1988–89_Detroit_Pistons_season
1988–89 Detroit Pistons season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1988–89 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 41st season in the NBA and 32nd season in the Detroit metropolitan area.[1] The Pistons moved from the Pontiac Silverdome to the brand-new Palace of Auburn Hills before the start of the season.[1]
Quick Facts Detroit Pistons season, Head coach ...
| 1988–89 Detroit Pistons season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
NBA champions | |||
Conference champions | |||
Division champions | |||
| Head coach | Chuck Daly | ||
| General manager | Jack McCloskey | ||
| Owner(s) | William Davidson | ||
| Arena | The Palace of Auburn Hills | ||
| Results | |||
| Record | 63–19 (.768) | ||
| Place | Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 1st (Eastern) | ||
| Playoff finish | NBA Champions (Defeated Lakers 4–0) | ||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||
| Local media | |||
| Television | WKBD-TV (George Blaha, Dick Motta) PASS Sports (Fred McLeod, Tom Wilson) | ||
| Radio | WWJ (George Blaha, Dick Motta) | ||
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The team won their first eight games of the season,[2] and held a 31–13 record at the All-Star break.[3] However, Adrian Dantley was unhappy with his role on the team, losing playing time to Dennis Rodman at the small forward position.[4][5][6][7] At midseason, the team traded Dantley to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for All-Star forward Mark Aguirre, a childhood friend of Isiah Thomas.[8][9][10][11][12] Dantley felt that Thomas had a major role in engineering the trade, so that Aguirre could have the opportunity of winning a championship; an accusation that Thomas denied.[6][13][14][7] The Pistons posted a nine-game winning streak in March, won eight consecutive games between March and April, then won their final five games, finishing with a league best record of 63–19.[15][16]
Thomas led the team with 18.2 points, 8.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and was selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game,[17][18][19][20][21] while Joe Dumars averaged 17.2 points and 5.7 assists per game, and Vinnie Johnson contributed 13.8 points per game. In addition, Bill Laimbeer provided the team with 13.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, while Rodman provided with 9.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game off the bench, and Rick Mahorn averaged 7.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.[22] Dumars and Rodman were both named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, while Rodman finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,[23][24] and in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting,[25][26][27] and head coach Chuck Daly finished in fourth place in Coach of the Year voting.[28][29][30]
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Pistons swept the Boston Celtics in three straight games,[31][32][33][34] then swept the 5th-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in four straight games in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.[35][36][37][38] In the Eastern Conference Finals, they trailed 2–1 to Michael Jordan and the 6th-seeded Chicago Bulls, but managed to win the series in six games to advance to the NBA Finals,[39][40][41][42] where the Pistons would win their first ever NBA championship, sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games, as Dumars was named Finals MVP.[43][44][45][46][47] This series was a rematch from last year's NBA Finals, with the Pistons avenging their NBA Finals loss.
Following the season, Mahorn was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Minnesota Timberwolves.[48][49][50][51][52] However, Mahorn never played for the Timberwolves due to a contract dispute, as he was then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers soon after.[53][54][55][56] 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.
More information Round, Pick ...
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 30 | Fennis Dembo | Forward |  United States |
Wyoming |
| 2 | 48 | Micheal Williams | Guard | United States |
Baylor |
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More information Players, Coaches ...
| 1988–89 Detroit Pistons roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
More information W, L ...
| 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 |
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More information #, Team ...
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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Record vs. opponents
More information Team, ATL ...
| 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 | — |
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Regular season
More information 1988–89 game log Total: 63–19 (Home: 37–4; Road: 26–15), Game ...
| 1988–89 game log Total: 63–19 (Home: 37–4; Road: 26–15) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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November: 11–3 (home: 4–1; road: 7–2)
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December: 9–4 (home: 6–1; road: 3–3)
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January: 8–6 (home: 7–2; road: 1–4)
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February: 8–3 (home: 4–0; road: 4–3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March: 16–1 (home: 9–0; road: 7–1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April: 11–2 (home: 7–0; road: 4–2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–89 schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playoffs
More information 1989 playoff game log, Game ...
| 1989 playoff game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Eastern Conference First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
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Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
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Eastern Conference Finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
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NBA Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
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| 1989 schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
Pre season
Regular season
More information Game, Date ...
| Game | Date | Opponent | Officials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11–4–1988 | @ Chicago | No. 27 Dick Bavetta, No. 49 Jim Clark, No. 40 Mike Lauerman |
| 2 | 11–5–1988 | Charlotte | |
| 3 | 11–8–1988 | @ Philadelphia | No. 9 Bruce Alexander, No. 50 Lee Jones, No. 8 Lee Jones |
| 4 | 11–9–1988 | Atlanta | No. 17 Joe Crawford, No. 29 Steve Javie, No. 53 Jim Kinsey |
| 5 | 11–11–1988 | @ Boston | No. 25 Hugh Evans, Jim Huetter, No. 15 Bennett Salvatore |
| 6 | 11–15–1988 | @ Dallas | No. 41 Ken Mauer, No. 22 Paul Mihalak, No. 32 Eddie F. Rush |
| 7 | 11–16–1988 | @ San Antonio | |
| 8 | 11–18–1988 | @ Phoenix | No. 45 Joe Forte, No. 7 Bernie Fryer, No. 14 Jack Madden |
| 9 | 11–19–1988 | @ Houston | No. 26 Bob Delaney, No. 25 Hugh Evans, Jim Huetter |
| 10 | 11–22–1988 | @ Charlotte | |
| 11 | 11–23–1988 | New York | No. 63 Ted Bernhardt, No. 16 Wally Rooney, No. 32 Eddie F. Rush |
| 12 | 11–26–1988 | L.A. Lakers | No. 30 Gary Benson, No. 43 Dan Crawford, No. 4 Ed T. Rush |
| 13 | 11–29–1988 | @ Indiana | No. 40 Mike Lauerman, No. 18 Ed Middleton, No. 44 Ron Olesiak |
| 14 | 11–30–1988 | Indiana | No. 45 Joe Forte, No. 10 Dareel Garretson, No. 23 Ron Garretson |
| 15 | 12–2–1988 | @ Washington | No. 27 Dick Bavetta, No. 51 Luis Grillo, No. 28 Tommy Nunez |
| 16 | 12–4–1988 | @ New Jersey | |
| 17 | 12–6–1988 | @ Milwaukee | No. 29 Steve Javie, No. 24 Bill Saar, No. 57 Greg Willard |
| 18 | 12–7–1988 | Chicago | No. 33 Joe Borgia, No. 31 Terry Durham, No. 8 Lee Jones |
| 19 | 12–9–1988 | @ Atlanta | No. 7 Bernie Fryer, No. 13 Mike Mathis, No. 54 Woody Mayfield |
| 20 | 12–10–1988 | Philadelphia | No. 27 Dick Bavetta, No. 28 Tommy Nunez, No. 39 Tommie Wood |
| 21 | 12–14–1988 | Milwaukee | No. 25 Hugh Evans, Jim Huetter, No. 32 Eddie F. Rush |
| 22 | 12–15–1988 | @ Cleveland | No. 19 Jim Capers, No. 50 Nolan Fine, No. 8 Lee Jomes |
| 23 | 12–17–1988 | Charlotte | |
| 24 | 12–20–1988 | Miami | |
| 25 | 12–22–1988 | @ New York | No. 28 Tommy Nunez, No. 11 Jake O'Donnell, No. 44 Ron Olesiak |
| 26 | 12–28–1988 | Phoenix | No. 51 Luis Grillo, No. 40 Mike Lauerman, No. 11 Jake O'Donnell |
| 27 | 12–30–1988 | Houston | Ted Bernhardt, No. 22 Paul Mihalak, No. 4 Ed T. Rush |
| 28 | 1–3–1989 | @ Atlanta | No. 30 Gary Benson, No. 29 Steve Javie, No. 4 Ed T. Rush |
| 29 | 1–6–1989 | Atlanta | No. 31 Terry Durham, No. 13 Mike Mathis, Mo. 39 Jess Thompson |
| 30 | 1–7–1989 | @ Indiana | No. 10 Darell Garretson, No. 51 Luis Grillo, No. 37 Blaine Reichelt |
| 31 | 1–11–1989 | New York | No. 49 Jim Clark, No. 18 Ed Middleton, No. 44 Ron Olesiak |
| 32 | 1–13–1989 | Washington | No. 26 Bob Delaney, Jim Huetter, No. 20 Jess Kersey |
| 33 | 1–15–1989 | @ Milwaukee | No. 9 Bruce Alexander, No. 12 Earl Strom, No. 39 Jess Thompson |
| 34 | 1–16–1989 | Boston | No. 50 Nolan Fine, No. 45 Joe Forte, No. 14 Jack Madden |
| 35 | 1–18–1989 | New Jersey | |
| 36 | 1–20–1989 | Indiana | No. 17 Joe Crawford, No. 29 Steve Javie, No. 53 Jim Kinsey |
| 37 | 1–22–1989 | @ Boston | No. 26 Bob Delaney, No. 10 Darell Garretson, No. 32 Eddie F. Rush |
| 38 | 1–25–1989 | Golden State | No. 46 Hank Armstrong, No. 16 Wally Rooney, No. 15 Bennett Salvatore |
| 39 | 1–27–1989 | Cleveland | No. 35 Jack Nies, No. 21 Bill Oakes, No. 58 Derrick Stafford |
| 40 | 1–29–1989 | Sacramento | |
| 41 | 1–31–1989 | @ Chicago | No. 17 Joe Crawford, No. 23 Ron Garretson, Rusty Herring |
| 42 | 2–3–1989 | @ Philadelphia | No. 26 Bob Delaney, No. 25 Hugh Evans, No. 55 George Toliver |
| 43 | 2–5–1989 | Chicago | No. 33 Joe Borgia, No. 8 Lee Jones, No. 12 Earl Strom |
| 44 | 2–8–1989 | Milwaukee | No. 50 Nolan Fine, No. 45 Joe Forte, No. 13 Mike Mathis |
| 45 | 2–14–1989 | @ L.A. Lakers | No. 21 Bill Oakes, No. 24 Bill Saar, No. 56 Don Vaden |
| 46 | 2–16–1989 | @ Sacramento | |
| 47 | 2–18–1989 | @ Golden State | No. 40 Mike Lauerman, No. 18 Ed Middleton, No. 58 Derrick Stafford |
| 48 | 2–20–1989 | @ Denver | Jim Huetter, No. 35 Jack Nies, No. 12 Earl Strom |
| 49 | 2–22–1989 | Portland | No. 20 Jess Kersey, No. 41 Ken Mauer, No. 15 Bennett Salvatore |
| 50 | 2–25–1989 | @ New Jersey | |
| 51 | 2–26–1989 | L.A. Clippers | |
| 52 | 2–28–1989 | @ Cleveland | No. 49 Jim Clark, No. 11 Jake O'Donnell, No. 58 Derrick Stafford |
| 53 | 3–1–1989 | Utah | No. 17 Joe Crawford, No. 18 Ed Middleton, No. 56 Don Vaden |
| 54 | 3–3–1989 | Cleveland | No. 27 Dick Bavetta, No. 35 Jack Nies, No. 28 Tommy Nunez |
| 55 | 3–5–1989 | @ Miami | |
| 56 | 3–6–1989 | Denver | No. 46 Hank Armstrong, No. 22 Paul Mihalak, No. 32 Eddie F. Rush |
| 57 | 3–8–1989 | Seattle | Jim Huetter, No. 8 Lee Jones, No. 12 Earl Strom |
| 58 | 3–11–1989 | @ Philadelphia | No. 27 Dick Bavetta, No. 51 Luis Grillo, No. 40 Mike Lauerman |
| 59 | 3–12–1989 | Washington | No. 7 Bernie Fryer, No. 13 Mike Mathis, No. 39 Jess Thompson |
| 60 | 3–14–1989 | @ Indiana | Rusty Herring, No. 42 Hue Holline, No. 18 Ed Middleton |
| 61 | 3–17–1989 | Boston | No. 29 Steve Javie, No. 13 Mike Mathis, No. 21 Bill Oakes |
| 62 | 3–18–1989 | @ Milwaukee | No. 30 Gary Benson, No. 43 Dan Crawford, No. 4 Ed T. Rush |
| 63 | 3–21–1989 | @ Atlanta | No. 20 Jess Jersey, No. 41 Ken Mauer, No. 16 Wally Rooney |
| 64 | 3–22–1989 | San Antonio | |
| 65 | 3–24–1989 | New Jersey | |
| 66 | 3–25–1989 | @ Charlottte | |
| 67 | 3–27–1989 | Dallas | No. 46 Hank Armstrong, No. 25 Hugh Evans, No. 34 Ronnie Nunn |
| 68 | 3–29–1989 | @ Utah | No. 42 Hue Hollins, No. 16 Wally Rooney, No. 32 Eddie F. Rush |
| 69 | 3–31–1989 | @ Seattle | No. 27 Dick Bavetta, No. 44 Ron Olesiak, No. 37 Blaine Reichelt |
| 70 | 4–2–1989 | @ L.A. Clippers | |
| 71 | 4–4–1989 | @ Portland | No. 31 Terry Durham, No. 50 Nolan Fine, No. 13 Mike Mathis |
| 72 | 4–6–1989 | Chicago | No. 27 Dick Bavetta, No. 49 Jim Clark, No. 29 Steve Javie |
| 73 | 4–7–1989 | @ Chicago | No. 19 Jim Capers, No. 42 Hue Hollins, No. 28 Tommy Nunez |
| 74 | 4–9–1989 | Milwaukee | No. 9 Bruce Alexander, No. 45 Joe Forte, No. 12 Earl Strom |
| 75 | 4–10–1989 | @ Washington | No. 26 Bob Delaney, No. 20 Jess Kersey, No. 40 Mike Lauerman |
| 76 | 4–12–1989 | Cleveland | No. 10 Darell Garretson, No. 16 Wally Rooney, No. 32 Eddie F. Rush |
| 77 | 4–14–1989 | @ New York | No. 46 Hank Armstrong, No. 25 Hugh Evans, No. 15 Bennett Salvatore |
| 78 | 4–16–1989 | Washington | No. 7 Bernie Fryer, No. 22 Paul Mihalak, No. 35 Jack Nies |
| 79 | 4–18–1989 | @ Cleveland | No. 43 Dan Crawford, No. 21 Bill Oakes, No. 4 Ed T. Rush |
| 80 | 4–19–1989 | Indiana | No. 31 Terry Durham, No. 13 Mike Mathis, No. 54 Woody Mayfield |
| 81 | 4–21–1989 | Philadelphia | No. 26 Bob Delaney, No. 20 Jess Kersey, No. 34 Ronnie Nunn |
| 82 | 4–23–1989 | Atlanta | No. 27 Dick Bavetta, No. 49 Jim Clark, No. 11 Jake O'Donnell |
Close
Playoffs
More information Game, Round ...
| Game | Round | Date | Opponent | Officials | Alternate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Conference First Round | 4–28–1989 | Boston | No. 12 Earl Strom, No. 27 Dick Bavetta, No. 18 Ed Middleton | |
| 2 | Eastern Conference First Round | 4–30–1989 | Boston | No. 17 Joe Crawford, No. 23 Ron Garretson, No. 21 Bill Oakes | |
| 3 | Eastern Conference First Round | 5–2–1989 | @ Boston | No. 4 Ed T. Rush, No. 45 Joe Forte, No. 32 Eddie F. Rush | |
| 1 | Eastern Conference Semifinals | 5–10–1989 | Milwaukee | No. 25 Hugh Evans, No. 27 Dick Bavetta, No. 28 Tommy Nunez | |
| 2 | Eastern Conference Semifinals | 5–12–1989 | Milwaukee | No. 42 Hue Hollins, No. 14 Jack Madden, No. 15 Bennett Salvatore | |
| 3 | Eastern Conference Semifinals | 5–14–1989 | @ Milwaukee | No. 20 Jess Kersey, No. 13 Mike Mathis, No. 29 Steve Javie | |
| 4 | Eastern Conference Semifinals | 5–15–1989 | @ Milwaukee | No. 10 Darell Garretson, No. 45 Joe Forte, No. 7 Bernie Fryer | |
| 1 | Eastern Conference Finals | 5–21–1989 | Chicago | No. 17 Joe Crawford, No. 25 Hugh Evans, No. 28 Tommy Nunez | |
| 2 | Eastern Conference Finals | 5–23–1989 | Chicago | No. 13 Mike Mathis, No. 12 Earl Strom, No. 24 Bill Saar | |
| 3 | Eastern Conference Finals | 5–27–1989 | @ Chicago | No. 14 Jack Madden, No. 4 Ed T. Rush, No. 21 Bill Oakes | |
| 4 | Eastern Conference Finals | 5–29–1989 | @ Chicago | No. 20 Jess Kersey, No. 11 Jake O'Donnell, No. 16 Wally Rooney | |
| 5 | Eastern Conference Finals | 5–31–1989 | Chicago | No. 10 Darell Garretson, No. 42 Hue Hollins, No. 27 Dick Bavetta | |
| 6 | Eastern Conference Finals | 6–2–1989 | @ Chicago | No. 17 Joe Crawford, No. 25 Hugh Evans, No. 12 Earl Strom | |
| 1 | NBA Finals | 6–6–1989 | L.A. Lakers | No. 20 Jess Kersey, No. 14 Jack Madden, No. 11 Jake O'Donnell | |
| 2 | NBA Finals | 6–8–1989 | L.A. Lakers | No. 17 Joe Crawford, No. 10 Darell Garretson, No. 42 Hue Hollins | |
| 3 | NBA Finals | 6–11–1989 | @ L.A. Lakers | No. 25 Hugh Evans, No. 13 Mike Mathis, No. 4 Ed T. Rush | |
| 4 | NBA Finals | 6–13–1989 | @ L.A. Lakers | No. 20 Jess Kersey, No. 14 Jack Madden, No. 12 Earl Strom |
Close
| 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
More information Player, GP ...
| 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 |
Close
Playoffs
More information Player, GP ...
| 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 |
Close
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.
More information Game, Home Team ...
| 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 |
Close
Pistons win series 4–0
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