Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets 1988-11-22 (ticket)

The 1988-89 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 41st season in the NBA and 32nd season in the Detroit metropolitan area. The Pistons moved from the

Pontiac Silverdome The Pontiac Silverdome (also known simply as the Silverdome) was a stadium in Pontiac, Michigan. It opened in 1975 and sat on 199 acres (51 ha) of land. When the stadium opened, it featured a fiberglass fabric roof held up by air pressure, ...

to the brand-new Palace of Auburn Hills before the start of the season. The team won their first eight games of the season and held a 31–13 record at the All-Star break. However,

Adrian Dantley Adrian Delano Dantley (born February 28, 1955) is an American former professional basketball player and coach who played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Dantley is a six-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection and ...

was unhappy with his role on the team, losing playing time to Dennis Rodman at small forward. At midseason, the team traded Dantley to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for All-Star forward Mark Aguirre, a childhood friend of Isiah Thomas. Dantley felt that Thomas had a major role in engineering the trade, so that Aguirre could have the opportunity of winning a championship; an accusation that Thomas denied. The Pistons posted a nine-game winning streak in March, won eight consecutive games between March and April, then won their final five games, finishing with a league best record of 63–19. Thomas led the team with 18.2 points, 8.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and was selected for the

1989 NBA All-Star Game The 39th National Basketball Association All-Star Game was held at Houston on February 12, 1989. Karl Malone was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP). The east was composed of Mark Jackson, Kevin McHale, Michael Jordan, Patri ...

, while Joe Dumars averaged 17.2 points and 5.7 assists per game, and

Vinnie Johnson Vincent Johnson (born September 1, 1956), is an American former professional basketball player and a key player as sixth man for the Detroit Pistons during the team's National Basketball Association (NBA) championships of 1989 and 1990. He was ni ...

contributed 13.8 points per game. In addition,

Bill Laimbeer William J. Laimbeer Jr. (born May 19, 1957) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who spent the majority of his career with the Detroit Pistons. Known for his rough and violent style of play, he played a big part in the P ...

provided the team with 13.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, while Rodman provided with 9.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game off the bench, and

Rick Mahorn Derrick Allen Mahorn (born September 21, 1958) is an American former professional basketball player who played power forward and center for the Washington Bullets, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, and the New Jersey Nets of the National Bask ...

averaged 7.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Dumars and Rodman were both named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, while Rodman finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and in third place in

Sixth Man of the Year The National Basketball Association's Sixth Man of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to the league's best performing player for his team coming off the bench as a substitu ...

voting. In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Pistons swept the

Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...

in three straight games, then swept the 5th-seeded

Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded in 196 ...

in four straight games in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they trailed 2–1 to

Michael Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. His biography on the official NBA website states: "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the g ...

and the

Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded on January 1 ...

, but managed to win the series in six games to advance to the NBA Finals, where the Pistons would win their first ever

NBA championship The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven game series to determine the league champion. The team that wins the series is awa ...

, sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games, as Dumars was named Finals MVP. This series was a rematch from last year's NBA Finals, with the Pistons avenging their NBA Finals loss. Following the season, Mahorn was selected by the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, but never played for them, as he was then traded to the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, colloquially known as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eas ...

soon after. The Pistons and Lakers would face each other again 15 years later in the NBA Finals in

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

, where the Pistons won in five games en route to their third NBA championship, despite being underdogs to the heavily-favored Lakers.

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

On February 15, 1989, the Pistons traded

to the Dallas Mavericks for Mark Aguirre. Dantley was unhappy relegating the leadership role on the Pistons to Isiah Thomas, while Aguirre had clashed with his coaches and teammates in Dallas. Aguirre was more amenable to deferring to Thomas, and accepted his role in

Chuck Daly Charles Jerome Daly (July 20, 1930 – May 9, 2009) was an American basketball head coach. He led the Detroit Pistons to two consecutive National Basketball Association (NBA) championships in 1989 and 1990—during the team's "Bad Boys" era— ...

's system. His ability to shoot the three, post up, run the floor, and pass was instrumental in the growth of the team.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

, - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , November 4, 1988 , @ Chicago
W 107–94
, , , ,

Chicago Stadium Chicago Stadium was an indoor arena in Chicago, Illinois, that opened in 1929, closed in 1994 and was demolished in 1995. It was the home of the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls ...

, 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 8 , November 18, 1988 , @ Phoenix
W 121–105
, , , ,

Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a 14,870-seat multi-purpose indoor arena in Phoenix, Arizona, located at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. It hosted the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association from 1968 to 1992, as well as indoor ...

, 8–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 11 , November 23, 1988 ,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * ...

L 111–133
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 9–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 12 , November 26, 1988 ,

L.A. Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their ...

W 102–99
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 10–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 17 , December 6, 1988 , @ Milwaukee
L 84–109
, , , ,

Bradley Center The Bradley Center (also known as the BMO Harris Bradley Center under sponsorship agreements) was a multi-purpose arena located on the northwest corner of North Vel R. Phillips Ave. and West State Streets in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United ...

, 13–4 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 18 , December 7, 1988 , Chicago
W 102–89
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 14–4 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 21 , December 14, 1988 , Milwaukee
L 110–119
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 16–5 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 25 , December 22, 1988 , @

L 85–88
, , , , Madison Square Garden , 18–7 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 26 , December 28, 1988 , Phoenix
W 106–100
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 19–7 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 31 , January 11, 1989 ,

L 93–100
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 21–10 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 33 , January 15, 1989 , @ Milwaukee
L 112–120
, , , ,

, 22–11 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 38 , January 25, 1989 , Golden State
W 105–104
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 26–12 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 41 , January 31, 1989 , @ Chicago
W 104–98 (OT)
, , , ,

, 28–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 43 , February 5, 1989 , Chicago
W 113–102
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 30–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 44 , February 8, 1989 , Milwaukee
W 107–96
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 31–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 45 , February 14, 1989 , @

W 111–103
, , , ,

Great Western Forum Kia Forum (formerly The Forum) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Inglewood, California, United States, adjacent to Los Angeles. Located between West Manchester Boulevard, across Pincay Drive and Kareem Court, it is north of SoFi Stadium and ...

, 32–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 47 , February 18, 1989 , @ Golden State
L 119–121 (OT)
, , , ,

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena Oakland Arena is an indoor arena located in Oakland, California, United States. From its opening in 1966 until 1996, it was known as the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena. After a major renovation completed in 1997, the arena was renamed ...

, 33–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 57 , March 8, 1989 , Seattle
W 112–96
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 41–16 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 62 , March 18, 1989 , @ Milwaukee
L 100–117
, , , ,

, 45–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 69 , March 31, 1989 , @ Seattle
W 111–108
, , , ,

Seattle Center Coliseum Climate Pledge Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is located north of Downtown Seattle in the entertainment complex known as Seattle Center, the site of the 1962 World's Fair, for which it was o ...

, 52–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 72 , April 6, 1989 , Chicago
W 115–108
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 54–18 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 73 , April 7, 1989 , @ Chicago
W 114–112 (OT)
, , , ,

, 55–18 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 74 , April 9, 1989 , Milwaukee
W 100–91
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 56–18 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 77 , April 14, 1989 , @

L 100–104
, , , , Madison Square Garden , 58–19

Playoffs

, - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , April 28, 1989 ,

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- most p ...

W 101–91
, Joe Dumars (25) ,

(12) , Isiah Thomas (10) , The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 , April 30, 1989 ,

W 102–95
, Isiah Thomas (26) ,

(15) , Isiah Thomas (8) , The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 , 2–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 3 , May 2, 1989 , @

W 100–85
,

(25) , Dennis Rodman (9) , Isiah Thomas (10) ,

Boston Garden The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928, as "Boston Madison Square Garden" (late ...

14,890 , 3–0 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , May 10, 1989 , Milwaukee
W 85–80
,

(19) ,

(17) , Joe Dumars (6) , The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 , May 12, 1989 , Milwaukee
W 112–92
,

John Salley John Thomas Salley (born May 16, 1964) is an American former professional basketball player, talk show host, and actor. He was the first player in NBA history to win championships with three franchises (since joined by Robert Horry, Danny Green ...

(23) , Dennis Rodman (13) , Isiah Thomas (10) , The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 , 2–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 3 , May 14, 1989 , @ Milwaukee
W 110–90
, Isiah Thomas (26) ,

(11) , Joe Dumars (10) ,

18,633 , 3–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 4 , May 15, 1989 , @ Milwaukee
W 96–94
, Joe Dumars (22) , Isiah Thomas (10) , Isiah Thomas (13) ,

18,633 , 4–0 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 1 , May 21, 1989 , Chicago
L 88–94
,

(17) ,

(15) , Isiah Thomas (10) , The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 , 0–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 , May 23, 1989 , Chicago
W 100–91
, Isiah Thomas (33) , Dennis Rodman (12) , Isiah Thomas (4) , The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 , 1–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 3 , May 27, 1989 , @ Chicago
L 97–99
, Mark Aguirre (25) , Dennis Rodman (13) , Isiah Thomas (11) ,

18,676 , 1–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 4 , May 29, 1989 , @ Chicago
W 86–80
, Isiah Thomas (27) , Dennis Rodman (18) , Isiah Thomas (6) ,

18,676 , 2–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 5 , May 31, 1989 , Chicago
W 94–85
,

(22) , Dennis Rodman (14) , Isiah Thomas (12) , The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 , 3–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 6 , June 2, 1989 , @ Chicago
W 103–94
, Isiah Thomas (33) , Dennis Rodman (15) , Joe Dumars (9) ,

18,676 , 4–2 , - , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , June 6, 1989 ,

W 109–97
, Isiah Thomas (24) , Aguirre, Rodman (10) , Isiah Thomas (9) , The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 , June 8, 1989 ,

W 108–105
, Joe Dumars (33) , Mark Aguirre (6) , Isiah Thomas (7) , The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 , 2–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 3 , June 11, 1989 , @

W 114–110
, Joe Dumars (31) , Dennis Rodman (19) , Isiah Thomas (8) ,

17,505 , 3–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 4 , June 13, 1989 , @

W 105–97
, Joe Dumars (23) ,

Johnson Johnson is a surname of Anglo-Norman origin meaning "Son of John". It is the second most common in the United States and 154th most common in the world. As a common family name in Scotland, Johnson is occasionally a variation of ''Johnston'', a ...

, Laimbeer (6) , three players tied (5) ,

17,505 , 4–0 , -

Playoffs

After finishing with the best record in the NBA, the Pistons swept through the first two rounds of the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference finals, they faced the

, whom they had defeated in the conference semifinals a year earlier. Although the Bulls were able to win two of the first three games, the Pistons' use of their "

Jordan Rules The Jordan Rules were a successful defensive basketball strategy employed by the Detroit Pistons against Michael Jordan in order to limit his effectiveness in any game. Devised by Isiah Thomas in 1988, the Pistons' strategy was "to play him to ...

" defense wore out

, setting up Detroit's second consecutive NBA Finals appearance against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Player stats

Regular season

Playoffs

NBA Finals

The Pistons' overpowering play allowed them to sweep the Lakers, who struggled to fill the defensive void left by

Byron Scott Byron Antom Scott (born March 28, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player and head coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a player, Scott won three NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers during their ...

's injury prior to the start of the Finals. Joe Dumars was named Finals MVP. In addition, Magic Johnson pulled a hamstring early in the second game, and unable to play the rest of the series. The Lakers' depleted backcourt allowed the Pistons to easily win the 1988–89 NBA Championship. ''Pistons win series 4–0''

Award winners

* Joe Dumars,

NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award The Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award (formerly known as the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1969 NBA Finals. The award is decided by a panel of ...

* Joe Dumars, NBA All-Defensive First Team * Dennis Rodman, NBA All-Defensive First Team

External links

Detroit Pistons on Database Basketball

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1988-89 Detroit Pistons Season Det Detroit Pistons seasons Eastern Conference (NBA) championship seasons NBA championship seasons Detroit Pistons Detroit Pistons