Sports are what make Michigan a notable state, so when people think of us, they think of our state they think of our great college teams, and outstanding national teams… minus the Lions. The story of the pistons begins with a man named Fred Zollner. Fred was born in Little Falls, Minnesota in 1901. Zollner Corporations; formed in 1912, was a tier-one supplier of pistons to major companies including Ford, General Motors, John Deere, International Harvester [Now Navistar], and Outboard Maine. The Zollner Pistons began in 1937 in Fort Wayne, Indiana and began playing as an independent in 1939. In 1941 The Zollner Pistons joined the National Basketball League. The Zollner Pistons were a very popular franchise, winning the world championship in
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Fred Zollner felt that his team could not compete in a small market city, so in 1957, he announced that his team would leave Fort Wayne and move to Detroit, Michigan. Zollner decided to keep the Pistons name because they were playing in the Motor City. In their first four seasons in Detroit, the Pistons played in the Olympia Stadium, which was also the home of the Detroit Red Wings. In 1961, the team relocated to Cobo Hall in Downtown Detroit. In 1974, Zollner sold his team to Bill Davidson for $6,000,000 dollars, which amounts to $29,209,776 in today’s money. During the 1978 season, Davidson moved the Pistons from Cobo Hall to the Pontiac …show more content…
The Pistons, who had seven players average double digits in scoring, would be put to the test in the first round as they need to beat the Washington Bullets in a fifth game. In the second round the Pistons would play up to their better levels as they beat the Chicago Bulls in five games to set up a rematch with the Boston Celtics. After the home team won all seven games in the past years, the Pistons appeared to have the advantage i taking game two in Boston. However, after taking game three at the Silverdome, the Pistons would need to pull out another victory after the Celtics tied it up with a one point win in game four. This time the Pistons would not let game five pass them off as they won 102-96, before closing the series in six games to reach the NBA finals for the first time since moving to Detroit. In the Finals the Pistons were matched up against the defending Champions; the Los Angeles Lakers. After winning one game, and losing one game on the road, the Pistons returned home to the Silverdome for game three. However, the Lakers would send the fans packing after they beat the Pistons by 99-86. The Pistons would make a comeback, winning game four and game five to take a three-two lead back to Los
Fred Zollner felt that his team could not compete in a small market city, so in 1957, he announced that his team would leave Fort Wayne and move to Detroit, Michigan. Zollner decided to keep the Pistons name because they were playing in the Motor City. In their first four seasons in Detroit, the Pistons played in the Olympia Stadium, which was also the home of the Detroit Red Wings. In 1961, the team relocated to Cobo Hall in Downtown Detroit. In 1974, Zollner sold his team to Bill Davidson for $6,000,000 dollars, which amounts to $29,209,776 in today’s money. During the 1978 season, Davidson moved the Pistons from Cobo Hall to the Pontiac …show more content…
The Pistons, who had seven players average double digits in scoring, would be put to the test in the first round as they need to beat the Washington Bullets in a fifth game. In the second round the Pistons would play up to their better levels as they beat the Chicago Bulls in five games to set up a rematch with the Boston Celtics. After the home team won all seven games in the past years, the Pistons appeared to have the advantage i taking game two in Boston. However, after taking game three at the Silverdome, the Pistons would need to pull out another victory after the Celtics tied it up with a one point win in game four. This time the Pistons would not let game five pass them off as they won 102-96, before closing the series in six games to reach the NBA finals for the first time since moving to Detroit. In the Finals the Pistons were matched up against the defending Champions; the Los Angeles Lakers. After winning one game, and losing one game on the road, the Pistons returned home to the Silverdome for game three. However, the Lakers would send the fans packing after they beat the Pistons by 99-86. The Pistons would make a comeback, winning game four and game five to take a three-two lead back to Los