The 2004 NBA Finals delivered one of basketball’s biggest upsets. The Detroit Pistons, heavy underdogs, dismantled the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers in five games. The Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton, were expected to cruise. Detroit had other plans.
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The Detroit Pistons beat the Lakers "Super Team" of Kobe, Karl Malone, Shaq & Gary Payton in the 2004 NBA Finals.
In the 5-game series, the Lakers only scored more than 90 once. Their lowest point total came in a 68-88 loss in GM3. pic.twitter.com/8WufwQZeHx
How Detroit’s Grit-First Team Beat the Superstars?
The Pistons had no superstar in the traditional sense. Under coach Larry Brown, they turned a solid roster into a title team.
Key to their plan was defending Shaquille O’Neal without double-teams. Most teams collapsed on Shaq, opening up shots for others. Detroit stayed home. Former Pistons star Chauncey Billups later said:
“If we’re going to play Shaq straight-up, [the Lakers’] eyes are going to get big,” Billups said.
That baited L.A. into isolating O’Neal, exposing a fragile offensive balance.
Ben Wallace fronted O’Neal with relentless physicality. While Shaq still scored (26.6 points on 63.1% shooting), the Lakers struggled to convert his efficiency into wins. Bryant, frustrated and forcing shots, shot 38.1% from the field and 17.4% from three. He took 27 more shots than O’Neal in the series.
Age and injury didn’t help the Lakers against the Pistons
Karl Malone’s knee injury ended his career in Game 4. Payton couldn’t keep up defensively. In Game 3, L.A. scored just 68 points, a Finals record low at the time.
Detroit’s defensive rotations were crisp, every player contributed, from Tayshaun Prince’s smothering perimeter defense to Rasheed Wallace’s floor spacing and post presence.
The Pistons dominated, 4-1, without leaning on a single superstar. They built a champion through trust, and team defense.
Pistons coach Larry Brown’s philosophy was centered on teamwork
June 15, 2004: The Pistons beat the Lakers 100-87 in Game 5 of the Finals to win the NBA Championship. pic.twitter.com/PBA3br3Cvs
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Larry Brown’s impact on the Pistons was immediate and transformative. After acquiring Rasheed Wallace in February 2004, Detroit posted a defensive rating of 89, the best in NBA history at the time, and held five straight opponents under 70 points. During the 2004 playoffs, the Pistons allowed 80.7 points per game.
In the NBA Finals, Brown’s strategy against the heavily favored Lakers was calculated. Detroit defended Shaquille O’Neal straight up, avoiding double-teams to exploit the tension between O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
The Pistons won the series in five games. Their lineup, Ben Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, and Prince, thrived on balance.
The 2004 Pistons had no traditional superstar but overwhelmed the Lakers with energy, intensity, and execution.
Brown became the first coach to win both an NCAA and NBA title.
I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
