The Detroit Pistons, rating 2.18 (since 1948-49) [1948-49 to 1956-57, Fort Wayne Pistons, rating 2.56] [1957-58 to 2009-10, Detroit Pistons, rating 2.11] Some of these teams like the Pistons, Lakers, and Kings (who were once called the Royals) came over from the old National Basketball League, which merged with the Basketball Association of America into forming the National Basketball Association. So the Pistons are technically older than the Pearl Harbor attack, but their history in the league starts in 1948, because for some reason we show more bias toward the old BAA. The Pistons started in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and to keep with tradition the team's current Development League affiliate is located in... Fort Wayne, Indiana. Fort Wayne took the Pistons to two NBA Finals appearances in 1954-55 and 1955-56 before falling off the path to success for the next thirty years. But much of the notable history of this franchise has occurred in its current home of Detroit. The first real era in Detroit began in the mid-80's when the team started piecing together its legendary Bad Boys, noted for their aggressively physical style of play, featuring Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer, and Dennis Rodman. That team would make five consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference Finals (from 1986-87 to 1990-91), putting them into three NBA Finals and winning two championships, making them the last of the "Old Eight" franchises to win a title. The next era spanned most of the 00's where a team of Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace (for most of it) would lead the team to six straight Conference Finals appearances (from 2002-03 to 2007-08), resulting in one title in two tries. Detroit's main obstacles over the years have been the Boston Celtics, the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the old STL Hawks and Rochester Royals. Detroit, you're due a break. Let the rest of us get some of the spotlight, just don't take another thirty years off. Now, on to the Pistons top 10%: A majority of the Piston's top players come from the last 25 years, though the older players have not been left out. Zeke takes the top spot, followed by Mr. Sportsmanship Joe Dumars, Big Ben Wallace, and the Baddest Boy Bill Laimbeer. Most of the player's in Detroit's top 12 are still household names. All-Piston Team C - Bill Laimbeer F - Ben Wallace F - Dennis Rodman G - Isiah Thomas G - Joe Dumars B - Chauncey Billups B - Bob Lanier B - Dave Bing Top 10% out of 412, (current players noted with asterisk - *) 1. 138.243 Isiah Thomas 1981-82 to 1993-94 2. 116.343 Joe Dumars 1985-86 to 1998-99 3. 98.126 Ben Wallace 2000-01 to 2005-06, 2009-10 - * 4. 95.817 Bill Laimbeer 1981-82 to 1993-94 5. 88.932 Chauncey Billups 2002-03 to 2008-09 6. 83.821 Bob Lanier 1970-71 to 1979-80 7. 83.652 Dennis Rodman 1986-87 to 1992-93 8. 82.863 Dave Bing 1966-67 to 1974-75 9. 80.085 Larry Foust 1950-51 to 1956-57 10. 77.245 Grant Hill 1994-95 to 1999-00 11. 76.882 George Yardley 1953-54 to 1958-59 12. 75.612 Richard Hamilton 2002-03 to 2009-10 - * 13. 75.023 Vinnie Johnson 1981-82 to 1990-91 14. 72.782 Gene Shue 1956-57 to 1961-62 15. 72.481 Tayshaun Prince 2002-03 to 2009-10 - * 16. 67.637 Bailey Howell 1959-60 to 1963-64 17. 63.815 Rasheed Wallace 2003-04 to 2008-09 18. 62.123 Lindsey Hunter 1993-94 to 1999-00, 2003-04 to 2007-08 19. 59.591 Walter Dukes 1957-58 to 1962-63 20. 58.483 Dave DeBusschere 1962-63 to 1968-69 21. 52.649 John Salley 1986-87 to 1991-92 22. 51.446 Ray Scott 1961-62 to 1966-67 23. 50.986 Mel Hutchins 1953-54 to 1956-57 24. 49.006 Jerry Stackhouse 1997-98 to 2001-02 25. 48.892 Chuck Noble 1955-56 to 1961-62 26. 48.770 Kelly Tripucka 1981-82 to 1985-86 27. 48.426 Mark Aguirre 1988-89 to 1992-93 28. 47.634 Antonio McDyess 2004-05 to 2008-09 29. 46.640 John Long 1978-79 to 1985-86, 1990-91 30. 46.411 Terry Tyler 1978-79 to 1984-85 31. 46.336 Adrian Dantley 1986-87 to 1988-89 32. 44.946 Don Ohl 1960-61 to 1963-64 33. 44.445 Bob Ferry 1960-61 to 1963-64 34. 43.512 Andy Phillip 1953-54 to 1955-56 35. 42.478 Frankie Brian 1951-52 to 1955-56 36. 42.093 Jimmy Walker 1967-68 to 1971-72 37. 41.911 Eddie Miles 1963-64 to 1969-70 38. 41.722 James Edwards 1987-88 to 1990-91 39. 41.283 Curtis Rowe 1971-72 to 1975-76 40. 39.444 Rick Mahorn 1985-86 to 1988-89, 1996-97 to 1997-98 41. 39.001 Chris Ford 1972-73 to 1978-79
I would have Lainer and Mayor Bing start, and bring Hill and Laimbeer off the bench. I would also leave crazy ass Rodman home.
I think in real life it would go that way. But who knows, presumably Chuck Daly would be the coach, and maybe he would favor his Bad Boys. I should have included a best coach in these...
