- Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Home court: Little Caesars Arena
- G.M. Troy Weaver
- Coach: Dwane Casey
- Star: PG Cade Cunningham
- 2021 Season: 23-59, failed to make playoffs.
- NBA Titles: 1989, 1990, 2004
- Greatest Player: PG Isaiah Thomas
- There’s an old saying in prison yards and any basketball court in Detroit: If you can’t beat ‘em, beat ‘em.
It’s not as if the Bad Boys of the Late-80s and Early-90s lacked for talent. Isaiah Thomas was as talented as he was tough. Horace Grant, Joe Dumars, Mark Aguire were flat out talents. Dennis Rodman, if you could get past the tattoos, piercings and dalliance with North Korea, set a new standard for rebounding by a non-center.
But the Pistons weren’t known for their talent. Led by Public Enemy No.1, Bill Laimbeer, this were known for a physical style of play that would have resulted in misdemeanor charges if done off the court.
The Pistons won their third NBA title in 2004 with a hardened team led by Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton but they were hardly Bad Boys. Now Detroit has some excellent young talent, but when the Detroit Pistons are mentioned, it’s time to hide the women and children.
This is just fine with the blue-collar ethos of the Motor City. It isn’t known for its purveyors of gourmet cheeses or manufacturers of luxury timepieces (although Shinola watches have a vintage-look beauty). This is the city of the Big Three, muscle cars and Coney Island hot dogs.
It’s probably not the worst perception to carry. Football is a collision sport, but basketball is a contact one. In Laimbeer’s case, it was a precursor to MMA.
If you can’t beat em, well, beat em.