The 1974–75 Detroit Pistons season was the Detroit Pistons' 27th season in the NBA and 18th season in the city of Detroit. The team played at Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit.
The Pistons finished with a 40–42 (.488) record, 3rd place in the Midwest Division. The team was led guard Dave Bing (19.0 ppg, 7.7 apg, NBA All-Star), who held out over a contract dispute in the pre-season and center Bob Lanier (24.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, NBA All-Star). The steady improvement of the previous three seasons (26 to 40 to 52 wins) came to a halt, as injuries played a significant role in derailing the promising season. In Sports Illustrated, the team was discussing Lanier playing through injury, "He’s our savior," says Rowe. Our healer, says Adams. Our leader, says Bing. Listen to those guys, says Lanier. They think I'm Moses."
Detroit advanced to the 1975 NBA Playoffs, losing a first round series of the Western Conference playoffs 2–1 to the Seattle SuperSonics, dropping the deciding 3rd game 100–94 in Seattle, with each team winning at home in the series. Lanier was limited in the series, averaging 20.3 ppg vs. his season average of 24.0 ppg, Howard Porter, picked up in a December trade with the Chicago Bulls, had an excellent series with 17.3 ppg, but the team could not overcome the stellar shooting of Downtown Freddie Brown, who averaged 23.7 ppg and Tom Burleson with a double-double of 22.3 ppg and 10.7 rpg.
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 15 Al Eberhard Forward Missouri 2 33 Eric Money Guard Arizona 10 175 Bill Ligon Guard Vanderbilt
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot
Season schedule
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || October 18 || @ Seattle || 100–95 || Bob Lanier (30) || Bob Lanier (14) || Dave Bing (7) || Seattle Center Coliseum9,537 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || October 19 || @ Portland || 122–99 || Dave Bing (24) || Bob Lanier (9) || Dave Bing (10) || Memorial Coliseum11,831 || 2–0 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 3 || October 23 || @ Phoenix || 90–100 || Bob Lanier (24) || Bob Lanier (14) || Dave Bing (8) || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum5,924 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || October 25 || @ Los Angeles || 110–107 || Dave Bing (25) || Curtis Rowe (16) || Dave Bing (6) || The Forum12,044 || 3–1 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 5 || October 26 || @ Golden State || 104–105 || Dave Bing (26) || Bob Lanier (12) || Dave Bing (6) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena5,436 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 6 || October 30 || Atlanta || 104–96 || Dave Bing (25) || Bob Lanier (16) || John Mengelt (11) || Cobo Arena6,716 || 3–3 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 7 || October 31 || @ Cleveland || 101–118 || Bob Lanier (41) || Bob Lanier (14) || Dave Bing (10) || Richfield Coliseum5,584 || 3–4
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 8 || November 1 || New Orleans || 93–103 || Eric Money (21) || Bob Lanier (21) || Bob Lanier (8) || Cobo Arena4,237 || 4–4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || November 2 || @ Philadelphia || 100–94 || Bob Lanier (26) || Curtis Rowe (14) || Dave Bing (11) || The Spectrum6,890 || 5–4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 10 || November 6 || Kansas City–Omaha || 104–118 || Dave Bing (30) || Bob Lanier (17) || Chris Ford (9) || Cobo Arena7,202 || 6–4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 11 || November 8 || @ Boston || 105–104 || Dave Bing (32) || Bob Lanier (20) || Dave Bing (7) || Boston Garden9,542 || 7–4 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 12 || November 9 || @ Buffalo || 100–109 || Bob Lanier (20) || Bob Lanier (16) || Bing, Money, Rowe, Trapp (3) || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium12,113 || 7–5 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 13 || November 10 || Buffalo || 124–117 || Bob Lanier (45) || Bob Lanier (15) || Dave Bing (15) || Cobo Arena4,301 || 7–6 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 14 || November 13 || Milwaukee || 91–98 || Bob Lanier (40) || Bob Lanier (24) || Dave Bing (8) || Cobo Arena4,994 || 8–6 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 15 || November 15 || Seattle || 103–117 || John Mengelt (20) || Bob Lanier (10) || Bing, Lanier (6) || Cobo Arena6,789 || 9–6 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 16 || November 16 || @ Houston || 98–118 || Dave Bing (16) || Bob Lanier (10) || — || Hofheinz Pavilion2,457 || 9–7 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || November 17 || @ New Orleans || 99–85 || Bob Lanier (26) || Bob Lanier (17) || Dave Bing (4) || Municipal Auditorium3,441 || 10–7 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 18 || November 19 || @ Kansas City–Omaha || 87–97 || Bob Lanier (25) || Don Adams (16) || Dave Bing (6) || Kemper Arena4,847 || 10–8 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 19 || November 20 || Phoenix || 114–106 || Dave Bing (27) || Bob Lanier (16) || Bob Lanier (9) || Cobo Arena3,807 || 10–9 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 20 || November 23 || Golden State || 110–98 || Bob Lanier (25) || Bob Lanier (18) || Dave Bing (9) || Cobo Arena6,902 || 10–10 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 21 || November 26 || @ New York || 99–88 || Bob Lanier (36) || Bob Lanier (10) || Bob Lanier (6) || Madison Square Garden18,254 || 11–10
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || December 4 || Houston || 69–86 || Bob Lanier (24) || Bob Lanier (10) || Bob Lanier (4) || Cobo Arena3,445 || 12–10 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || December 6 || Cleveland || 91–117 || Dave Bing (24) || Bob Lanier (14) || Dave Bing (8) || Cobo Arena4,763 || 13–10 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 24 || December 7 || @ Washington || 89–94 || Dave Bing (30) || Don Adams (10) || Dave Bing (6) || Capital Centre9,094 || 13–11 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 25 || December 8 || Kansas City–Omaha || 96–92 || Bob Lanier (32) || Bob Lanier (10) || Dave Bing (13) || Cobo Arena5,134 || 13–12 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 26 || December 10 || @ Milwaukee || 82–90 || Dave Bing (21) || Bob Lanier (13) || Bing, Ford, Lanier (4) || MECCA Arena9,625 || 13–13 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 27 || December 11 || Washington || 89–103 || Bob Lanier (37) || Bob Lanier (20) || Dave Bing (11) || Cobo Arena5,376 || 14–13 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 28 || December 13 || @ Kansas City–Omaha || 84–88 || Curtis Rowe (20) || Bob Lanier (17) || Dave Bing (3) || Omaha Civic Auditorium4,702 || 14–14 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 29 || December 14 || Philadelphia || 93–100 || John Mengelt (33) || Jim Davis (9) || Bob Lanier (8) || Cobo Arena4,812 || 15–14 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 30 || December 18 || Seattle || 100–97 || Lanier, Rowe (21) || Bob Lanier (17) || Bob Lanier (7) || Cobo Arena4,365 || 15–15 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 31 || December 20 || @ Los Angeles || 103–102 || Bob Lanier (34) || Bob Lanier (14) || Dave Bing (11) || The Forum9,667 || 16–15 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 32 || December 21 || @ Portland || 97–108 || Dave Bing (19) || Jim Davis (15) || Dave Bing (6) || Memorial Coliseum11,005 || 16–16 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 33 || December 22 || @ Seattle || 90–108 || Curtis Rowe (22) || Jim Davis (9) || Dave Bing (8) || Seattle Center Coliseum13,346 || 16–17 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || December 26 || New York || 83–84 || Bob Lanier (27) || Bob Lanier (14) || Dave Bing (11) || Cobo Arena11,265 || 17–17 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || December 28 || Chicago || 70–79 || Dave Bing (21) || Bob Lanier (10) || Bob Lanier (6) || Cobo Arena11,015 || 18–17 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 36 || December 30 || @ Chicago || 86–81 || Bob Lanier (26) || Bob Lanier (19) || Dave Bing (6) || Chicago Stadium10,846 || 19–17
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 37 || January 2 || New Orleans || 95–99 || Bob Lanier (36) || Bob Lanier (11) || Dave Bing (15) || Cobo Arena5,176 || 20–17 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 38 || January 3 || @ Buffalo || 111–92 || Bob Lanier (23) || Davis, Lanier (7) || Dave Bing (11) || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium13,464 || 21–17 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 39 || January 4 || Philadelphia || 82–89 || Dave Bing (28) || Bob Lanier (17) || Bob Lanier (7) || Cobo Arena6,168 || 22–17 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 40 || January 8 || Milwaukee || 102–92 || Dave Bing (28) || Bob Lanier (13) || Dave Bing (6) || Cobo Arena11,388 || 22–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 41 || January 10 || @ Milwaukee || 89–81 || Bob Lanier (29) || Lanier, Rowe (9) || Chris Ford (7) || MECCA Arena10,938 || 23–18 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 42 || January 11 || @ Atlanta || 118–113 || Bob Lanier (43) || Bob Lanier (14) || — || Omni Coliseum8,288 || 24–18 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 43 || January 17 || @ Boston || 90–96 || Bob Lanier (30) || Bob Lanier (14) || Dave Bing (10) || Boston Garden15,320 || 24–19 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || January 18 || Phoenix || 77–86 || Dave Bing (21) || Lanier, Trapp (10) || Dave Bing (14) || Cobo Arena6,053 || 25–19 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || January 19 || Cleveland || 98–100 || John Mengelt (23) || Bob Lanier (13) || Dave Bing (7) || Cobo Arena5,390 || 26–19 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 46 || January 22 || Portland || 94–96 || Lanier, Rowe (25) || Curtis Rowe (13) || Dave Bing (7) || Cobo Arena9,180 || 27–19 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || January 24 || Atlanta || 103–113 || George Trapp (24) || Bob Lanier (9) || Dave Bing (10) || Cobo Arena5,638 || 28–19 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 48 || January 25 || @ Chicago || 96–116 || Dave Bing (21) || Jim Davis (10) || Chris Ford (3) || Chicago Stadium18,720 || 28–20 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 49 || January 26 || Chicago || 93–102 (OT) || Bob Lanier (31) || Curtis Rowe (15) || Dave Bing (11) || Cobo Arena10,210 || 29–20 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 50 || January 29 || Golden State || 90–93 || Bob Lanier (30) || Bob Lanier (15) || Dave Bing (12) || Cobo Arena9,538 || 30–20 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 51 || January 30 || @ Houston || 88–103 || Bob Lanier (22) || Jim Davis (8) || Dave Bing (7) || Hofheinz Pavilion2,317 || 30–21
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 52 || February 1 || Buffalo || 113–119 || Bob Lanier (39) || Bob Lanier (20) || Dave Bing (11) || Cobo Arena11,245 || 31–21 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 53 || February 2 || @ Cleveland || 96–116 || Bob Lanier (29) || Bob Lanier (8) || Adams, Bing (4) || Richfield Coliseum5,144 || 31–22 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 54 || February 3 || Boston || 114–100 || Bob Lanier (27) || Bob Lanier (11) || Dave Bing (9) || Cobo Arena10,962 || 31–23 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 55 || February 6 || @ Atlanta || 98–111 || Bob Lanier (32) || Bob Lanier (9) || Dave Bing (8) || Omni Coliseum2,992 || 31–24 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 56 || February 7 || @ Chicago || 83–95 || Bob Lanier (17) || Bob Lanier (15) || Ford, Lanier (4) || Chicago Stadium18,836 || 31–25 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 57 || February 9 || Los Angeles || 96–97 || Bob Lanier (31) || Curtis Rowe (11) || Dave Bing (9) || Cobo Arena7,227 || 32–25 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 58 || February 10 || @ Milwaukee || 109–130 || Howard Porter (22) || Curtis Rowe (12) || Eric Money (8) || MECCA Arena10,309 || 32–26 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 59 || February 12 || Chicago || 103–93 || Howard Porter (20) || Bob Lanier (8) || Bob Lanier (6) || Cobo Arena10,706 || 32–27 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 60 || February 14 || @ Philadelphia || 101–103 || Bob Lanier (27) || Bob Lanier (11) || Dave Bing (15) || The Spectrum5,595 || 32–28 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 61 || February 15 || Kansas City–Omaha || 93–81 || Howard Porter (19) || Bob Lanier (15) || Dave Bing (12) || Cobo Arena7,174 || 32–29 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 62 || February 16 || @ Kansas City–Omaha || 99–102 || Bob Lanier (27) || Lanier, Rowe (12) || Ford, Lanier (6) || Kemper Arena13,981 || 32–30 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 63 || February 19 || New York || 109–94 || Bob Lanier (20) || Howard Porter (7) || Bob Lanier (8) || Cobo Arena8,056 || 32–31 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 64 || February 21 || Washington || 121–96 || Bob Lanier (22) || Bob Lanier (14) || Bing, Lanier (5) || Cobo Arena9,571 || 32–32 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 65 || February 26 || Milwaukee || 84–104 || Bob Lanier (26) || Howard Porter (10) || Dave Bing (9) || Cobo Arena10,190 || 33–32 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 66 || February 28 || @ Washington || 95–106 || Bob Lanier (20) || Bob Lanier (14) || Dave Bing (9) || Capital Centre11,121 || 33–33
|- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 67 || March 1 || Chicago || 94–95 || Dave Bing (27) || Howard Porter (13) || Bob Lanier (9) || Cobo Arena10,666 || 34–33 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 68 || March 2 || @ Kansas City–Omaha || 112–122 || Bing, Lanier (25) || Curtis Rowe (9) || Dave Bing (8) || Kemper Arena14,843 || 34–34 |- bgcolor="ffcccc"