1981 Boston Celtics vs. 1989 Detroit Pistons - Teams Comparisons

Head-to-head comparison between the 1980-81 Celtics and the 1988-89 Pistons, including both NBA teams stats, regular season and Playoffs wins, losses and performance, winning streaks and other data side by side.

NBA Teams Comparison

1981
Boston

Celtics

vs.

1989
Detroit

Pistons

On this page: Summary -

Awards and Honors

Team Stats

Team Leaders

Summary

Regular Season

Standings

	1981 Celtics	1º in Eastern Conference
	1989 Pistons	1º in Eastern Conference

Season Record

	1981 Celtics	62 - 20
	1989 Pistons	63 - 19

Winning %

	1981 Celtics	.756
	1989 Pistons	.768

Longest Streaks

	1981 Celtics	Winning Streak: 13 Losing Streak: 3
	1989 Pistons	Winning Streak: 9 Losing Streak: 2

Players Used
(at least 1 game)

	1981 Celtics	12 players
	1989 Pistons	17 players

Playoffs

Playoff Performance

	1981 Celtics	NBA Champions
	1989 Pistons	NBA Champions

Playoff Record

	1981 Celtics	12 - 5
	1989 Pistons	15 - 2

Winning %

	1981 Celtics	.706
	1989 Pistons	.882

Players Used
(at least 1 game)

	1981 Celtics	11 players
	1989 Pistons	12 players

Awards, Honors and More...

Awards and Honors

	1981 Celtics	4 - Finals MVP: Cedric Maxwell All-NBA 1st Team: Larry Bird All-NBA 2nd Team: Tiny Archibald All-Rookie 1st Team: Kevin McHale
	1989 Pistons	3 - Finals MVP: Joe Dumars All-Defensive 1st Team: Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman

NBA Leaders

	1981 Celtics	- none
	1989 Pistons	- none

Hall of Famers

	1981 Celtics	4 - Tiny Archibald, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish
	1989 Pistons	4 - Adrian Dantley, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Isiah Thomas

Team Stats

NBA Regular Season

Stats Per Game

Points

	1981 Celtics	109.9
	1989 Pistons	106.6

Rebounds

	1981 Celtics	43.6
	1989 Pistons	45.1

Assists

	1981 Celtics	26.9
	1989 Pistons	24.7

Steals

	1981 Celtics	8.3
	1989 Pistons	6.4

Blocks

	1981 Celtics	7.2
	1989 Pistons	5.0

3-Pointers Made

	1981 Celtics	0.8
	1989 Pistons	1.5

Percentages

Field Goal %

	1981 Celtics	.504
	1989 Pistons	.494

3-Point %

	1981 Celtics	.270
	1989 Pistons	.300

Free Throw %

	1981 Celtics	.752
	1989 Pistons	.769

NBA Playoffs

Stats Per Game

Points

	1981 Celtics	103.4
	1989 Pistons	100.6

Rebounds

	1981 Celtics	44.4
	1989 Pistons	44.2

Assists

	1981 Celtics	22.8
	1989 Pistons	22.6

Steals

	1981 Celtics	7.5
	1989 Pistons	4.9

Blocks

	1981 Celtics	6.6
	1989 Pistons	4.5

3-Pointers Made

	1981 Celtics	0.6
	1989 Pistons	2.5

Percentages

Field Goal %

	1981 Celtics	.480
	1989 Pistons	.473

3-Point %

	1981 Celtics	.222
	1989 Pistons	.296

Free Throw %

	1981 Celtics	.754
	1989 Pistons	.762

Team Leaders

NBA Regular Season

Points

1981 Celtics	21.2 ppg Larry Bird
1989 Pistons	18.4 ppg Adrian Dantley

Rebounds

1981 Celtics	10.9 rpg Larry Bird
1989 Pistons	9.6 rpg Bill Laimbeer

Assists

1981 Celtics	7.7 apg Tiny Archibald
1989 Pistons	8.3 apg Isiah Thomas

Steals

1981 Celtics	2.0 spg Larry Bird
1989 Pistons	1.7 spg Isiah Thomas

Blocks

1981 Celtics	2.6 bpg Robert Parish
1989 Pistons	1.2 bpg Bill Laimbeer

NBA Playoffs

Points

1981 Celtics	21.9 ppg Larry Bird
1989 Pistons	18.2 ppg Isiah Thomas

Rebounds

1981 Celtics	14.0 rpg Larry Bird
1989 Pistons	10.0 rpg Dennis Rodman

Assists

1981 Celtics	6.3 apg Tiny Archibald
1989 Pistons	8.3 apg Isiah Thomas

Steals

1981 Celtics	2.3 spg Larry Bird
1989 Pistons	1.6 spg Isiah Thomas

Blocks

1981 Celtics	2.3 bpg Robert Parish
1989 Pistons	1.5 bpg John Salley