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#4 Detroit Pistons - 2004 NBA Champions
Detroit Pistons had not progressed beyond the first round of the playoffs since 1991. Everything changed when Joe Dumars came on board as the team president after the 1999-2000 season.
They emphasised the importance of team play against star power as they beat the fancied Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in the 2004 finals. No one could have expected such a turnaround in team's fortunes in a period of five years. Dumars re-signed and sent All-star forward Grant Hill to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Chucky Atkins and Ben Wallace.
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Wallace made the difference in the first four seasons averaging 6.4 ppg, 13.2 rpg and 2.3 bpg in his first season with Detroit. He would go on to become a four-time All-star and four-time defensive player of the year as he averaged at least 10 rebounds and two blocks for seven consecutive seasons.
Dumars also brought in Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups. Hamilton was one of the top shooting guards in the league and Billups was in his elements in Detroit to earn the nickname "Mr. Big Shot". Dumars made couple of changes in 2004 as well. He signed Larry Brown to replace Rick Carlisle and acquired Rasheed Wallace in the deadline.
The Pistons finished the season at 54-28. They came back from a 3-2 deficit against the New Jersey Nets in the semifinals to advance to the East conference finals. In the finals, the Pistons surprised the Indiana Pacers and did not them play their usual game. Pistons won the series in six games to make it to the NBA finals.
The Los Angeles Lakers were the odds on favorites for the title with Shaquille O' Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone and Gary Payton in their ranks. O'Neal and Bryant weren't exactly getting along and their team looked more like a grouping of individuals.
The Pistons went on to clinch the title after 5 games. "They may have had better individual players, but we always felt we were a better team," Billups would say after Detroit's championship-clinching Game 5 victory.
