Chapter 102: Fortress

Pistons players feeling nervous was perfectly normal, as their progression to the NBA Finals had been unexpected.

Everyone sensed the rise of the Pistons, but no one thought they could overthrow the Celtics' reign as early as 1987.

The trade for James Donaldson after the All-Star Game was a crucial move, as it addressed the Pistons' final weakness: rim protection.

While Lan Bi'er was an excellent center, his natural talent was insufficient. His shot-blocking ability ranked among the worst for centers, averaging 0.8 blocks per game.

His strengths lay in defensive rebounding, single coverage, and drawing offensive fouls through help defense. The lack of leaping ability and shot-blocking forced the Pistons to compensate with physicality and fouling.

Standing at 7'2", James Donaldson averaged 2.1 blocks per game with the Clippers, making him a formidable presence in the paint.

Upon Donaldson's arrival, Melvin Turpin willingly returned to a sixth-man role off the bench.