The TRUTH of the 1991 Chicago Bulls vs Detroit Pistons series | Michael Jordan VS Isiah Thomas

The 1991 Eastern Conference Finals series between the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons ended in a sweep, culminated by the infamous walk-off. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were finally able to defeat Isiah Thomas and the Bad Boys Pistons. The author of "The All-Time Greatest NBA Book" discusses the real reasons why the Bulls were able to dominate the Pistons.
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#michaeljordan #chicagobulls

[@Fonz23]

EVERYONE looked “old and slow” against MJ but it took everyone else to develop around him to start winning as a team.

[@GPsarakis]

The Bulls pretty much won all 6 of their championships off of a strong defense. And then when that wasn't enough you had MJ take over the game and drop 40+ if he had to.

[@Zarkarian64]

🏀That has always been my contention about the Bulls. They always played both ends of the floor the exact same way. I don't know how many games I've seen where the Bulls were down in the 4th only to switch to high gears on defense. They would hustle to score and as soon as that ball went inro the hoop, they were immediately on defense. Right there, when they're taking out the ball, in their face. By the time the other team would cross half court they many times had between 12-15 secs to set their offense for a shot. And even then, while they're trying to set their offense, what are the Bulls doing!? Still smothering them. 🏀My cousin and I would crack up watching this because anyone who has played team sports knows how it's not just physically, but how psychologically and emotionally draining and frustrating you feel when that is happening to your team. Not to mention how as a team it f**ks with your rhythm and overall team cohesiveness; right down to very simple communications. Which in turn makes you turn on one another. It feels like madness! In a word ...Devastating! 🏀Players of any sport must always realize that Defense-Wins-Games! It just does more damage to your opposition than anything you can do on offense (for all the reasons stated above). It's why my respect for today's NBA continues to diminish. It's why I know the 73-9 Warriors wouldn't stand a chance against the 72-10 Bulls (really any Bulls team). The teams of today have never really been defensively challenged (as even Luka Dončić said). To restrict defense in the name of💰is an act of suicide for the game of🏀... ...and for any sport for that matter. There Is no other way to play GAME.

[@jakedavis6835]

Well said sir

[@traceybean9449]

This video is SPOT ON. Everything you've shared is 1000% correct. Salley and Rodman both stated the Bulls were just mentally tougher and physically better than Detroit.

[@nothingbutthenets2901]

All the Pistons players with the exception of maybe John Sally just won't admit that the Bulls were that much better that year. They didn't like that they called them bad champions. So they refuse to give them any credit or respect.

[@nonamewillbegiven6847]

Maybe Sally? That's comical

[@danielpartida4563]

Rodman was able to admit years later that he knew they couldn't beat them in 91. He admitted they were the better team although it took years for him to accept that truth. The others (with the exception of Rodman and Salley) have still been making excuses since then.

[@MrWoodstar1]

What Piston didn’t admit it? Rodman, Isiah, Dumars, Laimbeer, and Salley did. They all said that once Pippen matured, and they couldn’t intimidate their team anymore, they knew they couldn’t beat them.

[@nonamewillbegiven6847]

@@MrWoodstar1 Laimbeer would never admit that

[@MrWoodstar1]

@@nonamewillbegiven6847, I’m pretty sure that I can find interviews of him admitting it, but I do remember at the press conference after DET lost, Laimbeer repeatedly said, “The better team won.” However, DET was an overall better team, when you get pass MJ and Pippen, DET was better at every position and the bench as well; however, CHI kicked their asses in 91, no excuses.

[@lonniebaines1720]

Look at today's players......NO DEFENSE

[@quintincrum797]

I've always said the Pistons were NOT old. I've always said the Bulls were sick and tired of being bullied and beat up by the Pistons. This video confirms what I've always said. Jordan hit the weights immediately after the Game 7 loss to the Pistons the year before. I've also said Jordan trusted his teammates more because he knew he couldn't beat the Pistons by himself!! This video confirms what I've always said. I will end with what I have always said. THE BAD BOYS ARE THE BIGGEST SORE LOSERS IN SPORTS HISTORY!!!!

[@youtuber3328]

they went to the 1987 conference finals 1988 finals won it all in 1989 and 1990 and reached the conference finals in 1991 the 1990 finals mvp was isiah thomas no disrespect but they WOULD'VE lost 4-1 in the 1988 finals if the elite years hadn't ended for legend kareem abdul-jabbar

[@Pseudog831]

Nice analysis. I totally agree with you.

[@jdm2339]

Excellent analysis! Doin' the lord's work.

[@dsc4178]

Mark Aguirre deserves to be in the Naismith Hall of Fame but is still not in, next chance is 2025, no way Sampson, Ming, White, McGrady et al deserve it when Aguirre has a total offense game, 2 titles, a boatload of college awards (leading DePaul to their best seasons ever).

[@Jovibe3]

Yo, brother, truly enjoying your content. You can't never go wrong when it comes to MJ#23 endless evidence stories and material for you to make videos. 🤓 Stay blessed 🙌

[@sliferxxxx]

If Thomas wants to talk about his wrist, we cab talk about Scotties migraine from the year b4. Fact is, Detroit lost fair and square to the better team.

[@user-mh8ph4zb1i]

The Bulls took the Pistons to 7 games the year before. Pippen had a migraine in game 7 and they usually ran the offense through him. Pippen's basketball IQ was vastly underrated.

[@sonnywoods6846]

Exactly I rewatched the 91 Bulls vs Pistons series back in 2021 and just like you said the bulls defense shut them down. The bulls defense is why they only need MJ and scottie to score. I Seen the bulls turn up their defense on the Knicks and the BLazer the bulls defense was crazy. Also look at the 96 ECF Bulls Vs Magic that was some great full court press defense in the second half of those games

[@melvynsngltn27]

Detroit barely beat Boston in 1991. It was just Chicago's defense. Detroit was bad on offense that whole year and Isiah Thomas wrist injury made it alot easier. There is a reason he was benched during the 1991 Playoffs

[@sonnywoods6846]

@@melvynsngltn27 Sounds like you are making excuses

[@melvynsngltn27]

@sonnywoods6846 no only Jordan rainbow rainbow boys make excuses when he lose I tell facts

[@TayGee-mh8eo]

But Rasheed Wallace said MJ's defense was overrated

[@edwingustilo6594]

Rasheed Wallace freshman, mj asked him to played 1on1. but Rasheed reply are you crazy 😂 Rasheed afraid to Challenge mj.. that year 1993 north Carolina practice game 😂

[@ezekwu]

it was...

[@richardallen7509]

Nobody liked Detroit rough house basketball except the people in Detroit I remember Isaiah dunking his peanut 🥜 head trying to sneak out 😂. Lost ALL respect for him after that. Glad he was NOT on Dream Team 👍🏿💯

[@michaelallen8112]

Stop lying they had the highest rating in the 80s. The NBA & media hated on them. Looks like u still on under that trance til this day

[@richardallen7509]

@michaelallen8112 No lie I hated Detroit Bad boys basketball 🏀 I really glad when they lost NO CAP👍🏿💯

[@michaelallen8112]

@@richardallen7509 thanks for confirming you malcontent & biased. U probably hypocrite oppressor advocate who didn't mind, when the Celtics did it

[@aurora-cj6ui]

Speaking about "rough house basketball" (c). How about rewatching Pistons - Knicks games of late 80's?

[@George-dy3pt]

No anyone who loved basketball liked Detroit

[@prideleaderthelionsoftheel2479]

Also the first year the fragrant foul began to help the bulls.

[@frankenviews4069]

The Bulls Triangle offense was the superior strategy. As long as they execute it perfectly, they would win. The problem was that the hard fouls would distract them and prevent them from executing the plan. So to finally be able to not be distracted and execute was the difference.

[@victormartin3539]

With the exception is Jordan 2nd year when he broke his foot Michael Jordan what's always available that's one of the many million reasons that he's the goat and in the second 3 p e a t he did not miss one game in those three and a half y e a r s and they always w o n it a l l

[@V1s10n0fl0v3]

Always available doesn't equate to wins. Playing in 21 consecutive seasons and consistently performing at a high level is one of many reasons to be the GOAT.

[@nonamewillbegiven]

@@V1s10n0fl0v3 cope Lebron stan

[@HugoSoup57]

@@V1s10n0fl0v3 To quote George Kittle, “the best ability is availability”. Kawhi Leonard would probably be in the top 20 best players of all time if he didn’t load manage so much. Longevity doesn’t necessarily make you the GOAT. LeBron stans never had Kareem as the GOAT, it’s only when LeBron played 20+ seasons that longevity is the new GOAT standard.

[@Fernando-vg4ym]

@@V1s10n0fl0v3 Exactly. You just shot down your own point. LeBron was available for 21 years and only won four titles. Now, give me more of the "many" reasons LeBron is the goat. I bet I can shoot every one of them down just like this one.

[@LuisGallegos-fh1vq]

​@V1s10n0fl0v3 what? Delusion is a sickness. LeBron doesn't play defense hardly at all. Run down blocks is not defense. Playing 21 years with PED's will do that. And Lebum plays in a soft league and so much easier to score. He misses games against teams he doesn't want to play against,and fakes injuries as to why he didn't play. Always making excuses when he loses. That's not Goat material. Get real. A crybaby is Goat material? Flopping like a dish out of water is Goat material? STOP taking the Lebron delusional pills.

[@tongyang6441]

Jordan wanted revenge for their dirty plays in the last season when they tried taking him out forever

[@user-mh8ph4zb1i]

@ plainsimple224 You typed all that information just to prove the narrator's point. The reason the Pistons were limited at shooting the ball, was because of Bulls overwhelming defense. Weren't you paying attention? They made every team they faced in the 91 playoffs to score well below their average. What part of that didn't you understand?

[@idoru999]

Age of major players was almost simmilar, but Pistons played in 3 Finalls and few deep playoff runs in last years. They been banged up. But it change nothing - Bulls destroyed them when they been in full strengh - there were no contusions, major player played 70+ games - so tiderness wasn't an issue.

[@prideleaderthelionsoftheel2479]

Thomas had a bad hand.. missed over half the season... and Thomas also rusty... and the bulls attack his bad hand. That played a factor..

[@youtuber3328]

i heard the bulls in this series decided to rely a little less on john paxson and a little more on bj armstrong and no disrespect but in my OPINION without michael jordan they WOULDN'T have swept the pistons/isiah thomas

[@Ma1q444]

Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars got outplayed by vinnie Johnson, Isaiah in particular fell off bad that year, all his playoff advanced stats were worse than previous that year.

[@George-dy3pt]

Dumars

[@nonamewillbegiven1217]

Hush troll

[@DSPHistoricalSociety]

Isaiah always with the excuses

[@NBAOldman-kd1fk]

I would say this was the worst version of the Pistons between 1988-1991. But this was still a strong team. We shouldn’t diminish what the Bulls did in the playoffs. They were so dominant

[@nonamewillbegiven]

Yawn with that excuse

[@redpillfreedom6692]

Even the worst version of the Pistons was better than the '88 or '89 Bulls, and the Pistons didn't sweep those Bulls teams.

[@slimypickle19]

Yes! Their DEFENSE was the biggest reason for their entire dynasty. The Triangle was severely overrated.

[@youtuber3328]

in my OPINION the best individual statistics ever are still #1 TIED rebounding from goats bill russell and wilt chamberlain #2 TIED shotblocking from bill russell and scoring from wilt chamberlain #3 shotblocking from wilt chamberlain #4 passing from legend oscar robertson #5 scoring from legend kareem abdul-jabbar #6 scoring from legend michael jordan #7 passing from legend magic johnson and #8 scoring from legend larry bird

[@dominiccampbell181]

If Isaih wasn't hurt, Bulls would have been 15-3 or 4 for that championship run. Wouldn't have changed the overall outcome of the series, but I'd give Detroit a game or two.

[@nonamewillbegiven1217]

Nope. Stop making excuses

[@redpillfreedom6692]

The Pistons gave up 107 PPG to the Bulls in that series when they had never allowed more than 93 PPG in the prior series. Isiah's hand injury had fuck all to do with that; the Bulls were just better by then

[@dominiccampbell181]

I was giving them the benefit of doubt. Honestly, if Scottie hadn't completely collapsed in game 7 the previous year, the Bulls could have won.

[@melvynsngltn27]

The Bulls would of still lost Detroit had a 15pt lead by half rime and was up 20 by the third. They just didn't run up the score on Chicago

[@nonamewillbegiven6847]

​@@melvynsngltn27yawn trolll

[@eddieG667]

The pIstons were at full strength and as good as their 1989, 1990 or even 1988 teams? Really?? Why does their record say otherwise that season? Also, what happened to Isiah’s wrist? And what happened to them in 1992 if they were still at their peak?

[@nonamewillbegiven1217]

So why doesnt that logic apply to Chicago in 93 smooth brain?

[@melvynsngltn27]

Facts. Detroit in the playoffs that year showed by they declined

[@nonamewillbegiven6847]

​@@melvynsngltn27no facts found. You just wont admit Chicago was better

[@melvynsngltn27]

@@nonamewillbegiven6847 I give Chicago alot of credit however that Detroit team was there weakest team since 1986

[@nonamewillbegiven6847]

@@melvynsngltn27 they were trying to 3 peat just like Chicago accomplished in 93 and 98 despite winning less games those yrs than the previous two. You got nothing but lame excuses

[@DougSalyers]

The Pistons hated The Chicago Bulls because (according to Isaiah) when Isaiah Thomas went home to Chicago to visit family, his nephews and other family members were wearing Jordan jerseys and told him they wanted the bulls to win. He went back and told his teammates they had to beat Chicago no matter what it took. He was angry! So yeah, they all tried to discredit the Bulls after that series. It didn't help that Jordan and Pippen told the media the Pistons were dirty players and that the NBA would be better after the Bulls beat them and stopped that kind of play after game 3 lol. In fact laimbeer still hates the Bulls to this day. Jordan and the Bulls are the only NBA players I've heard laimbeer still criticize and talk negative about. Other than a couple players, the Pistons are crybabies!

[@gjordan6217]

JORDAN is the goat😂 lebron could NEVER play such defense 💯

[@youtuber3328]

in my OPINION the best players ever are still legends #1 TIED bill russell and wilt chamberlain #2 oscar robertson #3 kareem abdul-jabbar #4 michael jordan #5 magic johnson #6 larry bird #7 jerry west #8 hakeem olajuwon #9 shaquille o'neal and #10 elgin baylor

[@MaxPowersCFB]

Dude this was when teams played defence. I know you clowns today are used to this watered down bullshit we call basketball today so don't look back on the past with these rose coloured glasses. The reason why the bulls won this series was actually because of defence. The bulls at this stage under Phil Started a half-court trap that was deadly. It wasted time of the clock because of Pippen being the front man on the press. By the time teams got into their offence it was 14 seconds on the clock. To beat the bad boys you had to out defend them so the Bulls did it in their own unique way. Also this was his first year in the triangle so it was an adjustment since he was not going to be as ball dominant as he was before which was the point of the offence to keep other people involved. When players are involved offensively, they are more willing defenders. Before people would just stand around and watch Michael do his thing and there was always a sense that he would save them. With the Triangle in place, players felt more apart of the game and took some responsibility to try and help win it instead of waiting to be saved. This was not some super team like today. All these players were home grown and had to be developed.

[@SundayVenom]

You know you’re the GOAT when 29 points in the Finals isn’t too impressive. 35 points isn’t nothing special lol GTFOH

[@warreno.bryant4406]

But he an overrated defender Rasheed Isiah LeBron stans

[@edwingustilo6594]

Won defensive player of the year, only Sg have 200+stls and100+ blocks he did it twice that's NBA record, only sg have 893 blocks in his career NBA record, 3stl title, and 200+ STL 6x

[@warreno.bryant4406]

I'm being sarcastic to his critics edwingustilo6594

[@edwingustilo6594]

Because Rasheed Wallace freshman afraid to mj.. played 1on1 in north Carolina practice game that year 1993🤣

[@warreno.bryant4406]

Actual he Stackhouse did in 1995 when Jordan was shooting space jam he always play pick up games with North Carolina Playas when they was getting drafted they beat him then talking smack saying nba isn't that tough until they step on the court with the goat Rasheed is a big man like Tim Duncan they don't look at as well as Kareem wilt impress with guards like Mike

[@V1s10n0fl0v3]

The Pistons just simply said "You can't take my money, but you can have my money." After 3 consecutive years of unsuccessfully getting pass the Pistons, the Bulls became desperate and were playing with nothing to lose and overcome their fear of the Bad Boys. In the 80's, the Pistons were angry at the league for secretly promoting Jordan as the next great, so they took matter into their own hands and put that new kid on the block's greatness on hold. Not now, not under my leadership of my era.

[@nonamewillbegiven]

The hell you talking about

[@nonamewillbegiven]

Oh just a trolll

[@HugoSoup57]

Michael Jordan was already being called the best player in the league by his contemporaries prior to winning anything. Jordan was considered the greatest player of all time in 1988, before he even won a championship doofus. Isiah Thomas and The Bad Boy Pistons were a dirty team of sore losers. The whole league hated them. It wasn’t just Jordan that complained and excluded Isiah from the Dream Team. Isiah and Laimbeer are the ones who complained like spoiled brats.

[@Fernando-vg4ym]

So, you're saying that the Pistons told them "not under my watch" and then proceeded to get blown out in four games? Yeah, what exactly are you smoking?

[@michaelallen8112]

The Greatest two player was 94 ft Versatilitian Pip.

[@nonamewillbegiven6847]

Nope

[@nonamewillbegiven6847]

Trolll

[@MohamedSaad-pn1wn]

Bro pistons got old. They were 3rd in the east that year.The bulls won when the bad boys got old

[@bricedixon113]

Lol... the main core was under 30. Listen to the video.

[@Sailorboy1225]

Yeah okay chet need to quit listening to nick wrong I mean wright

[@MohamedSaad-pn1wn]

@bricedixon113 bro they were third in the east that year. What are you talking about

[@bricedixon113]

@MohamedSaad-pn1wn you said the bulls won when the pistons got old. The problem is that they were under 30. How old is old for you? lol. The bulls won because they were the better team. Quit making excuses.

[@MohamedSaad-pn1wn]

@bricedixon113 bro pistons had their worst record in 5 years when the bulls beat them. They were third in the east. That year. Don't act like the bulls beat them When they were in their prime. They smacked the bulls for years before

[@V1s10n0fl0v3]

The league went up to the Pistons and said "ok enough is enough, let the kid win one, you bad boys had given him too many ass whoopings."

[@nonamewillbegiven]

Try harder trolll

[@scottb3034]

Jealousy looks ugly, pal.

[@HugoSoup57]

You Jordan haters keep spouting off nonsensical LIES. The whole league complained about the Bad Boy Pistons style of play, that’s why they enforced the flagrant foul rule, not just because of Jordan.

[@frandavilacardenes]

You do the same you critique but in the opposite way when you completely overlook the mental aspect of those battles year after year. In many aspects the Pistons were the best team in the league in 87, 88, 89 and 90 passing over the Bulls. The Pistons were a dinasty on his own right. Sometimes a one in a million steal, sometimes a phantom foul kept them away from winning the title. You need to earn that experience and you need to be hungry in order to win. The Bulls had that in 91. But in order to be the best team in four seasons we always need no explain the context because to be dominant you need to understand who you are compiting against. Those Lakers and Celtics teams were not old in terms of player roster age average to be called old. They were old in terms of mental, physical and tactical dominance. That age average of dominance is usually a year long in the NBA. That is why it's hard to see back to back championships. The Pistons fell short in their two previous attempts by a small margin but a threepeat would have been more than probable. So for a team to be three years in a row at the peak of dominance surrounded by wolves such as Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan is such an accolade. When people called the Pistons "old" they refer to that peak of dominance. So talking about their age is not a sign of understanding the picture. In 90/91 Isiah really had a career ending surgery. The team were playing withou the player that the franchise was built around since 1981. Almost a decade. That mental factor alone would obviously diminish the prospect of any roster during a season. They saw the Jordan propaganda coming all over the place and they knew it was it because they had climbed the same mountain in the previous years. It was time for the Bulls. But your analysis tries to take that whole part out of the equation just leaning on the Bulls and Jordan's basketball excellence which doesn't make sense to understand what happened. You do it as if you werer matching the 87/88 Pistons against the 90/91 Bulls... and that's not the case. The Bulls had a greater need and the Pistons had many troubles at home to even bother with the idea of stopping the league's greatest moneymaking machine in the years to come with back to back titles in the bank already. Things come to an end and the Pistons knew it. You can't separate mind and body as modern "medicine" do. Jordan and the Bulls never won in the NBA's most legendary decade and that is a fact thanks to the Detroit Pistons dinasty and that is for the records.

[@nonamewillbegiven1217]

Oh the Pistons werent the best team in 87 and 88 and they werent a dynasty

[@nonamewillbegiven1217]

Calls it a career ending injury yet probably cries about Isiah not making the Dream Team and of course Isiah still playing the next 3 yrs

[@nonamewillbegiven1217]

Calling Jordan propaganda doesnt help your case salty

[@nonamewillbegiven1217]

You have no facts since the 90s is the most legendary decade. Nice try

[@plainsimple244]

The 1991 Eastern Conference Finals: From games 1-3, Chicago had a 117-76 foul shot attempt advantage over Detroit. When you do the math, even if both teams shot 100% from the free throw line, no way the Pistons were going to win that series. Game 1 - Chicago won 94-83, Chicago shot 37 foul shots, Detroit 15; Game 2 - Chicago won 105-97, Chicago shot 45 foul shots, Detroit shot 25; Game 3 @ The Palace, Chicago shot 35 foul shots, Detroit shot 36, Bulls won 113-107... Now the back-to-back defending world champion Pistons only got one more foul shot at home against a team they were 26-9 against from 1988-1990? How did the Pistons win back-to-back titles and playing against teams like the Celtics (Bird, McHale, Parish, D.J.) and Lakers (Magic, Kareem, Worthy) -- all of those guys could draw double teams on the perimeter and in the post...Chicago just had one guy who could draw double teams on the perimeter and post and that was Jordan. So Detroit could defeat Chicago 3 straight seasons in the playoffs having a 26-9 record against the Bulls from 1988-90 but somehow in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals they are just so UNDISCIPLINED DEFENSIVELY.... Is that what you want me to believe? I do not believe that at all. Here's the truth of what went down based upon the facts, just watch the series again. The Truth: Isiah Thomas took just 9 shots in game 1 and 9 shots in game 2; Bill Laimbeer took just 7 shots in game 1 and only 2 shots in game 2; Joe Dumars took just 10 shots in game 1 and only 10 shots in game 3; Coach Chuck Daly played John Salley only 9 minutes in game 2 while playing James Edwards just 11 minutes in game 2 and only 9 minutes in game 3. Well if your scorers don't shoot and you do not play your front line guys major minutes, YOU WILL LOSE!... Had Detroit did this vs. Atlanta/Boston, guess what? They would have lost...But for some reason the Pistons do this vs. Chicago, a team they were 26-9 against defeating 3 straight seasons in the playoffs from 1988-1990?... So let's see if this strategy makes sense when it comes to winning... just logically let's see and reverse it: Michael Jordan takes just 9 shots in game 1 and 9 shots in game 2 of the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals; Scottie Pippen takes just 7 shots in game 1 and only 2 shots in game 2 or put him in Joe Dumars' position of taking just 10 shots in game 1 and only 10 in game 3; Phil Jackson plays Horace Grant 11 minutes in game 2 and just 9 minutes in game 3 while Bill Cartwright gets just 9 minutes in game 2. If Jordan and Phil Jackson did this, would you really think the Bulls were trying to win in 1991? What if the Bulls did this in 1993 after winning back-to-back titles against the Knicks in the Conference Finals? ... Would anyone actually believe they were trying to win? Logical Question: Do players shoot on purpose or by accident?... Do coaches put guys in on purpose or by accident? ... If you said, 'On purpose' then you would be a normal thinking individual with sense. So what was the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals? This was Isiah Thomas and 'The Bad Boys' choosing to let Chicago win that series ON PURPOSE.... Why?... Why would they do this? ... Well ask this question concerning The Detroit Pistons: Why would the Pistons trade James Edwards to the Clippers and waive Vinnie Johnson in the summer of 1991? Why wouldn't they just keep the same team together at least to get revenge on the Bulls? Why break up that title-contending team? When you look at the 1990-91 season, the Pistons were going for a 3-peat and had the following injuries: Isiah Thomas - wrist/ankle; Joe Dumars - toe/groin; Salley/Edwards/Aguirre - back.... So that's 5 guys in their 8 man rotation with injuries and they still won 50 making it to the Eastern Conference Finals going for a 4th straight trip to the Finals and trying to 3-peat. Detroit went from an injured team trying to 3-peat in 1990-91 still winning 50 making it to the ECF with Edwards/Johnson to not having Vinnie Johnson and James Edwards being totally healthy in the 1991-92 season and only winning 48 games losing to the Knicks in the first round -- this is the impact of Edwards/Johnson -- two rounds.... So ask, who benefits from the Pistons breaking up that championship-contending team? The Bulls and #23. ... So did Pistons GM, Jack McCloskey waive Vinnie Johnson and trade James Edwards on purpose or by accident in the summer of 1991? ON PURPOSE! ... The same reason why Detroit let Chicago win: ON PURPOSE... These are facts based upon what happened, not an opinion based upon what I like or dislike..that's what Detroit actually did when it came to shots, transactions, records, and the infamous 'walk-off', the 3 guys who led the 'walk-off' were all from Chicago: Mark Aguirre, Bill Laimbeer, and Isiah Thomas. The Future: Why would the Pistons do this? Well Isiah Thomas was the President of the Player's Association, according to Thomas, he negotiated a 53% revenue share in favor of the players vs. the owners with the new NBA/NBC contract signed prior to the 1990-91 season. Thomas also hired a military accountant to open up the books of the owners and made sure agents got less money of player contracts.... So, who was the #1 money-maker for the NBA? Jordan...Who is defeating Jordan every single year?...What companies have partnerships with the NBA and Jordan? Nike, Hanes, Gatorade, McDonald's etc... So what's going to happen in the summer of 1992? The Olympics, which will open up international markets. Who became Olympic coach prior to the 1990-91 season? Chuck Daly, even though Riley had more rings and Daly's success was strictly based upon Isiah Thomas....Also, remember Thomas made sure players were in control of their image, likenesses, and received greater healthcare benefits, bonuses, royalties, and this is why in the mid 90's rookies were getting guaranteed contracts from $40-60M ... that's due to Isiah Thomas negotiating on behalf of the players. .... So, guess who is painted as 'the bad guy'?... The rest of the players benefited off of Thomas being noted as 'the bad guy' while Thomas stepped aside, the Pistons broke up their championship-contending team never to be a threat to Jordan again while the league flourished even greater with overseas markets via the Olympic Team. Isiah Thomas 3, Michael Jordan 1, the one Jordan got, Thomas gave to him.

[@JustinNDTrollSniper]

Imagine thinking "no, we let you win", is a legitimate argument for why a team lost at the professional level. It took an unfathomable level of delusion to type out that 20 paragraph rant like it was a serious argument, I'm almost impressed

[@nonamewillbegiven1217]

Yawn as usual trollll

[@nonamewillbegiven]

Yawn as usual troll

[@Fernando-vg4ym]

Your argument is highly flawed. It doesn't give the Bulls defense any credit. Face it, the Pistons were out hustled and out played by a team they didn't take seriously, a team that beat them at their own game. And then, they walk off the court before the game is over. Talk about spoiled brats and sore losers! Those Pistons acted like typical bullies, they pick on everybody until somebody fights back, then they go home, crying to their mommas. They lost by an average of 11 points. That's not close.

[@plainsimple244]

@@Fernando-vg4ym Responding: My argument is NOT flawed because I NEVER said Chicago didn't improve their defense or offense from 1990 to 1991, they did improve. The point I was making was 100% about Detroit, not Chicago. If one team improves and the other team simply doesn't play their front court guys major minutes while their scorers refuse to take shots in the first 3 games, what will happen? They will lose -- that's the point. It has NOTHING to do with the Bulls. Simply Put: Everything I'm saying is easy to understand -- Detroit purposely let Chicago win by Thomas, Laimbeer, and Dumars not shooting in the first 3 games (Dumars in games 1 and 3 and Laimbeer/Thomas in games 1-2) while Chuck Daly didn't play Salley and Edwards major minutes in games 2-3. You do that against anyone, you will lose. This is why I always show the reverse so people can understand that it's obvious: Michael Jordan takes 9 shots in game 1 and 9 shots in game 2 (like Isiah did); Scottie Pippen takes 7 shots in game 1 and only 2 in game 2 (like Laimbeer) OR put Pippen in Dumars' position of taking only 10 shots in game 1 and just 10 in game 3 while Phil Jackson plays Horace Grant just 11 minutes in game 2 (like Daly did Edwards) and 9 minutes in game 3 (like Daly did Edwards) and Cartwright gets only 9 minutes in game 2 (like Daly did Salley) If Chicago did that vs. Detroit in 1991 what would happen? HAHAHA THEY WOULD LOSE! Out Hustled/Played: YOU PROVED MY POINT! ... Did you see how hard Detroit played vs. Boston just 2 days earlier and how they executed by taking their time vs. Atlanta/Boston or how they played against Chicago in 1990? They ran their offense through and through, milking the clock, getting back on defense, attacking the rim and posting up on nearly every trip down court while being aggressive offensively -- YOU PROVED MY POINT! Detroit did those things in the past and in the Atlanta/Boston series and even during the regular season in the wins/losses vs. Chicago but NOT IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS! HAHAHA DETROIT DID THIS ON PURPOSE! 11 Points: Now what's Isiah Thomas' number? Exactly. Who led the 'walk-off'? Who took only 9 shots in game 1 and 9 shots in game 2? Exactly. Bill Laimbeer, Mark Aguirre and Isiah Thomas led the 'walk-off' -- THEY ARE ALL FROM CHICAGO! ... THE PISTONS DID THIS ON PURPOSE. Fight Back: The Bulls didn't fight back, Detroit never competed in 1991 and then what did they do? In the off season, Pistons GM, Jack McCloskey waived Vinnie Johnson and traded James Edwards to the Clippers to break up that title-contending team. Why? Because the Pistons were a threat to the Jordan-era and the money that would be brought in through Jordan losing every season, so the President of the Player's Association, Isiah Thomas, stepped aside to make sure Chicago won for the sake of the rest of the players to benefit financially in the 90's and beyond.... The thing is when it was Jordan's turn to let Ewing/Barkley win, he couldn't let go like Magic did winning back-to-back in '87-'88 and Isiah in '89-'90 but Jordan was supposed to pay-it-forward in '92-'93 but didn't and thus the scandal and retirement.