2003β04 Detroit Pistons season | |
---|---|
NBA champions | |
Conference champions | |
Head coach | Larry Brown |
General manager | Joe Dumars |
President | Joe Dumars |
Owner(s) | Bill Davidson |
Arena | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
Results | |
Record | 54–28 (.659) |
Place | Division: 2nd (
Central) Conference: 3rd ( Eastern) |
Playoff finish |
NBA Champions (Defeated Lakers 4β1) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | |
Radio | WDFN |
The 2003β04 NBA season was the 63rd season for the Pistons, the 56th in the National Basketball Association, and the 47th in the Detroit area. [1] Despite a solid year the previous season, the Pistons received the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, which they obtained from the Memphis Grizzlies. They selected Darko MiliΔiΔ as their top pick, but only used him as a reserve as he played limited minutes off the bench; he would later be regarded as one of the most suboptimal picks in the history of the NBA draft. After their first trip to the Conference Finals since 1991, the Pistons hired Larry Brown as head coach. Under Brown, the Pistons were once again a tough defensive team as they went on a 13-game winning streak between December and January. However, after a solid 33β16 start, they struggled in February losing six straight games. At midseason, the team acquired All-Star forward Rasheed Wallace from the Atlanta Hawks after playing just one game for them. [2] With the addition of Wallace, the Pistons won 16 of their final 19 games finishing second in the Central Division with a 54β28 record. Ben Wallace was selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. The Pistons went on to win the NBA Championship for the third time in franchise history, with MiliΔiΔ being the youngest player to win said championship.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Pistons defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games despite losing Game 2 at home. In the semifinals, they faced the New Jersey Nets who swept them in the Eastern Conference Finals in the previous year. The Pistons would win the first two games at home, but the Nets would put up a fight against the Pistons by winning 3 straight games to take a 3β2 series lead, which included a triple overtime win in Game 5 at The Palace. However, with the Pistons facing elimination, the Pistons were digging an early hole in Game 6, but the Pistons were able to erase a 13β2 deficit and never trailed for the remainder of the game as they would refuse to relinquish the lead to the Nets and win Game 6 81β75. In Game 7, the Pistons stingy defense held Jason Kidd to 0 points to defeat the Nets 90β69 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they defeated the top-seeded Indiana Pacers in a defensive six game series to earn their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 1990. In the Finals, the Pistons would pull off one of the greatest upsets in NBA history by defeating the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers four games to one, winning their third overall championship and first since 1990. Chauncey Billups was named Finals MVP. [3]
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College / Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Darko MiliΔiΔ | Forward/Center | Serbia and Montenegro | Hemofarm Vrsac ( Serbia and Montenegro and Adriatic League) |
1 | 25 | Carlos Delfino | Guard | Argentina | UniΓ³n de Santa Fe ( Argentina) |
2 | 58 | Andreas Glyniadakis | Center | Greece | AEK Athens ( Greece) |
2003β04 Detroit Pistons roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y- Indiana Pacers | 61 | 21 | .744 | β | 34β7 | 27β14 | 20β8 |
x- Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 7 | 31β10 | 23β18 | 17β11 |
x- New Orleans Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 | 25β16 | 16β25 | 14β14 |
x- Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 | 27β14 | 14β27 | 15β13 |
Cleveland Cavaliers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 26 | 23β18 | 12β29 | 14β14 |
Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 | 18β23 | 15β26 | 11β17 |
Atlanta Hawks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 33 | 18β23 | 10β31 | 10β18 |
Chicago Bulls | 23 | 59 | .280 | 38 | 14β27 | 9β32 | 11β17 |
# | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z- Indiana Pacers | 61 | 21 | .744 | β |
2 | y- New Jersey Nets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 14 |
3 | x- Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 7 |
4 | x- Miami Heat | 42 | 40 | .512 | 19 |
5 | x- New Orleans Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
6 | x- Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
7 | x- New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
8 | x- Boston Celtics | 36 | 46 | .439 | 25 |
9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 26 |
10 | Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 |
11 | Philadelphia 76ers | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 |
12 | Atlanta Hawks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 33 |
13 | Washington Wizards | 25 | 57 | .305 | 36 |
14 | Chicago Bulls | 23 | 59 | .280 | 38 |
15 | Orlando Magic | 21 | 61 | .256 | 40 |
2003β04 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NOH | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
Atlanta | β | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 0β3 | 1β3 | 1β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 2β2 |
Boston | 1β3 | β | 1β2 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 0β3 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 3β1 |
Chicago | 1β3 | 2β1 | β | 2β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 4β0 | 1β1 | 1β3 |
Cleveland | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | β | 0β2 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 1β2 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β2 |
Dallas | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | β | 2β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 |
Denver | 0β2 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β2 | β | 0β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 4β0 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 3β1 | 2β0 |
Detroit | 3β1 | 3β0 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | β | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 4β0 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 3β0 |
Golden State | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β1 | β | 2β2 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 |
Houston | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 2β2 | β | 1β1 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 0β4 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β0 |
Indiana | 4β0 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | β | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 3β0 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 4β0 | 2β0 | 2β1 |
L.A. Clippers | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 0β2 | β | 1β3 | 0β4 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 0β4 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 0β2 |
L.A. Lakers | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | β | 2β2 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 3β1 | 2β0 |
Memphis | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 4β0 | 2β2 | β | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 2β0 |
Miami | 3β1 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β3 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β1 | β | 1β2 | 0β2 | 3β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 2β1 | 1β1 | 4β0 |
Milwaukee | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β1 | β | 0β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 3β1 |
Minnesota | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 4β0 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | β | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 2β0 |
New Jersey | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β0 | 2β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 2β3 | 1β3 | 1β1 | β | 2β1 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 4β0 |
New Orleans | 2β2 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 1β2 | β | 1β2 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 3β1 |
New York | 3β0 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 2β1 | β | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 4β0 |
Orlando | 3β1 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 0β4 | 1β3 | β | 2β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β2 | 1β1 | 4β0 |
Philadelphia | 2β1 | 1β3 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 3β1 | 1β2 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | β | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 2β2 |
Phoenix | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | β | 2β2 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 |
Portland | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β2 | β | 3β1 | 0β4 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 |
Sacramento | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 2β0 | 4β0 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 3β1 | 1β3 | β | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 3β1 | 1β1 |
San Antonio | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 4β0 | 4β0 | 2β2 | β | 4β0 | 2β0 | 4β0 | 2β0 |
Seattle | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 0β4 | β | 1β1 | 1β3 | 1β1 |
Toronto | 3β1 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β2 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | β | 1β1 | 1β3 |
Utah | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 1β1 | β | 1β1 |
Washington | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β2 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 0β4 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | β |
2003β04 game log Total: 54β28 (Home: 31β10; Road: 23β18) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 1β1 (home: 0β1; road: 1β0)
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November: 11β5 (home: 6β1; road: 5β4)
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December: 7β7 (home: 5β3; road: 2β4)
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January: 13β3 (home: 8β1; road: 5β2)
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February: 6β8 (home: 2β4; road: 4β4)
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March: 10β3 (home: 5β0; road: 5β3)
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April: 6β1 (home: 5β0; road: 1β1)
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2003β04 schedule |
Team/Game | 1 | 2 (OT) | 3 | 4 | 5 | Wins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles (West) | 75 | 99 | 68 | 80 | 87 | 1 |
Detroit (East) | 87 | 91 | 88 | 88 | 100 | 4 |
(OT) denotes a game that required overtime.
The Finals were played using a 2β3β2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage. This was only used in the Finals, all other playoff series are held in a 2β2β1β1β1 format (the team with home court advantage starts). [4]
The Lakers had a lineup of stars such as Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal β their offensive capability was expected to overpower Detroit's defensive-based gameplan.
Payton and Malone also added to the publicity of the Finals. Perennial All-Stars who had both previously reached the Finals, Payton had led the Seattle SuperSonics there in 1996, while Malone had led the Utah Jazz there in 1997 and 1998. [5] However, Michael Jordan and the Bulls denied their championship rings a total of three times. By the time of Jordan's retirement in 2003, the two veterans were aged and failed to lead their teams deep into the playoffs. [5] [6] Thus, this Finals series was seen as the last chance for two of the greatest players in NBA history to finally become NBA champions (Later on, Malone retired while Payton became a champion as a key bench player for the Miami Heat).
Sunday, June 6, 2004, 14:30 at the Staples Center.
Considered to be a stunning upset by most of the NBA world, the Detroit Pistons managed to defeat the Lakers with imposing defense. [7] Defensively clamping down on everyone but Bryant and O'Neal, the Pistons managed to hold everyone else to a total of 16 points.
The Pistons trailed the Lakers 41β40 at halftime, but a 10β4 surge capped by Billups's 3-pointer gave the Pistons the lead. O'Neal's foul trouble furthered the scoring gap, with the Pistons leading by 13 points early in the fourth quarter.
Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Detroit | 22 | 18 | 24 | 23 | 87 |
Los Angeles | 19 | 22 | 17 | 17 | 75 |
Tuesday, June 8, 2004, 15:04 at the Staples Center.
The second game was close throughout the first half, but in the third quarter Detroit would score 30 points, cutting the deficit 68β66. However, at the end of the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant's 3-point shot at 2.1 seconds to go would tie the game at 89β89. The Lakers and Pistons would then go to overtime, with the Lakers outscoring the Pistons 10β2.
Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Detroit | 16 | 20 | 30 | 23 | 2 | 91 |
Los Angeles | 18 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 10 | 99 |
Thursday, June 10, 2004, 14:31 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Pistons beat Los Angeles by 20 in their first NBA Finals appearance together at The Palace of Auburn Hills since 1989 [8] to take a 2β1 lead in the series. The 68 points scored by the Lakers set a (post- shot clock) franchise record for the fewest points scored in a Finals game. (Even Jay Leno was upset, saying in his Tonight Show monologue: "68 points? 68 is a great score...if you're playing golf!")
Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles | 16 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 68 |
Detroit | 24 | 15 | 24 | 25 | 88 |
Sunday, June 13, 2004, 14:49 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Again, the Pistons defeated the Lakers, although this time by eight, to take a 3β1 series advantage.
Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles | 22 | 17 | 17 | 24 | 80 |
Detroit | 21 | 20 | 15 | 32 | 88 |
Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 14:32 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
In Game 5, the Pistons won their first championship since 1990, and Larry Brown finally won a title as an NBA head coach. The Pistons defense had overcome the high-scoring Laker offense, winning the game by 13, winning the series 4β1, and also ending a long Laker dynasty that lasted for many years. The game saw the end of Phil Jackson's first run as the coach (he returned for the 2005β06 season), and saw O'Neal, Payton, and Malone's last games in Laker uniforms (O'Neal and Payton were both acquired by the soon-to-be NBA Champions Miami Heat and Malone retired).
Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles | 24 | 21 | 14 | 28 | 87 |
Detroit | 25 | 30 | 27 | 18 | 100 |
As a result of their incredible defensive dominance, the 2004 Pistons set a number of notable shot-clock era (1955βpresent) defensive playoff records:
Least Points Per Game (PPG) allowed in a shot-clock era playoff run of any length:
The 2004 Pistons had a Defensive Rating of 92.0 in the playoffs. [21] This is the lowest Defensive Rating any team has had in a post-1st round playoff run in the 3-point era (1980βpresent). The 2000 Spurs had a 91.4 Defensive Rating, but this was in a 1st round loss of only four games. [22]
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chauncey Billups | 78 | 78 | 35.4 | .394 | .388 | .878 | 3.5 | 5.7 | 1.08 | 0.10 | 16.9 |
Elden Campbell | 65 | 27 | 13.7 | .439 | β | .685 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.32 | 0.77 | 5.6 |
Tremaine Fowlkes | 36 | 0 | 7.3 | .313 | .125 | .722 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.25 | 0.08 | 1.2 |
Darvin Ham | 54 | 2 | 9.0 | .493 | .500 | .600 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.24 | 0.15 | 1.8 |
Richard Hamilton | 78 | 78 | 35.5 | .455 | .265 | .868 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 1.32 | 0.22 | 17.6 |
Lindsey Hunter | 33 | 8 | 20.0 | .343 | .280 | .625 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 1.18 | 0.18 | 3.5 |
Mike James* | 26 | 0 | 19.7 | .405 | .364 | .844 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 1.00 | 0.04 | 6.3 |
Darko MiliΔiΔ | 34 | 0 | 4.7 | .262 | .000 | .583 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.21 | 0.44 | 1.4 |
Mehmet Okur | 71 | 33 | 22.3 | .463 | .375 | .775 | 5.9 | 1.0 | 0.51 | 0.89 | 9.6 |
Tayshaun Prince | 82 | 80 | 32.9 | .467 | .363 | .766 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 0.77 | 0.84 | 10.3 |
Ben Wallace | 81 | 81 | 37.7 | .421 | .125 | .490 | 12.4 | 1.7 | 1.77 | 3.04 | 9.5 |
Rasheed Wallace* | 22 | 21 | 30.6 | .431 | .319 | .704 | 7.0 | 1.8 | 1.09 | 2.05 | 13.7 |
Corliss Williamson | 79 | 0 | 19.9 | .505 | β | .731 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.38 | 0.25 | 9.5 |
* Statistics include only games with the Pistons
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chauncey Billups | 23 | 23 | 38.3 | .385 | .346 | .890 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 1.35 | 0.09 | 16.4 |
Elden Campbell | 14 | 0 | 8.9 | .286 | β | .556 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.43 | 0.64 | 2.1 |
Darvin Ham | 22 | 0 | 4.9 | .500 | .000 | β | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.7 |
Richard Hamilton | 23 | 23 | 40.2 | .447 | .385 | .848 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 1.17 | 0.04 | 21.5 |
Lindsey Hunter | 23 | 0 | 11.9 | .292 | .233 | .917 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.78 | 0.17 | 2.4 |
Mike James | 22 | 0 | 8.9 | .396 | .429 | .563 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.23 | 0.00 | 2.6 |
Darko MiliΔiΔ | 8 | 0 | 1.8 | .000 | β | .250 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.1 |
Mehmet Okur | 22 | 0 | 11.5 | .470 | .400 | .692 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.23 | 0.41 | 3.7 |
Tayshaun Prince | 23 | 23 | 34.6 | .410 | .265 | .745 | 6.0 | 2.3 | 1.09 | 1.35 | 9.9 |
Ben Wallace | 23 | 23 | 40.2 | .454 | .000 | .427 | 14.3 | 1.9 | 1.91 | 2.43 | 10.3 |
Rasheed Wallace | 23 | 23 | 34.9 | .413 | .243 | .767 | 7.8 | 1.6 | 0.57 | 1.96 | 13.0 |
Corliss Williamson | 22 | 0 | 14.9 | .364 | .000 | .809 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.27 | 0.14 | 5.7 |
Players Added Via draft Via trade Via free agency |
Players Lost Via trade Via retirement Waived |
August 21, 2003 [23] | To
Detroit Pistons Bob Sura |
To
Golden State Warriors Clifford Robinson Pepe SΓ‘nchez |
August 28, 2003 [24] | To
Detroit Pistons Lindsey Hunter |
To
Toronto Raptors Michael Curry |
February 19, 2004 [25] | Three-team trade | |
To
Atlanta Hawks
|
To
Boston Celtics
| |
To
Detroit Pistons
|
Date | Player | Former team | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
July 26 | Elden Campbell | Seattle SuperSonics | [26] [27] |
September 23 | Darvin Ham | Atlanta Hawks | [28] |
October 28 | Tremaine Fowlkes | Los Angeles Clippers | [29] |
February 26 | Lindsey Hunter | Boston Celtics | [30] |
Date | Player | Reason | New team | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
September 13 | Danny Manning | Retired | β | [31] |
October 22 | Justin Hamilton | Waived | Ionikos | [32] [33] [34] |
Derrick Zimmerman | Waived | Columbus Riverdragons | ||
October 23 | Ronald Dupree | Waived | Chicago Bulls | [35] [36] |
January 20 | Hubert Davis | Waived | New Jersey Nets | [37] |
Led by their trademark daunting defense
2003β04 Detroit Pistons season | |
---|---|
NBA champions | |
Conference champions | |
Head coach | Larry Brown |
General manager | Joe Dumars |
President | Joe Dumars |
Owner(s) | Bill Davidson |
Arena | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
Results | |
Record | 54–28 (.659) |
Place | Division: 2nd (
Central) Conference: 3rd ( Eastern) |
Playoff finish |
NBA Champions (Defeated Lakers 4β1) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | |
Radio | WDFN |
The 2003β04 NBA season was the 63rd season for the Pistons, the 56th in the National Basketball Association, and the 47th in the Detroit area. [1] Despite a solid year the previous season, the Pistons received the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, which they obtained from the Memphis Grizzlies. They selected Darko MiliΔiΔ as their top pick, but only used him as a reserve as he played limited minutes off the bench; he would later be regarded as one of the most suboptimal picks in the history of the NBA draft. After their first trip to the Conference Finals since 1991, the Pistons hired Larry Brown as head coach. Under Brown, the Pistons were once again a tough defensive team as they went on a 13-game winning streak between December and January. However, after a solid 33β16 start, they struggled in February losing six straight games. At midseason, the team acquired All-Star forward Rasheed Wallace from the Atlanta Hawks after playing just one game for them. [2] With the addition of Wallace, the Pistons won 16 of their final 19 games finishing second in the Central Division with a 54β28 record. Ben Wallace was selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. The Pistons went on to win the NBA Championship for the third time in franchise history, with MiliΔiΔ being the youngest player to win said championship.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Pistons defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games despite losing Game 2 at home. In the semifinals, they faced the New Jersey Nets who swept them in the Eastern Conference Finals in the previous year. The Pistons would win the first two games at home, but the Nets would put up a fight against the Pistons by winning 3 straight games to take a 3β2 series lead, which included a triple overtime win in Game 5 at The Palace. However, with the Pistons facing elimination, the Pistons were digging an early hole in Game 6, but the Pistons were able to erase a 13β2 deficit and never trailed for the remainder of the game as they would refuse to relinquish the lead to the Nets and win Game 6 81β75. In Game 7, the Pistons stingy defense held Jason Kidd to 0 points to defeat the Nets 90β69 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they defeated the top-seeded Indiana Pacers in a defensive six game series to earn their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 1990. In the Finals, the Pistons would pull off one of the greatest upsets in NBA history by defeating the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers four games to one, winning their third overall championship and first since 1990. Chauncey Billups was named Finals MVP. [3]
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College / Team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Darko MiliΔiΔ | Forward/Center | Serbia and Montenegro | Hemofarm Vrsac ( Serbia and Montenegro and Adriatic League) |
1 | 25 | Carlos Delfino | Guard | Argentina | UniΓ³n de Santa Fe ( Argentina) |
2 | 58 | Andreas Glyniadakis | Center | Greece | AEK Athens ( Greece) |
2003β04 Detroit Pistons roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Roster |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y- Indiana Pacers | 61 | 21 | .744 | β | 34β7 | 27β14 | 20β8 |
x- Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 7 | 31β10 | 23β18 | 17β11 |
x- New Orleans Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 | 25β16 | 16β25 | 14β14 |
x- Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 | 27β14 | 14β27 | 15β13 |
Cleveland Cavaliers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 26 | 23β18 | 12β29 | 14β14 |
Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 | 18β23 | 15β26 | 11β17 |
Atlanta Hawks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 33 | 18β23 | 10β31 | 10β18 |
Chicago Bulls | 23 | 59 | .280 | 38 | 14β27 | 9β32 | 11β17 |
# | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z- Indiana Pacers | 61 | 21 | .744 | β |
2 | y- New Jersey Nets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 14 |
3 | x- Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 7 |
4 | x- Miami Heat | 42 | 40 | .512 | 19 |
5 | x- New Orleans Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
6 | x- Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
7 | x- New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
8 | x- Boston Celtics | 36 | 46 | .439 | 25 |
9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 26 |
10 | Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 |
11 | Philadelphia 76ers | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 |
12 | Atlanta Hawks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 33 |
13 | Washington Wizards | 25 | 57 | .305 | 36 |
14 | Chicago Bulls | 23 | 59 | .280 | 38 |
15 | Orlando Magic | 21 | 61 | .256 | 40 |
2003β04 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NOH | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
Atlanta | β | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 0β3 | 1β3 | 1β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 2β2 |
Boston | 1β3 | β | 1β2 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 0β3 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 3β1 |
Chicago | 1β3 | 2β1 | β | 2β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β3 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 4β0 | 1β1 | 1β3 |
Cleveland | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | β | 0β2 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 1β2 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β2 |
Dallas | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | β | 2β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 |
Denver | 0β2 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β2 | β | 0β2 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 4β0 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 3β1 | 2β0 |
Detroit | 3β1 | 3β0 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | β | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 4β0 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 3β0 |
Golden State | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β1 | β | 2β2 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 |
Houston | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 2β2 | β | 1β1 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 0β4 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β0 |
Indiana | 4β0 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | β | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 3β0 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 4β0 | 2β0 | 2β1 |
L.A. Clippers | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 0β2 | β | 1β3 | 0β4 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 0β4 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 0β2 |
L.A. Lakers | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | β | 2β2 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 3β1 | 2β0 |
Memphis | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 4β0 | 2β2 | β | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 2β0 |
Miami | 3β1 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β3 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β1 | β | 1β2 | 0β2 | 3β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 2β1 | 1β1 | 4β0 |
Milwaukee | 2β2 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β1 | β | 0β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 3β1 |
Minnesota | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 4β0 | 3β1 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | β | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 2β0 |
New Jersey | 3β1 | 2β2 | 3β0 | 2β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 2β3 | 1β3 | 1β1 | β | 2β1 | 3β1 | 4β0 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 4β0 |
New Orleans | 2β2 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 1β2 | β | 1β2 | 4β0 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 3β1 |
New York | 3β0 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 0β4 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 2β1 | β | 3β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 4β0 |
Orlando | 3β1 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 1β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 0β4 | 1β3 | β | 2β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β2 | 1β1 | 4β0 |
Philadelphia | 2β1 | 1β3 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 3β1 | 1β2 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | β | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 2β2 |
Phoenix | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | β | 2β2 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 |
Portland | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β2 | β | 3β1 | 0β4 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 |
Sacramento | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 2β0 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 2β0 | 4β0 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 3β1 | 1β3 | β | 2β2 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 3β1 | 1β1 |
San Antonio | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 4β0 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 1β3 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 4β0 | 4β0 | 2β2 | β | 4β0 | 2β0 | 4β0 | 2β0 |
Seattle | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β3 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 4β0 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 0β4 | β | 1β1 | 1β3 | 1β1 |
Toronto | 3β1 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β4 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β2 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 2β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 2β1 | 3β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | β | 1β1 | 1β3 |
Utah | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 2β2 | 0β2 | 3β1 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 3β1 | 1β1 | β | 1β1 |
Washington | 2β2 | 1β3 | 3β1 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β2 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 0β2 | 0β4 | 1β3 | 0β4 | 0β4 | 2β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 3β1 | 1β1 | β |
2003β04 game log Total: 54β28 (Home: 31β10; Road: 23β18) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 1β1 (home: 0β1; road: 1β0)
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November: 11β5 (home: 6β1; road: 5β4)
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December: 7β7 (home: 5β3; road: 2β4)
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January: 13β3 (home: 8β1; road: 5β2)
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February: 6β8 (home: 2β4; road: 4β4)
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March: 10β3 (home: 5β0; road: 5β3)
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April: 6β1 (home: 5β0; road: 1β1)
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2003β04 schedule |
2004 playoff game log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First Round: 4β1 (home: 2β1; road: 2β0)
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Conference Semifinals: 4β3 (home: 3β1; road: 1β2)
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Conference Finals: 4β2 (home: 2β1; road: 2β1)
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NBA Finals: 4β1 (home: 3β0; road: 1β1)
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2004 schedule |
Team/Game | 1 | 2 (OT) | 3 | 4 | 5 | Wins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles (West) | 75 | 99 | 68 | 80 | 87 | 1 |
Detroit (East) | 87 | 91 | 88 | 88 | 100 | 4 |
(OT) denotes a game that required overtime.
The Finals were played using a 2β3β2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage. This was only used in the Finals, all other playoff series are held in a 2β2β1β1β1 format (the team with home court advantage starts). [4]
The Lakers had a lineup of stars such as Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal β their offensive capability was expected to overpower Detroit's defensive-based gameplan.
Payton and Malone also added to the publicity of the Finals. Perennial All-Stars who had both previously reached the Finals, Payton had led the Seattle SuperSonics there in 1996, while Malone had led the Utah Jazz there in 1997 and 1998. [5] However, Michael Jordan and the Bulls denied their championship rings a total of three times. By the time of Jordan's retirement in 2003, the two veterans were aged and failed to lead their teams deep into the playoffs. [5] [6] Thus, this Finals series was seen as the last chance for two of the greatest players in NBA history to finally become NBA champions (Later on, Malone retired while Payton became a champion as a key bench player for the Miami Heat).
Sunday, June 6, 2004, 14:30 at the Staples Center.
Considered to be a stunning upset by most of the NBA world, the Detroit Pistons managed to defeat the Lakers with imposing defense. [7] Defensively clamping down on everyone but Bryant and O'Neal, the Pistons managed to hold everyone else to a total of 16 points.
The Pistons trailed the Lakers 41β40 at halftime, but a 10β4 surge capped by Billups's 3-pointer gave the Pistons the lead. O'Neal's foul trouble furthered the scoring gap, with the Pistons leading by 13 points early in the fourth quarter.
Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Detroit | 22 | 18 | 24 | 23 | 87 |
Los Angeles | 19 | 22 | 17 | 17 | 75 |
Tuesday, June 8, 2004, 15:04 at the Staples Center.
The second game was close throughout the first half, but in the third quarter Detroit would score 30 points, cutting the deficit 68β66. However, at the end of the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant's 3-point shot at 2.1 seconds to go would tie the game at 89β89. The Lakers and Pistons would then go to overtime, with the Lakers outscoring the Pistons 10β2.
Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Detroit | 16 | 20 | 30 | 23 | 2 | 91 |
Los Angeles | 18 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 10 | 99 |
Thursday, June 10, 2004, 14:31 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Pistons beat Los Angeles by 20 in their first NBA Finals appearance together at The Palace of Auburn Hills since 1989 [8] to take a 2β1 lead in the series. The 68 points scored by the Lakers set a (post- shot clock) franchise record for the fewest points scored in a Finals game. (Even Jay Leno was upset, saying in his Tonight Show monologue: "68 points? 68 is a great score...if you're playing golf!")
Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles | 16 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 68 |
Detroit | 24 | 15 | 24 | 25 | 88 |
Sunday, June 13, 2004, 14:49 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Again, the Pistons defeated the Lakers, although this time by eight, to take a 3β1 series advantage.
Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles | 22 | 17 | 17 | 24 | 80 |
Detroit | 21 | 20 | 15 | 32 | 88 |
Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 14:32 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
In Game 5, the Pistons won their first championship since 1990, and Larry Brown finally won a title as an NBA head coach. The Pistons defense had overcome the high-scoring Laker offense, winning the game by 13, winning the series 4β1, and also ending a long Laker dynasty that lasted for many years. The game saw the end of Phil Jackson's first run as the coach (he returned for the 2005β06 season), and saw O'Neal, Payton, and Malone's last games in Laker uniforms (O'Neal and Payton were both acquired by the soon-to-be NBA Champions Miami Heat and Malone retired).
Team | 1st Qt. | 2nd Qt. | 3rd Qt. | 4th Qt. | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles | 24 | 21 | 14 | 28 | 87 |
Detroit | 25 | 30 | 27 | 18 | 100 |
As a result of their incredible defensive dominance, the 2004 Pistons set a number of notable shot-clock era (1955βpresent) defensive playoff records:
Least Points Per Game (PPG) allowed in a shot-clock era playoff run of any length:
The 2004 Pistons had a Defensive Rating of 92.0 in the playoffs. [21] This is the lowest Defensive Rating any team has had in a post-1st round playoff run in the 3-point era (1980βpresent). The 2000 Spurs had a 91.4 Defensive Rating, but this was in a 1st round loss of only four games. [22]
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chauncey Billups | 78 | 78 | 35.4 | .394 | .388 | .878 | 3.5 | 5.7 | 1.08 | 0.10 | 16.9 |
Elden Campbell | 65 | 27 | 13.7 | .439 | β | .685 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.32 | 0.77 | 5.6 |
Tremaine Fowlkes | 36 | 0 | 7.3 | .313 | .125 | .722 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.25 | 0.08 | 1.2 |
Darvin Ham | 54 | 2 | 9.0 | .493 | .500 | .600 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.24 | 0.15 | 1.8 |
Richard Hamilton | 78 | 78 | 35.5 | .455 | .265 | .868 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 1.32 | 0.22 | 17.6 |
Lindsey Hunter | 33 | 8 | 20.0 | .343 | .280 | .625 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 1.18 | 0.18 | 3.5 |
Mike James* | 26 | 0 | 19.7 | .405 | .364 | .844 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 1.00 | 0.04 | 6.3 |
Darko MiliΔiΔ | 34 | 0 | 4.7 | .262 | .000 | .583 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.21 | 0.44 | 1.4 |
Mehmet Okur | 71 | 33 | 22.3 | .463 | .375 | .775 | 5.9 | 1.0 | 0.51 | 0.89 | 9.6 |
Tayshaun Prince | 82 | 80 | 32.9 | .467 | .363 | .766 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 0.77 | 0.84 | 10.3 |
Ben Wallace | 81 | 81 | 37.7 | .421 | .125 | .490 | 12.4 | 1.7 | 1.77 | 3.04 | 9.5 |
Rasheed Wallace* | 22 | 21 | 30.6 | .431 | .319 | .704 | 7.0 | 1.8 | 1.09 | 2.05 | 13.7 |
Corliss Williamson | 79 | 0 | 19.9 | .505 | β | .731 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.38 | 0.25 | 9.5 |
* Statistics include only games with the Pistons
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chauncey Billups | 23 | 23 | 38.3 | .385 | .346 | .890 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 1.35 | 0.09 | 16.4 |
Elden Campbell | 14 | 0 | 8.9 | .286 | β | .556 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.43 | 0.64 | 2.1 |
Darvin Ham | 22 | 0 | 4.9 | .500 | .000 | β | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.7 |
Richard Hamilton | 23 | 23 | 40.2 | .447 | .385 | .848 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 1.17 | 0.04 | 21.5 |
Lindsey Hunter | 23 | 0 | 11.9 | .292 | .233 | .917 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.78 | 0.17 | 2.4 |
Mike James | 22 | 0 | 8.9 | .396 | .429 | .563 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.23 | 0.00 | 2.6 |
Darko MiliΔiΔ | 8 | 0 | 1.8 | .000 | β | .250 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.1 |
Mehmet Okur | 22 | 0 | 11.5 | .470 | .400 | .692 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.23 | 0.41 | 3.7 |
Tayshaun Prince | 23 | 23 | 34.6 | .410 | .265 | .745 | 6.0 | 2.3 | 1.09 | 1.35 | 9.9 |
Ben Wallace | 23 | 23 | 40.2 | .454 | .000 | .427 | 14.3 | 1.9 | 1.91 | 2.43 | 10.3 |
Rasheed Wallace | 23 | 23 | 34.9 | .413 | .243 | .767 | 7.8 | 1.6 | 0.57 | 1.96 | 13.0 |
Corliss Williamson | 22 | 0 | 14.9 | .364 | .000 | .809 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.27 | 0.14 | 5.7 |
Players Added Via draft Via trade Via free agency |
Players Lost Via trade Via retirement Waived |
August 21, 2003 [23] | To
Detroit Pistons Bob Sura |
To
Golden State Warriors Clifford Robinson Pepe SΓ‘nchez |
August 28, 2003 [24] | To
Detroit Pistons Lindsey Hunter |
To
Toronto Raptors Michael Curry |
February 19, 2004 [25] | Three-team trade | |
To
Atlanta Hawks
|
To
Boston Celtics
| |
To
Detroit Pistons
|
Date | Player | Former team | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
July 26 | Elden Campbell | Seattle SuperSonics | [26] [27] |
September 23 | Darvin Ham | Atlanta Hawks | [28] |
October 28 | Tremaine Fowlkes | Los Angeles Clippers | [29] |
February 26 | Lindsey Hunter | Boston Celtics | [30] |
Date | Player | Reason | New team | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
September 13 | Danny Manning | Retired | β | [31] |
October 22 | Justin Hamilton | Waived | Ionikos | [32] [33] [34] |
Derrick Zimmerman | Waived | Columbus Riverdragons | ||
October 23 | Ronald Dupree | Waived | Chicago Bulls | [35] [36] |
January 20 | Hubert Davis | Waived | New Jersey Nets | [37] |
Led by their trademark daunting defense