# 1983–84 Detroit Pistons season

The 1983–84 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 36th season in the NBA and 27th season in the city of Detroit. The team played at the Pontiac Silverdome in suburban Pontiac, Michigan.
During the 1984 playoffs against the New York Knicks, the Silverdome had a venue conflict that forced the team to play their last playoff game in Detroit proper at the Detroit Red Wings' home, Joe Louis Arena, in the fifth and deciding game of the round. The team would play a number of home games, both regular season and post-season, at the venue over the next few seasons (due to the roof collapsing) before eventually getting an arena of their own four years later.
New coach Chuck Daly made an immediate impact on the team, leading the Pistons to their first winning season and post-season berth since the 1976-77 season. Detroit finished with a 49-33 (.598) record, 2nd in the Central Division. In the first round series, the Pistons faced off with the New York Knicks and star Bernard King. The tightly contested series went to a 5th game at a sold-out Joe Louis Arena in downtown Detroit. The Pistons trailed by eight points with 1:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, when Thomas caught fire, scoring 16 points in the remaining 94 seconds to force overtime, but it wasn't enough to overcome King's 44 points as the Pistons fell 127–123 in a playoff classic.
Part of the 5th game in the series was the atmosphere as the Pistons returned to the city proper after moving to the Silverdome in 1978. Thomas said, "I must say that it was a wild scene. Coleman Young called me up and said, ‘Welcome to the city.’ Everybody in the hood was like, ‘Zeke, you’re coming to put on a show tonight.’ And being a city guy, it was almost like you were going home. When I got into Joe Louis, the atmosphere was so electric, it was awesome. You can't describe it—it made you want to get off. I just felt like I could do anything. The fans were screaming and every move you made, people were oohing and aahing—it was sweet. I'm not a Baptist; I was raised Catholic. But sometimes I'd go to a Baptist church and you'll see what they call the Holy Ghost, where the spirit will take over their body and it moves them. During that game I got the Holy Ghost — I just got the spirit into my body and I was doing stuff and making moves — I felt I was above the court looking at everybody and I could just do anything. It was great!"
Detroit was led on the season by guard Thomas (21.3 ppg, 11.1 apg, NBA All-Star), center Bill Laimbeer (17.3 ppg, 12.2 rpg, NBA All-Star) and forward Kelly Tripucka (21.3 ppg, NBA All-Star).
On Dec 13, 1983, the Pistons finished 3OT with the Nuggets. The Pistons beat the Nuggets 186-184. This is the highest scoring game in NBA history. Thomas scored 47. Kiki Vandeweghe scored 51 and Alex English also scored 47 points.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 8 | Antoine Carr | PF/C | United States | Wichita State |
| 5 | 101 | Ken Austin | PF | United States | Rice |

## Roster

| No. | Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) | From |
| 34 | Ken Austin | SF | 6-9 | 205 | 1961-07-15 | Rice |
| 54 | Kent Benson | C | 6-10 | 235 | 1954-12-27 | Indiana |
| 23 | Earl Cureton | C | 6-9 | 210 | 1957-09-03 | Detroit Mercy |
| 9 | Lionel Hollins | PG | 6-3 | 185 | 1953-10-19 | Arizona State |
| 15 | Vinnie Johnson | SG | 6-2 | 200 | 1956-09-01 | Baylor |
| 40 | Bill Laimbeer | C | 6-11 | 245 | 1957-05-19 | Notre Dame |
| 53 | Cliff Levingston | PF | 6-8 | 210 | 1961-01-04 | Wichita State |
| 25 | John Long | SG | 6-5 | 195 | 1956-08-28 | Detroit Mercy |
| 33 | Walker Russell | PG | 6-5 | 195 | 1960-10-21 | Western Michigan |
| 22 | David Thirdkill | SF | 6-7 | 195 | 1960-04-12 | Bradley |
| 11 | Isiah Thomas | PG | 6-1 | 180 | 1961-04-30 | Indiana |
| 24 | Ray Tolbert | | 6-9 | 225 | 1958-09-10 | Indiana |
| 7 | Kelly Tripucka | SF | 6-6 | 220 | 1959-02-16 | Notre Dame |
| 41 | Terry Tyler | SF | 6-7 | 215 | 1956-10-30 | Detroit Mercy |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Milwaukee Bucks | 50 | 32 | .610 | – | 30–11 | 20–21 | 19–10 |
| x-Detroit Pistons | 49 | 33 | .598 | 1 | 30–11 | 19–22 | 21–8 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 40 | 42 | .488 | 10 | 31–10 | 9–32 | 16–14 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 22 | 23–18 | 5–36 | 11–19 |
| Chicago Bulls | 27 | 55 | .329 | 23 | 18–23 | 9–32 | 10–20 |
| Indiana Pacers | 26 | 56 | .317 | 24 | 20–21 | 6–35 | 12–18 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 52 | 30 | .634 | 10 |
| 4 | x-Detroit Pistons | 49 | 33 | .598 | 13 |
| 5 | x-New York Knicks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 6 | x-New Jersey Nets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 |
| 7 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 40 | 42 | .488 | 22 |
| 8 | x-Washington Bullets | 35 | 47 | .427 | 27 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 |
| 10 | Chicago Bulls | 27 | 55 | .329 | 35 |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | 26 | 56 | .317 | 36 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1983-84 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 0–5 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Boston | 5–0 | — | 5–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Chicago | 2–4 | 0–5 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Cleveland | 3–3 | 0–6 | 4–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | — | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 2–0 | — | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| New Jersey | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| New York | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — | 4–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | — | 4–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | — | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1983–84 game log Total: 49–33 (home: 30–11; road: 19–22) :
October: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 28, 1983
Boston
W 127–121
Pontiac Silverdome
1–0 :
November: 7–8 (home: 6–2; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3
November 1, 1983
Milwaukee
W 106–93
Pontiac Silverdome
2–1
7
November 11, 1983
@ Boston
L 118–126
Boston Garden
3–4
11
November 18, 1983
Utah
W 128–120
Pontiac Silverdome
6–5
12
November 19, 1983
@ New York
L 101–104 (OT)
Madison Square Garden
6–6
16
November 27, 1983
@ Boston
L 99–114
Boston Garden
7–9 :
December: 8–5 (home: 5–2; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
24
December 17, 1983
Boston
L 115–129
Pontiac Silverdome
11–13
29
December 28, 1983
@ New York
W 111–108
Madison Square Garden
15–14 :
January: 7–6 (home: 4–2; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32
January 4, 1984
Phoenix
W 128–114
Pontiac Silverdome
17–15
33
January 6, 1984
New York
W 118–107
Pontiac Silverdome
18–15
34
January 8, 1984
@ Milwaukee
W 111–100
MECCA Arena
19–15 :
February: 11–4 (home: 6–1; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
46
February 5, 1984
@ Boston
L 134–137 (OT)
Boston Garden
25–21
54
February 22, 1984
New York
W 114–111
Pontiac Silverdome
31–23 :
March: 10–7 (home: 5–4; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
59
March 2, 1984
New York
L 102–117
Pontiac Silverdome
34–25
60
March 4, 1984
Los Angeles
L 114–118
Pontiac Silverdome
34–26
65
March 13, 1984
@ Milwaukee
L 95–116
MECCA Arena
38–27
68
March 19, 1984
@ Utah
L 125–143
Salt Palace Acord Arena
38–30
70
March 23, 1984
@ Los Angeles
W 121–118
The Forum
40–30
71
March 24, 1984
@ Phoenix
W 120–109
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
41–30
75
March 31, 1984
Milwaukee
W 107–105
Pontiac Silverdome
44–31 :
April: 5–2 (home: 3–0; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
77
April 6, 1984
@ New York
W 115–107
Madison Square Garden
46–31
78
April 7, 1984
@ Milwaukee
L 92–110
MECCA Arena
46–32
81
April 13, 1984
Boston
W 128–120 (OT)
Pontiac Silverdome
49–32 :
1983–84 schedule :

### Playoffs

1984 playoff game log :
Eastern Conference First Round: 2–3 (home: 1–2; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 17, 1984
New York
L 93–94
Kelly Tripucka (26)
Kent Benson (14)
Isiah Thomas (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 14,127
0–1
2
April 19, 1984
New York
W 113–105
Bill Laimbeer (31)
Bill Laimbeer (15)
Isiah Thomas (13)
Pontiac Silverdome 14,275
1–1
3
April 22, 1984
@ New York
L 113–120
Kelly Tripucka (40)
Bill Laimbeer (10)
Isiah Thomas (5)
Madison Square Garden 16,354
1–2
4
April 25, 1984
@ New York
W 119–112
Isiah Thomas (22)
Bill Laimbeer (10)
Isiah Thomas (16)
Madison Square Garden 18,205
2–2
5
April 27, 1984
New York
L 123–127 (OT)
Isiah Thomas (35)
Bill Laimbeer (17)
Isiah Thomas (12)
Joe Louis Arena 21,208
2–3 :
1984 schedule :

## Awards and records

* Isiah Thomas, All-NBA First Team