1988–89 Detroit Pistons season

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1988–89 Detroit Pistons season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachChuck Daly
General managerJack McCloskey
Owner(s)William Davidson
ArenaThe Palace of Auburn Hills
Results
Record63–19 (.768)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Central)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Champions
(Defeated Lakers 4–0)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWKBD-TV
(George Blaha, Dick Motta)
PASS Sports
(Fred McLeod, Tom Wilson)
RadioWWJ
(George Blaha, Dick Motta)
< 1987–88 1989–90 >
A ticket for a November 1988 game between the Pistons and the Charlotte Hornets.

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 to the brand-new Palace of Auburn Hills before the start of the season, which culminated in the Pistons' first NBA championship, sweeping the Lakers in four games in the NBA Finals a rematch from last year's NBA Finals and avenging their NBA Finals loss. Following the season, Rick Mahorn was picked up by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1989 expansion draft and was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers soon after.

The Pistons and Lakers would face each other again 15 years later in the NBA Finals in 2004, where the Pistons won in five games en route to their third NBA championship despite being underdogs to the heavily-favored Lakers.

Draft picks[]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
2 30 Fennis Dembo Forward  United States Wyoming
2 48 Micheal Williams Guard  United States Baylor
3 72 Lee Johnson Forward  United States Norfolk State

[1]

Roster[]

1988–89 Detroit Pistons roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
SF 23 United States Aguirre, Mark 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 232 lb (105 kg) DePaul
SF 34 United States Dembo, Fennis 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Wyoming
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 University
C 40 United States Laimbeer, Bill 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) University of Notre Dame
SG 25 United States Long, John 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) University of Detroit Mercy
F/C 44 United States Mahorn, Rick 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Hampton
F 10 United States Rodman, Dennis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) SE Oklahoma State
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
PG 24 United States Williams, Micheal 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Baylor
Head coach
  • United States Chuck Daly
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season[]

On February 15, 1989, the Pistons traded Adrian Dantley 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'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[]

Central Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Detroit Pistons 63 19 .768 – 37–4 26–15 20–10
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 57 25 .695 6 37–4 20–21 19–11
x-Atlanta Hawks 52 30 .634 11 33–8 19–22 20–10
x-Milwaukee Bucks 49 33 .598 14 31–10 18–23 11–19
x-Chicago Bulls 47 35 .573 16 30–11 17–24 12–18
Indiana Pacers 28 54 .341 35 20–21 8–33 8–22
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Detroit Pistons 63 19 .768 –
2 y-New York Knicks 52 30 .634 11
3 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 57 25 .695 6
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 52 30 .634 11
5 x-Milwaukee Bucks 49 33 .598 14
6 x-Chicago Bulls 47 35 .573 16
7 x-Philadelphia 76ers 46 36 .561 17
8 x-Boston Celtics 42 40 .512 21
9 Washington Bullets 40 42 .488 23
10 Indiana Pacers 28 54 .341 35
11 New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 37
12 Charlotte Hornets 20 62 .244 43


Record vs. opponents[]

1988-89 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 3–1 4–1 4–2 4–2 1–1 0–2 1–5 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 6–0 4–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
Boston 1–3 — 6–0 1–3 1–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 5–1 3–3 3–3 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–4
Charlotte 1–4 0–6 — 1–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–4 2–4 3–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–5
Chicago 2–4 3–1 4–1 — 0–6 2–0 1–1 0–6 1–1 1–1 4–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 6–0 2–2 3–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–1
Cleveland 2–4 4–1 4–0 6–0 — 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 1–1 5–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–3 4–0 2–2 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2
Dallas 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 — 3–3 0–2 1–3 1–5 1–1 3–1 0–4 6–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 5–1 2–2 4–2 1–1
Denver 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–3 — 1–1 3–1 4–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 5–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 3–3 2–2 3–3 1–1
Detroit 5–1 3–1 4–0 6–0 3–3 2–0 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 4–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–4 4–0 0–4 5–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 5–0
Golden State 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 — 1–3 1–1 5–1 2–3 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 2–4 2–3 3–1 2–4 2–2 1–1
Houston 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 5–1 2–4 1–1 3–1 — 2–0 2–2 1–3 4–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 6–0 2–2 2–4 0–2
Indiana 1–5 3–2 2–2 2–4 1–5 1–1 1–1 2–4 1–1 0–2 — 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–4 1–3 0–5 0–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–5 2–2 1–1 — 1–5 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–5 1–5 2–3 3–1 1–4 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 3–2 3–1 2–0 5–1 — 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 5–0 5–1 3–1 4–2 1–3 1–1
Miami 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–6 1–5 0–2 0–4 2–4 1–1 3–1 0–4 — 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–4 0–4 1–5 0–2
Milwaukee 0–6 2–2 4–0 0–6 3–3 2–0 2–0 4–2 2–0 1–1 4–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 — 4–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–1
New Jersey 1–4 1–5 4–2 2–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–4 — 2–4 1–5 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–5
New York 2–2 3–3 4–2 2–3 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 4–2 — 2–4 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1
Philadelphia 2–2 3–3 3–3 3–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 0–5 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–3 5–1 4–2 — 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–2
Phoenix 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–1 3–1 0–2 4–2 3–1 1–1 5–1 3–3 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 — 2–3 5–1 3–1 4–1 2–2 2–0
Portland 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–2 1–3 0–2 5–1 0–5 4–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–2 — 3–3 4–0 2–4 0–4 1–1
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 3–2 2–2 1–1 3–2 1–5 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–5 3–3 — 2–2 1–5 1–3 0–2
San Antonio 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–5 3–3 0–2 1–3 0–6 0–2 1–3 1–3 4–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–4 2–2 — 0–4 1–5 1–1
Seattle 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 4–2 2–2 1–1 4–1 2–4 4–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–4 4–2 5–1 4–0 — 3–1 1–1
Utah 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–4 3–3 0–2 2–2 4–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 5–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 3–1 5–1 1–3 — 2–0
Washington 1–3 4–2 5–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–5 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–4 5–1 1–5 2–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 —

Game log[]

Regular season[]

1988–89 game log
Total: 63–19 (Home: 37–4; Road: 26–15)
November: 11–3 (Home: 4–1; Road: 7–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 November 4, 1988 @ Chicago W 107–94 Chicago Stadium 1–0
8 November 18, 1988 @ Phoenix W 121–105 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8–0
11 November 23, 1988 New York L 111–133 The Palace of Auburn Hills 9–2
12 November 26, 1988 L.A. Lakers W 102–99 The Palace of Auburn Hills 10–2
December: 9–4 (Home: 6–1; Road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
17 December 6, 1988 @ Milwaukee L 84–109 Bradley Center 13–4
18 December 7, 1988 Chicago W 102–89 The Palace of Auburn Hills 14–4
21 December 14, 1988 Milwaukee L 110–119 The Palace of Auburn Hills 16–5
25 December 22, 1988 @ New York L 85–88 Madison Square Garden 18–7
26 December 28, 1988 Phoenix W 106–100 The Palace of Auburn Hills 19–7
January: 8–6 (Home: 7–2; Road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
31 January 11, 1989 New York L 93–100 The Palace of Auburn Hills 21–10
33 January 15, 1989 @ Milwaukee L 112–120 Bradley Center 22–11
38 January 25, 1989 Golden State W 105–104 The Palace of Auburn Hills 26–12
41 January 31, 1989 @ Chicago W 104–98 (OT) Chicago Stadium 28–13
February: 8–3 (Home: 4–0; Road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
43 February 5, 1989 Chicago W 113–102 The Palace of Auburn Hills 30–13
44 February 8, 1989 Milwaukee W 107–96 The Palace of Auburn Hills 31–13
45 February 14, 1989 @ L.A. Lakers W 111–103 Great Western Forum 32–13
47 February 18, 1989 @ Golden State L 119–121 (OT) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 33–14
March: 16–1 (Home: 9–0; Road: 7–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
57 March 8, 1989 Seattle W 112–96 The Palace of Auburn Hills 41–16
62 March 18, 1989 @ Milwaukee L 100–117 Bradley Center 45–17
69 March 31, 1989 @ Seattle W 111–108 Seattle Center Coliseum 52–17
April: 11–2 (Home: 7–0; Road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
72 April 6, 1989 Chicago W 115–108 The Palace of Auburn Hills 54–18
73 April 7, 1989 @ Chicago W 114–112 (OT) Chicago Stadium 55–18
74 April 9, 1989 Milwaukee W 100–91 The Palace of Auburn Hills 56–18
77 April 14, 1989 @ New York L 100–104 Madison Square Garden 58–19
1988–89 schedule

Playoffs[]

1989 playoff game log
First Round: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 28, 1989 Boston W 101–91 Joe Dumars (25) Bill Laimbeer (12) Isiah Thomas (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		1–0
2 April 30, 1989 Boston W 102–95 Isiah Thomas (26) Bill Laimbeer (15) Isiah Thomas (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		2–0
3 May 2, 1989 @ Boston W 100–85 Vinnie Johnson (25) Dennis Rodman (9) Isiah Thomas (10) Boston Garden
14,890 		3–0
Conference Semifinals: 4–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 10, 1989 Milwaukee W 85–80 Bill Laimbeer (19) Bill Laimbeer (17) Joe Dumars (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		1–0
2 May 12, 1989 Milwaukee W 112–92 John Salley (23) Dennis Rodman (13) Isiah Thomas (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		2–0
3 May 14, 1989 @ Milwaukee W 110–90 Isiah Thomas (26) Bill Laimbeer (11) Joe Dumars (10) Bradley Center
18,633 		3–0
4 May 15, 1989 @ Milwaukee W 96–94 Joe Dumars (22) Isiah Thomas (10) Isiah Thomas (13) Bradley Center
18,633 		4–0
Conference Finals: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 21, 1989 Chicago L 88–94 Rick Mahorn (17) Bill Laimbeer (15) Isiah Thomas (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		0–1
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
3 May 27, 1989 @ Chicago L 97–99 Mark Aguirre (25) Dennis Rodman (13) Isiah Thomas (11) Chicago Stadium
18,676 		1–2
4 May 29, 1989 @ Chicago W 86–80 Isiah Thomas (27) Dennis Rodman (18) Isiah Thomas (6) Chicago Stadium
18,676 		2–2
5 May 31, 1989 Chicago W 94–85 Vinnie Johnson (22) Dennis Rodman (14) Isiah Thomas (12) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		3–2
6 June 2, 1989 @ Chicago W 103–94 Isiah Thomas (33) Dennis Rodman (15) Joe Dumars (9) Chicago Stadium
18,676 		4–2
NBA Finals: 4–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 June 6, 1989 L.A. Lakers W 109–97 Isiah Thomas (24) Aguirre, Rodman (10) Isiah Thomas (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		1–0
2 June 8, 1989 L.A. Lakers W 108–105 Joe Dumars (33) Mark Aguirre (6) Isiah Thomas (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		2–0
3 June 11, 1989 @ L.A. Lakers W 114–110 Joe Dumars (31) Dennis Rodman (19) Isiah Thomas (8) Great Western Forum
17,505 		3–0
4 June 13, 1989 @ L.A. Lakers W 105–97 Joe Dumars (23) Johnson, Laimbeer (6) three players tied (5) Great Western Forum
17,505 		4–0
1989 schedule

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 Chicago Bulls, 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" defense wore out Michael Jordan, setting up Detroit's second consecutive NBA Finals appearance against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Player stats[]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Mark Aguirre 36 32 29.7 .483 .293 .738 4.2 2.5 .44 .19 15.5
Adrian Dantley 42 42 31.9 .521 .000 .839 3.9 2.2 .55 .14 18.4
Darryl Dawkins 14 0 3.4 .474 .000 .500 .5 .1 .00 .07 1.9
Fennis Dembo 31 0 2.4 .333 .000 .800 .7 .2 .03 .00 1.2
Joe Dumars 69 67 34.9 .505 .483 .850 2.5 5.7 .91 .07 17.2
James Edwards 76 1 16.5 .500 .000 .686 3.0 .6 .14 .41 7.3
Steve Harris 3 0 2.3 .250 .000 1.000 .7 .0 .33 .00 1.3
Vinnie Johnson 82 21 25.3 .464 .295 .734 3.1 3.0 .90 .21 13.8
Bill Laimbeer 81 81 32.6 .499 .349 .840 9.6 2.2 .63 1.23 13.7
John Long 24 1 6.3 .475 .000 .846 .5 .6 .00 .08 2.0
Rick Mahorn 72 61 24.9 .517 .000 .748 6.9 .8 .56 .92 7.2
Pace Mannion 5 0 2.8 1.000 .000 .000 .6 .0 .20 .00 .8
Dennis Rodman 82 8 26.9 .595 .231 .626 9.4 1.2 .67 .93 9.0
Jim Rowinski 6 0 1.3 .000 .000 1.000 .3 .0 .00 .00 .7
John Salley 67 21 21.8 .498 .000 .692 5.0 1.1 .60 1.07 7.0
Isiah Thomas 80 76 36.6 .464 .273 .818 3.4 8.3 1.66 .25 18.2
Micheal Williams 49 0 7.3 .364 .222 .660 .6 1.4 .27 .06 2.6

Playoffs[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Mark Aguirre 17 17 27.2 .489 .276 .737 4.4 1.6 .47 .18 12.6
Fennis Dembo 2 0 2.0 1.000 .000 .000 .0 .0 .00 .00 1.0
Joe Dumars 17 17 36.5 .455 .083 .861 2.6 5.6 .71 .06 17.6
James Edwards 17 0 18.6 .471 .000 .784 2.1 .7 .06 .47 7.1
Vinnie Johnson 17 0 21.9 .455 .417 .758 2.6 2.5 .24 .18 14.1
Bill Laimbeer 17 17 29.2 .465 .357 .806 8.2 1.8 .35 .47 10.1
John Long 4 0 2.0 1.000 .000 1.000 .0 .0 .00 .00 1.2
Rick Mahorn 17 17 21.2 .580 .000 .654 5.1 .4 .53 .76 5.7
Dennis Rodman 17 0 24.1 .529 .000 .686 10.0 .9 .35 .71 5.8
John Salley 17 0 23.1 .586 .000 .667 4.6 .5 .53 1.47 8.9
Isiah Thomas 17 17 37.2 .412 .267 .740 4.3 8.3 1.59 .24 18.2
Micheal Williams 4 0 1.5 .000 .000 1.000 .5 .5 .25 .00 .5

NBA Finals[]

Main article: 1989 NBA Finals

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

Game Home Team Road Team series
Game 1 Detroit 109 L.A. Lakers 97 1–0
Game 2 Detroit 108 L.A. Lakers 105 2–0
Game 3: L.A. Lakers 110 Detroit 114 3–0
Game 4: L.A. Lakers 97 Detroit 105 4–0

Pistons win series 4-0

Award winners[]

External links[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-17. Retrieved 2009-05-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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