2004 NBA Finals

NBA Finals summary


caption =
year = 2004
runnerup = Los Angeles Lakers
runnerup_coach = Phil Jackson
runnerup_games = 1
champion = Detroit Pistons
champion_coach = Larry Brown
champion_games = 4
date=June 6 - June 15
MVP = Chauncey Billups
(Detroit Pistons)
television = ABC (U.S.)
announcers = Al Michaels and Doc Rivers
HOFers = "Coaches"
Larry Brown (2002)
Phil Jackson (2007)
radio_network = NBA on ESPN Radio
radio_announcers =
referees_1 = Joe Crawford, Bob Delaney, Bernie Fryer
referees_2 = Bennett Salvatore, Steve Javie, Joe DeRosa
referees_3 = Ron Garretson, Dan Crawford, Mike Callahan
referees_4 = Jack Nies, Dick Bavetta, Eddie F. Rush
referees_5 = Joe Crawford, Bob Delaney, Bennett Salvatore
ECF result = Detroit defeats Indiana, 4–2
WCF result = L.A. Lakers defeats Minnesota, 4–2 The 2004 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2003–04 National Basketball Association season. The Finals were between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference and the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference, the Lakers held home court advantage. The series was played under a best-of-seven format, so the first team to collect four game victories would win the series.

Although the Lakers were the heavy favorite, the Pistons won the series four games to one to win their first title since 1990. Incidentally, the Pistons also defeated the Lakers in 1989 Finals. Detroit was so dominant in the series that it came to be known as a "five-game sweep." [Citation |last=Langlois |first=Keith |title=Five Things about the Los Angeles Lakers |url=http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/fivethings_lakers_070207.html |publisher=NBA.com |date= |accessdate=2008-05-14] [Citation |last=Stein |first=Marc |title=L.A.'s triangle may take different shape |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2004/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1822773 |publisher="ESPN" |date=2004-06-16 |accessdate=2008-05-14] [Citation |last=Wieme |first=Dave |title=Top 100 All-Time Pistons Moments |url=http://finals.com/pistons/history/alltime100_moments.html |publisher=NBA |date= |accessdate=2008-05-14] Piston point guard Chauncey Billups was named the Most Valuable Player of the series. [cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/finals2004/game5_notebook.html|title=Game 5 Notebook: Billups Wins MVP|date=2004-06-16|accessdate=2007-09-03|format=HTML|language=English|work=NBA] In winning, the Pistons won their fifth championship (3 NBA Championships, 2 NBL Championships).cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/DET|title=Detroit Pistons|format=HTML|language=English|accessdate=2007-09-03|work=CBS Sports]

Background

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers had won consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002, but lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference playoffs in 2003 to end their streak at three.cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/LAL|title=Los Angeles Lakers|work=CBS Sports|format=HTML|language=English|accessdate=2007-09-04]

In the 2003 offseason, the Lakers made major changes, with initially varying results. Needing to find a point guard and a power forward to defend against Tim Duncan and the Spurs, the Lakers signed veteran stars Gary Payton and Karl Malone for well below market value; they also hoped to give both veterans their first championship ring. The Lakers were afterwards considered the favorites to win NBA title.cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20040615/LALDET/recap.html|work=NBA|title=Pistons Send Lakers Packing, Win Third NBA Title|format=HTML|language=English|accessdate=2007-09-03]

During the regular season, after starting the season 18–3, the Lakers were afflicted by numerous injuries and stumbled to a 56–26 record to finish the season with the second seed in the Western Conference.

The Lakers breezed past their first round opponent, the Houston Rockets, 4–1, but then lost the first two games in their series against the Spurs before a dramatic comeback that saw them win 4–2. [cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/playoffs2004/series_lalsas.html|work=NBA|title=Lakers Dethrone Defending Champions|format=HTML|language=English|accessdate=2007-09-04] Then, they faced the Minnesota Timberwolves and their superstar forward Kevin Garnett. The Lakers won the series 4–2 to advance to the Finals. [cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/playoffs2004/series_minlal.html|format=HTML|language=English|work=NBA|title=What a Rush!|accessdate=2007-09-04]

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons won two back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990, but with retirements and departures of several stars, they faded from playoff prominence. The team hired former star Joe Dumars as general manager of the team in 2000, and he began stockpiling draft picks and trading players. He landed defensive stalwart Ben Wallace and guard Richard Hamilton by trading established stars in controversial trades, signed Chauncey Billups (considered an underachiever), and drafted Tayshaun Prince with the 23rd pick in the 2002 Draft. He was named the NBA Executive of the Year in 2003 for returning the Pistons to prominence. [cite web|url=http://www.nndb.com/honors/942/000109615/|format=HTML|language=English|work=NNBD|title=NBA Executive of the Year|accessdate=2007-09-04]

The Pistons made a major change as well, but perhaps a riskier change, firing head coach Rick Carlisle, who had led the Pistons to two consecutive Central Division titles and had received the NBA Coach of the Year Award in 2002. In his place, Dumars hired legendary coach Larry Brown, who had most recently led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals in 2001.

In a three team trade at the trade deadline, Dumars traded Chucky Atkins, Lindsey Hunter, Bobby Sura, Željko Rebrača and other considerations for guard Mike James and forward Rasheed Wallace, [cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/news/trade_040219.html|work=NBA|title=Pistons Have Horsepower|language=English|format=HTML|date=2004-02-19|accessdate=2007-09-04] who proved to be the final pieces of the championship team (Hunter would rejoin the Pistons a week later). [cite web|url=http://www.hoopshype.com/players/lindsey_hunter.htm|format=HTML|language=English|title=10 Lindsey Hunter Detroit Pistons|work=HoopsHype|accessdate=2007-09-04] The Pistons, who were already a good defensive team, became a defensive force to be reckoned with. They became the first team in NBA history to hold five consecutive opponents under 70 points, and finished the season with a 54–28 record and the third seed in the Eastern Conference. [cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/champions_200304.html|format=HTML|language=English|title=Bridging the Gap|author=Dave Howell|accessdate=2007-09-04]

The Pistons easily overcame the Milwaukee Bucks 4–1, but struggled against the New Jersey Nets and narrowly escaped 4–3. In a defensive series with Indiana, the Pistons offense proved more productive and they won 4–2 to advance to the NBA Finals.cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/finals2004/|format=HTML|language=English|title=Motown Back at No.1!|work=NBA|accessdate=2007-09-03]

=Lakers [cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/lakers/stats/2003/index.html|title=2003–2004 Lakers Regular Statistics|accessdate=2007-09-03|format=HTML|language=English|work=NBA] and Pistons [cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/finals2004/pistons_040617.html|title=All the Right Moves|last=Peterson|first=Rob|date=2004-06-17|accessdate=2007-09-03|format=HTML|language=English] Roster=

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eries summary

Game Three

"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 1990 [cite web|url=http://www.tickets-nba-basketball.com/pistons/history.htm|title=DETROIT PISTONS HISTORY |work=Basketball Tickets|format=HTML|language=English|accessdate=2007-09-03] to take a 2–1 lead in the series. The 68 points scored by the Lakers set a franchise record for the fewest number of points scored in a playoff game.

Broadcast notes

The games were broadcast on ABC by Al Michaels and Doc Rivers.

To promote the series, the NBA used the Black Eyed Peas' song "Let's Get It Started", which it had also used throughout the 2004 NBA Playoffs. [cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/zillgitt/2004-05-20-zillgitt_x.htm|author=Zeff Zillgitt|work=USA Today|title=Speaking of Sports|date=2004-05-21|accessdate=2007-09-03|format=HTML|language=English]

Trivia

* The current NBA Finals logo was inspired from the old NBA Finals logos used from 1986 to 1995. A trophy was painted on the floor at mid-court which has a become a tradition in the Finals since this one.
* The Detroit Pistons became the first team to sweep the middle three games at home since the 2-3-2 format was introduced. They had also previously become the first team to sweep the three middle games on the road, in 1990 in their series against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Miami Heat would later carry out the same former feat in the 2006 NBA Finals.

ee also

*NBA Playoffs
*2004 NBA Playoffs

References

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/finals2004/ The Official Website of the 2004 NBA Finals]