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NBA: Best player and coach pairing from each team’s history

By Tony Pesta

LOS ANGELES - MARCH 2: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs talks with head coach Gregg Popovich during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 2, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs won 106-78. 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 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - MARCH 2: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs talks with head coach Gregg Popovich during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 2, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs won 106-78. 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 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Best coach/player pairing in Detroit Pistons history: Chuck Daly & Isiah Thomas

The Bad Boy Detroit Pistons are a mythical team. Their reputation for a hard knock style of basketball has made them one of the most memorable squads in league history.

Running the show was Hall of Fame point guard, Isiah Thomas. One of the first players to become an elite ball-handler, Thomas displayed a machine gun brand of dribbling that left defenders frozen in their place.

Thomas reached the All-Star game in 12 of his 13 career-seasons, only failing to make the game in his final season in which he missed 24 games due to an injury. His five All-NBA selections speak for themselves as Thomas is one of the greatest guards to ever play.

With Isiah leading them, the Pistons became a brute force that wasn’t afraid of anybody. Their attitude left many angry and opponents bruised as they bullied their way to the top. For years, the Pistons controlled the Eastern Conference, often prevailing in showdowns with the great Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls.

Behind all of the madness on the court was coach Chuck Daly. For nine seasons, Daly led the Pistons to success. Sporting a winning season in all nine years and winning two NBA championships, its safe to say that Thomas and Daly worked very well as a duo.

While Daly never won a Coach of the Year Award, he was named one of the top 10 greatest coaches in NBA history during the 1996-97 season. As for Thomas, he joined a similar list, earning a mention as one of the top 50 greatest players in league history.

Thomas left it all out on the court. Even when he twisted his ankle in the 1988 NBA Finals, he remained in the game to score an NBA Finals record 25 points in a single quarter. It is this heart and willingness to win that made the Pistons two-time champions.