The NBA can write some of the most exciting storylines in all of sports. And sure enough, one of those happened during the well-known 2004 Finals upset, in which the Detroit Pistons cruised to victory over the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers in just five games.
This result came as a surprise to many, including former Pistons coach Chuck Daly, who, let’s say, wasn’t exactly optimistic about what seemed to be a lopsided affair.
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“You know, a lot of people don’t understand we averaged a 104, 106 when we won it, but I understand where they are coming from,” the legendary coach said in a vintage interview.
“Truthfully, I don’t think they’re going to beat them because they have too many offensive people,” Daly pointed out.”But I do believe it’s going to surprise some people. I think with Detroit is they’ve got about six seven-footers sitting over there, if they can get enough offense. And either one of these teams is going to be relieved into the next series because they’re going to get some shots.”
Daly’s Pistons vs the 2004 squad
In the first part of his quote, Daly referenced his Pistons teams that won back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. Those squads, notoriously known as the Bad Boys, placed a significant emphasis on physical defense, limiting the offensive freedom of opposing teams.
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For example, in the 1989 Finals, Detroit held the Lakers to just 102.3 points in a four-game sweep. Sure, the Purple and Gold had their fair share of internal injury struggles, but the point stands. The following season, the Pistons repeated the feat against the Portland Trail Blazers, holding them to exactly 102 points in a five-game victory.
Yeah, the Bad Boys played some terrific defense, but it seems the 2004 Pistons took it to an entirely new level. They combined Daly’s defensive philosophy with a roster that was ready to pounce on any loose ball, switch, trap and rotate for the full 48 minutes, and more, if needed. And to win the Larry Brown trophy against such an opponent, this was the only way.
The defense prevailed
When on one side you had prime Shaquille O’Neal coming off three Finals MVPs, a hungry Kobe Bryant, proven Hall of Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton, as well as a supporting cast ready to jump into action at any moment, it indeed seemed like whoever faced them was in serious trouble.
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However, the Pistons flipped the script and showed every doubter that they meant business. Detroit held that superstar Purple and Gold squad to just 81.1 points through five games, an almost 20-point drop from their regular season output of 98.2. As Daly noted, the Pistons threw literally everyone into the heat of action.
Ben Wallace handled most of the work on Shaq, while Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton all held their own. And more!
When the Lakers looked dominant on paper, the Pistons proved that defense, teamwork, and execution could overcome a collection of superstars.
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It was living proof that in the always exciting world of NBA basketball, the X’s and O’s still matter just as much as talent, and in this case, maybe even more. In 2004, the Pistons turned a perceived mismatch into one of the most memorable Finals victories in league history, which still brings out countless memories for true fans.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.