Lakers Worlds Greatest

Jordan and the Bulls start this game uncharacteristically out of rythm, ending the quarter on a mere 25% FG. Jordan ends up with 40 points with an easy, in-the-flow offensive attack and a prowling defensive exhibition that marked the stat sheet with 4 blocks. The Clippers came out firing, not backing down from the storied, history making franchise. Stacked with two 7 foot, 300+pound frontmen (Stanley Roberts, Kevin Duckworth), an effective floor leader in Pooh Richardson, 6’8 Malik Sealy, 6’7 265lb Rodney Rogers… The Clippers certainly didn’t need to prove that they weren’t a team to be pushed around. But just as you were unlikely to stop Mike, you were unlikely to stop the Bulls – regardless of the physicality of your squad. (The 10 second clip in this video is also played at 4:06, it was an editing mistake on my behalf and it’s true position should be at 4:06. I have missed a bucket because of this, but I won’t be re-uploading. Sorry)

Selection of Showtime stuff from 3-04-1987.

Bones does the c-walk during the NBA 3 Point Contest and Magic Johnson loves it

1980s: The Bad Boys Era The Pistons’ first trip to the Finals saw them face the Los Angeles Lakers, who were led by Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. After taking a 3–2 series lead back to Los Angeles, Detroit appeared poised to win their first NBA title in Game 6. In that game, Isiah Thomas scored an NBA Finals record 25 points in the third quarter while playing on a severely sprained ankle. However, the Lakers won the game, 103–102, on a pair of last-minute free throws by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar following a controversial foul called on Bill Laimbeer, referred to by many Piston supporters, and Laimbeer himself, as a “phantom foul.” With Isiah Thomas unable to compete at full strength, the Pistons narrowly fell in Game 7, 108–105. Prior to the 1988-89 season, the Pistons moved to Auburn Hills to play at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The 1989 Pistons completed the building of their roster by trading Dantley for Mark Aguirre, a trade that Piston fans would criticize heavily initially, but later praise. The team won 63 games, shattering the old franchise record, and steamrolled through the playoffs and into a NBA Finals rematch with the Lakers. This time the Pistons came out victorious in a four-game sweep to win their first NBA championship. Joe Dumars was named NBA Finals MVP. Game Four of the series marked the final game of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career. 2004: Return to a Championship The Pistons’ transformation into a championship team was completed with …

Before Larry Bird, before Magic Johnson, before Michael Jordan and before Dominique Wilkins; Pistol “Pete” Maravich was the first basket genius and magician with the ball.

professor VS japanese baller in Japan. Professor showed him what his made up of.

Entering the 1988-89 season, the Pistons were battle tested and hungry. They had spent the last few years battling the Bulls and Celtics, and were coming off a 4-3 loss to the Lakers in the NBA Finals. As the Pistons were set to resume the season after the All-Star break, Jack McCloskey pulled the trigger on a surprise trade, sending fan favorite Adrian Dantley to Dallas for Mark Aguirre, coincidently the number one pick in the 1981 NBA Draft. The Pistons finished the season with a team-record 63 wins, including an astounding record of 30-4 after the Aguirre-for-Dantley trade. The Pistons faced the Boston Celtics in the first round. This would be the fourth time in five seasons that the two teams met in the post-season. Not only was there a hatred amongst the teams on the court, but the venom spread to the pages of newspapers and magazines. Both Celtics play-by-play man Johnny Most and team President Red Auerbach said that the Pistons were classless bullies. Their words, however, did not stop the Pistons, who swept the Celtics in three games. Next up: the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pistons dismantled the Bucks in four games, including overcoming a 21-point deficit in Game Four. Next on the agenda was Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Jordan predicted that the Bulls would win the series if they could win Game One at The Palace. Behind Jordans 32 points, the Bulls won the game 94-88. The Pistons would win Games Two, Four and Five, and needed only Game Six in Chicago to …