In an unexpected turn of events, the Detroit Pistons found themselves in a 0-2 rut against the Chicago Bulls in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals. In the years prior, the Bad Boys had Michael Jordan and crew at the palm of their hands, and easily booted them off in the playoffs.
The year 1991 looked like a changing of the guard. Were the Pistons about to be thrown off their throne? Were fans witnessing the rise of the young and hungry Bulls? It was still a matter of wait-and-see.
Bad Boy days are over?
Amid all the concern from Pistons fans, power forward John Salley aired his frustrations about the officiating. It seemed that their brutal play style was being put under strict surveillance. They could no longer be extremely physical against Jordan and the Bulls. Salley believes that such a policy shift was influenced by head coach Phil Jackson‘s criticism of the Pistons, as well as Michael’s antics.
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“It’s amazing how they get more foul shots than we do,” Salley said in 1991, per the Chicago Tribune. “We can’t do anything on defense. They drive and know they’ll get two points, or get foul shots. Amazing. Phil Jackson talked before the playoffs about our defense. Guess he knew he’d have to face up in the finals.”
“It was subliminal seduction. He has everyone convinced. Michael Jordan has everyone convinced we’re dirty players. Joe Dumars fouling out? He’s not a dirty player,” he added.
Dumars had a big game with 24 points, but fouled out after being slapped with a flagrant foul on B.J. Armstrong. This seemed to have killed any momentum Detroit had. Meanwhile, the Bulls took advantage of Dumars’ absence and sealed the game in the fourth quarter.
“I don’t know,” added Dennis Rodman. “I just play basketball. But I get sick and tired of people criticizing our style. It’s amazing you have to do that to get over. To say that, you have to be afraid of something. They (Jackson and Jordan) must be afraid of us.”
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Not over
While Salley and Rodman were in disarray, Joe-D remained firm and optimistic. They were not going to temper their play style for the referees. It was this philosophy that catapulted them to back-to-back titles. Dumars wanted his team to stick to their guns and remain rough.
“We are going to maintain our aggressive style of play,” the iconic guard said. “We’re not going to get away from that. No one around here is going to panic. To be honest, I guess we’re in a tough spot. But what do you do? You just bounce back.”
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Unfortunately, fate had different plans. Officiating was just one of the many elements in a basketball game. At that point in time, the Bulls had figured the Pistons out. MJ knew exactly how to break the “Jordan Rules.” The Pistons fell 4-0 to the Bulls. It was tangible evidence that their empire had collapsed, and it was time for a new regime.
The torch had been passed — Chicago’s rise signaled the official end of Detroit’s bruising dynasty, and the dawn of a dominant era marked by the man many consider the greatest of all time.