Detroit Pistons: Top 5 individual playoff performances in team history
Since being swept by the Cavaliers in 2009, the Detroit Pistons have returned to the playoffs just twice. Twice. Two playoff appearances in 13 years – and they were swept on both of those occasions as well. They have been riding a 12-game postseason losing streak since the Bucks finished brooming them in the spring of 2019. Dreary stuff, but it betrays their relatively successful history.
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In the annals of NBA history, only five franchises can boast of having won more championships than the Deee-troit Basektballers. That means several classic postseason performances from our beloved red, white and blue…and teal…sporting Pistons. But before we delve into the top five let’s take a look at some honorable mentions, as their was no shortage of classic Piston performances to consider.
Detroit Pistons: Top 5 individual playoff performances (honorable mentions)
Vinnie Johnson vs Boston Celtics, Game 4 of the 1985 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Vinnie Johnson is known as the third wheel to Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, but he was good enough to start for just about any other team in the NBA and he could put up points with the best of them. That’s why, when the Microwave hung 34 on the Celtics in the ’85 Eastern Conference Semis, no one was caught off-guard. Making the effort all the more spectacular was that 22 of those points came in the fourth quarter. The Detroit Pistons won that game, tying the series at 2-2, and providing early evidence that they were a force to be reckoned with.
Vinnie Johnson vs Atlanta Hawks, Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Yup – another vintage effort from the Microwave. With the benefit of hindsight, we can look at Johnson’s performance against the Celtics in ’85, his 007 dagger against the Trailblazers in 1990, and this performance against Atlanta in ’87 and see just how valuable he truly was to The Bad Boys. Vinnie scored 15 fourth quarter points against the Hawks to help the Pistons rally from behind and punch their tickets to the Conference Finals.