How The ‘04 Pistons Shocked The NBA

After being patched together among the ruins of failed Pistons teams before them, the unlikely cast of characters that made up the 2004 Pistons changed the course of NBA history.
Written & Narrated by: Joseph Casciaro (@JosephCasciaro | Twitter)
Produced & Edited by: Zack Underhill (@ZackUnderhill | Instagram)
Thumbnail Design by: Justin Shipley (@shipleysportstudio | Instagram)
Courtesy List: pastebin.com/CGb6CzwN
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#DetroitPistons #RasheedWallace #BenWallace

[@PC_Powerlifting]

And the Pistons still shock the NBA now

[@AlexisHernandez-of2ud]

It’s what they’re good at

[@melobryant3030]

lol

[@K81Patel]

Bada ting 🥁

[@hoompaloompaa]

😂😂☠️☠️

[@beatzbyreefah]

Officially worst season in Pistons franchise history

[@Hains22]

What I love about the 04 Pistons is that they don’t over celebrate like the 08 Celtics😂

[@pp-vf8ls]

hear2, they are still humble

[@KP-wt8qr]

2008 will be the last title the Celtics ever win too.

[@mc1013]

😐😂😂😂 thaaats a good one

[@ciaojay7025]

And Doc Rivers still landing jobs because of that ring. That championship run is not that amazing too.

[@andresdelportillo9917]

2016 cavs*

[@envyops]

People forget how hard America cried after the Pistons spanked the Lakers. One journalist that thought the Pistons would get swept, wrote that the Pistons' style had made the game unwatchable. Really? Lots of rules changes in NBA because of successful Pistons teams.

[@alfredoladino9838]

That’s why I can’t stand the Lakers, nothing but favoritism & help from the refs and the organization and their fans still find reasons to bitch & moan. This is why the ‘04 Pistons are one of my favorite teams of all time, destroyed the Lakers that robbed my Kings from winning it all in 2002.

[@Rich-km7pr]

I will never forget that classic 2004 Pistons team!

[@PolarBimbi]

I'll never forget the 04 Pistons. Everyone thought it's the Laker's year and then that happened. What a feeling for all the Davids in the world.

[@17thNO]

I was one of the few that truly thought that that Pistons squad was capable of beating the Lakers especially after they eliminated that Pacers squad in only 6 games. Reason being was I saw the historically great defense that was being played all season and even i the year before that. The only thing they was missing was inside scoring. Once they got Rasheed in the middle of the season I knew it was a wrap. If you saw how they basically locked down everybody they played after Sheed got there I knew there was no stopping them. Also hearing about the Lakers lockeroom stuff from the media (Kobe and Malone), (Kobe and Shaq), (Kobe and Phil Jackson). All that was being talked about that whole season not just after the fact. So to me the Lakers losing was no surprise. Now how one sided it was did surprise me and everybody else.

[@slimypickle19]

It's embarrassing for the NBA that they punish teams like these Pistons for playing perfect defense, but they encouraged & help boost the 7 sec or less Suns playstyle.

[@zhen86]

Easy answer, casual love scoring

[@tottymc]

Scoring brings more people, which brings more money

[@juanritanjaya6254]

Money talks man. Nobody paid to see defense

[@praveen921]

While I agree with you from the basketball side. The NBA is 1st, 5th, 10th. 1000th, millionth, billionth, trillionth, with all in between a business 😂. Basketball "purity" is not the priority at that level. There is nothing embarrassing about it or surprising from a business perspective.

[@AB-ho1cr]

@@tottymcnot at this point it’s like a nba jam dunk contest lol

[@anthonypaterson8741]

How does footage from the 80's and 90's look clearer than 2004? 😂

[@vickpanchal5559]

Those were in film and this is when digital footage started to become mainstream

[@anthonypaterson8741]

@vickpanchal5559 makes total sense! Thanks mate.

[@jeromevillanueva2207]

04 Pistons are amazing. They made it despite a horrible pick in the draft the year before.

[@justinhill5509]

All the guys on the team agree that if they drafted Carmelo like they should have that they wouldn’t have won it in 04

[@MattPawlowski]

​@@justinhill5509 exactly. Now, would we have won a 2-3 in the next handful of years? Maybe.

[@harderway8568]

The problem with Darko is he went to the NBA too soon and Larry Brown never really liked working with young players he needed to develop. He was only 19 at that time, thousands of miles away from home, no family or friends, no social media, completely different culture and stuck in a team that didn't really want to play him. A terrible situation for a kid. He was incredibly talented tho, but unfortunately never really made it.

[@MattPawlowski]

@@harderway8568 you don't remember the other problem? They said Darko had "baby lungs" 😂

[@michaelhernandez1841]

04 pistons was Sheed's payback against the Lakers in 2000

[@TheStatisfiedOne]

Not only 2000, but sheed lost in many playoffs against the lakers, got swept 2 out of 3 playoff meetings against them with the blazers

[@user-gw5zp2bl3q]

And also 2001 and 2002

[@LamarcusMassey-eo1lp]

98,00,01,02​@@user-gw5zp2bl3q

[@davissae]

Seeing them punish the Lakers was so satisfying

[@Rpghubofficial]

Man I love NBA history

[@Milo0610]

Why 04 piston not milking their ring like 08 celtics milking theirs?

[@ericfranklin1802]

That finals was truly an example of David fighting Goliath.

[@imfinishedgrinding638]

I love Kobe to death but damn this is definitely Kobe's worst playoff blunder rivalling that of Lebron's 2011.

[@Loganbub]

@@imfinishedgrinding638yup. The Pistons also played mind games with Kobe appealing to his ego knowing he’d play right into their hands.

[@MattPawlowski]

Blame Kobe? Nah, credit Larry Brown. His game plan was for Shaq to not be doubled, so he would keep shooting and it would piss off Kobe, who would then take bad shots when he finally did get the ball. Worked like a charm.

[@TheMILVSCR]

One of the all-time greatest defensive teams. I'm a Suns fan, so it was nice to see the Lakers get handled the way they did.

[@philliprhinehardt6268]

The 2004 Detroit Pistons is a classic team.

[@chrish8229]

20 years ago. Wow

[@jarez3781]

From a Spurs fan I say God bless that Pistons group that won the Championship against the Lakers.

[@guywhopaysrent]

It's hilarious that the 04 Pistons beat a super team Lakers with Phil Jackson as coach.

[@ssminowjohnson9687]

I would not call it a super team. Malone and Gary Payton were past their prime.

[@praveen921]

This was the first season I remember.I was so shocked that anyone could whoop the Laker's ass like that. Then the next year Tim Duncan reinforced to me what 5 man basketball meant. Even in a loss, i learned so much from that Pistions squad!

[@MarvG3000]

Never forget Darko, the human victory cigar

[@user-gi6rn7st1o]

The pistons is such a inspiration, they just cement thier glory beating the dynasty

[@Veyronp87]

literally changed the game. all time great team if you ask me

[@ray101892]

That was a franchise altering draft. Based on the personel they had that time, Bosh and wade would have been redundant but melo with his midrange game would add an offensive punch to their game and the team could cover his defensive weakness too. The older guys + larry brown would kick his ass if he gets airheaded unlike in denver. He could have won a ring there early on instead of retiring ringless.

[@Obfluss.S]

Larry Brown just don’t trust rookies. Even Melo would only play ~10mpg max. And he would be asking out, creating drama and sabotaging team chemistry.

[@ImAlxxy]

The pistons don't acquire sheed if they take melo, and don't win a ring. The Darko pick in hindsight is bad, but as a player he wasn't and he had potential. He just didn't care. Once he got some money he barely cared about basketball

[@TitoBuzzGaming]

Imagine if Cavs picked Melo and Pistons picked Lebron lol

[@Loganbub]

@@ImAlxxynot sure I agree with this take. Pistons still needed a big and Melo didn’t fill that role. I think they still get Sheed but we obviously don’t know for sure. Had they taken Melo and gotten Sheed they could have won 4-5 titles considering even their last year together with Ben/Larry Brown gone for years they won 59 games and took the Celtics to 6 with an injured Chauncey.

[@sdscipio]

I rooted for this team from the start of the playoffs

[@zooba1974]

Awesome video! Great job putting this together!!!

[@Michigan1985]

The best thing about this team is how much it pissed people off in the sports media world. They obsess over super stars and narratives surrounding those players. They all cried when Kobe and Shaq got spanked by this TEAM.

[@HeinekenGlory]

Joe Dumars talking on 2 phones 😂

[@dscwac396]

And the rule changes and a lot of them happened in the next two years to prevent defenses playing like that

[@Victorremigio2010]

Thanks you having an in depth championship team. Youre best 👍

[@sahm5071]

If we had melo, we wouldn’t have had Rasheed. We made moves to get Rasheed because of our situation.

[@DMalltheway]

Melo would’ve probably costed you that 2004 title

[@petersonofleo11]

​@@DMallthewayLarry Brown was also not good with young players so I doubt the Pistons win with Melo or Wade.

[@bcranford714]

That's what I said plus melo never played defense

[@sahm5071]

Honestly anyone but darko but not too strong would’ve been great

[@agyepongboateng9552]

This championship season needs to be studied as a lesson in what happens when you are the underdog and never give up.

[@rogdawg123]

great video... thank you sir 👍

[@nathanielsese2428]

Would like to see a Raptors 2019 Champs video since they’ve all been traded away…relive the memories 🥲

[@ImcognitoDre]

It’s been like 5 years and bouchers still there

[@vickpanchal5559]

Wait a couple of years and youll see another championship level team. Masai and bobby are putting together a dynasty.

[@LordGospelMusic]

Bad Boys Pistons version 2

[@jeffreynegapatan]

and the core stayed off cam after they retired. damn.

[@localneo-graphic4647]

Truly a tragedy that the Pistons used that pick to draft Darko, both for Darko and the Pistons. It's baffling that they even drafted him in the first, and it was inexcusable that they didn't trade him after 04, when he still had real value. You don't draft someone at number 2 and only play them 150 minutes all season, he was a project on contending team. It wasn't just bad for the Pistons, the dude needed responsibility and goals to develop as a player, but he was on a team that couldn't afford to let him do that on the court, so he turned to alcohol instead. He didn't fit their timeline and never would, so why they didn't trade the pick/him or grab an NBA ready talent like D- Wade (who was a college junior) is legitimately baffling. I don't know if Darko wouldn't have been a bust if he got drafted into a bad team, but at very least he would've gotten a chance to develop. His stock was sky high for a reason, dude was 7 feet tall and built like a tank. As for the Pistons, I don't think it's a hindsight thing to say they shouldn't have drafted an 18 yo from Europe as a team that had just finished the previous season as a 1 seed. The safe thing would have been to trade the pick for an established player, though Wade would have been a dream fit on that team, like the GOAT defensive team would have been even more GOATed, with the bucket getter they desperately needed. Aight that's enough ranting, that 04 team was damn good enough already, but they could have been a dynasty.

[@donwon7592]

Darko. Darko. Darko.

[@OrionOodama]

This year (or upon commenting) is at least four (4) months shy to 20th anniversary of the 2003-04 Pistons' historic feat. "Upset" is a good word, because it really is, yet more of "impressive" and "surprising." "Upset" would be an applicable term if the series went g7 and still won. If not for the Kobe Bryant heroics in g2, this would end in a sweep. Perhaps the Pistons are reminded again (courtesy of 2001-02 Sacramento Kings) engaging the Lakers in a close Playoff game would stir "league intervention" through the referees (myth or not). That's why 3 of 4 Piston wins were decided by at least 12 points. In the lone exception (g4), Shaq scored in bundles (probably by design; while kept Kobe and others at bay) and it should be a 10-point win if not for Shaq's no-bearing deuce in the dying seconds. Six (6) straight ECF appearances (2003-08) is impressive, but only twice the Pistons reached the Finals. Coach Larry Brown's vagabond tendencies, letting Ben Wallace signed with the Bulls (2006), inability to keep vital bench cogs (Mehmet Okur, Corliss Williamson, Mike James), trading Chauncey Billups for AI (2008), and screwed 2nd pick in the 2003 Draft eventually haunt them. And perhaps the impact of these miscues is still felt up to now. (Thank you for this feature and pardon the litany.)

[@sahm5071]

Best video ever

[@shabazzed]

sheeeeeed!

[@DigitaIJustice]

Imagine if Detroit drafted Melo though

[@neal6473]

It seems like the 04 Detroit Pistons had made up for the 1988 Pistons, in which they should have won the championship if Isaiah Thomas had gotten hurt and the phantom foul on Bill Laimbeer.

[@imverygerby]

And now I just have to pray that my lions can tear up the nfl script in the same way

[@imverygerby]

Welp

[@revealwhatsrealministries1251]

The greatest starting 5 and bench rotation!!! 💙❤️💙❤️

[@MNSportsJunkie101]

In a day and age of the NBA that is defined by high octane offense the 2024 Minnesota Timberwolves are bringing some of that defensive grit back to the league. Time will tell if they can reach the same heights the Pistons did 20 years ago.

[@joesakic91]

If only Rasheed Wallace stayed on Robert Horry like super glue with the Detroit Pistons up by two in OT in Game 5...

[@solakeck]

I never knew that the picks they traded for sheed turned into Josh smith and Tony Allen… still happy they did the trade though

[@braddillon4311]

As a Timberwolves fan, I love this Pistons team. The 2004 was the best Wolves team in Franchise history and lost to a juggernaut Lakers team with 4 hall of famers. The Pistons just dismantled the Lakers even though they didn't have anywhere near the amount of star power the Lakers had.

[@luisfelipehernandezlopez6834]

Would be great to make a movie about it

[@lennchadful]

the only people that thought the pistons could win were piston fans. we watched that team break defensive records. we watched the consistent shooting. LA had senior citizens on that team. not to mention the jinx that is Malone

[@ZeusAmun-pt9dc]

I remember when they made it to the finals I was surprised that they made it that far and expected them to get obliterated by the super team Lakers

[@kevintriplett6176]

The two main things that helped that Pistons team is that the Shaq and Kobe beef imploded that squad and a few key players like Malone spent a lot of time injured preventing any kind of team chemistry from forming. But the Lakers arrogance in believing that all they had to do was show up and win prevents me from feeling sorry for them at all.

[@ssminowjohnson9687]

this was also the same year Kobe had his off-the-field issue in Colorado.

[@enanebres6481]

New Subscriber here

[@ninoquizon3508]

With the pistons ending the lakers dynasty, can there be a content/video about kawhi ending both the heat and gsw dynasties? Haha

[@cain948]

Kawhi didn't end the warriors dynasty injury is the main reason. They won championship not so long ago 😂😂

[@ninoquizon3508]

@@cain948 lol in 2017 kawhi couldve easily ended gsw with kd. what happened again? oh injury, by zaza

[@cain948]

@@ninoquizon3508 and what happen when Toronto won the championship?? Ohhh KD and Klay is injured 🤣🤣🤣

[@cain948]

@@ninoquizon3508 kawhi is not the reason for the GSW downfall.. they won championship 2 years ago casual watcher like you doesn't know anything 🤣🤣🤣

[@ninoquizon3508]

@@cain948 its a different roster tho. kd left after kawhi handled them in 2019. bandwagon fan like you doesnt know anything HAHAHA

[@tayprime59]

Ben Wallace Was The Only Pistons All Star That Year ? Wow This Team Was Really Terrifying They Defense Was Unmatched Hold Team To 60 & Going 5 Straight Games Holding Teams Under 70 💯

[@cheddarb9895]

You did not leave the block out of this.

[@benjamingoodnight1025]

I think this was a coaching marvel by the Detroit pitons. Larry completely blew the top off the lakers offense and D.

[@TheStatisfiedOne]

The reason for laker loss 1. Malone was half injured in the finals, Payton also a bit. 2. Underestimated the pistons, didn’t believe they where a worthy opponent. 3. Pistons defence is the best defence they faced so far. 4. The pistons where younger and more athletic, and actually pretty good players, Billups was a excellent floor general who could avg 18.4.6 with elite defence, B.Wallace was a defensive and rebounding juggernaut, Rasheed was a versatile stretch 4 who can score and defend, Hamilton could give you around 18-22ppg, prince was an elite perimeter defender in those early 2000’s. - Pistons had deeper bench then the lakers. - Kobe could not find his Rythm scoring and took many shots to get back his rythm, wich froze out shaq and many of his team

[@at1212b]

Kobe couldn't find rythm because of suffocating defense, long arms, more physical contact allowed by defense on offensive player without the ball, 'chucking' allowed. League panicked and made sure that wasnt allowed anymore so less contact rules implemented next year to allow perimeter players more freedom. Take away big man advantage.

[@mrgotitfordalow]

You could have saved a lot of time by just saying: pistons were the better team.

[@orlandochristopher7325]

Detroit was so much better than them as a team.

[@Teachingcasuals]

Defense beats offense every time.

[@Teachingcasuals]

Thats why butlers heat always win while kds nets always lost back in the day.

[@alexescutia4805]

You need a good mix of both

[@Teachingcasuals]

@@alexescutia4805 well yea but at the end of the day defense beats offense every time. But yea u do need to score the ball to win ofc.

[@TheCountofToulouse]

The Pistons were an actual TEAM. They played together the RIGHT way, selfless, accountable, tough and they HUSTLED, they never took a play off. They were never intimidated, they were confident but not obnoxious, not prideful. I new they were VERY dangerous and in fact, called them winning it all before the playoffs started. The Wallace duo was dynamite and served as the spring board to unleash everything else. They were also not a fluke, making deep runs in the playoffs for the next 4 years.

[@Griemmy]

The NBA wanted the spurs to win 2005. Until now, game 7 was the saddest moment of my life as sports fan.

[@Harasnails]

The pistons would of won back to backs if they didn't make that Coleman trade for corlis williamson

[@cvgodd1432]

One of my favorite nba teams ever!! They filled the bench with the biggest guys they can find. That was so they could foul Shaq all game 😂. Everyone was a good defender on the starting line up. Kind of reminds me of this years Celtics team. They all play good D and they can all hit shots! Rip was beast shooting around screens and catch and shoot!!

[@rtobias137]

Darko my glorious king was the main reason pistons won the chip

[@triggeredfeelings]

This one is painful

[@TheStatisfiedOne]

the most statistying finals ever. The big bad lakers against the heavily underdogs pistons

[@josefnava3490]

De-troit basket-ball!

[@animoetprudentia2865]

They didn't just beat the Lakers, they humiliated and embarrassed them in front of the whole world.

[@Tsukuyomi_99]

04 pistons spanked lakers soo bad NBA had to change the rules😂

[@cobrakai388]

Deeeeeeee...Trroooooiiiitttttttt....BAS-KET-BALL!!!

[@zackspiker_]

Yo was that Mehmet Okur?!?!!

[@zackjay71]

We knew. We watched the Pistons make it one step further since 2000. Each year making it one step further in the playoffs. When we got Sheed. We knew he was going to be perfect. And it was. Also we are glad they didn’t draft Bosch and Wade. It would have thrown off the balance

[@user-cn2ox6zp9p]

Man the 04 pistons and the 05 pistons were tough.Had us spurs fans stressing out.I think that was are toughest finals of all time!!!We stopped there back to back championship!!!But man was it tough!Awwww memories of when we’re good!I love are team now and love wemby but pop needs to go!!!He ain’t hungry anymore and told us fans to stop booing Kawhi😅😅😅 in our own arena Lmfao!!!!Screw pop an kawhi!!!

[@TheRimOfficial]

How the ‘24 Pistons Shocked the NBA

[@James-mz6dn]

Imagine if they picked anyone but Darko?

[@user-hx6ns2ry5h]

Rip Hamilton

[@HONDACR919USA313]

Was a different game back then

[@orlandochristopher7325]

They dominated a Lakers team with Kobe and Shaq... let that sink in.

[@lurking0death]

Nope! Can't have that. Have to change the rules so our brave coastal Hollywood boys win and get better TV ratings.

[@BevanBoychuk]

Maybe not as interesting, but can you do the 06 heat?

[@jeo8998]

Imagine if the had picked up melo? 🤦🏻 this team would have been deadly ☠️

[@PierreDennis]

Let's be real...the hand-check rule really f*cked up the game. Can't even breath on a player without them wanting a foul call nowdays.

[@doloresgaon-jl5sw]

The heart and soul of Detroit Pistons: Ben Wallace.

[@joesakic91]

You also forgot Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer Ben Wallace.

[@nbapbaupdate8338]

Rise or another Fall for Charlotte Hornets new ERA & new owners your next video theScore 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@therealdeal8775]

And celtics former player still milking that 08 championship like they run through Wilt, russell, magic, kareem, jordan, pippen, Olajuwon, barkley 😂😂😂

[@enanebres6481]

27K 6d 173K subs

[@youtuber3328]

in my TOTALLY honest and/or accurate OPINION these title teams are ranked in this EXACT order #1 64 celtics #2 84 celtics #3 94 rockets #4 74 celtics and #5 04 pistons because in my TOTALLY honest and/or accurate OPINION these 5 legends and 3 stars are are ranked in this EXACT order #1 bill russell #2 larry bird #3 hakeem olajuwon #4 bob cousy #5 john havlicek #6 sam jones #7 kc jones #8 bill sharman

[@cain948]

They're the main reason why they banned hand checking so that casual fans will enjoy the league with high scoring game!! I feel like they removed hand checking just for Lebron.

[@rfpchar]

What does lebron has to do with this?

[@tonywalters732]

way too many 83-79 games then

[@ron3851]

Ben Wallace wasn't the lone All-star on that team.. Rasheed was already an All-star during his Portland days

[@JoeCash89]

But he wasn't an All-Star that season. Ben was their lone All-Star during the season in question

[@jasonsuthanthiran3628]

Still can’t play w em in 2k

[@LostLakeTribune]

The Refs helped them beat the Pacers!

[@Loganbub]

Pistons still needed a big and Melo didn’t fill that role. I think they still get Sheed but we obviously don’t know for sure. Had they taken Melo and gotten Sheed they could have won 4-5 titles considering even their last year together with Ben/Larry Brown gone for years they won 59 games and took the Celtics to 6 with an injured Chauncey.

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

Amazing team.... if it wasn't for politics I think the 76ers could have won a few years before, but this Pistons team was an amazing team.

[@christopherbuddhu5415]

How do you not mention Grant Hill’s knee injury… lol it definitely wasn’t just a trade to Orlando.

[@rexflex7548]

An all black thugged out team with a coach that already played against Lakers … i’ll be really surprised that they won Chauncey Billups rip Hamilton Tayshaun, prince Rasheed Wallace, ben Wallace That’s a perfect all around starting five shooting and Defense/ rebound Wallace and Prince all world defender‘s Hamilton Wallace and Billups all world shooters And best defense of coach in NBA history, Larry Brown

[@clitlymatias]

Now NBA rules this won’t happen. Who won’t even allow you to play defense. Now NBA like a video game

[@GARIONN1]

I think nba is still salty when pistons beat the lakers. Nba is shortsighted. By getting rid of defense they got rid of competitveness and that plummeted their viewership. Caitlin Clarks doubled the viewership vs lakers 2020 finals game

[@brandonjones8059]

Imagine if Detroit drafted Wade

[@litodat233]

If only the pistons would’ve kept their word and drafted Melo man the pistons would’ve beat the spurs and won 2 rings im sorry idc what nobody says

[@Tor109]

Thank kobe and his awful shooting trying to prove to everybody he was the man. 43-113 38% 4-23 from 3 and 18 turnovers

[@dscwac396]

The Lakers lost at themselves they never adjusted their game plan. Essentially all Detroit really did to an extent was Press the whole way up the floor and it made them start their offense earlier than they wanted to so instead of shack being closer to the basket he was at the top of the key and it completely disrupted how they did everything. They essentially took advantage of Kobe being a reluctant passer.