Founded in '41, it was many lean decades before Isiah Thomas ('81) was joined by Dumars, Laimbeer, Rodman and co. By '88 the Bad Boys dominated with hard nosed defense and selflessness. Narrowly losing to the Lakers in '88 (the phantom foul), they went back-to-back in '89 and '90. Champagne wasn't tasted until after the teal era with a 5-game sweep of the loaded 2004 Lakers. The Pistons fell shy of an '05 repeat (Sheeeed!). Don't ever bring up the 2003 draft.