Porch Notes
The Bad Boys Pistons
History and culture
In an era of glamour basketball — Magic’s Lakers, Bird’s Celtics, Jordan’s Bulls — Detroit won with grit. The Pistons of the late 1980s, gleefully nicknamed the “Bad Boys” for their bruising, defense-first style, won back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, and they did it as a true team.
They were led by point guard Isiah Thomas, a Hall of Famer regarded as one of the best ever at his position, alongside Joe Dumars, the rugged center Bill Laimbeer, the relentless Dennis Rodman, and Vinnie “the Microwave” Johnson off the bench. Coached by the dapper Chuck Daly, they swept Magic Johnson’s Lakers in 1989 (Dumars was Finals MVP) and beat Portland in 1990 (Thomas was Finals MVP). For three straight years they were the wall that Michael Jordan’s Bulls couldn’t get past — until Chicago finally broke through in 1991.
The Bad Boys are remembered as one of the toughest, most united teams the league has seen. Detroit added a third title in 2004 with another defense-first, star-light squad.
Where to see it
The Pistons now play at Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit (their championship years were spent at the Palace of Auburn Hills, since demolished).