1984–85 Detroit Pistons season

The 1984–85 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 37th season in the NBA and 28th season in the city of Detroit.^[1] Due to repairs to their home at the time, Pontiac Silverdome, the Pistons spent the latter part of the season – and all five of their post-season games – at the Detroit Red Wings' arena, Joe Louis Arena, in Detroit proper.^[1]

1984–85 Detroit Pistons season
Head coach	Chuck Daly
General manager	Jack McCloskey
Owner(s)	Bill Davidson
Arena	Pontiac Silverdome Joe Louis Arena
Results
Record	46–36 (.561)
Place	Division: 2nd (Central) Conference: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Conference semifinals (lost to Celtics 2–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WKBD-TV (George Blaha, Dave Bing) PASS Sports (Fred McLeod, Tom Wilson)
Radio	WJR (George Blaha, Dave Bing)
< 1983–84 1985–86 >

Detroit continued their winning ways, finishing the season 46–36 (.561), 2nd place in the Central Division. The team advanced to the playoffs, defeating the New Jersey Nets 3–0, for the franchise's first playoff series win since 1976, but fell 4–2 to Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in the conference semi-finals. 1985 was also perhaps the start of bad blood between the Chicago Bulls and star Michael Jordan and the Pistons. At the 1985 NBA All-Star Game, reports were that Pistons star Isiah Thomas and friend Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson conspired to "freeze-out" rookie Jordan on the national stage.^[2] As the Pistons and Bulls battled over the next few years, Jordan may have exacted his revenge in ensuring Thomas was not named to the 1992 Olympic Dream Team.^[3]

The Pistons were led in 1984–85 by Thomas (21.2 ppg, 13.9 apg, NBA All-Star) and center Bill Laimbeer (17.5 ppg, 12.4 rpg, NBA All-Star).^[4]

Draft picks

Main article: 1984 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	20	Tony Campbell	SF/SG	United States	Ohio State

Roster

1984–85 Detroit Pistons roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From C 54 Kent Benson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Indiana G/F 00 Tony Campbell 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Ohio State F 23 Earl Cureton 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Detroit Mercy SG 15 Vinnie Johnson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Baylor PF 35 Major Jones 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Albany State C 40 Bill Laimbeer 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Notre Dame SG 25 John Long 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Detroit Mercy PG 14 Lorenzo Romar 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Washington PF 32 Dan Roundfield 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Central Michigan SG 31 Brook Steppe 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Georgia Tech SG 22 Terry Teagle 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Baylor SF 22 David Thirdkill 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Bradley PG 11 Isiah Thomas 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Indiana F 7 Kelly Tripucka 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Notre Dame G/F 41 Terry Tyler 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Detroit Mercy PF 31 Dale Wilkinson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Idaho State

Head coach Chuck Daly Assistant(s) Dick Harter Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks	59	23	.720	–	36–5	23–18	20–10
x-Detroit Pistons	46	36	.561	13	26–15	20–21	21–8
x-Chicago Bulls	38	44	.463	21	26–15	12–29	13–17
x-Cleveland Cavaliers	36	46	.439	23	20–21	16–25	13–16
Atlanta Hawks	34	48	.415	25	19–22	15–26	15–15
Indiana Pacers	22	60	.268	37	16–25	6–35	7–23

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	63	19	.768	–
2	y-Milwaukee Bucks	59	23	.720	4
3	x-Philadelphia 76ers	58	24	.707	5
4	x-Detroit Pistons	46	36	.561	17
5	x-New Jersey Nets	42	40	.512	21
6	x-Washington Bullets	40	42	.488	23
7	x-Chicago Bulls	38	44	.463	25
8	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	36	46	.439	27
9	Atlanta Hawks	34	48	.415	29
10	New York Knicks	24	58	.293	39
11	Indiana Pacers	22	60	.268	41

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1984–85 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAC	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	1–4	3–3	3–3	0–2	0–2	1–5	2–0	0–2	6–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	2–4	3–3	3–3	0–5	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–0	3–3
Boston	4–1	—	4–2	6–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	2–0	2–0	5–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–4	5–1	6–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	5–1
Chicago	3–3	2–4	—	2–4	2–0	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–4	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–3	2–4	4–2	0–5	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	3–2
Cleveland	3–3	0–6	4–2	—	1–1	0–2	1–4	1–1	0–2	4–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–5	2–3	3–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–3
Dallas	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	—	2–4	0–2	4–1	2–4	2–0	5–1	3–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–3	4–1	4–2	5–0	1–5	1–1
Denver	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–2	—	0–2	5–0	2–4	2–0	4–2	2–3	2–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	4–1	3–3	3–2	4–2	2–0
Detroit	5–1	2–4	3–3	4–1	2–0	2–0	—	2–0	1–1	6–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–5	3–2	1–5	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–3
Golden State	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	0–5	0–2	—	2–3	0–2	2–3	2–4	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–4	2–4	1–4	3–3	1–4	1–1
Houston	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	4–2	4–2	1–1	3–2	—	1–1	5–1	2–3	1–4	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–1	3–2	4–2	3–2	3–3	0–2
Indiana	0–6	1–5	4–2	2–4	0–2	0–2	0–6	2–0	1–1	—	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–5	2–3	2–4	1–5	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–4
Kansas City	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–5	2–4	1–1	3–2	1–5	1–1	—	3–2	0–5	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	2–4	3–2	2–4	1–1
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–3	3–2	1–1	4–2	3–2	2–0	2–3	—	0–6	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	4–2	1–5	2–3	2–4	3–2	1–1
L.A. Lakers	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–1	3–2	1–1	5–1	4–1	1–1	5–0	6–0	—	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	5–1	5–1	3–2	3–3	4–1	1–1
Milwaukee	4–2	4–1	3–3	5–1	1–1	1–1	3–3	2–0	2–0	5–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	—	3–3	5–0	3–3	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–2
New Jersey	3–3	1–5	4–2	3–2	1–1	0–2	5–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	—	6–0	2–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	4–2
New York	3–3	0–6	2–4	3–3	0–2	1–1	2–3	1–1	0–2	4–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–5	0–6	—	2–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–6
Philadelphia	5–0	3–3	5–0	2–4	1–1	1–1	5–1	2–0	1–1	5–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–3	4–2	4–2	—	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	4–2
Phoenix	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–2	1–4	0–2	4–2	1–4	2–0	3–2	2–4	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	—	3–3	1–4	5–1	3–2	1–1
Portland	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–4	1–4	1–1	4–2	2–3	2–0	2–3	5–1	1–5	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–3	—	3–2	4–2	3–2	1–1
San Antonio	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	3–3	1–1	4–1	2–4	1–1	4–2	3–2	2–3	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	2–3	—	4–1	1–5	0–2
Seattle	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–5	2–3	1–1	3–3	2–3	2–0	2–3	4–2	3–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–5	2–4	1–4	—	3–2	2–0
Utah	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	5–1	2–4	2–0	4–1	3–3	0–2	4–2	2–3	1–4	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–3	2–3	5–1	2–3	—	1–1
Washington	3–3	1–5	2–3	3–3	1–1	0–2	3–3	1–1	2–0	4–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–4	2–4	6–0	2–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	—

Game log

Regular season

1984–85 game log Total: 46–36 (home: 26–15; road: 20–21)
October: 1–2 (home: 1–1; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 26, 1984 Boston L 123–130 Isiah Thomas (35) Bill Laimbeer (13) Isiah Thomas (11) Pontiac Silverdome 0–1 2 October 27, 1984 @ New York L 118–137 Bill Laimbeer (28) Bill Laimbeer (16) Isiah Thomas (16) Madison Square Garden 0–2 3 October 30, 1984 Cleveland W 124–107 Pontiac Silverdome 1–2
November : 7–7 (home: 2–4; road: 5–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 4 November 1, 1984 @ Atlanta W 118–114 The Omni 2–2 5 November 2, 1984 @ Boston L 116–127 Boston Garden 2–3 6 November 5, 1984 @ Cleveland W 107–98 Richfield Coliseum 3–3 7 November 7, 1984 Chicago L 118–122 Pontiac Silverdome 3–4 8 November 10, 1984 Milwaukee W 104–100 Pontiac Silverdome 4–4 9 November 14, 1984 @ Philadelphia W 137–133 (OT) The Spectrum 5–4 10 November 16, 1984 Philadelphia L 90–101 Pontiac Silverdome 5–5 11 November 17, 1984 @ Dallas W 124–110 Reunion Arena 6–5 12 November 20, 1984 @ Houston L 117–123 The Summit 6–6 13 November 21, 1984 @ San Antonio W 114–101 HemisFair Arena 7–6 14 November 23, 1984 New York L 97–120 Pontiac Silverdome 7–7 15 November 24, 1984 @ Washington L 106–112 Capital Centre 7–8 16 November 28, 1984 Portland W 120–113 Pontiac Silverdome 8–8 17 November 30, 1984 Washington L 106–114 Pontiac Silverdome 8–9
December : 8–6 (home: 4–2; road: 4–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 18 December 1, 1984 @ Indiana W 131–109 Market Square Arena 9–9 19 December 4, 1984 Boston W 104–99 Pontiac Silverdome 10–9 20 December 6, 1984 @ Milwaukee L 99–114 MECCA Arena 10–10 21 December 7, 1984 Denver W 122–115 Pontiac Silverdome 11–10 22 December 11, 1984 @ Chicago W 108–101 Chicago Stadium 12–10 23 December 12, 1984 Chicago W 102–95 Pontiac Silverdome 13–10 24 December 14, 1984 Indiana W 120–96 Pontiac Silverdome 14–10 25 December 19, 1984 @ Denver W 148–129 McNichols Sports Arena 15–10 26 December 20, 1984 @ Utah L 116–117 Salt Palace Acord Arena 15–11 27 December 22, 1984 @ Kansas City L 123–129 Kemper Arena 15–12 28 December 25, 1984 Philadelphia L 108–109 Pontiac Silverdome 15–13 29 December 26, 1984 @ New Jersey L 97–112 Brendan Byrne Arena 15–14 30 December 28, 1984 @ Indiana W 116–110 Market Square Arena 16–14 31 December 29, 1984 New Jersey L 108–110 Pontiac Silverdome 16–15
January : 12–2 (home: 8–0; road: 4–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 32 January 2, 1985 Cleveland W 108–100 Pontiac Silverdome 17–15 33 January 4, 1985 Atlanta W 134–111 Pontiac Silverdome 18–15 34 January 5, 1985 @ Washington W 121–113 Capital Centre 19–15 35 January 9, 1985 @ Philadelphia L 122–126 The Spectrum 19–16 36 January 11, 1985 Indiana W 120–109 Pontiac Silverdome 20–16 37 January 13, 1985 12 Noon EST L.A. Lakers W 121–98 Thomas (30) Roundfield (14) Thomas (20) Pontiac Silverdome 23,475 21–16 38 January 17, 1985 @ New York W 105–89 Madison Square Garden 22–16 39 January 19, 1985 @ New Jersey W 109–107 Brendan Byrne Arena 23–16 40 January 22, 1985 @ Atlanta (at New Orleans, LA) W 130–113 Lakefront Arena 24–16 41 January 24, 1985 Golden State W 137–118 Pontiac Silverdome 25–16 42 January 26, 1985 Seattle W 132–113 Pontiac Silverdome 27–16 43 January 27, 1985 Washington W 115–105 Pontiac Silverdome 27–16 44 January 29, 1985 @ Boston (at Hartford, CT) L 130–131 Hartford Civic Center 27–17 45 January 30, 1985 Kansas City W 120–116 Pontiac Silverdome 28–17
February : 5–8 (home: 4–4; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 46 February 2, 1985 Atlanta W 110–102 (OT) Pontiac Silverdome 29–17 47 February 4, 1985 @ Milwaukee W 113–111 (OT) MECCA Arena 30–17 48 February 5, 1985 New Jersey L 117–119 Pontiac Silverdome 30–18 49 February 7, 1985 @ Washington L 126–128 (2OT) Capital Centre 30–19 All-Star Break 50 February 12, 1985 @ Chicago L 126–139 (OT) Chicago Stadium 30–20 51 February 13, 1985 Dallas W 124–119 Pontiac Silverdome 31–20 52 February 15, 1985 @ New Jersey L 123–124 Brendan Byrne Arena 31–21 53 February 16, 1985 Philadelphia L 114–125 Pontiac Silverdome 31–22 54 February 18, 1985 Phoenix W 122–103 Pontiac Silverdome 32–22 55 February 20, 1985 Milwaukee L 112–113 Pontiac Silverdome 32–23 56 February 22, 1985 @ Philadelphia L 99–110 The Spectrum 32–24 57 February 23, 1985 New Jersey L 103–111 Pontiac Silverdome 32–25 58 February 27, 1985 Chicago W 108–99 Pontiac Silverdome 33–25
March : 7–8 (home: 4–2; road: 3–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 1, 1985 San Antonio L 98–108 Pontiac Silverdome 33–26 60 March 3, 1985 @ Boston L 129–138 Boston Garden 33–27 61 March 6, 1985 New York W 114–90 Joe Louis Arena 34–27 62 March 7, 1985 Utah L 114–122 Joe Louis Arena 34–28 63 March 9, 1985 @ Atlanta W 115–113 The Omni 35–28 64 March 11, 1985 L.A. Clippers W 121–114 Joe Louis Arena 36–28 65 March 12, 1985 @ Chicago L 110–111 Chicago Stadium 36–29 66 March 17, 1985 @ Seattle L 98–106 Kingdome 36–30 67 March 18, 1985 @ L.A. Clippers L 116–136 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 36–31 68 March 19, 1985 @ Portland L 123–143 Memorial Coliseum 36–32 69 March 21, 1985 @ Golden State W 122–113 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 38–33 70 March 24, 1985 10:30 p.m. EST @ L.A. Lakers L 130–148 Thomas (30) Laimbeer (14) Thomas (15) The Forum 17,505 37–33 71 March 26, 1985 @ Phoenix W 119–93 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 38–33 72 March 27, 1985 Houston W 127–110 Joe Louis Arena 39–33 73 March 31, 1985 Boston W 113–105 Joe Louis Arena 40–33
April : 6–3 (home: 3–2; road: 3–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 74 April 1, 1985 Atlanta L 100–114 Joe Louis Arena 40–34 75 April 2, 1985 @ Indiana W 124–121 Market Square Arena 41–34 76 April 4, 1985 @ Milwaukee L 121–130 MECCA Arena 41–35 77 April 5, 1985 Cleveland L 118–119 Joe Louis Arena 41–36 78 April 7, 1985 Milwaukee W 113–91 Joe Louis Arena 42–36 79 April 9, 1985 @ New York W 107–97 Madison Square Garden 43–36 80 April 10, 1985 Indiana W 116–114 Joe Louis Arena 44–36 81 April 12, 1985 Washington W 102–96 Joe Louis Arena 45–36 82 April 14, 1985 @ Cleveland W 116–113 Richfield Coliseum 46–36
1984–85 schedule

Playoffs

1985 playoff game log
First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 18, 1985 New Jersey W 125–105 Bill Laimbeer (23) Bill Laimbeer (13) Isiah Thomas (11) Joe Louis Arena 10,465 1–0 2 April 21, 1985 New Jersey W 121–111 Isiah Thomas (29) Bill Laimbeer (12) Isiah Thomas (14) Joe Louis Arena 11,501 2–0 3 April 24, 1985 @ New Jersey W 116–115 Terry Tyler (23) Tripucka, Tyler (11) Isiah Thomas (11) Brendan Byrne Arena 9,999 3–0
Conference semifinals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 28, 1985 @ Boston L 99–133 Isiah Thomas (23) three players tied (5) Isiah Thomas (8) Boston Garden 14,890 0–1 2 April 30, 1985 @ Boston L 114–121 Isiah Thomas (28) Thomas, Laimbeer (9) Isiah Thomas (15) Boston Garden 14,890 0–2 3 May 2, 1985 Boston W 125–117 Bill Laimbeer (27) Bill Laimbeer (13) Isiah Thomas (16) Joe Louis Arena 14,209 1–2 4 May 5, 1985 Boston W 102–99 Vinnie Johnson (34) Bill Laimbeer (12) Isiah Thomas (10) Joe Louis Arena 14,350 2–2 5 May 8, 1985 @ Boston L 123–130 Vinnie Johnson (30) Bill Laimbeer (13) Isiah Thomas (7) Boston Garden 14,890 2–3 6 May 10, 1985 Boston L 113–123 Isiah Thomas (37) Bill Laimbeer (13) Isiah Thomas (9) Joe Louis Arena 21,193 2–4
1985 schedule

Awards and records

• Isiah Thomas, All-NBA First Team