The 1983-84 Detroit Pistons marked a significant turning point for the franchise. Under coach Chuck Daly’s leadership, the team finished the regular season with a 49-33 record, securing fourth place in the Central Division. This season was pivotal as it laid the groundwork for the Pistons’ future success in the late 1980s.
Key to their performance was the backcourt duo of Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer, with Thomas averaging 21.3 points and 11.1 assists per game. The Pistons made it to the playoffs, defeating the New York Knicks 3-2 in a challenging first-round series. However, their journey ended in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they fell to the Boston Celtics 4-2. This season was instrumental in building the “Bad Boys” era, emphasizing a physical and defensive style of play.
- Regular Season Record: 49-33
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-3
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1983-84 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Isiah Thomas | 82 | 21.3 | 4.0 | 11.1 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 33.8 | 5 | 21.4 | 3.8 | 11.0 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 33.3 |
| Kelly Tripucka | 76 | 21.3 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 11.8 | 5 | 27.4 | 4.6 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Laimbeer | 82 | 17.3 | 12.2 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 15.2 | 12.4 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| John Long | 82 | 16.3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 20.0 | 5 | 11.0 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vinnie Johnson | 82 | 13.0 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 21.1 | 5 | 10.2 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Terry Tyler | 82 | 8.8 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 15.4 | 5 | 5.0 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Cliff Levingston | 80 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 8.0 | 4.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Kent Benson | 82 | 7.1 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 5 | 7.6 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Ray Tolbert | 49 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Earl Cureton | 73 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 5 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Walker Russell | 16 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lionel Hollins | 32 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Ken Austin | 7 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| David Thirdkill | 46 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Detroit Pistons in the 1984 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. New York Knicks
In the 1984 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons faced the New York Knicks in the first round. The series was fiercely contested, with the Pistons ultimately falling to the Knicks in a decisive Game 5. Despite Isiah Thomas's impressive performances, the Pistons couldn't overcome the Knicks' resilience, marking a learning experience for the young Detroit squad.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | L 94-93 | |
| Apr 19, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | W 113-105 | |
| Apr 22, 1984 | @ New York Knicks | L 120-113 | |
| Apr 25, 1984 | @ New York Knicks | W 119-112 | |
| Apr 27, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | L 127-123 |
Detroit Pistons 1983-84 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1983-84 season for the Detroit Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 1983 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 127-121 | |
| Oct 29, 1983 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 117-115 | |
| Nov 01, 1983 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-93 | |
| Nov 03, 1983 | @ Washington Bullets | L 111-88 | |
| Nov 04, 1983 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 113-108 | |
| Nov 09, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 120-116 | |
| Nov 11, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 126-118 | |
| Nov 12, 1983 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 131-106 | |
| Nov 15, 1983 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 112-110 | |
| Nov 16, 1983 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 122-120 | |
| Nov 18, 1983 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 128-120 | |
| Nov 19, 1983 | @ New York Knicks | L 104-101 | |
| Nov 22, 1983 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-108 | |
| Nov 23, 1983 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 115-113 | |
| Nov 25, 1983 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 120-111 | |
| Nov 27, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-99 | |
| Nov 29, 1983 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 103-93 | |
| Dec 02, 1983 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 128-92 | |
| Dec 03, 1983 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 117-99 | |
| Dec 08, 1983 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 130-129 | |
| Dec 09, 1983 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 123-117 | |
| Dec 11, 1983 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 135-131 | |
| Dec 13, 1983 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 186-184 | |
| Dec 17, 1983 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 129-115 | |
| Dec 20, 1983 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 116-104 | |
| Dec 21, 1983 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 119-112 | |
| Dec 23, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 108-106 | |
| Dec 27, 1983 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 140-100 | |
| Dec 28, 1983 | @ New York Knicks | W 111-108 | |
| Dec 30, 1983 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 103-96 | |
| Jan 03, 1984 | @ Washington Bullets | L 103-102 | |
| Jan 04, 1984 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 128-114 | |
| Jan 06, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | W 118-107 | |
| Jan 08, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-100 | |
| Jan 11, 1984 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 112-96 | |
| Jan 13, 1984 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 115-104 | |
| Jan 14, 1984 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 132-131 | |
| Jan 17, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 128-117 | |
| Jan 18, 1984 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 124-115 | |
| Jan 20, 1984 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 116-94 | |
| Jan 21, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 120-103 | |
| Jan 24, 1984 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 114-107 | |
| Jan 31, 1984 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 114-112 | |
| Feb 02, 1984 | @ Washington Bullets | W 139-129 | |
| Feb 03, 1984 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 126-111 | |
| Feb 05, 1984 | @ Boston Celtics | L 137-134 | |
| Feb 07, 1984 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 130-99 | |
| Feb 10, 1984 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 134-116 | |
| Feb 11, 1984 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 123-116 | |
| Feb 14, 1984 | @ Houston Rockets | W 126-119 | |
| Feb 18, 1984 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 120-115 | |
| Feb 19, 1984 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 142-140 | |
| Feb 21, 1984 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 119-112 | |
| Feb 22, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | W 114-111 | |
| Feb 24, 1984 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 108-100 | |
| Feb 26, 1984 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 121-109 | |
| Feb 28, 1984 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 101-96 | |
| Feb 29, 1984 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 137-106 | |
| Mar 02, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | L 117-102 | |
| Mar 04, 1984 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 118-114 | |
| Mar 06, 1984 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 124-108 | |
| Mar 07, 1984 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 107-93 | |
| Mar 09, 1984 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 122-118 | |
| Mar 10, 1984 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 115-100 | |
| Mar 13, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 116-95 | |
| Mar 14, 1984 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 125-121 | |
| Mar 16, 1984 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 117-108 | |
| Mar 19, 1984 | @ Utah Jazz | L 143-125 | |
| Mar 21, 1984 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 132-123 | |
| Mar 23, 1984 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 121-118 | |
| Mar 24, 1984 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 120-109 | |
| Mar 27, 1984 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 111-83 | |
| Mar 28, 1984 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-101 | |
| Mar 29, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-116 | |
| Mar 31, 1984 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 107-105 | |
| Apr 03, 1984 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 118-115 | |
| Apr 06, 1984 | @ New York Knicks | W 115-107 | |
| Apr 07, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 110-92 | |
| Apr 10, 1984 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 100-98 | |
| Apr 11, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 126-113 | |
| Apr 13, 1984 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 128-120 | |
| Apr 14, 1984 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 115-107 |