The 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons don’t tend to get a lot of respect. The last champion to not have a true superstar or Hall of Fame lock, the Pistons are often considered to be an excellent veteran team that got hot at just the right time and were fortunate to catch the Los Angeles Lakers in the midst of dynasty-ending feuds.
There’s some truth here. Shaquille O’Neal was about to take his leave and there was discontent in the Lakers ranks. And the Pistons were a fairly pedestrian 34-24 in late February with the ninth-best net rating of +2.