The Ankle
We couldn’t get out of this without including at least one moment from Isiah Thomas, who provided more of them than any other Pistons player.
The Pistons didn’t win game six of the 1988 Finals, and they ultimately lost the series, but this performance personified everything they were about, grit, toughness and leaving everything on the floor.
It was also the game that fueled the Pistons for the next season, as they came back hungry and were not going to be denied, getting their revenge on the Lakers with a sweep.
Detroit had to take their lumps before getting their first title but they kept coming back and overcame defeats that would have crushed a lesser team.
Every championship team of that era had to overcome a legendary foe to get there. For the Pistons, it was Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. MJ had to overcome the Pistons to get his.
The Pistons eventually did overcome the Lakers and won two titles, but it is fitting that their most iconic moment was not a victory on the scoreboard but one of character.