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NBA: Who is the best duo from each franchise’s history

By Christopher Jeter

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 6: Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls is seen talking to Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on May 6, 1997 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 6: Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls is seen talking to Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on May 6, 1997 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Best duo from Detroit Pistons history: Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer

Before Michael Jordan became the measuring stick for which all players are measured, he received a level of derision in the press that’s reserved these days for LeBron James. Sure, falling short to the Boston Celtics with *checks notes* Charles Oakley as the Bulls’ second-best player is understandable, but the team’s shortcomings against the Detroit Pistons in the late 1980s really sparked questions regarding how long it would take Jordan to win a championship, if ever.

Of course, this all sounds silly in hindsight, but even then, the notion of laying an entire team’s failures at one player’s feet undermines the idea of basketball as a team sport and ignores the effort of the opponent.

Jordan’s losses to those Pistons teams were the byproduct of him being the only offensive option on the team (yes, Scottie Pippen was there, but his offense was still a work in progress). This led to the Pistons implementing the “Jordan Rules” to slow him down, but the Pistons needed their own scoring punch to counter the dazzling guard.

In Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer, the Pistons had just that. With Thomas, Detroit had a blur at the point guard position with ball-handling, playmaking, and finishing skills to match. His aesthetically-pleasing game meshed will Laimbeer’s, uh, let’s go with “tough” defense and underrated shooting stroke, even though Laimbeer was as pleasant as the sound of sandpaper.

In addition to frustrating Jordan’s Bulls, Laimbeer and Thomas combined for .134 WS/48 in 12 full seasons together, leading the Pistons to consecutive NBA championships in 1988-89 and 1989-90. Eventually, Jordan got over the hump and Thomas and Laimbeer retired after the 93-94 season; Thomas because of his Achilles and Laimbeer for realizing he was too much of a jerk. But they and the rest of the “Bad Boys” will be remembered as one of the few teams that stymied Jordan.