Detroit Pistons: 5 ‘Bad Boys’ who would fit in with the franchise
By Amaar Burton
4. Lance Stephenson (Los Angeles Lakers)
After their two championships, the “Bad Boys” biggest claim to fame was making life miserable for Michael Jordan.
Before winning the first of their six NBA titles, Jordan’s Chicago Bulls lost three straight playoff series to the Pistons, during which Jordan got pushed around like he had never been pushed around by no another team before — or since.
The Pistons were the most aggravating nemesis of Jordan’s career, with Dumars and Rodman leading the charge as the primary defenders assigned to Jordan.
Lance Stephenson is a current-day combination of Dumars and Rodman in the sense that he has become known for being a nemesis — or perhaps more of a nuisance — to the best player in the world today, LeBron James.
Stephenson has played for a handful of teams, but it was during his two stints with the Indiana Pacers that his playoff battles with LeBron made him mainstream popular. Stephenson’s teams never knocked LeBron’s teams out of the playoffs, but “Born Ready” did make a big enough impression that LeBron wanted Lance to join him on the Lakers this summer.
Stephenson can score (9.2 points per game last season) and create opportunities for teammates with his passing and ball-handling, but his calling card is his defense.
On top of that, his irritating antics and attempted mind games make it seem like Born Ready was born to play for the Pistons.