Why are the Celtics of the 80's mentioned more than the Pistons of the 80's?

[PWB15]

Isiah Thomas recently mentioned on Jalen and Jacoby that it's like the Bad Boy Pistons never existed when they actually

1. Won Back to Back Titles-89-90

2. Dethroned the Celtics in 1987 and took over the Eastern Conference for 3 years

3. They won 2 titles in 3 years(88-90) just like Boston did from 84 to 86



So why are the Bad Boys never mentioned as one of the great teams of the 1980's?

[STATUTORY]

cause their reign started towards the end of the decade, like you said they won in 87-90, they are in the unenviable position of being in a transitional period, neither really being in the 80s nor the 90s. so they wind up being forgotten a bit. it's a shame.

[SpaceJam2]

Great question, although first off I'd like to push back a little on "they are never mentioned" segment. They are definitely mentioned, but rather why are they not mentioned to the same degree as the other 80's super teams like the Showtime Lakers and Bird Celtics. To me the answer is shockingly clear.

These were the guys that beat up MJ and took his shine until he received a stimulus package in the form of Scottie Pippen. I think by mentioning the Bad Boy Pistons you also have to tarnish some of MJ's "invincibility" so instead of the media mentioning it they try to turn a blind eye.

[PWB15]

cause their reign started towards the end of the decade, like you said they won in 89 and 90, so they are in the unenviable position of neither really being in the 80s nor the 90s. so they wind up being forgotten a bit. it's a shame.

Well they really won in 88, 89, and 90 but that's another story for another day

[PWB15]

Great question, although first off I'd like to push back a little on "they are never mentioned" segment. They are definitely mentioned, but rather why are they not mentioned to the same degree as the other 80's super teams like the Showtime Lakers and Bird Celtics. To me the answer is shockingly clear.

These were the guys that beat up MJ and took his shine until he received a stimulus package in the form of Scottie Pippen. I think by mentioning the Bad Boy Pistons you also have to tarnish some of MJ's "invincibility" so instead of the media mentioning it they try to turn a blind eye.

From 1987 to 1989, the Pistons dethroned the Celtics and the Lakers.

[1987_Lakers]

- They didn't have a superstar as marketable and talented as Bird
- Celtics were a championship caliber team 9+ seasons during the 80's while the Pistons run lasted much shorter
- Boston is a bigger market than Detroit
- Pistons were not well liked by many players and fans, their physical type of game wasn't eye pleasing when you compare it to the Celtics' beautiful ball-movement

[sdot_thadon]

Probably because they played in 5 finals in the 80s and Detroit only made 3.

[3ball]

They played an ugly brand of ball and weren't liked by many people

They hijacked an era characterized by the Lakers and Celtics' beautiful basketball and ushered in a slower, bruising era/style that was still prevalent even after the bulls restored prettier basketball in the early 90's

the defensive and physical emphasis that they instilled in the league ultimately had to be fixed with the rule changes in 05'

They had a shorter run but their peak and ultimate impact was comparable to the Lakers/Celtics and they beat both, along with a would-be champion 1990 bulls (gave pip that migraine.. )

[PWB15]

Probably because they played in 5 finals in the 80s and Detroit only made 3.

Detroit never lost in back to back ECF like the Celtics and was the only other team to repeat like the Lakers in the 80-89 era

[tontoz]

Celtics won 3 titles on 5 Finals appearances

Pistons won 2 titles on 3 Finals appearances

Pretty simple why the Celtics are mentioned more often.

[sdot_thadon]

Detroit never lost in back to back ECF like the Celtics and was the only other team to repeat like the Lakers in the 80-89 era

I get that but being in more finals in the 80s decade is what it is. The Celtics more often represented championship level basketball in the 80s. And they had a beloved face of their franchise to take it a step further.

[Uncle Drew]

The Pistons should have won in 88 too, but got hosed by incompetent referees in game 6 and 7.

[DCL]

it's a bit unfair that the pistons were regarded as the only 80s team that was dirty and physical. where did they even learn to play like that?

from the celtics and lakers.

they schooled the pistons on how to play like that. the pistons didn't invent dirty basketball. they learned by getting their asses kicked that way.

[tpols]

it's a bit unfair that the pistons were regarded as the only 80s team that was dirty and physical. where did they even learn to play like that?

from the celtics and lakers.

they schooled the pistons on how to play like that. the pistons didn't invent dirty basketball. they learned by getting their asses kicked that way.

thats how i see it as well. the documentary on them highlighted the hurdle they had to get over in the celtics.

[ArbitraryWater]

cause they won more titles and had the more interesting rivalries