1988–89 Detroit Pistons season


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

Roster

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

Record vs. opponents

Game log

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.

Eastern Conference First Round

Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics: Pistons win series 3-0
Last Playoff Meeting: 1988 Eastern Conference Finals

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Pistons win series 4-0
Last Playoff Meeting: 1976 Western Conference First Round

Eastern Conference Finals

Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls: Pistons win series 4-2
Last Playoff Meeting: 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals

Player stats

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
363229.7.483.293.7384.22.5.44.1915.5
424231.9.521.000.8393.92.2.55.1418.4
1403.4.474.000.500.5.1.00.071.9
3102.4.333.000.800.7.2.03.001.2
696734.9.505.483.8502.55.7.91.0717.2
76116.5.500.000.6863.0.6.14.417.3
302.3.250.0001.000.7.0.33.001.3
822125.3.464.295.7343.13.0.90.2113.8
818132.6.499.349.8409.62.2.631.2313.7
2416.3.475.000.846.5.6.00.082.0
726124.9.517.000.7486.9.8.56.927.2
502.81.000.000.000.6.0.20.00.8
82826.9.595.231.6269.41.2.67.939.0
601.3.000.0001.000.3.0.00.00.7
672121.8.498.000.6925.01.1.601.077.0
807636.6.464.273.8183.48.31.66.2518.2
4907.3.364.222.660.61.4.27.062.6

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
171727.2.489.276.7374.41.6.47.1812.6
202.01.000.000.000.0.0.00.001.0
171736.5.455.083.8612.65.6.71.0617.6
17018.6.471.000.7842.1.7.06.477.1
17021.9.455.417.7582.62.5.24.1814.1
171729.2.465.357.8068.21.8.35.4710.1
402.01.000.0001.000.0.0.00.001.2
171721.2.580.000.6545.1.4.53.765.7
17024.1.529.000.68610.0.9.35.715.8
17023.1.586.000.6674.6.5.531.478.9
171737.2.412.267.7404.38.31.59.2418.2
401.5.000.0001.000.5.5.25.00.5

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.
GameHome TeamRoad Teamseries
Game 1Detroit 109L.A. Lakers 971–0
Game 2Detroit 108L.A. Lakers 1052–0
Game 3:L.A. Lakers 110Detroit 1143–0
Game 4:L.A. Lakers 97Detroit 1054–0

Pistons win series 4-0

Award winners