Ryan Van Dusen: ‘Bullets Push Pistons To The Limit in 1988 Playoffs ‘

Source:Ryan Van Dusen– Bullets center Moses Malone.

“Washington Bullets guard Jeff Malone averaged 25.6 points over five games and nearly propelled his team to an unlikely upset over the Detroit Pistons in the 1988 playoffs. Malone scored 35 points on 15-of-22 shooting in Game 3, including 4-of-4 in overtime, sparking Washington’s retort after dropping the first two contests of the series. At a loss as to how to cool off an opposing two-guard on an unconscious run, Chuck Daly appealed to his secret weapon for the deciding Game 5. In lieu of Joe Dumars, Daly assigned the task of slowing Malone to the 6-foot-8 Dennis Rodman, who held him to just 1-of-12 shooting and four points in a 99-78 rout.”

From Ryan Van Dusen

In 1988, the Detroit Pistons were still somewhat in transition from a team that annually win 45-50 games, but go out in the 1st round of the playoffs, to a team that was becoming a great, dominant, NBA championship team.

The 1988 Bullets, whatever they lacked in chemistry and coaching, made up for in talent. They had a lot of firepower on that team, including off the bench, with players like John Williams. It wasn’t just Moses and Jeff Malone, but Bernard King was on that team, as well as Terry Catledge.

So when the Bullets played a team that didn’t respect them, which is what the Pistons didn’t, especially after beating them easily at home during the 1st two games of that series, the Bullets could catch you napping and beat you. Which is what they did to the Pistons, even as a 7th seed, 2/3 games in that series.

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Portland Basketball Classics-Turner Sports: NBA 1991-Portland Blazers @ Detroit Pistons: Highlights

This post was originally posted at The New Democrat Plus

A good early test for the 1991 Portland Blazers to see where they were in their season. Already off to a great start at 30-6 and in first place not only the Pacific, but in the West as a whole. But the Detroit Pistons are the reason why the Blazers weren’t the defending NBA champions going into the 1991 NBA season. And the Pistons were looking for their third straight NBA championship and seeing if they were good enough to pull that off. This was a matchup of the two NBA conference champions, the two NBA Finals teams from 1990. Not quite a rematch of the 1990 NBA Finals, this being a regular season game. But certainly and import game for both clubs to see where they were at this point in the 1991 season.

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NBA: Detroit Pistons: Bad Boys Of The NBA

Source:NBA– Isaiah Thomas perhaps sharing a laugh with NBA Commissioner Larry O’Brien, the night he was drafted in the NBA in 1981.

Source:The New Democrat

“The Pistons Reign: Detroit Pistons Bad Boys”

From Max Carey

I don’t know if there’s been a franchise that had a team of an era, that better represented the city they represented, than the Bad Boys Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s early 1990s. Detroit is the ultimate blue-collar, big city, that is the second biggest city of the Midwest, only smaller than Chicago. That is as working class and blue-collar as any big city can be. That has every single challenge and resource that a big city could have. And that is exactly what their Pistons of this era had as well.

The Bad Boys Pistons of course had very good players and in Isiah Thomas’s case a great player a franchise player one of the top five point guards of all time and in the Hall of Fame. But they didn’t beat you because they had overwhelming talent or just by showing up and beating you. The Pistons were a defense first, rebounding second basketball team that scored all of their points off of their defense and ability to get second chance scoring opportunities off of their defense and offensive rebounding. And then teamwork and always getting the ball to the guy with the best chance of scoring.

Other than Isiah, the Pistons of this era didn’t have that great offensive creator who could create points for himself and his teammates. They didn’t have that great post player who could dominate the post and create great mismatches in the post. What they had were guys who moved very well without the ball. Guys who could pass and find the open man. And with center Bill Laimbeer and power forward Rick Mahorn guys who set great screens freeing up their great outside shooters. Which they did have with Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Vinnie Johnson and even center Bill Laimbeer.

The Detroit Pistons were the ultimate team and knew themselves very well and also knew the way they had to win was by being a better team and playing better as a team than their opponents. Especially having to play teams that were simply better than them when it came to talent like the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. And the way they did was knowing they simply couldn’t outscore their opponents. That they had to do a great job of stopping them from scoring and executing their motion team offense and taking advantage of whatever scoring opportunities that they had.

The legacy of the Detroit Pistons is that they were the ultimate team. Not a collection of stars but a collection of great team players who were all very unselfish who all had one goal in mind. Which was to win championships and many as possible and prove to the world that the Pistons can play basketball and that they didn’t represent losers and that Detroit was more than just a big city with every urban problem a big city can have. That they not only represented Detroit but a lot of America as well. People who aren’t given anything and work very hard for everything that they achieved.

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Raylee Kerrie-HBO Films: Magic and Bird a Courtship of Rivals

Legend & Magic

This post was originally posted at The New Democrat

This film is about the two men who saved the National Basketball Association in the 1980s. And to know that, you have to be familiar with the NBA back in the late 1970s. The fact that the NBA finals were shown on tape-delay television means the game is played at one point. The network back then was CBS and CBS Sports, which recorded the game and broadcast it. The game was played at 8 or 9 pm, but then CBS Sports aired the game at midnight after the local TV news.

Regarding Earvin Magic Johnson’s and Larry Legend Bird’s second or third season, sports fans wanted to see the NBA again and their ratings were back up and all of their games are now being shown live. The reason for this is that both players were great to see, but why were they great to see: Because of what they were about, which wasn’t themselves but their teams and winning. All they were interested in was winning, and as the great NBA basketball head coach Pat Riley said, Magic and Legend were about team first and team last and everything else in between and nothing else.

The only thing that Magic and Legend cared about was winning and the fact that they were the two best. Players, at least of their generation playing for the two best teams of this era, and playing in opposite conferences, Larry Bird playing for the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference, and Earvin Johnson playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference, and for either to win the NBA finals, most likely they would have to beat the Celtics or Lakers. It meant for the two best team players of all time to win the championship. They would have to beat each other to do that.

I am not sure whether Larry Bird and Earvin Johnson would have been as great as they were had they not played in the same era and were from the same generation. Had they been clearly the best players of their era without anyone to push them for the top and had the Celtics been the best team of this era without the Lakers to push them and vice-versa I am not sure they would have been as great as they were without the other player and team pushing them. Because part of Legend’s and Magic’s greatness was the other pushing them to make them as great as they were: the competition of the rivalry.

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CBS Sports: NBA 1990- Detroit Pistons vs Portland Blazers: ‘Game 5 Best Plays’

Source:CBS Sports– the Pistons trying to win their 2nd straight NBA Finals, in game 5 of the 1990 NBA Finals.

Source:The New Democrat

“1990 NBA Finals – Detroit vs Portland – Game 5 Best Plays. The best highlights from the 1990 NBA Finals Game 5.”

From Gear Master

The Blazers probably peaked a season too early in 1990 and not prepared to play in the 1990 NBA Finals mentally as far as knowing what it took to win the NBA Finals. And they were playing a very veteran team in the Pistons who had just played in four straight conference finals and playing in their third straight NBA Finals and going for their second straight NBA Finals Championship.

The Blazers having not even being to the conference finals with this group before reaching the 1990 NBA Finals, against a very experienced, deep and intelligent Pistons team for the NBA Championship in 1990. So this was a matchup of a very good experienced team in the Pistons, with a great player in Isiah Thomas and a great head coach in Chuck Daly. Vs. a young and very talented Blazers teams, without a lot of big game experience. And that showed up a lot in at least four out of the five NBA Finals games.

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Merkin Muffly: NBA 1983-ECQF-Game 3- Atlanta Hawks @ Boston Celtics: Highlights

Source:Merkin Muffly– the Hawks & Celtics at the start of their NBA playoff rivalry in the 1980s.

Source:The New Democrat 

“Deciding Game 3 of 1983 Celtic/Hawks, Ainge gets bit by Tree Rollins. Bird holds Dominique to 1 of 6 shooting.”

From Merkin Muffly

The Hawks and Celtics had a pretty good rivalry with each other in the 1980s, especially in the late 80s where they seemed to meet in the Eastern Conference Playoffs every year. The Celtics won every series including 83, but 85, 86 and 88 as well, but the Hawks played them very well even at the Boston Garden and even won some games there.

The Hawks probably should’ve won the 88 series and I believe had a better team. They were up 3-2 in that series, with the opportunity to close out that series at home. But lost both games.

The Hawks in the late 80s always looked like they were going to make a real run at the NBA Finals in the regular season, but always failed to even get to the Eastern Conference Finals.

A difference between a good team and a very good team: the good team has potential, the very good team consistently moves on in the playoffs. And at least plays for conference championships.

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The NBA History: NBA 1979-Christmas Day-Philadelphia 76ers @ New York Knicks: Highlights

Source:The NBA History– The 76ers and Knicks from 1978.

“Dr. J, Henry Bibby, ”Jellybean” Bryant and Doug Collins took the floor against Earl ”The Pearl” and the Knicks.”

From The NBA History

You can also see this post on Blogger.

Philadelphia-New York, is a great rivalry in any sport. Eagles-Giants in the NFL, which is probably the best one. Flyers-Rangers, in the NHL, Phillies-Mets in MLB and yes the 76ers-Knicks in the NBA. Which today is not nearly the rivalry it was twenty-five or thirty years ago. But it was a big deal in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

But now both franchises, especially in the 76ers case, haven’t been very good for a long time. The 76ers, have only been to the Conference Finals twice since winning their last NBA Finals in 1983. And the Knicks have struggled just to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs for the last ten years or so.

As far as this game, the 76ers were still one of the best teams in the NBA at this point. They lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1978 and got to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 1979.

Dr. J Julius Erving, certainly the best forward in basketball at this point and arguably the best all around player in the NBA as well at this point. Trying to lead the 76ers under head coach Billy Cunningham back to the NBA Finals. This was a bit of a homecoming for The Doctor who played for the Nets on Long Island. And the fact that he now played for the 76ers in this game was on Christmas Day, 1978 and they Sixers won big, made this game much more special.

What is also interesting about this game, is that Bob McAdoo, one of the top power forwards in the NBA in the 1970s was playing for the Knicks in this game. That were a pretty bad team in the late 70s. After leaving Buffalo in like 1976, he ends up playing for like three teams in four years. Here’s one of the best players in the NBA at this point getting shipped around from bad team to bad team in the late 70s. Before finally finding a home where he could finish his career with in Los Angeles with the Lakers in 1982.

There was a lot of talent on both teams in this game, especially for the 76ers, but they were clearly the better team.

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CBS Sports: NBA 1988-Chicago Bulls @ Detroit Pistons: Fourth Quarter

Source:CBS Sports – The start of a great NBA rivalry.

“NBA 1988 Chicago Bulls vs Detroit Pistons”

From CBS Sports

You can also see this post on Blogger.

The Chicago Bulls weren’t that bad in 1988, they were actually good winning fifty games, but were still developing as a team and still not good enough to beat a team like the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers.

The Bulls had Horace Grant developing at power forward with Charles Oakley still having that position, who was very solid and very good for them. But the Bulls by the late 1980s were moving to become a quicker, more athletic, trapping type of team on defense. That moved the ball a lot on offense to the open scorer.

The Bulls traded Oakley in the offseason. And made Grant their starting power forward for the next season. Scottie Pippen wasn’t even starting for the Bulls during the 1988 season.

So the Bulls were still about Michael Jordan on offense, with Orlando Woolridge as their second option. Who at times was very good, but not a great player.

And the Pistons were one of the teams that they had to get by in the Central Division to accomplish what they wanted, which was to win the NBA Finals. And this was the start of the Bulls-Pistons rivalry, which is still alive today, but not as strong.

The Pistons in 1988 were an NBA Finals contender, but better than they were in 1987. Because they had already gotten to the Eastern Conference Finals and lost it and knew they were very close to what they wanted which was an NBA Championship.

And if Isiah Thomas doesn’t sprain his ankle of game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals, who knows maybe they win the championship that year. The Celtics were getting older and no longer had a good bench and the Pistons already knew they were good enough to beat the Celtics.

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on Blogger.

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Erva Kova: NBA 1991-04/04-91-Chicago Bulls @ New York Knicks: Michael Jordan Show

Source:Erva Kova– Da Bulls & NY Knicks from 1991.

“Jordan showing his entire repertoire in Garden, yet again !!!
Vintage MJ….

From Erva Kova

You can also see this post on Blogger.

Knicks-Bulls, was a great rivalry in the late 1980s and early 1990s . 1991 the Knicks were sort of in transition. They had a slower, aging team, that was relying on guys way past their prime to be major contributors for them. Players like Kiki Vandeweigh, who once was a high scoring small forward, who could shoot and drive, but now at best was a spot-up shooter and not very consistent at that, because of his foot injuries.

The 1991 Knicks also didn’t have the right head coach in Stu Jackson and not much depth once you got past Pat Ewing, Mark Jackson and Charles Oakley and Gerald Wilkins.

The Bulls, were poised to win their first NBA Finals and now had all the pieces in place to go with Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson. They lost the last two Eastern Conference Finals, but only to the eventual NBA champion Detroit Pistons.

The Knicks after upsetting the Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs in 1990, didn’t even have a winning record in 1991. They made the playoffs with a 39-43 record taking the eighth spot in a 13 team conference, in a weak Eastern Conference, once you got past the Bulls and the Celtics and Pistons.

The Bulls, we’re clearly the best team in the East in 1991. Even though it would have been nice to see them play the Celtics in the East Finals, instead of the Pistons, but stuff happens. (I guess)

This game was set up to be a blowout at the Madison Square Garden. The Knicks, just looking to try to establish some momentum going into the playoffs. The Bulls wanting to show that they’re now the team to beat. Even though the Pistons were the defending champions.

But what made the Bulls-Knicks rivalry so great and perhaps the best rivalry in the NBA in the 1990s, is that records didn’t mean a whole lot. Plus we’re talking about Chicago vs New York and what those two cities and sports cities represent.

The Bulls had the best swingman in the game if not the best player in the game at the time in Michael Jordan. The Knicks, had the best center in the game at the time in Patrick Ewing. They were also both great defenders and Ewing the great shot blocker and rebounder.

The Knicks, we’re still a very solid defensive team and physical with Ewing and Charles Oakley. The game was at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks didn’t want to get embarrassed at home. Which is why the game was pretty competitive and, even if it was Michael Jordan’s show.

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CBS Sports: NBA 1984-ECSF Game 1- New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics: Highlights

Source:CBS Sports– the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics from 1984.

“Opening game of the legendary 1984 ECSF series between Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Game 1 was all about the best frontline in basketball history; Bird, McHale and Parish dominated in the first encounter of 7-game war.

Larry Bird: 23 points, 12 assists (amazing passes by prime Bird), 9 rebounds, 10/16 FG.

Kevin McHale: 25 points, 11/14 FG.

Robert Parish: 19 points, 12 rebounds, 9/16 FG.

Celtics won this one 110:92”

From Larry Legend

The Celtics-Knicks, a rivalry with a great history. This was a classic series in one of the best rivalries and two of the best franchises in the NBA, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, where you have four Hall of Famers in it in Bernard King for the Knicks and Larry Bid, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Dennis Johnson for the Celtics, should also be in the Hall of Fame, but thats a different story.

The Celtics actually had four Hall of Famers if you include their head coach K.C. Jones. And that is really the difference in this series. The Knicks were so dependent on one player in Bernard King, whereas the Celtics had several great players and great role players. People like Cedric Maxwell, Danny Ainge, Scott Wedman.

The Knicks, similar to the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls of the mid and late 1980s, were very dependent on one great scorer to lead the way. And when that one player was having a good game that would free up scoring opportunities for other players. The Hawks, had Dominique Wilkins and the Bulls of course had Michael Jordan. But neither team had another great scorer they could go to when their best player had an off game.

All great scorers in the NBA have off games, but if they’re playing on very good teams, those teams have other scorers and generally multiple scorers that can pick up the slack when their best scorer has that off game. With the Knicks, it really was Bernard King. And sometimes Bill Cartwright and Ray Williams. But they needed King at his best for most games.

I believe that was the main difference in this series. The great team in the Celtics, vs the great player in Bernard King. If King has one of those great games and scored in the high thirties and forties, the Knicks could play with the Celtics, if they played good defense.

But the Celtics had Larry Bird who by himself was about as great of a scorer as the NBA has ever seen. The reason why he didn’t score as much as the other great scorers was because he didn’t have to. Teams would do a lot to stop him and Legend was such a great passer and playmaker and would free up his teammates for scores. As well as a great rebounder and team defender. He didn’t have to have a great scoring night to beat the Knicks. Because he had a lot of help and did so many other things for the Celtics.

You can also see this post on Blogger.

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on Blogger.

You can also see this post at FRS FreeState, on WordPress.

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