 1987<br />7:30 PM EST || @ New Jersey | W 124–115 (OT) | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena<br />8,232 | 8–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 | December 2, 1987<br>7:30p.m. EST | Milwaukee | W 115–105 | Dantley (25) | Laimbeer (16) | Thomas (13) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>18,780 | 9–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | December 4, 1987<br>7:30p.m. EST | Boston | W 128–105 | Dantley (21) | Mahorn (14) | Thomas (12) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>34,523 | 10–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 || December 8, 1987<br />7:30 PM EST || Portland | W 127–117 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />17,126 | 11–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | December 11, 1987<br />7:30 PM EST || Washington | W 114–108 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />17,884 | 12–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 || December 12, 1987<br>7:30p.m. EST | New York | W 124–96 | Dantley (29) | Laimbeer (11) | Thomas (9) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>21,368 | 13–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 15, 1987<br>8:00p.m. EST | Chicago | W 127–123 (OT) | Laimbeer (29) | Mahorn (14) | Dantley (7) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>23,729 | 14–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | December 18, 1987<br>7:30p.m. EST | Dallas | W 117–112 | Dantley (28) | Laimbeer (15) | Johnson (11) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>19,426 | 15–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 || December 25, 1987<br />12 Noon EST || @ New York | W 91–87 | | | | Madison Square Garden<br />14,549 | 16–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 || December 26, 1987<br />7:30 PM EST || New Jersey | W 110–75 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />23,330 | 17–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 || December 29, 1987<br />7:30 PM EST || Houston | L 91–101 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />26,498 | 17–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 || December 30, 1987<br />7:30 PM EST || @ Indiana | W 105–95 | | | | Market Square Arena<br />12,945 | 18–6

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 25 | January 2, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST | Denver | L 142–151 | Thomas (40) | Laimbeer (13) | Thomas (17) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>23,746 | 18–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | January 5, 1988<br>8:00p.m. EST | @ Atlanta | L 71–81 | Thomas (18) | Laimbeer (16) | Thomas (6) | The Omni<br>16,451 | 18–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | January 6, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST | Atlanta | W 90–87 | Thomas (18) | Rodman (16) | Thomas (7) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>25,749 | 19–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 28 | January 8, 1988<br>8:00p.m. EST | L.A. Lakers | L 104–106 | Dantley,<br>Dumars (25) | Laimbeer,<br>Mahorn (11) | Thomas (10) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>40,278 | 19–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 29 | January 13, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST | @ Boston | L 105–143 | Dantley (24) | Mahorn (7) | Johnson (8) | Boston Garden<br>14,890 | 19–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | January 15, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST | Cleveland | W 97–93 | Dantley (38) | Dantley,<br>Mahorn (10) | Thomas (11) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>19,622 | 20–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 | January 16, 1988<br>8:30p.m. EST | @ Chicago | L 99–115 | Johnson (22) | Rodman (13) | Thomas (11) | Chicago Stadium<br>18,676 | 20–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | January 18, 1988<br>4:00p.m. EST | @ Denver | W 123–116 | Dantley (32) | Laimbeer (17) | Thomas (10) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>13,004 | 21–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | January 20, 1988<br>9:30p.m. EST | @ Utah | W 120–117 | Dantley,<br>Thomas (28) | Laimbeer (15) | Thomas (12) | Salt Palace<br>12,212 | 22–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | January 22, 1988<br>10:30p.m. EST | @ Seattle | L 106–109 | Laimbeer (21) | Laimbeer (14) | Thomas (15) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,737 | 22–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 || January 24, 1988<br />10:00 PM EST || @ Portland | L 111–119 | | | | Memorial Coliseum<br />12,666 | 22–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 || January 27, 1988<br />7:30 PM EST || Indiana | W 103–86 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />19,801 | 23–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | January 29, 1988<br>8:00p.m. EST | Boston | W 125–108 | Dantley (22) | Laimbeer,<br>Mahorn,<br>Salley (11) | Thomas (12) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>61,983 | 24–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 || January 30, 1988<br />7:30 PM EST || @ New Jersey | L 104–116 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena<br />11,894 | 24–14

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | February 1, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST | @ Cleveland | L 83–94 | Dantley (20) | Laimbeer (13) | Thomas (11) | Richfield Coliseum<br>10,636 | 24–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | February 2, 1988<br>8:30p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | W 99–97 | Mahorn (28) | Laimbeer (13) | Dumars (6) | MECCA Arena<br>11,052 | 25–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 || February 4, 1988<br />7:30 PM EST || @ New York | L 93–100 | | | | Madison Square Garden<br />14,363 | 25–16 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | February 9, 1988<br>8:30 PM EST | @ Chicago | W 89–74 | Laimbeer (17) | Laimbeer (18) | Dumars,<br>Johnson<br>,Laimbeer (6) | Chicago Stadium<br>17,846 | 26–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 || February 10, 1988<br />7:30 PM EST || New York | W 98–87 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />19,160 | 27–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | February 12, 1988<br>8:00p.m. EST | Atlanta | W 108–92 | Thomas (25) | Laimbeer (12) | Johnson (10) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>35,884 | 28–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | February 13, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST | Chicago | W 82–73 | Rodman (15) | Rodman (19) | Thomas (7) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>40,369 | 29–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 || February 15, 1988<br />7:30 PM EST || Philadelphia | W 102–95 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />21,530 | 30–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | February 18, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST | Seattle | W 108–95 | Johnson (27) | Rodman (10) | Thomas (12) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>24,482 | 31–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | February 19, 1988<br>9:00p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 108–119 | Thomas (32) | Mahorn,<br>Rodman (11) | Thomas (9) | MECCA Arena<br>11,052 | 31–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | February 21, 1988<br>3:30p.m. EST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 110–117 | Thomas (42) | Laimbeer (14) | Thomas (10) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 31–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 || February 23, 1988<br />10:30 PM EST || @ Sacramento | W 121–105 | | | | ARCO Arena<br />10,333 | 32–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 || February 24, 1988<br />10:30 PM EST || @ Golden State | W 107–93 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena<br />14,340 | 33–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 || February 26, 1988<br />7:30 PM EST || New Jersey | W 137–109 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />25,334 | 34–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 | February 28, 1988<br>12Noon EST | Boston | W 106–101 | Dantley (19) | Laimbeer,<br>Mahorn (11) | Dumars (10) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>37,462 | 35–18

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 | March 1, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST || @ Atlanta | W 117–104 | Dumars (25) | Laimbeer,<br>Rodman (9) | Dumars (9) | The Omni<br>16,451 | 36–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 || March 2, 1988<br />7:30 PM EST || L.A. Clippers | W 103–90 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />16,554 | 37–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | March 5, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST | @ Washington | L 97–101 | Johnson,<br>Thomas (17) | Mahorn (17) | Thomas (8) | Capital Centre<br>15,656 | 37–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | March 6, 1988<br>7:00p.m. EST | Milwaukee | W 109–99 | Laimbeer (22) | Rodman (11) | Thomas (10) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>24,751 | 38–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 || March 8, 1988<br />7:30 PM EST || @ Indiana | L 104–117 | | | | Market Square Arena<br />13,220 | 38–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 | March 9, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST | Utah | W 103–98 | Laimbeer (27) | Rodman (13) | Thomas (8) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>20,623 | 39–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 || March 11, 1988<br />7:30 PM EST || Phoenix | W 116–88 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />21,612 | 40–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | March 12, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST | Cleveland | W 104–100 | Dumars,<br>Laimbeer,<br>Thomas (16) | Laimbeer (13) | Thomas (13) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>33,854 | 41–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 || March 14, 1988<br />7:30 PM EST || Sacramento | W 109–97 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />16,909 | 42–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | March 17, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST | @ Cleveland | W 102–99 | Dantley (20) | Rodman (14) | Thomas (8) | Richfield Coliseum<br>13,261 | 43–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | March 20, 1988<br>7:00p.m. EST | Washington | W 118–110 | Dumars (25) | Salley (9) | Thomas (6) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>22,075 | 44–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 || March 22, 1988<br />7:30 PM EST || Indiana | W 123–104 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />18,645 | 45–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 || March 25, 1988<br />8:30 PM EST || @ San Antonio | L 106–107 | | | | HemisFair Arena<br />8,596 | 45–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 || March 26, 1988<br />9:30 PM EST || @ Phoenix | W 108–103 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br />14,025 | 46–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 || March 28, 1988<br />10:30 PM EST || @ L.A. Clippers | L 100–102 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena<br />12,156 | 46–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 69 | March 30, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EST | Atlanta | L 102–103 | Thomas (35) | Laimbeer (14) | Thomas (6) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>47,692 | 46–23

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 70 | April 1, 1988<br>8:00p.m. EST | @ Boston | L 110–121 | Laimbeer (22) | Rodman (8) | Thomas (10) | Boston Garden<br>14,890 | 46–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 71 | April 3, 1988<br>1:30p.m. EDT | Chicago | L 110–112 | Thomas (24) | Rodman (9) | Dumars (9) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>23,712 | 46–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 || April 5, 1988<br />7:30 PM EDT || @ New Jersey | W 125–108 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena<br />11,586 | 47–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 || April 8, 1988<br />7:30 PM EDT || @ Philadelphia | W 96–86 | | | | The Spectrum<br />15,164 | 48–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 | April 9, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EDT | @ Atlanta | W 115–102 | Thomas (20) | Laimbeer (16) | Dumars (8) | The Omni<br>16,451 | 49–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 || April 11, 1988<br />7:30 PM EDT || @ New York | L 111–114 (OT) | | | | Madison Square Garden<br />13,312 | 49–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | April 13, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EDT | Cleveland | W 115–98 | Dantley (28) | Laimbeer (13) | Dumars (6) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>18,808 | 50–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 | April 15, 1988<br>8:00p.m. EDT | Milwaukee | W 92–91 | Rodman (18) | Laimbeer,<br>Mahorn (10) | Thomas (8) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>27,126 | 51–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 || April 16, 1988<br />7:30 PM EDT || New Jersey | W 114–96 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />22,767 | 52–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 79 | April 19, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EDT | @ Boston | L 110–121 | Thomas (21) | Rodman (11) | Thomas (8) | Boston Garden<br>14,890 | 52–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | April 21, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EDT | @ Washington | W 99–87 | Dantley (31) | Rodman (7) | Thomas (8) | Capital Centre<br>11,713 | 53–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 || April 22, 1988<br />7:30 PM EDT || Indiana | L 98–103 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />27,881 | 53–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 || April 24, 1988<br />7:00 PM EDT || Philadelphia | W 128–118 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome<br />27,854 | 54–28

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 28, 1988<br>7:30p.m. EDT | Washington | W 96–87 | Thomas (34) | Laimbeer (12) | Dumars (6) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>17,356 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 30, 1988<br>8:00p.m. EDT | Washington | W 102–101 | Thomas (30) | Laimbeer (11) | Dumars (5) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>18,293 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 2, 1988<br>8:00p.m. EDT | @ Washington | L 106–114 (OT) | Thomas (29) | Laimbeer (8) | Thomas (8) | Capital Centre<br>9,673 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 4, 1988<br>8:00 PM EDT | @ Washington | L 103–106 | Dantley,<br>Rodman (23) | Laimbeer (10) | Thomas (10) | Capital Centre<br>10,513 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | May 8, 1988<br>3:30p.m. EDT | Washington | W 99–78 | Dumars (20) | Laimbeer (11) | Thomas (11) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>18,403 | 3–2 |-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | May 10, 1988<br>8:30p.m. EDT | Chicago | W 93–82 | Dantley (23) | Laimbeer (14) | Thomas (8) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>18,312 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | May 12, 1988<br>8:00p.m. EDT | Chicago | L 95–105 | Thomas (25) | Laimbeer (14) | Thomas (13) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>20,281 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 14, 1988<br>1:00p.m. EDT | @ Chicago | W 101–79 | Johnson (23) | Laimbeer (10) | Thomas (11) | Chicago Stadium<br>18,676 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 15, 1988<br>3:30p.m. EDT | @ Chicago | W 96–77 | Dantley (24) | Laimbeer (13) | Thomas (11) | Chicago Stadium<br>18,676 | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | May 18, 1988<br>8:30p.m. EDT | Chicago | W 102–95 | Thomas (25) | Laimbeer (13) | Thomas (9) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>21,371 | 4–1

|-style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | May 25, 1988<br>8:00p.m. EDT | @ Boston | W 104–96 | Thomas (35) | Mahorn (10) | Thomas (12) | Boston Garden<br />14,890 | 1–0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | May 26, 1988<br>8:00p.m. EDT | @ Boston | L 115–119 (2OT) | Thomas (24) | Salley (12) | Thomas (11) | Boston Garden<br>14,890 | 1–1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | May 28, 1988<br>3:30p.m. EDT | Boston | W 98–94 | Dumars (29) | Salley (9) | Thomas (6) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>26,481 | 2–1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | May 30, 1988<br>3:00p.m. EDT | Boston | L 78–79 | Laimbeer (29) | Mahorn,<br>Salley,<br>Thomas (8) | Thomas (7) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>26,625 | 2–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | June 1, 1988<br>8:00p.m. EDT | @ Boston | W 102–96 (OT) | Thomas (35) | Salley (9) | Dumars,<br>Thomas (5) | Boston Garden<br>14,890 | 3–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 6 | June 3, 1988<br>9:00p.m. EDT | Boston | W 95–90 | Johnson (24) | Laimbeer (9) | Thomas (9) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>38,912 | 4–2

|-style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | June 7, 1988<br>9:00p.m. EDT | @ L.A. Lakers | W 105–93 | Dantley (34) | Laimbeer (7) | Thomas (12) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 1–0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | June 9, 1988<br>9:00p.m. EDT | @ L.A. Lakers | L 96–108 | Dantley (19) | Laimbeer,<br>Mahorn (9) | Dumars,<br>Thomas (7) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 1–1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | June 12, 1988<br>3:30p.m. EDT | L.A. Lakers | L 86–99 | Thomas (28) | Rodman (12) | Thomas (9) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>39,188 | 1–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | June 14, 1988<br>9:00p.m. EDT | L.A. Lakers | W 111–86 | Dantley (27) | Thomas (9) | Thomas (12) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>34,297 | 2–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | June 16, 1988<br>9:00p.m. EDT | L.A. Lakers | W 104–94 | Dantley (25) | Laimbeer (11) | Thomas (8) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>41,372 | 3–2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | June 19, 1988<br>3:30p.m. EDT | @ L.A. Lakers | L 102–103 | Thomas (43) | Laimbeer (9) | Dumars (10) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 3–3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 7 | June 21, 1988<br>9:00p.m. EDT | @ L.A. Lakers | L 105–108 | Dumars (25) | Salley (10) | Thomas (7) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 3–4

Birth of the Bad Boys

The Pistons of this era became known as the Bad Boys. At the start of the 1987–88 season, Al Davis, owner of the Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL sent Raiders merchandise to the Pistons to acknowledge the shared view of the teams and their physical style of play. 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. The rough bad-boy fighting style of the Raiders fits our image. That`s why, at our home games at the Palace, you see a sea of black: black caps, black T-shirts, black sweatshirts".

The end of season video yearbook produced by the Pistons was titled Bad Boys, with a connection to the 1983 movie, and the Bad Boys name came into being. The Pistons players embraced the rough and tumble image, Nintendo released Bill Laimbeer's Combat Basketball, a futuristic basketball game without rules, without fouls, and weapons are permitted, the Pistons marketed around the Bad Boys identity, and Detroit fan embraced the blue-collar identity. Pistons guard Joe Dumars said, "You can't be great in this league and have zero identity".

The positive view of the team was not universal with Michael Jordan declaring "the Bad Boys are bad for basketball", later adding "I hated them. And that hate carries even to this day." 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".

Jalen Rose, who later starred as a member of the Fab Five at Michigan, embraced the Bad Boys brand as a teenager growing up in Detroit, stating "I loved everything about the Bad Boys. I loved how they played and how they didn't back down. They just went out and kicked the other teams' butts." Pistons announcer George Blaha said, "I think the people of Detroit and all across Michigan loved the Pistons' don't-back-down-ever mentality. Detroit's a working person's town and that's the same type of fan that you have all across the state of Michigan from the big cities to the small towns. Never does a day go by that somebody that I talk to doesn't bring up the Bad Boys; they loved 'em".

NBA Finals

Game 1

The Pistons had just dispatched the Celtics in six games, while the Lakers were coming off back-to-back seven-game wins over the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers were tired, and it showed. Adrian Dantley scored 34 points, hitting 14 of 16 shots from the field. The Pistons took control of the game with six seconds left in the first half when Bill Laimbeer hit a 3-point shot to put the Pistons up 54–40. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar then fired an inbound pass intended for Byron Scott, but it was intercepted by Isiah Thomas who let fly with another three-pointer which went in at the halftime buzzer. The Pistons had a 57–40 halftime lead and never looked back, stealing Game 1 with a 105–93 win.

Game 2

Facing the possibility of going down 2–0 with three games to play in Detroit, the veteran Lakers found resolve with a 108–96 win. James Worthy led the Lakers with 26 points, Byron Scott had 24, and Magic Johnson 23 despite battling the flu.

Game 3

With Magic still battling the flu, the Lakers got a key win in Detroit, 99–86, to go up 2–1 in games. The Lakers took control of the game in the third period, outscoring the Pistons 31–14. Despite his illness, Magic had 18 points, 14 assists, and six rebounds.

Game 4

With pride in front of their home fans, the Pistons tied the series at 2–2 with a 111–86 blowout win. The Pistons decided to attack the basket and make Magic Johnson defend. Johnson wound up on the bench early in the second half with foul trouble.

With Magic out of the game, the Pistons built a substantial lead. During timeouts, Bill Laimbeer was almost frantic. He kept saying, "No letup! We don't let up!" They didn't, and blew out the defending NBA champions by 25 points.

Left open by the trapping Lakers defense, Dantley led the team with 27 points. Vinnie Johnson came off the bench to add 16 while James Edwards had 14 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Game 5

The Pistons' 104–94 victory was a perfect farewell to the Pontiac Silverdome. "I told Joe Dumars with a minute left in the game to look around and enjoy this because you'll never see anything like it again," Laimbeer said. "Forty-one thousand people waving towels and standing. It was awesome."

The Lakers opened Game 5 with a fury of physical intimidation, scoring the game's first 12 points. But that approach soon backfired, as the Laker big men got into foul trouble.

Dantley played a major role in the turnaround, scoring 25 points, 19 of them in the first half, to rally the Pistons to a 59–50 halftime lead. Vinnie Johnson added 12 of his 16 points in the first half to keep Detroit moving.

Joe Dumars added 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting to send the Pistons back to Los Angeles, one win away from their first NBA title.

Game 6

This game turned out to be a classic confrontation between a team hungry for their first title (Detroit) and a veteran team with their backs to the wall (the Lakers).

The Lakers led 56–48 in the third quarter when Isiah Thomas suddenly began a classic performance. He scored the game's next 14 points, hitting two free throws, a driving layup, four jump shots, and a running bank shot.

On the Pistons' next possession, Thomas stepped on Michael Cooper's foot, rolled his ankle, and had to be helped from the floor. Despite a severe sprain, Thomas returned to the game 35 seconds later and continued his dizzying onslaught. By the end of the third quarter, Thomas had scored 25 points, an NBA Finals record for one quarter, on 11-of-13 shooting. This helped the Pistons gain an 81–79 lead.

The Pistons' momentum carried into the final period as they led 102–99 with a minute left. Byron Scott cut the lead to one with a 14-footer in the lane with 52 seconds remaining. The Lakers then turned up the defense on the Pistons' next possession, forcing Thomas into a desperation 18-footer. Forty-one-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar then got the ball on the Lakers' trip down the floor and posted up Bill Laimbeer for his signature skyhook. As Kareem shot, Laimbeer was whistled for a foul, even though replays showed he barely touched Kareem. Jabbar then coolly sank the two free throws to put the Lakers up 103–102. The lead held up as Thomas, bad ankle and all, missed another shot at the buzzer.

Thomas would end up with 43 points and eight assists, but it was for naught as the series moved to Game 7.

Game 7

One of the best NBA Finals in recent memory closed out with another classic.

Thomas' ankle was still sore, as evidenced by his limping badly in warmups. He did manage to play the first half, scoring 10 points and leading the Pistons to a 52–47 halftime lead. But, the delay between halves caused the ankle to stiffen, and Thomas could not continue. With Isiah on the bench, the Lakers turned the halftime deficit into a 90–75 lead late in the 4th quarter.

Chuck Daly then went to a faster lineup with Dennis Rodman, John Salley, Joe Dumars, and Vinnie Johnson that created matchup problems for the Lakers and enabled the Pistons to score at a torrid pace. With 3:52 left, Salley canned two free throws to cut the Laker lead to 98–92, sending the Forum fans into a panic.

With 1:17 left, Dumars hit a jump shot to cut the lead to 102–100. Magic Johnson then hit a free throw after a Rodman foul to put the Lakers up by three. On the Pistons' next trip down the floor, Rodman took an ill-advised jumper with 39 seconds left. Byron Scott rebounded and was fouled. His two free throws pushed the lead to 105–100.

After Dumars made a layup, James Worthy hit a free throw and Bill Laimbeer canned a three-pointer, pushing the score to 106–105 with six seconds showing. A.C. Green completed the scoring with a layup off a length-of-the court pass from Magic, making it 108–105, and although the Pistons got the ball to Thomas at midcourt with a second remaining, he fell without getting off a shot.

Worthy racked up a monster triple-double: 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. For that and his earlier efforts in the series, he was named the Finals MVP.

Pistons owner Bill Davidson said, "Well, the worst loss was out in LA when I was in the room with David Stern getting ready to accept the trophy, and they call a foul on Bill Laimbeer against Kareem. Bill pulled down a clean rebound, and Hugh Evans calls a foul. You know that he was set up, and you know ... I don't say he had a bet on the game, but that was ... that was unconscionable! And that cost us a championship, which we should have had. Which we had."

External links

• Detroit Pistons on Basketball Reference

References