I never thought that Pistons was deadly team way back 1989 with at 10% chance of winning when other teams faced them. More like a MAFIA way back then.
I wouldn't say that they were outsiders with low chances of winning back in 1989. Prior to that, in 1987 they reached Eastern Conference title and were defeated by Celtics 3:4, and Celtics were champions at that moment. Next season, 1987/1988 they reached NBA final, and lost in 7 games against Lakers, who at that time had both Magic and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. They were a quality team, getting better each year before they eventually won the first title, and then defended it.
I remember those days when most of the jersey merch that I saw were mostly Pistons. And that confirms that they were really good during the old times.
Hah, my memory is a bit different, I remember people talking mostly about Celtics and Lakers back in the late 80s-early 90s. Pistons were kinda "black sheep". More reason to love them, as they were different from those glamorous and famous teams
. Then Bulls won the first title and after that it was all about them and Jordan. I still remember buying my first (and only) Air Jordan shoes, model AJ IX back in 1994. They were expensive af in Europe, but half of my neighbourhood wore those.
GSW may look like an offensive team with Curry and Thompson at their championship games. But when you look deep at how difficult the switching is, you will know how hardcore their defense is.
Exactly this, people tend to forget that since they were focused on three points shooting. Other teams started copying GSW, adding shooters and chugging those threes, but in order for that to work, you have to have quality defense, and proper kind of support players, like Draymond Green. Same thing Bulls had in Rodman, who had same capability, to defend all 5 positions.