After missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season during a rebuilding effort, the Detroit Pistons made HUGE moves over the summer and look to be substantially improved heading into 2013-14. A Brief History The Detroit Pistons were founded in the early 1940s by Fred Zollner, a Fort Wayne-based industrialist who supplied the automotive industry with – wait for it - pistons AND helped construct the NBA as we know it today. Struggling through the 60s and 70s as longtime foes the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers dominated the league, the Detroit Pistons hit their stride in the 80s when they produced one of the all-time best basketball brands: The Bad Boys. Thriving on a hard-nosed, punch-you-in-the-mouth mentality that garnered massive fan support in Rock City, Joe Dumars, Isaiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson, Dennis Rodman, Rick Mahorn and the rest of the gang were the team opposing fans LOVED TO HATE. Under Hall of Fame head coach Chuck Daly, the Detroit Pistons won consecutive titles in 1989 and 1990. In 2004 the Pistons won a third NBA title led by Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace by defeating the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers, who featured at least four current or future Hall of Famers in Kobe, Shaq, Karl Malone and Gary Payton. The New Look Detroit Pistons Beverly Hills-dwelling, Michigan bred billionaire Tom Gores bought the Pistons in 2011 and brings a whole new approach to the business of basketball. A couple of years into an organizational overhaul, the Pistons enter 2013-14 with big-time aspirations. Building around young, budding stars Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, GM Joe Dumars bet big on Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith. Plus? Chauncey Billups is back in town. And that’s awesome. Just like that, the Pistons look like a playoff team. Ball night in Rock City is back. Get there with guaranteed savings from ScoreBig.com.