2004 NBA Finals: Difference between revisions
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The '''2004 NBA Finals''' was the championship round of the [[2003-04 NBA season|2003–04 National Basketball Association season]]. The Finals were between the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] of the [[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] and the [[Detroit Pistons]] of the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]]; the Lakers held [[home court advantage]]. The series was played under a [[Playoff format#Best-of-seven playoff|best-of-seven format]], so the first team to collect four game victories would win the series. |
The '''2004 NBA Finals''' was the championship round of the [[2003-04 NBA season|2003–04 National Basketball Association season]]. The Finals were between the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] of the [[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] and the [[Detroit Pistons]] of the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]]; the Lakers held [[home court advantage]]. The series was played under a [[Playoff format#Best-of-seven playoff|best-of-seven format]], so the first team to collect four game victories would win the series. |
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Although the Lakers were the heavy favorite, the Pistons won the series four games to one to win their first title since [[1990 NBA Finals|1990]] |
Although the Lakers were the heavy favorite, the Pistons won the series four games to one to win their first title since [[1990 NBA Finals|1990]] and their fifth overall (three NBA Championships, two NBL Championships).<ref name="CBS Pistons">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/DET|title=Detroit Pistons|accessdate=2007-09-03|work=[[CBS|CBS Sports]]}}</ref> The Pistons were so dominant in the series that it came to be known as a "five-game sweep."<ref>{{Cite web |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}}</ref> Piston [[point guard]] [[Chauncey Billups]] was named the [[National Basketball Association Finals Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] of the series.<ref>{{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|work=NBA}}</ref> The series was noted for the perceived underdog, the Pistons, dominating a Laker team that had four future Hall of Famers. The Lakers' collapse resulted in only one of the stars, [[Kobe Bryant]] remaining on the team for the next season. |
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Pistons owner [[William Davidson]] became the first owner in sports history to win two championships in one year. Eight days earlier, the other team that Davidson owned, the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] of the [[National Hockey League]] had won the [[2004 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup]] in seven games over the [[Calgary Flames]]. |
Pistons owner [[William Davidson]] became the first owner in sports history to win two championships in one year. Eight days earlier, the other team that Davidson owned, the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] of the [[National Hockey League]] had won the [[2004 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup]] in seven games over the [[Calgary Flames]]. |
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Revision as of 22:03, 11 May 2012
| File:Finals2004.png | ||||||||||
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| Dates | June 6 – 15 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MVP | Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons) | |||||||||
| Hall of Famers | Karl Malone (2010) Coaches: Larry Brown (2002) Phil Jackson (2007) Tex Winter (2011) | |||||||||
| Eastern finals | Pistons defeated Pacers, 4–2 | |||||||||
| Western finals | Lakers defeated Timberwolves, 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 and their fifth overall (three NBA Championships, two NBL Championships).[1] The Pistons were so dominant in the series that it came to be known as a "five-game sweep."[2] Piston point guard Chauncey Billups was named the Most Valuable Player of the series.[3] The series was noted for the perceived underdog, the Pistons, dominating a Laker team that had four future Hall of Famers. The Lakers' collapse resulted in only one of the stars, Kobe Bryant remaining on the team for the next season.
Pistons owner William Davidson became the first owner in sports history to win two championships in one year. Eight days earlier, the other team that Davidson owned, the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League had won the Stanley Cup in seven games over the Calgary Flames.
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.[4]
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 the NBA title.[5]
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.[4]
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.[6] Then, they faced the Minnesota Timberwolves and their superstar forward Kevin Garnett. The Lakers won the series 4–2 to advance to the Finals.[7]
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.[1] 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.[8]
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,[9] who proved to be the final pieces of the championship team (Hunter would rejoin the Pistons a week later).[10] 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.[11]
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.[12]
| Los Angeles Lakers (Western Conference Champion) | Detroit Pistons (Eastern Conference Champion) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 56–26 (.683) 1st Pacific, 2nd West, 4th overall |
Regular season | 54–28 (.659) 2nd Central, 3rd East, 6th overall | |
| Defeated the (7) Houston Rockets, 4–1 | First Round | Defeated the (6) Milwaukee Bucks, 4–1 | |
| Defeated the (3) San Antonio Spurs, 4–2 | Conference Semifinals | Defeated the (2) New Jersey Nets, 4–3 | |
| Defeated the (1) Minnesota Timberwolves, 4–2 | Conference Finals | Defeated the (1) Indiana Pacers, 4–2 | |
Regular season series
Both teams split the two meetings, each won by the home team:
Lakers and Pistons rosters
2004 Detroit Pistons
2004 Los Angeles Lakers
Series summary
| Game | Date | Home Team | Result | Road Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Sunday, June 6 | Los Angeles Lakers | 75-87 (0-1) | Detroit Pistons |
| Game 2 | Tuesday, June 8 | Los Angeles Lakers | 99-91 OT (1-1) | Detroit Pistons |
| Game 3 | Thursday, June 10 | Detroit Pistons | 88-68 (2-1) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Game 4 | Sunday, June 13 | Detroit Pistons | 88-80 (3-1) | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Game 5 | Tuesday, June 15 | Detroit Pistons | 100-87 (4-1) | Los Angeles Lakers |
The Finals were played using a 2–3–2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage. This is only used in the Finals, all other playoff games are held in a 2–2–1–1–1 format (the team with home court advantage starts).[13]
The Pistons became the fourth team to sweep the middle three games since the NBA started using the 2-3-2 format in 1985. But they became the first to do so at home; the previous three times this has occurred were done by road teams (1990 Pistons, 1991 Chicago Bulls, 2001 Lakers). With this, Detroit became the only team to have both swept the middle three games at home and on the road.
This was the first Finals series to be played on the current Sunday–Tuesday–Thursday rotation since 1990. It is also the last series to have Game 1 be played on a Sunday. From 2005 to 2010, the championship series started on either the first or second Thursday in June.
Features
The NBA heavily publicized the series as it has done with all other NBA Finals series. There was a sentiment among fans that the Pistons were the clear underdogs, and many described the series as a David vs. Goliath match-up.[5] The Lakers had a lineup of Stars such as Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal - their offensive capability was expected to overpower Detroit's defensive-based game plan.
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.[14] However, Michael Jordan and the Bulls denied them championship rings a total of three times. By the time of Jordan's second retirement in 1998, the two veterans were aged and failed to lead their teams deep into the playoffs.[14][15] It would be Malone's final chance to win a championship, as he would retire before the subsequent season.[16]
Game Summaries
- All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)
Game One
June 6
6:00 pm ET |
| Detroit Pistons 87, Los Angeles Lakers 75 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 22–19, 18–22, 24–17, 23–17 | ||
| Pts: Chauncey Billups 22 Rebs: B. Wallace, R. Wallace 8 each Asts: Richard Hamilton 5 |
Pts: Shaquille O'Neal 34 Rebs: Malone, O'Neal 11 each Asts: Kobe Bryant 4 | |
| Detroit lead series, 1–0 | ||
Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Referees:
|
Considered to be a stunning upset by most of the NBA world, the Detroit Pistons managed to defeat the Lakers with imposing defense.[17] 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 41–40 at halftime, but by the fourth quarter the Pistons had opened up a 13 point lead; they would not trail for the rest of the game.[18]
Game Two
June 8
6:00 pm ET |
| Detroit Pistons 91, Los Angeles Lakers 99 (OT) | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 16–18, 20–26, 30–24, 23–21, Overtime: 2–10 | ||
| Pts: Chauncey Billups 27 Rebs: Ben Wallace 14 Asts: Chauncey Billups 9 |
Pts: Kobe Bryant 33 Rebs: Karl Malone 9 Asts: Luke Walton 8 | |
| Series tied, 1–1 | ||
Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 18,997 Referees:
|
The second game wasn't close throughout the first half, but in the third quarter the Pistons scored 30 points, cutting the deficit 68–66. Kobe Bryant's 3-point shot with 2.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter would force overtime, where the Pistons would make only one two-point field goal (compared to Los Angeles scoring ten points).[19]
Game Three
June 10
6:00 pm ET |
| Los Angeles Lakers 68, Detroit Pistons 88 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 16–24, 16–15, 19–24, 17–25 | ||
| Pts: Shaquille O'Neal 14 Rebs: Medvedenko, O'Neal 8 each Asts: Gary Payton 7 |
Pts: Richard Hamilton 31 Rebs: Ben Wallace 11 Asts: Billups, Hamilton, B. Wallace 3 each | |
| Detroit lead series, 2–1 | ||
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Referees:
|
The Pistons beat Los Angeles by 20 in their first NBA Finals appearance together at The Palace of Auburn Hills since 1989 to take a 2–1 lead in the series. The 68 points scored by the Lakers set a franchise record for the lowest number of points scored in a playoff game.
Game Four
June 13
9:00 pm ET |
| Los Angeles Lakers 80, Detroit Pistons 88 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 22–21, 17–20, 17–15, 24–32 | ||
| Pts: Shaquille O'Neal 36 Rebs: Shaquille O'Neal 20 Asts: Rick Fox 6 |
Pts: Rasheed Wallace 26 Rebs: B. Wallace, R. Wallace 13 each Asts: Richard Hamilton 6 | |
| Detroit lead series, 3–1 | ||
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Referees:
|
Again, the Pistons defeated the Lakers, although this time by eight, to take a 3–1 series advantage.
O'Neal scored 36 for the Lakers and Bryant scored 20 but shot 32 percent from the field.[20]
Malone would play his last game, as a knee injury would not allow him to dress in Game Five.[21]
Game Five
June 15
9:00 pm ET |
| Los Angeles Lakers 87, Detroit Pistons 100 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 24–25, 21–30, 14–27, 28–18 | ||
| Pts: Kobe Bryant 24 Rebs: Shaquille O'Neal 8 Asts: Luke Walton 5 |
Pts: Richard Hamilton 21 Rebs: Ben Wallace 22 Asts: Chauncey Billups 6 | |
| Detroit wins series, 4–1 | ||
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Referees:
|
In Game 5, the Pistons won their first championship since 1990, and Larry Brown finally won a professional title. The Pistons defense had overcome the high-scoring Laker offense, winning the game by 13, winning the series 4-1, 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[22] (he returned in the 2005-06 season[23]), and saw O'Neal, Payton, and Malone's last games in Laker uniforms.[24] At the end of the series, Al Michaels observed that the Lakers had Hall of Fame players, while the Pistons used players that nobody else wanted.
Broadcast notes
The games were broadcast on ABC by Al Michaels and Doc Rivers. Brent Musburger and Dr. Jack Ramsay broadcast the Finals nationally on ESPN Radio.
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.[25]
Aftermath
The Pistons made the Finals again in 2005, losing to the Spurs in a tough seven-game series. That season, the Pistons won 54 games and defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (5 games), Indiana Pacers (6 games) and Miami Heat (7 games) on their way back to the finals. However the Spurs, who likewise play a defensive style, would defeat them in a tough Game 7.
The Lakers' collapse became apparent in the days following the Finals. Head coach Phil Jackson abruptly resigned as head coach. Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat, then Gary Payton was also traded and Karl Malone was left unsigned, then retired. The 2004-05 NBA season was a tough one for the Lakers, winning only 34 games and missed the playoffs for only the sixth time in the team's history. Jackson returned to the Lakers in the offseason; despite writing a book called The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul, in which he voiced disdain on Kobe Bryant by calling him 'uncoachable', he and Bryant would bury the hatchet once the season began. Jackson and Bryant would later produce three more NBA Finals appearances and two NBA championships in six seasons before Jackson retired at the conclusion of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. Meanwhile, O'Neal, along with Payton, led by Dwyane Wade of the Heat won the 2006 championship.
With the Pistons' win, it was the 21st championship among the four professional sports teams in Detroit (NFL's Lions, MLB's Tigers and NHL's Red Wings). The Red Wings made it 22 upon winning the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals.
References
- ^ a b "Detroit Pistons". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
- ^ Langlois, Keith. "Five Things about the Los Angeles Lakers". NBA.com. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
- ^ "Game 5 Notebook: Billups Wins MVP". NBA. 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
- ^ a b "Los Angeles Lakers". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
- ^ a b "Pistons Send Lakers Packing, Win Third NBA Title". NBA. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
- ^ "Lakers Dethrone Defending Champions". NBA. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
- ^ "What a Rush!". NBA. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
- ^ "NBA Executive of the Year". NNBD. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
- ^ "Pistons Have Horsepower". NBA. 2004-02-19. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
- ^ "10 Lindsey Hunter Detroit Pistons". HoopsHype. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
- ^ Dave Howell. "Bridging the Gap". Retrieved 2007-09-04.
- ^ "Motown Back at No.1!". NBA. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
- ^ "Basketball: NBA Playoffs 2007 preview". betinf.com. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
- ^ a b "Utah Jazz". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
- ^ "Seattle Supersonics". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on 26 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "After 19 years, Malone rides off into sunset". Associated Press Sports. MSNBC. 2005-02-14. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ^ "Billups, Pistons Swipe Home-Court Advantage". NBA. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
Led by their trademark daunting defense
- ^ David DuPree (06-08-2004). "Billups helps Detroit shock Lakers in Game 1". USA Today. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Bryant ties game at end of regulation". ESPN. 2004-06-08. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ^ "Los Angeles Lakers 80, Detroit Pistons 88". 2004-06-13. Archived from the original on 8 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Motown is Titletown". ESPN. 2004-06-14. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ^ "Phil Jackson details clashes with Kobe Bryant". Associated Press. USA Today. 2004-10-13. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ^ "Return of the Zen Master". Sports Illustrated. CNN. 2005-06-14. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ^ "O'Neal already showcasing old numbers". ESPN. 2004-07-20. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ^ Zeff Zillgitt (2004-05-21). "Speaking of Sports". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
External links
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See also: WNBA Finals | ||