1990–91 Detroit Pistons season

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1990–91 Detroit Pistons season
Head coachChuck Daly
General managerJack McCloskey
OwnersWilliam Davidson
ArenaThe Palace of Auburn Hills
Results
Record50–32 (.610)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Finals
(Lost to Bulls 0–4)
Local media
TelevisionWKBD
PASS Sports
RadioWWJ
< 1989–90 1991–92 >

The 1990–91 NBA season was the Pistons' 43rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 34th season in the city of Detroit.[1] The Pistons entered the season as the two-time defending NBA champions and looked to win a third consecutive title. The team posted a nine-game winning streak in November as they finished the first month of the season with a 13–2 record.[2] However, they would lose six of their next seven games in early December. Midway through the season, the Pistons won eleven consecutive games, finishing second in the Central Division with a 50–32 record, eleven games behind the Chicago Bulls.[3]

Joe Dumars led the team in scoring with 20.4 points, and averaged 5.5 assists per game, and last year's Finals MVP Isiah Thomas averaged 16.2 points, 9.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game, but only played just 48 games this season due to a wrist injury.[4] Sixth man Mark Aguirre provided the team with 14.2 points per game off the bench, while Dennis Rodman averaged 8.2 points, and led the team with 12.5 rebounds per game, and was named Defensive Player of The Year for the second straight season. In addition, James Edwards contributed 13.6 points per game, while Vinnie Johnson provided with 11.7 points per game, Bill Laimbeer averaged 11.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, and John Salley led the team with 1.5 blocks per game off the bench.[5] Thomas and Dumars were both selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game, but Thomas did not play due to injury.[6] Dumars was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Rodman was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

Entering the playoffs as the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons won their first series against the Atlanta Hawks, 3–2 in the Eastern Conference First Round,[7] and their second against the Boston Celtics, 4–2 in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.[8] This put them in their fifth consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, where they would be swept by the Bulls and be denied a fourth consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals.[9]

Toward the end of the loss to the Bulls in Game 4, which occurred on the Pistons' home floor at The Palace of Auburn Hills, most of the Pistons' players walked off the court toward the locker room without congratulating their opponents or shaking hands.[10][11] It was seen as a sign of disrespect by the outgoing champions, and was concocted by Thomas and Bill Laimbeer in response to comments made by Michael Jordan about the Pistons' physical playing style being bad for basketball, and that he felt the league would be happy to see the Pistons lose.[citation needed]

Following the season, Edwards was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers,[12] and Johnson signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs.[13]

Draft picks[]

Main article: 1990 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 26 Lance Blanks PG/SG  United States Texas

Roster[]

1990–91 Detroit Pistons roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
G/F 23 Aguirre, Mark 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1959–12–10 DePaul
C 00 Bedford, William 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–14 Memphis
G 32 Blanks, Lance 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1966–09–09 Texas
G 4 Dumars, Joe 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1963–05–24 McNeese State
C 53 Edwards, James 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1955–11–22 Washington
F 35 Hastings, Scott 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1960–06–03 Arkansas
G 12 Henderson, Gerald 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1956–01–16 Virginia Commonwealth
G 15 Johnson, Vinnie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1956–09–01 Baylor
F/C 40 Laimbeer, Bill 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1957–05–19 Notre Dame
F 10 Rodman, Dennis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1961–05–13 Southeastern Oklahoma State
C 30 Rollins, Tree 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1955–06–16 Clemson
F/C 22 Salley, John 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–05–16 Georgia Tech
G 11 Thomas, Isiah 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1961–04–30 Indiana
Head coach
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-Chicago Bulls 61 21 .744 — 35–6 26–15 25–5
x-Detroit Pistons 50 32 .610 11 32–9 18–23 19-11
x-Milwaukee Bucks 48 34 .585 13 33–8 15–26 16–14
x-Atlanta Hawks 43 39 .524 18 29–12 14–27 11–19
x-Indiana Pacers 41 41 .500 20 29-12 12–29 15-15
Cleveland Cavaliers 33 49 .402 28 23–18 10–31 11-19
Charlotte Hornets 26 56 .317 35 17–24 9–32 8–22
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls 61 21 .744 –
2 y-Boston Celtics 56 26 .683 5
3 x-Detroit Pistons 50 32 .610 11
4 x-Milwaukee Bucks 48 34 .585 13
5 x-Philadelphia 76ers 44 38 .537 17
6 x-Atlanta Hawks 43 39 .524 18
7 x-Indiana Pacers 41 41 .500 20
8 x-New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 33 49 .402 28
10 Washington Bullets 30 52 .366 31
11 New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 35
12 Charlotte Hornets 26 56 .317 35
13 Miami Heat 24 58 .293 37


z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents[]

1990-91 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta — 3–1 1–4 1–4 3–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–3 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2
Boston 1–3 — 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–2 2–0 4–1 5–0 1–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 5–1
Charlotte 4–1 1–3 — 0–5 1–4 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–1 0–2 0–5 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2
Chicago 4–1 2–2 5–0 — 5–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 1–1 0–2 4–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 4–1 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–1
Cleveland 2–3 1–3 4–1 0–5 — 2–0 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–3 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3
Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 — 3–1 0–2 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–4 2–0 2–0 1–4 1–1 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–4 2–2 0–5 2–0
Denver 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–3 — 0–2 1–3 0–5 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 1–4 0–4 1–3 1–1
Detroit 5–0 2–2 4–1 2–3 3–2 2–0 2–0 — 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–3 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1
Golden State 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 — 2–2 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–3 2–3 2–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 0–2
Houston 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 5–0 0–2 2–2 — 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–0 2–0 5–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 2–3 2–2 2–2 1–1
Indiana 1–4 2–2 5–0 1–4 4–1 0–2 2–0 2–3 1–1 1–1 — 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 4–0 0–2 2–3 2–2 1–1 — 0–4 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–3 1–3 3–2 2–2 2–3 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–2 3–1 2–0 4–0 — 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 3–2 2–3 4–0 3–1 3–2 2–2 2–0
Miami 0–4 1–4 2–2 0–4 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 — 0–4 0–2 3–3 1–4 1–1 1–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–2
Milwaukee 3–2 2–2 3–2 1–4 3–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–1 0–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 — 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
Minnesota 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–1 2–3 0–2 1–3 0–5 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–4 0–4 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–4 1–1
New Jersey 1–3 1–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 3–3 2–2 1–1 — 0–5 1–1 2–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–3
New York 1–3 0–5 4–0 0–4 1–3 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 0–4 1–1 5–0 — 0–2 5–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2
Orlando 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–1 3–2 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 — 0–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–4 1–1
Philadelphia 4–0 3–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–2 0–2 3–2 1–5 2–0 — 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–2
Phoenix 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 4–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 — 3–2 3–1 1–3 3–2 2–2 2–0
Portland 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 3–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 2–3 — 3–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 2–0
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 3–2 1–3 0–2 2–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–3 — 1–3 1–4 1–3 2–0
San Antonio 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 4–1 4–1 2–0 2–2 3–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 3–1 — 3–1 2–3 2–0
Seattle 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 1���1 3–1 1–1 2–3 0–4 4–1 1–3 — 1–3 2–0
Utah 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 5–0 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 0–2 4–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–2 3–1 — 2–0
Washington 2–2 1–5 2–2 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 2–3 1–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 —

Game log[]

Playoffs[]

1991 playoff game log
First Round: 3–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 26 Atlanta L 98–103 Joe Dumars (20) Laimbeer, Rodman (11) Isiah Thomas (14) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		0–1
2 April 28 Atlanta W 101–88 Joe Dumars (28) Dennis Rodman (10) Isiah Thomas (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		1–1
3 April 30 @ Atlanta W 103–91 Joe Dumars (30) Dennis Rodman (13) Isiah Thomas (13) Omni Coliseum
13,571 		2–1
4 May 2 @ Atlanta L 111–123 Vinnie Johnson (26) Dennis Rodman (12) Isiah Thomas (12) Omni Coliseum
9,854 		2–2
5 May 5 Atlanta W 113–81 Isiah Thomas (26) Dennis Rodman (20) Isiah Thomas (11) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		3–2
Conference Semifinals: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 7 @ Boston W 86–75 James Edwards (18) Dennis Rodman (16) Isiah Thomas (13) Boston Garden
14,890 		1–0
2 May 9 @ Boston L 103–109 Joe Dumars (29) Bill Laimbeer (15) Joe Dumars (6) Boston Garden
14,890 		1–1
3 May 11 Boston L 83–115 James Edwards (13) Laimbeer, Rodman (12) Vinnie Johnson (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		1–2
4 May 13 Boston W 104–97 Mark Aguirre (34) Dennis Rodman (18) Joe Dumars (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		2–2
5 May 15 @ Boston W 116–111 Joe Dumars (32) Dennis Rodman (10) Joe Dumars (8) Boston Garden
14,890 		3–2
6 May 17 Boston W 117–113 (OT) Joe Dumars (32) Bill Laimbeer (14) Joe Dumars (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		4–2
Conference Finals: 0–4 (Home: 0–2; Road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 19 @ Chicago L 83–94 Mark Aguirre (25) Dennis Rodman (9) Isiah Thomas (8) Chicago Stadium
18,676 		0–1
2 May 21 @ Chicago L 97–105 Vinnie Johnson (29) Dennis Rodman (11) Dumars, Thomas (5) Chicago Stadium
18,676 		0–2
3 May 25 Chicago L 107–113 Isiah Thomas (29) four players tied (7) Isiah Thomas (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		0–3
4 May 27 Chicago L 94–115 Isiah Thomas (16) Thomas, Johnson (7) Isiah Thomas (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		0–4
1991 schedule

Player statistics[]

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% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Joe Dumars 80 80 38.1 .481 .311 .890 2.3 5.5 1.1 0.1 20.4
Isiah Thomas 48 46 34.5 .435 .292 .782 3.3 9.3 1.6 0.2 16.2
Mark Aguirre 78 13 25.7 .462 .308 .757 4.8 1.8 0.6 0.3 14.2
James Edwards 72 70 26.4 .484 .500 .729 3.8 0.9 0.2 0.4 13.6
Vinnie Johnson 82 28 29.1 .434 .324 .646 3.4 3.3 0.9 0.2 11.7
Bill Laimbeer 82 81 32.5 .478 .296 .837 9.0 1.9 0.5 0.7 11.0
Dennis Rodman 82 77 33.5 .493 .200 .631 12.5 1.0 0.8 0.7 8.2
John Salley 74 1 22.3 .475 .000 .727 4.4 0.9 0.7 1.5 7.4
Gerald Henderson 23 10 17.0 .427 .333 .762 1.6 2.7 0.5 0.1 5.3
William Bedford 60 4 9.4 .438 .385 .705 2.2 0.5 0.0 0.6 4.5
John Long 25 0 10.2 .412 .333 .960 1.3 0.7 0.4 0.1 3.8
Scott Hastings 27 0 4.2 .571 .750 1.000 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.8
Lance Blanks 38 0 5.6 .426 .125 .714 0.5 0.7 0.2 0.1 1.7
Tree Rollins 37 0 5.5 .424 .571 1.1 0.1 0.1 0.5 1.0

Playoffs[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Joe Dumars 15 15 39.2 .429 .405 .845 3.3 4.1 1.1 0.1 20.6
Mark Aguirre 15 2 26.5 .506 .364 .824 4.1 1.9 0.8 0.1 15.6
Vinnie Johnson 15 3 29.2 .464 .154 .710 5.1 2.9 0.7 0.3 15.2
Isiah Thomas 13 11 33.5 .403 .273 .725 4.2 8.5 1.0 0.2 13.5
Bill Laimbeer 15 15 29.7 .446 .294 .871 8.1 1.3 0.3 0.8 10.9
James Edwards 15 11 23.0 .407 .691 2.5 0.6 0.1 0.2 10.7
John Salley 15 0 20.5 .543 .600 4.1 0.7 0.4 1.3 7.5
Dennis Rodman 15 14 33.0 .451 .222 .417 11.8 0.9 0.7 0.7 6.3
William Bedford 8 3 8.1 .208 .000 .643 2.8 0.5 0.3 0.5 2.4
Gerald Henderson 10 1 4.0 .250 .000 0.1 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.8
Scott Hastings 10 0 3.5 .500 .500 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.8
Tree Rollins 6 0 5.3 1.000 0.5 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.7

Player Statistics Citation:[5]

Awards and records[]

Transactions[]

References[]

  1. ^ 1990-91 Detroit Pistons
  2. ^ "Pistons 96, 76ers 94". UPI Archives. December 1, 1990. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  3. ^ "1990–91 Detroit Pistons Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Isiah Thomas To Undergo Surgery". New York Times. January 26, 1991. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "1990–91 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "1991 NBA All-Star Game: East 116, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  7. ^ "BASKETBALL; Pistons in Overdrive Against Hawks". New York Times. May 6, 1991. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  8. ^ "BASKETBALL; Quest for Third Title Alive as Pistons Eliminate Celtics". New York Times. May 18, 1991. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  9. ^ "BASKETBALL; Bulls Brush Aside Pistons for Eastern Title". New York Times. May 28, 1991. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  10. ^ "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; The Pistons Were A Disgrace". New York Times. May 29, 1991. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  11. ^ "The Day the "Bad Boys" Walked Out". Bleacher Report.
  12. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; 2 Big Trades for Pistons". New York Times. August 14, 1991. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  13. ^ "Spurs sign Vinnie Johnson". UPI Archives. December 12, 1991. Retrieved December 2, 2021.

See also[]

  • 1990-91 NBA season
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