The 1984-85 Detroit Pistons marked a pivotal season as they continued their ascent in the NBA. Under head coach Chuck Daly, the team finished the regular season with a 46-36 record, securing third place in the Central Division. This season was significant as it highlighted the emergence of Isiah Thomas as a premier point guard, contributing significantly to the team’s success with his playmaking and scoring abilities.
Despite their promising regular-season performance, the Pistons faced challenges in the playoffs. They advanced to the first round but were eliminated by the Boston Celtics, who were a dominant force during the 1980s. The season laid the groundwork for the Pistons’ future success, setting the stage for their eventual transformation into the “Bad Boys” and their dominance in the late 1980s. The 1984-85 season was a critical step in building the team’s competitive spirit and resilience.
- Regular Season Record: 46-36
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-0, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 2-4
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1984-85 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Isiah Thomas | 81 | 21.2 | 4.5 | 13.9 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 25.7 | 9 | 24.3 | 5.2 | 11.2 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 40.0 |
| Kelly Tripucka | 55 | 19.1 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 40.0 | 9 | 14.8 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Bill Laimbeer | 82 | 17.6 | 12.4 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 22.2 | 9 | 14.7 | 10.7 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| John Long | 66 | 14.7 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 33.3 | 9 | 12.4 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 25.0 |
| Vinnie Johnson | 82 | 12.8 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 18.5 | 9 | 14.2 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Terry Tyler | 82 | 11.6 | 5.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 9 | 13.3 | 4.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Dan Roundfield | 56 | 10.9 | 8.1 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 9.1 | 6.7 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Kent Benson | 72 | 6.6 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 9 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Earl Cureton | 81 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 9 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Tony Campbell | 56 | 5.6 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Brook Steppe | 54 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Major Jones | 47 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| David Thirdkill | 10 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lorenzo Romar | 5 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Terry Teagle | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sidney Lowe | 6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dale Wilkinson | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Detroit Pistons in the 1985 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. New Jersey Nets
In the 1985 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons faced the New Jersey Nets in the first round. Led by the dynamic backcourt duo of Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, the Pistons showcased their emerging u0022Bad Boysu0022 persona by defeating the Nets in a decisive 3-0 sweep. This victory marked a significant step for Detroit, setting the stage for their rise as a dominant force in the late 1980s.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 125-105 | |
| Apr 21, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 121-111 | |
| Apr 24, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 116-115 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Boston Celtics
In the 1985 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons advanced to the second round, marking a significant step in their journey towards becoming a dominant force in the late '80s. Facing the Boston Celtics, the Pistons showcased their emerging u0022Bad Boysu0022 identity with a gritty and physical style of play. Despite their efforts, they were outmatched by the Celtics' seasoned lineup, losing the series 4-2, but it set the stage for their eventual rise to prominence.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 133-99 | |
| Apr 30, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 121-114 | |
| May 02, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 125-117 | |
| May 05, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 102-99 | |
| May 08, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 130-123 | |
| May 10, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 123-113 |
Detroit Pistons 1984-85 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1984-85 season for the Detroit Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 1984 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 130-123 | |
| Oct 27, 1984 | @ New York Knicks | L 137-118 | |
| Oct 30, 1984 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 124-107 | |
| Nov 01, 1984 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 118-114 | |
| Nov 02, 1984 | @ Boston Celtics | L 127-116 | |
| Nov 05, 1984 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 107-98 | |
| Nov 07, 1984 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 122-118 | |
| Nov 10, 1984 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 104-100 | |
| Nov 14, 1984 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 137-133 | |
| Nov 16, 1984 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 101-90 | |
| Nov 17, 1984 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 124-110 | |
| Nov 20, 1984 | @ Houston Rockets | L 123-117 | |
| Nov 21, 1984 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 114-101 | |
| Nov 23, 1984 | vs. New York Knicks | L 120-97 | |
| Nov 24, 1984 | @ Washington Bullets | L 112-106 | |
| Nov 28, 1984 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 120-113 | |
| Nov 30, 1984 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 114-106 | |
| Dec 01, 1984 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 131-109 | |
| Dec 04, 1984 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 104-99 | |
| Dec 06, 1984 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 114-99 | |
| Dec 07, 1984 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 122-115 | |
| Dec 11, 1984 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 108-101 | |
| Dec 12, 1984 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 102-95 | |
| Dec 14, 1984 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 120-96 | |
| Dec 19, 1984 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 148-129 | |
| Dec 20, 1984 | @ Utah Jazz | L 117-116 | |
| Dec 22, 1984 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 129-123 | |
| Dec 25, 1984 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-108 | |
| Dec 26, 1984 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-97 | |
| Dec 28, 1984 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 116-110 | |
| Dec 29, 1984 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 110-108 | |
| Jan 02, 1985 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-100 | |
| Jan 04, 1985 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 134-111 | |
| Jan 05, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | W 121-113 | |
| Jan 09, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 126-122 | |
| Jan 11, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 120-109 | |
| Jan 13, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 121-98 | |
| Jan 17, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | W 105-89 | |
| Jan 19, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-107 | |
| Jan 22, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 130-113 | |
| Jan 24, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 137-118 | |
| Jan 26, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 132-113 | |
| Jan 27, 1985 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 115-105 | |
| Jan 29, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 131-130 | |
| Jan 30, 1985 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 120-116 | |
| Feb 02, 1985 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 110-102 | |
| Feb 04, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-111 | |
| Feb 05, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 119-117 | |
| Feb 07, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | L 128-126 | |
| Feb 12, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 139-126 | |
| Feb 13, 1985 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 124-119 | |
| Feb 15, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 124-123 | |
| Feb 16, 1985 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 125-114 | |
| Feb 18, 1985 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 122-103 | |
| Feb 20, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 113-112 | |
| Feb 22, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 110-99 | |
| Feb 23, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 111-103 | |
| Feb 27, 1985 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-99 | |
| Mar 01, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 108-98 | |
| Mar 03, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 138-129 | |
| Mar 06, 1985 | vs. New York Knicks | W 114-90 | |
| Mar 07, 1985 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 122-114 | |
| Mar 09, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 115-113 | |
| Mar 11, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 121-114 | |
| Mar 12, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 111-110 | |
| Mar 17, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-98 | |
| Mar 18, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 136-116 | |
| Mar 19, 1985 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 143-123 | |
| Mar 21, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 122-113 | |
| Mar 24, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 148-130 | |
| Mar 26, 1985 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 119-93 | |
| Mar 27, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 127-110 | |
| Mar 31, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 113-105 | |
| Apr 01, 1985 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 114-100 | |
| Apr 02, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 124-121 | |
| Apr 04, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 130-121 | |
| Apr 05, 1985 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 119-118 | |
| Apr 07, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-91 | |
| Apr 09, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | W 107-97 | |
| Apr 10, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 116-114 | |
| Apr 12, 1985 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 102-96 | |
| Apr 14, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 116-113 |