At the height of their powers, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dominated the basketball world at a level that hasn’t been seen since.
But before there was MJ, there was Isiah Thomas and the “Bad Boy” Pistons. It’s easy to forget now, but they were running the show before the Bulls went on their run — and for a while, those Pistons were Jordan’s biggest adversaries.
According to MJ, the hatred for them runs deep, even today.
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To truly understand the rivalry, you have to understand who the Pistons were. Compiled of hard-nosed rough riders, the roster consisted of IT, Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer, and Rick Mahorn. The team may have been flawed, but they were willing to do whatever it took to win, even if it meant crossing some lines to get there.
They were known for literally beating up their opponents on the court and while they received a lot of hate in their time, there has been renewed interest in them since news broke of “The Last Dance” documentary.
Their tactics were harsh but undeniably successful. They won two Championships in 1989 and 1990 and beat the Bulls several times in the postseason. They also beat the showtime Lakers and Bird-led Celtics.
Needless to say, those Pistons were no joke. And even with amazing talent beside them, they were able to overcome the odds. Next week, we’ll get to see their clash with the 90s Bulls in the next few episodes of “The Last Dance.”
