The 1987-88 Detroit Pistons marked a pivotal season in the franchise’s history. Under head coach Chuck Daly, the team finished with an impressive 54-28 record, showcasing a robust defensive style that would earn them the moniker “Bad Boys.” Key players included Isiah Thomas, who led the team with his playmaking abilities, and Bill Laimbeer, whose physical presence was central to their defensive strategy.
The Pistons advanced through the playoffs, defeating the Washington Bullets and the Chicago Bulls before facing the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Detroit emerged victorious, winning the series 4-2, securing their first NBA Finals appearance since 1956. Despite a valiant effort, they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in a closely contested seven-game series. This season set the foundation for their future success, as they would capture NBA titles in the subsequent two years.
- Regular Season Record: 54-28
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-2, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-1, Eastern Conference Finals: 4-2, NBA Finals: 3-4
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1987-88 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Adrian Dantley | 69 | 20.0 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 23 | 19.4 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Isiah Thomas | 81 | 19.5 | 3.4 | 8.4 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 30.9 | 23 | 21.9 | 4.7 | 8.7 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 30.2 |
| Joe Dumars | 82 | 14.2 | 2.4 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 21.1 | 23 | 12.3 | 2.2 | 4.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 33.3 |
| Bill Laimbeer | 82 | 13.5 | 10.1 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 33.3 | 23 | 11.9 | 9.6 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 29.4 |
| Vinnie Johnson | 82 | 12.2 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 20.8 | 23 | 10.3 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 14.3 |
| Dennis Rodman | 82 | 11.6 | 8.7 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 29.4 | 23 | 7.1 | 5.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Rick Mahorn | 67 | 10.7 | 8.4 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 49.8 | 23 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| John Salley | 82 | 8.5 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 23 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| James Edwards | 26 | 5.4 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 22 | 6.3 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| William Bedford | 38 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Darryl Dawkins | 2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ralph Lewis | 50 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 10 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ron Moore | 9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chuck Nevitt | 17 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walker Russell | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Detroit Pistons in the 1988 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Washington Bullets
In the first round of the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons showcased their emerging dominance by sweeping the Washington Bullets in a decisive 3-0 series victory. Led by Isiah Thomas' leadership and Joe Dumars' sharp shooting, the Pistons demonstrated their tenacious defense and depth, foreshadowing their eventual rise as a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference. This performance was a stepping stone in their journey to the NBA Finals that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 96-87 | |
| Apr 30, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 102-101 | |
| May 02, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 114-106 | |
| May 04, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 106-103 | |
| May 08, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 99-78 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Chicago Bulls
In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons faced the Chicago Bulls in the second round and emerged victorious in a hard-fought five-game series. Led by Isiah Thomas and the tenacious u0022Bad Boysu0022 defense, the Pistons effectively contained Michael Jordan, winning the series 4-1. This victory showcased their physical style and set the stage for their eventual Eastern Conference Finals showdown with the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 93-82 | |
| May 12, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 105-95 | |
| May 14, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 101-79 | |
| May 15, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 96-77 | |
| May 18, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 102-95 |
1988 Conference Championship vs. Boston Celtics
In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons showcased their emerging u0022Bad Boysu0022 identity by defeating the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. This victory marked a significant turning point for Detroit, as they overcame the Celtics' dynasty in six games, earning their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1956. The Pistons' physical defense and teamwork under coach Chuck Daly set the tone for their eventual back-to-back championships in the following years.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | W 104-96 | |
| May 26, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 119-115 | |
| May 28, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 98-94 | |
| May 30, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 79-78 | |
| Jun 01, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | W 102-96 | |
| Jun 03, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 95-90 |
1988 NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 1988 NBA Finals, the Detroit Pistons, known for their tenacious u0022Bad Boysu0022 defense, went head-to-head against the Los Angeles Lakers in a thrilling seven-game series. Despite their gritty play and the standout performances from stars like Isiah Thomas, the Pistons fell just short of victory, losing 4-3 to the Lakers, who clinched the title with a narrow 108-105 win in Game 7. This series laid the groundwork for Detroit's future success, as they captured back-to-back championships in the following two seasons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 07, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 105-93 | |
| Jun 09, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-96 | |
| Jun 12, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 99-86 | |
| Jun 14, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 111-86 | |
| Jun 16, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 104-94 | |
| Jun 19, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 103-102 | |
| Jun 21, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-105 |
Detroit Pistons 1987-88 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1987-88 season for the Detroit Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 06, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 110-99 | |
| Nov 07, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 119-105 | |
| Nov 10, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 121-118 | |
| Nov 13, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 113-94 | |
| Nov 14, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 128-113 | |
| Nov 18, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 113-109 | |
| Nov 20, 1987 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 131-108 | |
| Nov 21, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 144-132 | |
| Nov 24, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | W 97-83 | |
| Nov 25, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 113-107 | |
| Nov 27, 1987 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 143-111 | |
| Nov 28, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | L 124-102 | |
| Dec 01, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 124-115 | |
| Dec 02, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 115-105 | |
| Dec 04, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 128-105 | |
| Dec 08, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 127-117 | |
| Dec 11, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 114-108 | |
| Dec 12, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 124-96 | |
| Dec 15, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 127-123 | |
| Dec 18, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 117-112 | |
| Dec 25, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | W 91-87 | |
| Dec 26, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 110-75 | |
| Dec 29, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 101-91 | |
| Dec 30, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 105-95 | |
| Jan 02, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 151-142 | |
| Jan 05, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 81-71 | |
| Jan 06, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 90-87 | |
| Jan 08, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-104 | |
| Jan 13, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 143-105 | |
| Jan 15, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 97-93 | |
| Jan 16, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 115-99 | |
| Jan 18, 1988 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 123-116 | |
| Jan 20, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | W 120-117 | |
| Jan 22, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-106 | |
| Jan 24, 1988 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 119-111 | |
| Jan 27, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 103-86 | |
| Jan 29, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 125-108 | |
| Jan 30, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 116-104 | |
| Feb 01, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 94-83 | |
| Feb 02, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 99-97 | |
| Feb 04, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 100-93 | |
| Feb 09, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 89-74 | |
| Feb 10, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | W 98-87 | |
| Feb 12, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 108-92 | |
| Feb 13, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 82-73 | |
| Feb 15, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 102-95 | |
| Feb 18, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 108-95 | |
| Feb 19, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 119-108 | |
| Feb 21, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-110 | |
| Feb 23, 1988 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 121-105 | |
| Feb 24, 1988 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 107-93 | |
| Feb 26, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 137-109 | |
| Feb 28, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 106-101 | |
| Mar 01, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 117-104 | |
| Mar 02, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 103-90 | |
| Mar 05, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 101-97 | |
| Mar 06, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 109-99 | |
| Mar 08, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 117-104 | |
| Mar 09, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 103-98 | |
| Mar 11, 1988 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 116-88 | |
| Mar 12, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-100 | |
| Mar 14, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 109-97 | |
| Mar 17, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 102-99 | |
| Mar 20, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 118-110 | |
| Mar 22, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 123-104 | |
| Mar 25, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 107-106 | |
| Mar 26, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 108-103 | |
| Mar 28, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 102-100 | |
| Mar 30, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 103-102 | |
| Apr 01, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 121-110 | |
| Apr 03, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 112-110 | |
| Apr 05, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 107-95 | |
| Apr 08, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 96-86 | |
| Apr 09, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 115-102 | |
| Apr 11, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 114-111 | |
| Apr 13, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 115-98 | |
| Apr 15, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 92-91 | |
| Apr 16, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 114-96 | |
| Apr 19, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 121-110 | |
| Apr 21, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | W 99-87 | |
| Apr 22, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 103-98 | |
| Apr 24, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 128-118 |