The 1997–98 Detroit Pistons season was the 50th season for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association, and their 41st season in Detroit, Michigan.
Season summary
Off-season During the off-season, the Pistons signed free agents Brian Williams, and Malik Sealy.
Regular season With the addition of Brian Williams and Sealy, the Pistons won their first two games of the regular season, but then posted a five-game losing streak afterwards. The team struggled with a 6–11 start, as Joe Dumars missed ten games due to a shoulder injury during the first month of the season. In late December, the Pistons traded Theo Ratliff, and Aaron McKie to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Jerry Stackhouse, and Eric Montross. At mid-season, head coach Doug Collins was fired after a 21–24 start to the season, and was replaced with assistant coach Alvin Gentry; Collins would later on get a job as a color analyst for the NBA on NBC. The Pistons held a 22–25 record at the All-Star break, and later on posted a seven-game losing streak between March and April, finishing in sixth place in the Central Division with a disappointing 37–45 record, and failing to qualify for the NBA playoffs.
Grant Hill had another stellar season, averaging 21.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Brian Williams averaged 16.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and Stackhouse mostly played off the bench as the team's sixth man, averaging 15.7 points per game in 57 games after the trade; Stackhouse struggled as he only shot .208 in three-point field-goal percentage. In addition, Dumars contributed 13.1 points and 3.5 assists per game, and led the Pistons with 158 three-point field goals, while Lindsey Hunter provided with 12.1 points, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Off the bench, Sealy contributed 7.7 points per game, while second-year forward Jerome Williams averaged 5.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, Grant Long provided with 3.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, and starting power forward Don Reid contributed 3.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, Hill was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Hill also finished in ninth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Stackhouse finished in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting. The Pistons finished seventh in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 794,567 at The Palace of Auburn Hills during the regular season.
Aftermath Following the season, Sealy signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Long re-signed with his former team, the Atlanta Hawks, and Rick Mahorn re-signed with his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers.
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 19 Scot Pollard C/PF Kansas 2 31 Charles O'Bannon SG/SF UCLA
Roster
Roster notes Point guard Rumeal Robinson was signed by the Pistons during the off-season, only playing with the team during the preseason, and did not appear in any regular season games; he was waived on November 20, 1997.
Regular season
Season standings
z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot
Game log
| 1 | October 31 | Washington | | Grant Hill (25) | Grant Hill (12) | Grant Hill (8) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills22,076 | 1–0
| 2 | November 2 | @ New York | | Grant Hill (34) | Grant Hill (9) | Grant Hill (5) | Madison Square Garden19,763 | 2–0 |- | 3 | November 4 | @ Atlanta | | Brian Williams (16) | Brian Williams (11) | Grant Hill (5) | Georgia Dome13,961 | 2–1 |- | 4 | November 5 | Indiana | | Grant Hill (29) | Brian Williams (13) | Grant Hill (8) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills18,241 | 2–2 |- | 5 | November 7 | Orlando | | Malik Sealy (18) | Grant Hill (8) | Grant Hill (11) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills22,076 | 2–3 |- | 6 | November 9 | @ Vancouver | | Lindsey Hunter (23) | Grant Hill (10) | Grant Hill (14) | General Motors Place14,295 | 2–4 |- | 7 | November 10 | @ Portland | | Grant Hill (21) | Theo Ratliff (11) | Grant Hill (7) | Rose Garden Arena20,411 | 2–5 |- | 8 | November 12 | @ Golden State | | Lindsey Hunter (22) | B. Williams & J. Williams (9) | Grant Hill (13) | The Arena in Oakland10,629 | 3–5 |- | 9 | November 13 | @ Seattle | | Grant Hill (20) | Grant Hill (12) | Hill & McKie (5) | KeyArena at Seattle Center17,072 | 3–6 |- | 10 | November 15 | New Jersey | | Lindsey Hunter (35) | Brian Williams (12) | Lindsey Hunter (5) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills19,191 | 4–6 |- | 11 | November 18 | @ Milwaukee | | Brian Williams (28) | Brian Williams (10) | Grant Hill (8) | Bradley Center13,065 | 4–7 |- | 12 | November 20 | Portland | | Hill & Sealy (17) | Brian Williams (14) | Grant Hill (7) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills16,205 | 4–8 |- | 13 | November 22 | Atlanta | | Brian Williams (23) | Brian Williams (8) | Grant Hill (9) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills18,481 | 5–8 |- | 14 | November 23 | @ Boston | | Grant Hill (21) | Grant Hill (11) | 3 players tied (4) | FleetCenter17,070 | 5–9 |- | 15 | November 25 | @ Charlotte | | Brian Williams (27) | Brian Williams (10) | Lindsey Hunter (6) | Charlotte Coliseum22,617 | 5–10 |- | 16 | November 28 | New York | | Brian Williams (26) | Brian Williams (14) | Grant Hill (7) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills22,076 | 6–10 |- | 17 | November 30 | Vancouver | | Brian Williams (26) | Brian Williams (9) | Grant Hill (8) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills16,030 | 6–11
| 18 | December 3 | Phoenix | | Grant Hill (27) | Brian Williams (17) | Grant Hill (10) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills15,548 | 7–11 |- | 19 | December 5 | Seattle | | Grant Hill (27) | Brian Williams (20) | Grant Hill (8) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills18,424 | 7–12 |- | 20 | December 7 | @ Toronto | | Hill & J. Williams (20) | Jerome Williams (11) | Grant Hill (5) | SkyDome16,829 | 8–12 |- | 21 | December 9 | Denver | | Brian Williams (21) | Theo Ratliff (10) | Grant Hill (10) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills14,856 | 9–12 |- | 22 | December 11 | New Jersey | | Joe Dumars (22) | Brian Williams (11) | Grant Hill (9) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills14,365 | 10–12 |- | 23 | December 13 | Boston | | Brian Williams (31) | Brian Williams (15) | Grant Hill (8) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills22,076 | 11–12 |- | 24 | December 16 | @ New York | | Brian Williams (19) | Brian Williams (10) | Grant Hill (6) | Madison Square Garden19,763 | 11–13 |- | 25 | December 17 | @ New Jersey | | Grant Hill (25) | Brian Williams (10) | Grant Hill (6) | Continental Airlines Arena16,028 | 11–14 |- | 26 | December 19 | @ Indiana | | Jerry Stackhouse (33) | Brian Williams (14) | Grant Hill (7) | Market Square Arena14,743 | 11–15 |- | 27 | December 20 | Philadelphia | | Jerome Williams (22) | Eric Montross (14) | Lindsey Hunter (7) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills22,076 | 12–15 |- | 28 | December 22 | @ Philadelphia | | Grant Hill (22) | Grant Hill (10) | Grant Hill (8) | CoreStates Center16,798 | 13–15 |- | 29 | December 26 | Miami | | Brian Williams (20) | Brian Williams (14) | Grant Hill (5) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills22,076 | 13–16 |- | 30 | December 28 | Minnesota | | Grant Hill (27) | Brian Williams (16) | Grant Hill (6) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills19,450 | 13–17 |- | 31 | December 30 | Toronto | | Grant Hill (29) | Brian Williams (15) | Joe Dumars (7) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills19,087 | 14–17
| 32 | January 2 | @ Toronto | | Brian Williams (26) | Brian Williams (13) | Grant Hill (10) | SkyDome17,292 | 15–17 |- | 33 | January 3 | Chicago | | Grant Hill (31) | Grant Hill (7) | Hill & Dumars (6) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills22,076 | 15–18 |- | 34 | January 9 | Golden State | | Jerry Stackhouse (19) | Jerome Williams (12) | Grant Hill (9) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills18,366 | 16–18 |- | 35 | January 11 | L.A. Clippers | | Grant Hill (33) | Malik Sealy (11) | Jerry Stackhouse (8) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills17,696 | 17–18 |- | 36 | January 14 | @ Indiana | | Grant Hill (37) | Jerome Williams (8) | Grant Hill (5) | Market Square Arena15,826 | 17–19 |- | 37 | January 15 | Charlotte | | Grant Hill (30) | Brian Williams (9) | Hill & Dumars (9) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills16,716 | 18–19 |- | 38 | January 19 | @ Utah | | Grant Hill (26) | Brian Williams (17) | Joe Dumars (6) | Delta Center19,911 | 18–20 |- | 39 | January 21 | @ Denver | | Jerry Stackhouse (21) | Grant Hill (10) | Malik Sealy (7) | McNichols Sports Arena10,821 | 19–20 |- | 40 | January 22 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Grant Hill (35) | Grant Long (10) | Grant Hill (4) | Arrowhead Pond12,677 | 20–20 |- | 41 | January 24 | New York | | Jerry Stackhouse (35) | Brian Williams (10) | Grant Hill (7) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills22,076 | 20–21 |- | 42 | January 27 | @ Milwaukee | | Joe Dumars (20) | Grant Hill (13) | Grant Hill (6) | Bradley Center13,389 | 20–22 |- | 43 | January 28 | Orlando | | Grant Hill (29) | Grant Hill (12) | Grant Hill (6) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills17,473 | 21–22 |- | 44 | January 30 | Washington | | Grant Hill (28) | Hill & J. Williams (10) | Grant Hill (5) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills22,076 | 21–23 |- | 45 | January 31 | @ Cleveland | | Grant Hill (19) | Grant Hill (10) | Grant Hill (7) | Gund Arena20,562 | 21–24
| 46 | February 2 | @ Washington | | Jerry Stackhouse (22) | Grant Hill (10) | Joe Dumars (6) | MCI Center20,124 | 21–25 |- | 47 | February 5 | Houston | | Grant Hill (24) | Brian Williams (11) | Joe Dumars (10) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills17,534 | 22–25 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- | 48 | February 11 | Milwaukee | | Grant Hill (21) | Grant Hill (6) | Grant Hill (9) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills17,534 | 23–25 |- | 49 | February 13 | @ Miami | | Grant Hill (22) | Brian Williams (16) | Grant Hill (5) | Miami Arena15,200 | 23–26 |- | 50 | February 15 | @ Chicago | | Lindsey Hunter (31) | Hill & J. Williams (9) | Grant Hill (13) | United Center24,139 | 23–27 |- | 51 | February 17 | @ San Antonio | | Joe Dumars (21) | Hunter & Pollard (5) | Grant Hill (12) | Alamodome14,474 | 23–28 |- | 52 | February 19 | @ Houston | | Joe Dumars (19) | Eric Montross (8) | Grant Hill (5) | The Summit16,285 | 23–29 |- | 53 | February 21 | @ Dallas | | Brian Williams (19) | Brian Williams (9) | Grant Hill (6) | Reunion Arena18,042 | 24–29 |- | 54 | February 23 | Sacramento | | Grant Hill (28) | Grant Hill (13) | Lindsey Hunter (7) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills16,228 | 25–29 |- | 55 | February 25 | Charlotte | | Grant Hill (27) | Rick Mahorn (12) | Grant Hill (7) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills17,477 | 25–30 |- | 56 | February 27 | Cleveland | | B. Williams & J. Williams (17) | Jerome Williams (12) | Grant Hill (7) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills22,076 | 26–30
| 57 | March 1 | @ Minnesota | | Joe Dumars (28) | Brian Williams (12) | Hunter & Hill (9) | Target Center18,651 | 26–31 |- | 58 | March 2 | Dallas | | Grant Hill (35) | Jerome Williams (14) | Joe Dumars (7) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills15,682 | 27–31 |- | 59 | March 4 | @ Sacramento | | Grant Hill (22) | Brian Williams (10) | Grant Hill (3) | ARCO Arena14,772 | 27–32 |- | 60 | March 5 | @ Phoenix | | Joe Dumars (20) | Grant Hill (7) | Hill & Hunter (5) | America West Arena19,023 | 27–33 |- | 61 | March 8 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Jerry Stackhouse (23) | Grant Hill (12) | Hill & Hunter (6) | Great Western Forum17,505 | 27–34 |- | 62 | March 11 | Indiana | | Grant Hill (23) | Grant Hill (12) | Grant Hill (5) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills20,987 | 28–34 |- | 63 | March 13 | @ Boston | | Hill & Stackhouse (19) | B. Williams & J. Williams (8) | Lindsey Hunter (4) | FleetCenter18,624 | 29–34 |- | 64 | March 15 | Utah | | Grant Hill (29) | Brian Williams (14) | Jerry Stackhouse (6) | The Palace Of Auburn Hills22,076 | 29–35 |- | 65 | March 16 | @ Miami | | Grant Hill (26) | Brian Williams (10) | Hill & Hunter (3) | Miami Arena14,783 | 30–35 |-