1989–90 Detroit Pistons season | |
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NBA Champions
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Conference Champions
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Division Champions
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Second NBA Championship | |
Head coach | Chuck Daly |
General manager | Jack McCloskey |
Owner(s) | William Davidson |
Arena | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
Results | |
Record | 59–23 (.720) |
Place |
Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 1st (Eastern) |
Playoff finish |
NBA Champions (Defeated Trail Blazers 4-1) |
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com |
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Local media | |
Television | PASS Sports, WKBD |
Radio | WCXI |
The 1989–90 NBA season was the Pistons' 42nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 33rd season in the city of Detroit. As the defending champions, the Pistons had another successful season winning 13 consecutive games around January and February, then posting a 12-game winning streak in March as they finished first place in the Eastern Conference with a 59–23 record. Three members of the team, Isiah Thomas, last year's Finals MVP Joe Dumars, and Dennis Rodman were all selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game. Dumars was also selected to the All-NBA Third Team, and Rodman was named Defensive Player of The Year.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Pistons swept the Indiana Pacers in three straight games. Then defeated the 5th-seeded New York Knicks four games to one in the semifinals. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons defeated the Chicago Bulls in seven games to advance to the NBA Finals for the third straight year. In the finals, they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in five hard-fought games to win their second consecutive NBA championship. Thomas was named NBA Finals MVP. The Pistons would not reach the NBA Finals again until 2004, in which they won the Finals in five games against their heavily favored rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers to win their third NBA championship.
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Indiana Pacers: Pistons win series 3-0