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Detroit Pistons Team Page

Team Name: Detroit Pistons Hometown: Detroit, Michigan NBA Eastern Conference » Team History     » Team Schedule

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2008 Detroit Pistons Schedule

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Detroit Pistons History

The franchise was founded as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, a National Basketball League (NBL) team, playing in the gym of North Side High School. Owner Fred Zollner's Zollner Corporation was a foundry, manufacturing pistons primarily for car, truck and locomotive engines. In 1948, the team became the Fort Wayne Pistons, competing in the Basketball Association of America. In 1949, Fred Zollner brokered the formation of the National Basketball Association from the BAA and the NBL at his kitchen table. From that point on, the Fort Wayne Pistons competed in the NBA. Led by star forward George Yardley, the Fort Wayne Pistons were a very popular franchise and appeared in the NBA Finals in 1955 and 1956, losing both times.

Though the Pistons enjoyed a solid local following, their city's small size made it difficult for them to be profitable. In 1957, Zollner moved the team to Detroit, a much larger city which had not seen professional basketball in a decade. In 1947, they had lost the Detroit Gems of the NBL, who moved to become the Minneapolis Lakers (now the Los Angeles Lakers), and the Detroit Falcons of the BAA, which folded. The new Detroit Pistons played in Olympia Stadium (home of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings at the time) for their first four seasons, then moved to Cobo Arena. The franchise was a consistent disappointment, struggling both on the court and at the box office.

During the 60s and 70s, the Pistons were characterized by very strong individuals and weak teams. Some of the superstars who played for the team included Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing and Bob Lanier. At one point DeBusschere was the youngest player coach in the history of the NBA. Unfortunately, an ill timed trade was made during the 1968 season which sent the popular home grown Debusschere to the New York Knicks for Howard Komives and Walt Bellamy both who were in the later stages of their career. DeBusschere became the key player that then led the Knicks to two NBA titles. In 1974, Zollner sold the team to Bill Davidson, who remains the team's principal owner. Displeased with the team's location in downtown Detroit, Davidson moved them to the suburb of Pontiac in 1978, where they played in the mammoth Silverdome, a structure built for professional football (and the home of the Detroit Lions at the time).

The Pistons stumbled their way out of the 1970s and into the 1980s, beginning with a 16–66 record in 1979-80 and following up with a 21–61 record in 1980-81. The 1979-80 team lost its last 14 games of the season which, when coupled with the seven losses at the start of the 1980-81 season, comprised a then-NBA record losing streak of 21 games (since broken).

The franchise's fortunes finally began to turn in 1981, when it drafted point guard Isiah Thomas from Indiana University. In early 1982, the Pistons acquired center Bill Laimbeer in a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers and guard Vinnie Johnson from the Seattle SuperSonics. The three would remain together for a decade, forming much of the core of a team that would rise to the top of the league.

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.

Joe Dumars wanted a tough, hardworking, relentless team focused on team success. He acquired Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins from Orlando in a sign-and-trade for Grant Hill, and during the 2000-2001 season, he made 21 roster moves, including hiring Rick Carlisle as head coach. Over the next two years, the club added Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. The Pistons won 100 games, two Central Division crowns, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2003. In 2003, Dumars replaced Carlisle with Larry Brown. The team cruised to a 54-win season, and added Rasheed Wallace in a trade deadline move. Despite a world full of doubters, the team believed in one another, and defeated the heavily favored Lakers for the NBA title. In 2005, the Pistons were 12 minutes away from “back-to-back” championships, but eventually fell to the Spurs 81-74 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

The 2008 season will mark the 50th anniversary of the franchise in Detroit, so The Palace of Auburn Hills floor was given a retouch, as the 50th anniversary logo was encased on center court, and blue replaced red on the sideline, retaining red on the baseline surrounding the basket with the words "Detroit Pistons." The remainder of the court remained unchanged. This marked the first time since their first season at the Pontiac Silverdome (1978-79) that the sideline of the Pistons floor will be painted blue, as opposed to their traditional red.

Information excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Pistons and http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/, ©2008 NBA Media Ventures All Rights Reserved.

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