# 1984–85 Detroit Pistons season

The 1984–85 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 37th season in the NBA and 28th season in the city of Detroit. Due to repairs to their home at the time, Pontiac Silverdome, the Pistons spent the latter part of the season – and all five of their post-season games – at the Detroit Red Wings' arena, Joe Louis Arena, in Detroit proper.
Detroit continued their winning ways, finishing the season 46–36 (.561), 2nd place in the Central Division. The team advanced to the playoffs, defeating the New Jersey Nets 3–0, for the franchise's first playoff series win since 1976, but fell 4–2 to Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in the conference semi-finals. 1985 was also perhaps the start of bad blood between the Chicago Bulls and star Michael Jordan and the Pistons. At the 1985 NBA All-Star Game, reports were that Pistons star Isiah Thomas and friend Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson conspired to "freeze-out" rookie Jordan on the national stage. As the Pistons and Bulls battled over the next few years, Jordan may have exacted his revenge in ensuring Thomas was not named to the 1992 Olympic Dream Team.
The Pistons were led in 1984–85 by Thomas (21.2 ppg, 13.9 apg, NBA All-Star) and center Bill Laimbeer (17.5 ppg, 12.4 rpg, NBA All-Star).

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 20 | Tony Campbell | SF/SG | United States | Ohio State |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Milwaukee Bucks | 59 | 23 | .720 | – | 36–5 | 23–18 | 20–10 |
| x-Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | .561 | 13 | 26–15 | 20–21 | 21–8 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 38 | 44 | .463 | 21 | 26–15 | 12–29 | 13–17 |
| x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 23 | 20–21 | 16–25 | 13–16 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 34 | 48 | .415 | 25 | 19–22 | 15–26 | 15–15 |
| Indiana Pacers | 22 | 60 | .268 | 37 | 16–25 | 6–35 | 7–23 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 63 | 19 | .768 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 59 | 23 | .720 | 4 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 58 | 24 | .707 | 5 |
| 4 | x-Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | .561 | 17 |
| 5 | x-New Jersey Nets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 21 |
| 6 | x-Washington Bullets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 23 |
| 7 | x-Chicago Bulls | 38 | 44 | .463 | 25 |
| 8 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 27 |
| 9 | Atlanta Hawks | 34 | 48 | .415 | 29 |
| 10 | New York Knicks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 39 |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | 22 | 60 | .268 | 41 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1984–85 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–1 | — | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Cleveland | 3–3 | 0–6 | 4–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Dallas | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 | — | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 0–6 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | — | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | — | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 4–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New Jersey | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 |
| New York | 3–3 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–6 | — | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–6 |
| Philadelphia | 5–0 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | — | 4–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | — | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1984–85 game log Total: 46–36 (home: 26–15; road: 20–21) :
October: 1–2 (home: 1–1; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 26, 1984
Boston
L 123–130
Isiah Thomas (35)
Bill Laimbeer (13)
Isiah Thomas (11)
Pontiac Silverdome
0–1
2
October 27, 1984
@ New York
L 118–137
Bill Laimbeer (28)
Bill Laimbeer (16)
Isiah Thomas (16)
Madison Square Garden
0–2
3
October 30, 1984
Cleveland
W 124–107
Pontiac Silverdome
1–2 :
November: 7–7 (home: 2–4; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
4
November 1, 1984
@ Atlanta
W 118–114
The Omni
2–2
5
November 2, 1984
@ Boston
L 116–127
Boston Garden
2–3
6
November 5, 1984
@ Cleveland
W 107–98
Richfield Coliseum
3–3
7
November 7, 1984
Chicago
L 118–122
Pontiac Silverdome
3–4
8
November 10, 1984
Milwaukee
W 104–100
Pontiac Silverdome
4–4
9
November 14, 1984
@ Philadelphia
W 137–133 (OT)
The Spectrum
5–4
10
November 16, 1984
Philadelphia
L 90–101
Pontiac Silverdome
5–5
11
November 17, 1984
@ Dallas
W 124–110
Reunion Arena
6–5
12
November 20, 1984
@ Houston
L 117–123
The Summit
6–6
13
November 21, 1984
@ San Antonio
W 114–101
HemisFair Arena
7–6
14
November 23, 1984
New York
L 97–120
Pontiac Silverdome
7–7
15
November 24, 1984
@ Washington
L 106–112
Capital Centre
7–8
16
November 28, 1984
Portland
W 120–113
Pontiac Silverdome
8–8
17
November 30, 1984
Washington
L 106–114
Pontiac Silverdome
8–9 :
December: 8–6 (home: 4–2; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
December 1, 1984
@ Indiana
W 131–109
Market Square Arena
9–9
19
December 4, 1984
Boston
W 104–99
Pontiac Silverdome
10–9
20
December 6, 1984
@ Milwaukee
L 99–114
MECCA Arena
10–10
21
December 7, 1984
Denver
W 122–115
Pontiac Silverdome
11–10
22
December 11, 1984
@ Chicago
W 108–101
Chicago Stadium
12–10
23
December 12, 1984
Chicago
W 102–95
Pontiac Silverdome
13–10
24
December 14, 1984
Indiana
W 120–96
Pontiac Silverdome
14–10
25
December 19, 1984
@ Denver
W 148–129
McNichols Sports Arena
15–10
26
December 20, 1984
@ Utah
L 116–117
Salt Palace Acord Arena
15–11
27
December 22, 1984
@ Kansas City
L 123–129
Kemper Arena
15–12
28
December 25, 1984
Philadelphia
L 108–109
Pontiac Silverdome
15–13
29
December 26, 1984
@ New Jersey
L 97–112
Brendan Byrne Arena
15–14
30
December 28, 1984
@ Indiana
W 116–110
Market Square Arena
16–14
31
December 29, 1984
New Jersey
L 108–110
Pontiac Silverdome
16–15 :
January: 12–2 (home: 8–0; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32
January 2, 1985
Cleveland
W 108–100
Pontiac Silverdome
17–15
33
January 4, 1985
Atlanta
W 134–111
Pontiac Silverdome
18–15
34
January 5, 1985
@ Washington
W 121–113
Capital Centre
19–15
35
January 9, 1985
@ Philadelphia
L 122–126
The Spectrum
19–16
36
January 11, 1985
Indiana
W 120–109
Pontiac Silverdome
20–16
37
January 13, 1985 12 Noon EST
L.A. Lakers
W 121–98
Thomas (30)
Roundfield (14)
Thomas (20)
Pontiac Silverdome 23,475
21–16
38
January 17, 1985
@ New York
W 105–89
Madison Square Garden
22–16
39
January 19, 1985
@ New Jersey
W 109–107
Brendan Byrne Arena
23–16
40
January 22, 1985
@ Atlanta (at New Orleans, LA)
W 130–113
Lakefront Arena
24–16
41
January 24, 1985
Golden State
W 137–118
Pontiac Silverdome
25–16
42
January 26, 1985
Seattle
W 132–113
Pontiac Silverdome
27–16
43
January 27, 1985
Washington
W 115–105
Pontiac Silverdome
27–16
44
January 29, 1985
@ Boston (at Hartford, CT)
L 130–131
Hartford Civic Center
27–17
45
January 30, 1985
Kansas City
W 120–116
Pontiac Silverdome
28–17 :
February: 5–8 (home: 4–4; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
46
February 2, 1985
Atlanta
W 110–102 (OT)
Pontiac Silverdome
29–17
47
February 4, 1985
@ Milwaukee
W 113–111 (OT)
MECCA Arena
30–17
48
February 5, 1985
New Jersey
L 117–119
Pontiac Silverdome
30–18
49
February 7, 1985
@ Washington
L 126–128 (2OT)
Capital Centre
30–19
All-Star Break
50
February 12, 1985
@ Chicago
L 126–139 (OT)
Chicago Stadium
30–20
51
February 13, 1985
Dallas
W 124–119
Pontiac Silverdome
31–20
52
February 15, 1985
@ New Jersey
L 123–124
Brendan Byrne Arena
31–21
53
February 16, 1985
Philadelphia
L 114–125
Pontiac Silverdome
31–22
54
February 18, 1985
Phoenix
W 122–103
Pontiac Silverdome
32–22
55
February 20, 1985
Milwaukee
L 112–113
Pontiac Silverdome
32–23
56
February 22, 1985
@ Philadelphia
L 99–110
The Spectrum
32–24
57
February 23, 1985
New Jersey
L 103–111
Pontiac Silverdome
32–25
58
February 27, 1985
Chicago
W 108–99
Pontiac Silverdome
33–25 :
March: 7–8 (home: 4–2; road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
59
March 1, 1985
San Antonio
L 98–108
Pontiac Silverdome
33–26
60
March 3, 1985
@ Boston
L 129–138
Boston Garden
33–27
61
March 6, 1985
New York
W 114–90
Joe Louis Arena
34–27
62
March 7, 1985
Utah
L 114–122
Joe Louis Arena
34–28
63
March 9, 1985
@ Atlanta
W 115–113
The Omni
35–28
64
March 11, 1985
L.A. Clippers
W 121–114
Joe Louis Arena
36–28
65
March 12, 1985
@ Chicago
L 110–111
Chicago Stadium
36–29
66
March 17, 1985
@ Seattle
L 98–106
Kingdome
36–30
67
March 18, 1985
@ L.A. Clippers
L 116–136
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
36–31
68
March 19, 1985
@ Portland
L 123–143
Memorial Coliseum
36–32
69
March 21, 1985
@ Golden State
W 122–113
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
38–33
70
March 24, 1985 10:30 p.m. EST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 130–148
Thomas (30)
Laimbeer (14)
Thomas (15)
The Forum 17,505
37–33
71
March 26, 1985
@ Phoenix
W 119–93
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
38–33
72
March 27, 1985
Houston
W 127–110
Joe Louis Arena
39–33
73
March 31, 1985
Boston
W 113–105
Joe Louis Arena
40–33 :
April: 6–3 (home: 3–2; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
74
April 1, 1985
Atlanta
L 100–114
Joe Louis Arena
40–34
75
April 2, 1985
@ Indiana
W 124–121
Market Square Arena
41–34
76
April 4, 1985
@ Milwaukee
L 121–130
MECCA Arena
41–35
77
April 5, 1985
Cleveland
L 118–119
Joe Louis Arena
41–36
78
April 7, 1985
Milwaukee
W 113–91
Joe Louis Arena
42–36
79
April 9, 1985
@ New York
W 107–97
Madison Square Garden
43–36
80
April 10, 1985
Indiana
W 116–114
Joe Louis Arena
44–36
81
April 12, 1985
Washington
W 102–96
Joe Louis Arena
45–36
82
April 14, 1985
@ Cleveland
W 116–113
Richfield Coliseum
46–36 :
1984–85 schedule :

## Playoffs

1985 playoff game log :
First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 18, 1985
New Jersey
W 125–105
Bill Laimbeer (23)
Bill Laimbeer (13)
Isiah Thomas (11)
Joe Louis Arena 10,465
1–0
2
April 21, 1985
New Jersey
W 121–111
Isiah Thomas (29)
Bill Laimbeer (12)
Isiah Thomas (14)
Joe Louis Arena 11,501
2–0
3
April 24, 1985
@ New Jersey
W 116–115
Terry Tyler (23)
Tripucka, Tyler (11)
Isiah Thomas (11)
Brendan Byrne Arena 9,999
3–0 :
Conference semifinals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 28, 1985
@ Boston
L 99–133
Isiah Thomas (23)
three players tied (5)
Isiah Thomas (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
0–1
2
April 30, 1985
@ Boston
L 114–121
Isiah Thomas (28)
Thomas, Laimbeer (9)
Isiah Thomas (15)
Boston Garden 14,890
0–2
3
May 2, 1985
Boston
W 125–117
Bill Laimbeer (27)
Bill Laimbeer (13)
Isiah Thomas (16)
Joe Louis Arena 14,209
1–2
4
May 5, 1985
Boston
W 102–99
Vinnie Johnson (34)
Bill Laimbeer (12)
Isiah Thomas (10)
Joe Louis Arena 14,350
2–2
5
May 8, 1985
@ Boston
L 123–130
Vinnie Johnson (30)
Bill Laimbeer (13)
Isiah Thomas (7)
Boston Garden 14,890
2–3
6
May 10, 1985
Boston
L 113–123
Isiah Thomas (37)
Bill Laimbeer (13)
Isiah Thomas (9)
Joe Louis Arena 21,193
2–4 :
1985 schedule :

## Awards and records

* Isiah Thomas, All-NBA First Team