Detroit Pistons Playoff History (1957-2008)

Detroit Pistons Playoffs: 1950s

The Detroit Pistons were founded originally as a National Basketball League team known as the Ft. Wayne Pistons in 1948. They were later brought into the NBA, and competed in two NBA finals in 1955 and 56. After the small market for the Pistons became unprofitable, the team moved to Detroit in 1957, and the Detroit Pistons were born. As the Detroit Pistons, the team made the NBA playoffs for the first time in 1958 and again in1959. This Detroit Pistons playoff streak would continue through 1963.

Detroit Pistons Playoffs: 60s-70s

The Detroit Pistons of the 1960s and 70s were generally led by a single superstar with a poor supporting cast. Dave DeBusschere was one of the key players for the early 1960s Detroit Pistons that made the playoffs from 1960-63 and again in 1968. The only Detroit Pistons playoff run of this decade to go beyond the first round was the 1962 team, which was eliminated by the Los Angles Lakers in the second round. The trade of Dave DeBusschere, who also spent time as a coach, was a huge blow to talent and leadership. After the trade, the Detroit Pistons did not make the playoffs again until 1974 but kept a playoff streak from 1974-77, with the only run past the first round being in 1976.

Detroit Pistons Playoffs: Ascension

After a disastrous end to the 1970s, which included an NBA record 21-game losing streak in 1981, the Detroit Pistons were ready for a change. The first step was a retooling of the team. In 1981, the Detroit Pistons began this by drafting Isiah Thomas, and acquiring Bill Laimbeer and Vinnie Johnson. The trio would provide the Detroit Pistons with a base to build a championship team around. The rebuilding finally paid off with a playoff berth in 1984 with a more successful playoff run in 1985, which began the vaunted Detroit Pistons/Boston Celtics rivalry after a close series in the playoffs’ second round.

Shrewd drafting by the Detroit Pistons built upon the playoff-ready team, and the additions of John Salley and Dennis Rodman through the 1986 NBA Draft brought a physical mean streak to the team. The aggression paid off, and the Detroit Pistons met the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Boston Celtics picked up the playoff win, but the Detroit Pistons knew they could compete with the best. In the 1987-89 season, the physical brawlers of the Detroit Pistons met the all-star team of the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals. A controversial call gave the Los Angeles Lakers the win and the championship.

The careful drafting and other off-season moves hit pay dirt in the 1988-89 playoffs, when the Detroit Pistons met the Los Angeles Lakers again. This time, the Detroit Pistons overpowered their west coast opponents and swept them for the NBA Championship. Again, in the 1989-1990 playoffs, the Detroit Pistons walked away with the title, this time defeating the Portland Trailblazers.

Detroit Pistons Playoffs: Fall

The Detroit Pistons fought their way through the playoffs to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, where they ran into the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan. The Detroit Pistons were swept by Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Though the Detroit Pistons made the playoffs the next year, poor drafting and off-season moves began to rapidly degrade the team, with the 1993-94 year being the low point. The Detroit Pistons closed out the decade with three playoff appearances in 1996-97 and 1999. Even with some major off-season moves in the next few years, the Detroit Pistons suffered a poor showing in the 2000 playoffs and a dismal record in 2001.

Detroit Pistons Playoffs: Rebirth

The acquisition of Rasheed Wallace and a few big free agency signings did wonders for the Detroit Pistons, and they made a run in the 2002 playoffs, getting to the second round. The Detroit Pistons again went through the playoffs in 2003, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the New Jersey Nets.

Under Coach Larry Brown, the Detroit Pistons made yet another deep playoff run, this time meeting the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2003-04 NBA Finals. Chauncey Billups led the Detroit Pistons over the heavily favored Lakers led by the dual superstars of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal en route to an NBA title.  Despite key losses to the roster, the Detroit Pistons again dominated the playoffs and made it to the NBA Finals the following year, facing the San Antonio Spurs. In a great contest of contrasting basketball styles, the Spurs came out on top in seven games.

Detroit Pistons Playoffs: Present

Though they have failed to capture another NBA Championship since the 2003-04 season, the Detroit Pistons are still monsters in the playoffs. The Detroit Pistons have reached the Eastern Conference Finals the past three years straight and look to do it again. Ticket holders to Detroit Pistons playoff games are sure to get a dose of great basketball and a storied history of playoff greatness.