They seem so ... mellow now. Well, maybe except for Rodman.

But “Bad Boys,” part of ESPN Films’ “30 for 30” series, reminds us how bad the Pistons used to be — and how very bad the rest of the NBA thought they were.

But you know what? Now, as then, no apologies.

Not from John Salley: “To the people that say we’re thugs and goons, I say kiss my entire a ...” whoa, there, Spider.

Narrator Kid Rock says it like this: “This is the story of a team that a few of us loved. And the rest of you couldn’t stand. This is the story of one of the best teams in basketball history. You got a problem with me saying that?”

“Bad Boys” — which premieres at 8 p.m. April 17 on ESPN — captures the spirit of that era, the Pistons and Detroit. The Free Press was provided an advance screening.

The genesis of the Bad Boys begins when general manager Jack McCloskey drafts a reluctant Isiah Thomas and trades for a truculent Bill Laimbeer, an unlikely pair that forged a partnership.

The rest follow: Rick Mahorn, Joe Dumars, Vinnie Johnson, Dennis Rodman, Salley, James Edwards and, of course, Chuck Daly — love ’em or not, the Bad Boys.

They forged a take-no-prisoners style until they won back-to-back titles in 1989 and ’90. They battled the Celtics, the Lakers and the Bulls (and enforced the Jordan Rules).

If you weren’t around when it happened or need a reminder of what it was like, the film captures it with clips from the day and new interviews.

It was a different brand of basketball.

“Not only did we want to dominate you physically, but we wanted to crush you mentally,” Thomas says. “We wanted your whole city to shake ... we wanted the fans to feel fear.”

The film ends with the loss to the Bulls in the 1991 conference finals and the Pistons’ early exit from the court.

Thomas admits now it might not have been the best idea. But Laimbeer — who says he was the instigator — is asked if it felt good to him.

“Absolutely!” he says.

http://youtu.be/iQ_JCC4LUAY

Other than the fact you're horribly wrong, no.

They are. They beat a Celtics and Lakers team that had more talent on their benches than the Pistons had in their starting lineup.

That's not true at all.

I'm exaggerating but those teams were better IMO. How many teams have won a championship? Would you put those Pistons teams in the top half?

It's Kid Rock, are we going to get his thoughts on the ACA next?

traded one bad apple (Dantley) got another (Aguirre)

Mark was so petulant at the end of his career with the Pistons. An absolute bad guy, body language etc.

traded one bad apple (Dantley) got another (Aguirre)

Mark was so petulant at the end of his career with the Pistons. An absolute bad guy, body language etc.

True. But he was willing to be Isaiah's bad apple. Dantley wasn't, and he was better than Dantley.

He went from the highest high to the lowest low in mins. I'm sure not winning another championship bothered him. Still not sure why they didn't protect him.

How many players did they get to protect? Maybe they did not have room

they could have protected all their guys. I would think of anyone on that roster you would want to leave Edwards unprotected.

Have to assume they wanted Mahorn gone.

The Pistons did not enjoy their first NBA championship for long. Within hours of waving brooms during a parade downtown following their 1989 sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, Rick Mahorn sat in his apartment with teammates Vinnie Johnson and James Edwards.

They were angry, bitter and hurt. They were buddies and needed to be together after news leaked that Mahorn was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the expansion draft.

He was a rough 6-foot-10 presence the Pistons depended on. But he also had back issues, and that is why general manager Jack McCloskey pulled a switch and left Mahorn unprotected instead of Edwards. who had already been in contact with the Timberwolves. McCloskey could protect only eight of 12 players and spent time on the phone trying to work a trade to keep Mahorn.