1987–88 Detroit Pistons season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachChuck Daly
General managerJack McCloskey
Owner(s)William Davidson
ArenaPontiac Silverdome
Results
Record54–28 (.659)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Central)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to Lakers 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionPASS Sports
(Fred McLeod, Tom Wilson)
WKBD
(George Blaha, Hubie Brown, Greg Kelser, Dick Motta)
RadioWWJ–AM
(George Blaha, Hubie Brown, Greg Kelser, Dick Motta)
A ticket for Game 1 of the 1988 NBA Finals at The Forum.

The 1987–88 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 40th season in the NBA and 31st season in the city of Detroit.[1] The team played at the Pontiac Silverdome in suburban Pontiac, Michigan.

The Pistons finishing with a then franchise-best record of 54–28 (.659), 1st place in the NBA Central Division. the first division championship for the franchise since moving to Detroit in 1957. In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, they defeated the Washington Bullets 3–2 in the first round, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls 4–1 in the semifinals, and then Larry Bird and the top-seeded Boston Celtics 4–2 in the conference finals. They would advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1956 when the team was based in Fort Wayne, only to lose to the defending and eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in a hard-fought 7-game series.[2]

Game 6 saw a remarkable performance, as Pistons star Isiah Thomas went down with 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 Thomas insisted on playing. Hobbling badly for the rest of the game, the Pistons guard put on a show, scoring 25 points in the third quarter, and 43 points in the game.

In the closing seconds, with the Pistons ahead, there was a controversial call on Pistons center Bill Laimbeer. Lakers center Kareem 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 wasn't fouling and yet was called for what Laker coach Pat Riley would call a "phantom foul."[3][4][2][5] The Pistons lost 103–102 as Abdul-Jabbar made both free throws, and then, with a very limited Thomas for game 7, the Lakers took the title with a 108–105 victory in Los Angeles. 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."[6]

Detroit was led on the season by Thomas (19.5 ppg, 8.4 apg, NBA All-Star), forward Adrian Dantley (20.0 ppg), and guard Joe Dumars (14.2 ppg). As the season came to a close, Game 5 of Finals was the franchise's last game at the Pontiac Silverdome, as they would move to another Detroit-area suburban arena, the purpose-built Palace of Auburn Hills, the following season.

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".[7][8]

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.[9] 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".[10]

The positive view of the team was not universal with Michael Jordan declaring "“the Bad Boys are bad for basketball,”[11] later adding "I hated them. And that hate carries even to this day."[12] 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".[10]

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.”[13][14] 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".[15]

Draft picks

Roster

1987–88 Detroit Pistons roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C 25 United States Bedford, William 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Memphis
SF 45 United States Dantley, Adrian 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 208 lb (94 kg) Notre Dame
C 50 United States Dawkins, Darryl 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 251 lb (114 kg) Maynard Evans High School
G 4 United States Dumars, Joe 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) McNeese State
F/C 53 United States Edwards, James 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Washington
SG 15 United States Johnson, Vinnie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Baylor
C 40 United States Laimbeer, Bill 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Notre Dame
SG 35 United States Lewis, Ralph 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) La Salle
F/C 44 United States Mahorn, Rick 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Hampton
C 54 United States Moore, Ron 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 195 lb (88 kg) West Virginia State
C 42 United States Nevitt, Chuck 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) 217 lb (98 kg) NC State
F 10 United States Rodman, Dennis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) SE Oklahoma State
SG 23 United States Russell, Walker 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Western Michigan
F/C 22 United States Salley, John 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Georgia Tech
PG 11 United States Thomas, Isiah (C) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Indiana
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Detroit Pistons 5428.659–34–720–2120–10
x-Chicago Bulls 5032.610430–1120–2116–13
x-Atlanta Hawks 5032.610430-1120-2116–13
x-Milwaukee Bucks 4240.5121230–1112–2913–17
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 4240.5121231–1011–3011–19
Indiana Pacers 3844.4631625–1613–2813–17
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Boston Celtics5725.695–
2 y-Detroit Pistons5428.6593
3 x-Chicago Bulls5032.6107
4 x-Atlanta Hawks5032.6107
5 x-Milwaukee Bucks4240.51215
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4240.51215
7 x-Washington Bullets3844.46319
8 x-New York Knicks3844.46319
9 Indiana Pacers3844.46319
10 Philadelphia 76ers3646.43921
11 New Jersey Nets1963.23238

Record vs. opponents

1987–88 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta —2–42–35–12–01–12–42–01–14–22–00–23–35–03–36–01–10–21–12–02–01–13–3
Boston 4–2—3–32–32–00–23–32–01–15–02–00–23–35–15–14–22–02–02–02–01–12–05–1
Chicago 3–23–3—3–30–21–12–42–02–03–32–01–15–15–13–24–22–01–11–11–11–12–03–3
Cleveland 1–53–23–3—1–11–11–50–21–14–21–11–12–45–12–43–21–11–12–02–01–10–26–0
Dallas 0–20–22–01–1—3–31–14–14–22–05–01–42–01–11–11–15–03–25–15–13–23–31–1
Denver 1–12–01–11–13–3—1–14–14–21–15–03–21–12–01–12–03–22–34–25–14–12–42–0
Detroit 4–23–34–25–11–11–1—2–01–13–31–10–24–25–14–24–12–01–12–01–11–12–03–2
Golden State 0–20–20–22–01–41–40–2—0–50–23–30–60–22–00–21–12–41–52–33–21–51–40–2
Houston 1–11–10–21–12–42–41–15–0—2–03–21–42–01–11–11–14–14–14–22–43–23–32–0
Indiana 2–40–53–32–40–21–13–32–00–2—1–11–13–36–02–32–42–00–22–02–01–11–12–4
L.A. Clippers 0–20–20–21–10–50–51–13–32–31–1—1–50–20–20–21–12–40–63–20–51–51–40–2
L.A. Lakers 2–02–01–11–14–12–32–06–04–11–15–1—0–22–02–02–05–13–34–15–04–24–11–1
Milwaukee 3–33–31–54–20–21–12–42–00–23–32–02–0—3–23–32–41–11–12–01–11–11–14–1
New Jersey 0–51–51–51–51–10–21–50–21–10–62–00–22–3—3–32–41–10–21–11–10–21–10–6
New York 3–31–52–34–21–11–12–42–01–13–22–00–23–33–3—3–30–21–11–11–10–21–13–3
Philadelphia 0–62–42–42–31–10–21–41–11–14–21–10–24–24–23–3—1–11–11–11–11–12–03–3
Phoenix 1–10–20–21–10–52–30–24–21–40–24–21–51–11–12–01–1—0–63–22–32–42–30–2
Portland 2–00–21–11–12–33–21–15–11–42–06–03–31–12–01–11–16–0—4–15–03–31–42–0
Sacramento 1–10–21–10–21–52–40–23–22–40–22–31–40–21–11–11–12–31–4—3–31–41–50–2
San Antonio 0–20–21–10–21–51–51–12–34–20–25–00–51–11–11–11–13–20–53–3—3–23–30–2
Seattle 0–21–11–11–12–31–41–15–12–31–15–12–41–12–02–01–14–23–34–12–3—1–42–0
Utah 1–10–20–22–03–34–20–24–13–31–14–11–41–11–11–10–23–24–15–13–34–1—2–0
Washington 3–31–53–30–61–10–22–32–00–24–22–01–11–46–03–33–32–00–22–02–00–20–2—

Game logs

Regular season

1987–88 game log
Total: 54–28 (home: 34–7; road: 20–21)
November: 7–5 (home: 3–1; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1November 6, 1987
7:30 PM EST		New York W 110–99 Pontiac Silverdome
28,676		 1–0
2 November 7, 1987
9:00 p.m. EST		 @ Milwaukee L 105–119 Dantley,
Dumars (20)		 Rodman (8) Thomas (8) MECCA Arena
11,052		 1–1
3November 10, 1987
7:30 PM EST		@ Indiana L 118–121 Market Square Arena
11,885		 1–2
4November 13, 1987
7:30 PM EST		@ Philadelphia W 113–94 The Spectrum
12,302		 2–2
5 November 14, 1987
7:30 p.m. EST		 @ Cleveland W 128–113 Thomas (32) Rodman (10) Dumars,
Thomas (9)		 Richfield Coliseum
10,157		 3–2
6November 18, 1987
7:30 PM EST		Philadelphia L 109–113 Pontiac Silverdome
17,445		 3–3
7November 20, 1987
7:30 PM EST		Golden State W 131–108 Pontiac Silverdome
20,362		 4–3
8 November 21, 1987
8:30 p.m. EST		 @ Chicago W 144–132 (OT) Dantley (45) Mahorn,
Rodman (8)		 Thomas (10) Chicago Stadium
18,466		 5–3
9November 24, 1987
8:00 PM EST		@ Houston W 97–83 The Summit
16,611		 6–3
10 November 25, 1987
8:30 p.m. EST		 @ Dallas L 107–113 Dumars (19) Rodman (10) Thomas (15) Reunion Arena
17,007		 6–4
11November 27, 1987
7:30 PM EST		San Antonio W 143–111 Pontiac Silverdome
30,743		 7–4
12 November 28, 1987
7:30 p.m. EST		 @ Washington L 102–124 Dantley,
Thomas (22)		 Mahorn (14) Dumars (8) Capital Centre
13,028		 7–5
December: 11–1 (home: 8–1; road: 3–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
13December 1, 1987
7:30 PM EST		@ New Jersey W 124–115 (OT) Brendan Byrne Arena
8,232		 8–5
14 December 2, 1987
7:30 p.m. EST		 Milwaukee W 115–105 Dantley (25) Laimbeer (16) Thomas (13) Pontiac Silverdome
18,780		 9–5
15 December 4, 1987
7:30 p.m. EST		 Boston W 128–105 Dantley (21) Mahorn (14) Thomas (12) Pontiac Silverdome
34,523		 10–5
16December 8, 1987
7:30 PM EST		Portland W 127–117 Pontiac Silverdome
17,126		 11–5
17 December 11, 1987
7:30 PM EST		Washington W 114–108 Pontiac Silverdome
17,884		 12–5
18December 12, 1987
7:30 p.m. EST		 New York W 124–96 Dantley (29) Laimbeer (11) Thomas (9) Pontiac Silverdome
21,368		 13–5
19 December 15, 1987
8:00 p.m. EST		 Chicago W 127–123 (OT) Laimbeer (29) Mahorn (14) Dantley (7) Pontiac Silverdome
23,729		 14–5
20 December 18, 1987
7:30 p.m. EST		 Dallas W 117–112 Dantley (28) Laimbeer (15) Johnson (11) Pontiac Silverdome
19,426		 15–5
21December 25, 1987
12 Noon EST		@ New York W 91–87 Madison Square Garden
14,549		 16–5
22December 26, 1987
7:30 PM EST		New Jersey W 110–75 Pontiac Silverdome
23,330		 17–5
23December 29, 1987
7:30 PM EST		Houston L 91–101 Pontiac Silverdome
26,498		 17–6
24December 30, 1987
7:30 PM EST		@ Indiana W 105–95 Market Square Arena
12,945		 18–6
January: 6–8 (home: 4–2; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
25 January 2, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		 Denver L 142–151 Thomas (40) Laimbeer (13) Thomas (17) Pontiac Silverdome
23,746		 18–7
26 January 5, 1988
8:00 p.m. EST		 @ Atlanta L 71–81 Thomas (18) Laimbeer (16) Thomas (6) The Omni
16,451		 18–8
27 January 6, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		 Atlanta W 90–87 Thomas (18) Rodman (16) Thomas (7) Pontiac Silverdome
25,749		 19–8
28 January 8, 1988
8:00 p.m. EST		 L.A. Lakers L 104–106 Dantley,
Dumars (25)		 Laimbeer,
Mahorn (11)		 Thomas (10) Pontiac Silverdome
40,278		 19–9
29 January 13, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		 @ Boston L 105–143 Dantley (24) Mahorn (7) Johnson (8) Boston Garden
14,890		 19–10
30 January 15, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		 Cleveland W 97–93 Dantley (38) Dantley,
Mahorn (10)		 Thomas (11) Pontiac Silverdome
19,622		 20–10
31 January 16, 1988
8:30 p.m. EST		 @ Chicago L 99–115 Johnson (22) Rodman (13) Thomas (11) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 20–11
32 January 18, 1988
4:00 p.m. EST		 @ Denver W 123–116 Dantley (32) Laimbeer (17) Thomas (10) McNichols Sports Arena
13,004		 21–11
33 January 20, 1988
9:30 p.m. EST		 @ Utah W 120–117 Dantley,
Thomas (28)		 Laimbeer (15) Thomas (12) Salt Palace
12,212		 22–11
34 January 22, 1988
10:30 p.m. EST		 @ Seattle L 106–109 Laimbeer (21) Laimbeer (14) Thomas (15) Seattle Center Coliseum
14,737		 22–12
35January 24, 1988
10:00 PM EST		@ Portland L 111–119 Memorial Coliseum
12,666		 22–13
36January 27, 1988
7:30 PM EST		Indiana W 103–86 Pontiac Silverdome
19,801		 23–13
37 January 29, 1988
8:00 p.m. EST		 Boston W 125–108 Dantley (22) Laimbeer,
Mahorn,
Salley (11)		 Thomas (12) Pontiac Silverdome
61,983		 24–13
38January 30, 1988
7:30 PM EST		@ New Jersey L 104–116 Brendan Byrne Arena
11,894		 24–14
February: 11–4 (home: 7–0; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
39 February 1, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		 @ Cleveland L 83–94 Dantley (20) Laimbeer (13) Thomas (11) Richfield Coliseum
10,636		 24–15
40 February 2, 1988
8:30 p.m. EST		 @ Milwaukee W 99–97 Mahorn (28) Laimbeer (13) Dumars (6) MECCA Arena
11,052		 25–15
41February 4, 1988
7:30 PM EST		@ New York L 93–100 Madison Square Garden
14,363		 25–16
All-Star Break
42 February 9, 1988
8:30 PM EST		 @ Chicago W 89–74 Laimbeer (17) Laimbeer (18) Dumars,
Johnson
,Laimbeer (6)		 Chicago Stadium
17,846		 26–16
43February 10, 1988
7:30 PM EST		New York W 98–87 Pontiac Silverdome
19,160		 27–16
44 February 12, 1988
8:00 p.m. EST		 Atlanta W 108–92 Thomas (25) Laimbeer (12) Johnson (10) Pontiac Silverdome
35,884		 28–16
45 February 13, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		 Chicago W 82–73 Rodman (15) Rodman (19) Thomas (7) Pontiac Silverdome
40,369		 29–16
46February 15, 1988
7:30 PM EST		Philadelphia W 102–95 Pontiac Silverdome
21,530		 30–16
47 February 18, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		 Seattle W 108–95 Johnson (27) Rodman (10) Thomas (12) Pontiac Silverdome
24,482		 31–16
48 February 19, 1988
9:00 p.m. EST		 @ Milwaukee L 108–119 Thomas (32) Mahorn,
Rodman (11)		 Thomas (9) MECCA Arena
11,052		 31–17
49 February 21, 1988
3:30 p.m. EST		 @ L.A. Lakers L 110–117 Thomas (42) Laimbeer (14) Thomas (10) The Forum
17,505		 31–18
50February 23, 1988
10:30 PM EST		@ Sacramento W 121–105 ARCO Arena
10,333		 32–18
51February 24, 1988
10:30 PM EST		@ Golden State W 107–93 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
14,340		 33–18
52February 26, 1988
7:30 PM EST		New Jersey W 137–109 Pontiac Silverdome
25,334		 34–18
53 February 28, 1988
12 Noon EST		 Boston W 106–101 Dantley (19) Laimbeer,
Mahorn (11)		 Dumars (10) Pontiac Silverdome
37,462		 35–18
March: 11–5 (home: 8–1; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
54 March 1, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		@ Atlanta W 117–104 Dumars (25) Laimbeer,
Rodman (9)		 Dumars (9) The Omni
16,451		 36–18
55March 2, 1988
7:30 PM EST		L.A. Clippers W 103–90 Pontiac Silverdome
16,554		 37–18
56 March 5, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		 @ Washington L 97–101 Johnson,
Thomas (17)		 Mahorn (17) Thomas (8) Capital Centre
15,656		 37–19
57 March 6, 1988
7:00 p.m. EST		 Milwaukee W 109–99 Laimbeer (22) Rodman (11) Thomas (10) Pontiac Silverdome
24,751		 38–19
58March 8, 1988
7:30 PM EST		@ Indiana L 104–117 Market Square Arena
13,220		 38–20
59 March 9, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		 Utah W 103–98 Laimbeer (27) Rodman (13) Thomas (8) Pontiac Silverdome
20,623		 39–20
60March 11, 1988
7:30 PM EST		Phoenix W 116–88 Pontiac Silverdome
21,612		 40–20
61 March 12, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		 Cleveland W 104–100 Dumars,
Laimbeer,
Thomas (16)		 Laimbeer (13) Thomas (13) Pontiac Silverdome
33,854		 41–20
62March 14, 1988
7:30 PM EST		Sacramento W 109–97 Pontiac Silverdome
16,909		 42–20
63 March 17, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		 @ Cleveland W 102–99 Dantley (20) Rodman (14) Thomas (8) Richfield Coliseum
13,261		 43–20
64 March 20, 1988
7:00 p.m. EST		 Washington W 118–110 Dumars (25) Salley (9) Thomas (6) Pontiac Silverdome
22,075		 44–20
65March 22, 1988
7:30 PM EST		Indiana W 123–104 Pontiac Silverdome
18,645		 45–20
66March 25, 1988
8:30 PM EST		@ San Antonio L 106–107 HemisFair Arena
8,596		 45–21
67March 26, 1988
9:30 PM EST		@ Phoenix W 108–103 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,025		 46–21
68March 28, 1988
10:30 PM EST		@ L.A. Clippers L 100–102 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
12,156		 46–22
69 March 30, 1988
7:30 p.m. EST		 Atlanta L 102–103 Thomas (35) Laimbeer (14) Thomas (6) Pontiac Silverdome
47,692		 46–23
April: 8–5 (home: 4–2; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
70 April 1, 1988
8:00 p.m. EST		 @ Boston L 110–121 Laimbeer (22) Rodman (8) Thomas (10) Boston Garden
14,890		 46–24
71 April 3, 1988
1:30 p.m. EDT		 Chicago L 110–112 Thomas (24) Rodman (9) Dumars (9) Pontiac Silverdome
23,712		 46–25
72April 5, 1988
7:30 PM EDT		@ New Jersey W 125–108 Brendan Byrne Arena
11,586		 47–25
73April 8, 1988
7:30 PM EDT		@ Philadelphia W 96–86 The Spectrum
15,164		 48–25
74 April 9, 1988
7:30 p.m. EDT		 @ Atlanta W 115–102 Thomas (20) Laimbeer (16) Dumars (8) The Omni
16,451		 49–25
75April 11, 1988
7:30 PM EDT		@ New York L 111–114 (OT) Madison Square Garden
13,312		 49–26
76 April 13, 1988
7:30 p.m. EDT		 Cleveland W 115–98 Dantley (28) Laimbeer (13) Dumars (6) Pontiac Silverdome
18,808		 50–26
77 April 15, 1988
8:00 p.m. EDT		 Milwaukee W 92–91 Rodman (18) Laimbeer,
Mahorn (10)		 Thomas (8) Pontiac Silverdome
27,126		 51–26
78April 16, 1988
7:30 PM EDT		New Jersey W 114–96 Pontiac Silverdome
22,767		 52–26
79 April 19, 1988
7:30 p.m. EDT		 @ Boston L 110–121 Thomas (21) Rodman (11) Thomas (8) Boston Garden
14,890		 52–27
80 April 21, 1988
7:30 p.m. EDT		 @ Washington W 99–87 Dantley (31) Rodman (7) Thomas (8) Capital Centre
11,713		 53–27
81April 22, 1988
7:30 PM EDT		Indiana L 98–103 Pontiac Silverdome
27,881		 53–28
82April 24, 1988
7:00 PM EDT		Philadelphia W 128–118 Pontiac Silverdome
27,854		 54–28
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs

1988 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 28, 1988
7:30 p.m. EDT		 Washington W 96–87 Thomas (34) Laimbeer (12) Dumars (6) Pontiac Silverdome
17,356		 1–0
2 April 30, 1988
8:00 p.m. EDT		 Washington W 102–101 Thomas (30) Laimbeer (11) Dumars (5) Pontiac Silverdome
18,293		 2–0
3 May 2, 1988
8:00 p.m. EDT		 @ Washington L 106–114 (OT) Thomas (29) Laimbeer (8) Thomas (8) Capital Centre
9,673		 2–1
4 May 4, 1988
8:00 PM EDT		 @ Washington L 103–106 Dantley,
Rodman (23)		 Laimbeer (10) Thomas (10) Capital Centre
10,513		 2–2
5 May 8, 1988
3:30 p.m. EDT		 Washington W 99–78 Dumars (20) Laimbeer (11) Thomas (11) Pontiac Silverdome
18,403		 3–2
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (home: 2–1; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 10, 1988
8:30 p.m. EDT		 Chicago W 93–82 Dantley (23) Laimbeer (14) Thomas (8) Pontiac Silverdome
18,312		 1–0
2 May 12, 1988
8:00 p.m. EDT		 Chicago L 95–105 Thomas (25) Laimbeer (14) Thomas (13) Pontiac Silverdome
20,281		 1–1
3 May 14, 1988
1:00 p.m. EDT		 @ Chicago W 101–79 Johnson (23) Laimbeer (10) Thomas (11) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 2–1
4 May 15, 1988
3:30 p.m. EDT		 @ Chicago W 96–77 Dantley (24) Laimbeer (13) Thomas (11) Chicago Stadium
18,676		 3–1
5 May 18, 1988
8:30 p.m. EDT		 Chicago W 102–95 Thomas (25) Laimbeer (13) Thomas (9) Pontiac Silverdome
21,371		 4–1
Eastern Conference Finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 25, 1988
8:00 p.m. EDT		 @ Boston W 104–96 Thomas (35) Mahorn (10) Thomas (12) Boston Garden
14,890		 1–0
2 May 26, 1988
8:00 p.m. EDT		 @ Boston L 115–119 (2OT) Thomas (24) Salley (12) Thomas (11) Boston Garden
14,890		 1–1
3 May 28, 1988
3:30 p.m. EDT		 Boston W 98–94 Dumars (29) Salley (9) Thomas (6) Pontiac Silverdome
26,481		 2–1
4 May 30, 1988
3:00 p.m. EDT		 Boston L 78–79 Laimbeer (29) Mahorn,
Salley,
Thomas (8)		 Thomas (7) Pontiac Silverdome
26,625		 2–2
5 June 1, 1988
8:00 p.m. EDT		 @ Boston W 102–96 (OT) Thomas (35) Salley (9) Dumars,
Thomas (5)		 Boston Garden
14,890		 3–2
6 June 3, 1988
9:00 p.m. EDT		 Boston W 95–90 Johnson (24) Laimbeer (9) Thomas (9) Pontiac Silverdome
38,912		 4–2
NBA Finals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 June 7, 1988
9:00 p.m. EDT		 @ L.A. Lakers W 105–93 Dantley (34) Laimbeer (7) Thomas (12) The Forum
17,505		 1–0
2 June 9, 1988
9:00 p.m. EDT		 @ L.A. Lakers L 96–108 Dantley (19) Laimbeer,
Mahorn (9)		 Dumars,
Thomas (7)		 The Forum
17,505		 1–1
3 June 12, 1988
3:30 p.m. EDT		 L.A. Lakers L 86–99 Thomas (28) Rodman (12) Thomas (9) Pontiac Silverdome
39,188		 1–2
4 June 14, 1988
9:00 p.m. EDT		 L.A. Lakers W 111–86 Dantley (27) Thomas (9) Thomas (12) Pontiac Silverdome
34,297		 2–2
5 June 16, 1988
9:00 p.m. EDT		 L.A. Lakers W 104–94 Dantley (25) Laimbeer (11) Thomas (8) Pontiac Silverdome
41,372		 3–2
6 June 19, 1988
3:30 p.m. EDT		 @ L.A. Lakers L 102–103 Thomas (43) Laimbeer (9) Dumars (10) The Forum
17,505		 3–3
7 June 21, 1988
9:00 p.m. EDT		 @ L.A. Lakers L 105–108 Dumars (25) Salley (10) Thomas (7) The Forum
17,505		 3–4
1988 schedule

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.

References

  1. ↑ "1987–88 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  2. 1 2 "What If: A turned ankle, a shocking whistle cost the Pistons a shot at 3 straight (maybe 4) NBA titles". www.nba.com.
  3. ↑ Cobb, Thomas. "Rewind: 1988 NBA Finals—Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons".
  4. ↑ "Hollinger: Best single-game performances: No. 7". ESPN.com. June 11, 2010.
  5. ↑ Skolnick, Ethan. "Pat Riley Admits '88 Lakers Benefited from Phantom Foul vs. Detroit Pistons". Bleacher Report.
  6. ↑ "Chevette to Corvette No. 5: The 1987–88 Detroit Pistons". December 25, 2011.
  7. ↑ "PISTONS FANS FEEL GOOD LOOKING REAL BAD". Chicago Tribune.
  8. ↑ "The Origin of the Bad Boys". Detroit Sports Nation. October 12, 2015.
  9. ↑ Bad Boys 1987-88 Detroit Pistons
  10. 1 2 "Pistons 'Bad Boys' special on ESPN evokes emotions a quarter-century later". mlive. April 18, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Don't buy into Michael Jordan's narrative: The 'Bad Boys' Pistons deserve your respect". sports.yahoo.com.
  12. ↑ "Jordan: I hate the 'Bad Boys' Pistons to this day". ESPN.com. April 27, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Bad Boy Identity: How the Pistons Came to Represent the City of Detroit". July 24, 2019.
  14. ↑ "How the Detroit Pistons came to be known as the Bad Boys". April 27, 2016.
  15. ↑ "The Bad Boys Capture Back-To-Back Championships: Pistons Fans, Players Remember The Team's Golden Years". June 15, 2016.
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