The 2004 NBA Finals: A Tale Of Opposites

We barely ever see the underdogs win the NBA finals, but 2004 is probably the most notable year it happened. Nobody gave the Detroit Pistons a chance, and the heavily favored Lakers were supposed to trample all over them. However...that obviously didn't happen. Here is the story of the 2004 NBA finals. Enjoy!

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#nba #2004finals

[localneo-graphic]

I like the plan of 'let Shaq score, because we can't do anything about that anyways, then let Kobe's ego take over, then we win'. It's one thing to outplay a team physically, it's another to destroy them psychologically. The latter is way more demoralizing.

[KennyMoemile]

I'm from 7 mile West side of the D. When the Pistons won it was like Christmas thru out the whole hood. Wonderful times

[CommonSenseless]

Man I used to love those old Pistons squads back in middle school/high school in the early 2000s. Basketball in its purest form.

[d-manhd]

Whenever I think of the 04 Pistons one word comes to mind and that’s “Hardwork” That team was talented and they work their asses if to win that title

[savastevanovic]

You forgot to mention that Darko Miličić became the youngest NBA champion of all time.

[CSP]

You have to give to Detroit man, it’s not easy to execute a plan that well on the big stage

[arnoldpalmer]

It’s been 14 years?! How many people in the comments actually remember watching this series?

[EGarrett]

Chauncey Billups:
"Our game plan was very calculated. We knew we were going to play Shaq straight-up. We knew there was no way we could stop Shaq straight-up. And there was also no way we could stop Kobe straight-up. But, if we’re going to play Shaq straight-up, [the Lakers’] eyes are going to get big, which means they’re going to keep throwing it down there. We’re telling Ben the whole time, “Take fouls when you need to, but don’t get yourself into foul trouble. You need to give up a layup, cool, we’re going to get what we want on the other side.” But what’s going to happen is Mr. Bryant is going to get a little discouraged with getting no touches and now the second half comes around…now he’s pressing. He’s going to start coming down and just breaking the offense. When you do that, you’re done—you’re playing right into our hands. Even if you start making those shots, you’re finished."

[deicidium]

From what I remembered. Rip was also killing them when he was shooting mid-range jumpers coming from off-screens like what Klay is doing today (but from 3). He just can't miss that time.

[sharilajeeeeee]

As a Laker fan, this was my first heartbreak. I remember hating on Ben and Sheed so much I cried watching game 5

[TPTGopher]

On paper, the ‘04 Lakers were arguably the best team ever - and for the maybe ten times where they really brought their A game, they showed it...but for all the Lakers’ individual talent, those Pistons were the ultimate TEAM.

[LebronJames-rphb]

Kobe stans love to bring up the 2011 finals but you never hear them talking about this series

[saiyanballer]

Yes a video on my favorite team of all time the 03-04 Detroit Pistons!! Thank you!

[brucelau]

Man, lots of Straight up from Chauncey

[triton]

Ben Wallace is the best defensive player so far in the 2000s, too bad he’s not yet in the hall of fame

[loveofmangos]

Did anyone else notice that in the NBA 2K classic teams, 2003-04 Pistons, Rasheed Wallace is not on the team?
Hope this is corrected in NBA 2K19.

[BinarySk]

RIP Kobe but this was the series that made me dislike selfish, ego gameplay. Surprisingly, that’s the most admired trait in today’s game

[Jonaske]

Wtf it's been already 14 years ago.. Where did time go... Holy shit

[mullboll]

Larry Brown deserves a ton of credit. The whole city of Philadelphia was behind the Pistons because of the Larry Brown connection, and the Lakers being the team that stole our championship dreams here with him and Iverson. What an awesome teams those Pistons were!

[LpCruz]

That era of basketball frequently had scores in low 80's and low 90's. Every team had 1 player that played hero ball and took contest shots in the half court
Pierce
McGrady
Of course Iverson