“If you bash on that door long enough, it will fall down” – Bill Laimbeer drops the grit it took for the Pistons to topple the Celtics in 1988 originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The Detroit Pistons were determined to go deep in the 1988 playoffs, but one team was in their way – the Boston Celtics. Given that the Bean Town squad had been a perennial finalist since 1983, toppling them was never going to be easy.
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Bill Laimbeer recognized that reality early on and understood it would take something special to dethrone the Celtics in the East. However, he and the Pistons knew they would eventually succeed as long as they kept trying.
“As long as the Celtics are on top, the Eastern Conference will be measured by them,” said Bill Laimbeer via NYT. “You’ve got to hammer and hammer and hammer over the years, and eventually, your time will come. If you bash on that door long enough, it will fall down.”
“Lambs'” words should be taken literally. Detroit had been turning to their physical play for success, and it was apparent that season that it was working. But would it be enough to topple Larry Bird and company?
The Celtics’ “falling stars” benefited the Pistons
Aside from their stellar showing that season, one thing that went Detroit’s way was the player situation of the Celtics. Bird and Kevin McHale were not 100% healthy, dealing with back and foot injuries respectively.
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Being a three-time MVP, Bird struggled in that series, averaging only 19.8 points per contest. He shot poorly (35.1% from the field) and admitted it was the worst shooting series he ever had.
Given their conditions, one could only wonder how “Larry Legend” and “Black Hole” could take the additional pounding that Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, Rick Mahorn and John Salley would render. The 1988 EC Finals was a give-and-take affair in the first four games. But come Game 5, the momentum shifted in Detroit’s favor.
Bird acknowledged that this was the turning point of the series. Boston enjoyed the home-court advantage but failed to capitalize.
“I’ve always said that Game 5 is the most important game in any series; when you’ve got the home court, you’ve got to win it. We didn’t,” the Indiana native rued.
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The Pistons finally overcame the Celtics’ dominance and marched on to the 1988 NBA Finals. However, the Los Angeles Lakers were another obstacle in their way.
The Pistons’ last obstacle to success
Although Detroit gave a good account of itself against the Purple and Gold, it wasn’t their time to shine just yet. They lost in seven games but showed they were a team on the rise.
It was another learning experience for the Pistons, who tried again in 1989. With the same style of play, the Motor City squad went all the way to the finals in a rematch of the 1988 finalists.
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This time, the script was different. Detroit dominated LA and won its first NBA title via an impressive sweep. It ushered in a new era with the Pistons relying on defense and physicality for success. The “Bad Boys” were officially born, and their bruising style would define an era — and frustrate opponents — for years to come.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.