Lakers in four.

[Kblaze8855]

https://www.hostpic.org/images/2309252053380345.jpeg

[Wardell Curry]

The Pistons were so utterly dominant defensively post Rasheed trade I don't see how anyone picks Lakers in 4. Didn't they set some kind of record for holding teams under 70?

Nevertheless, if Malone was healthy and Kobe didn't play hero by denying Shaq, the Lakers probably win that series. Ben Wallace was getting pieced up by Shaq.

[highwhey]

i wish booker would watch some tape on RIP moving thru screens...

[highwhey]

greatest upset haha.

[tpols]

If we look at the positional breakdown Detroit had 3/5 advantage plus bench. Prince was better than George, Rasheed better than Karl Malones backup, and Billups better than old Payton. And they had a better bench. So it was basically end prime Shaq plus courtroom driven crazy Kobe vs a well rounded juggernaut and the pundits here overrated LA.

The Pistons would go on to almost beat prime San Antonio the very next year if not for old Robert Horry saving them out of nowhere. So they were a proven formidable squad, not just some one hit wonder.

[dankok8]

Looking at the positional matchups, Pistons had a large edge at the PG, SF and PF positions. Payton and Malone were washed up or injured by this point.

I remember thinking this would be a tough series for the Lakers although I expected them to win in 6 or 7 games.

[SouBeachTalents]

Ironically it should’ve been Pistons in 4, if not for the Lakers miraculous Game 2 win. Betting wise this was by FAR the biggest upset in Finals history.

[Hey Yo]

greatest upset haha.

By far the biggest upset in Finals history.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Worst series of Kobe's career, bar none.

Bean plays up to his normal standards and, well, I wont say the Lakers ring, but that series goes at least 6. Credit where its due though.

That Pistons team locked up most of their comp;

1st round: Michael Redd - 18 on 41%FG / Desmond Mason - 14 on 34%FG
2nd round: Jason Kidd - 10/9 on 28%FG / Richard Jefferson - 21 on 42%FG
3rd round: Ron Artest - 15 on 30%FG / Reggie Miller - 9 on 39%FG

Those are just the perimeter players. Freakishly dominant all the same.

[Xiao Yao You]

that one is on Kobe

[tpols]

that one is on Kobe

It is on Kobe for how he shot but who did he have to pass the ball to other than Shaq in a tough matchup vs Ben Wallace? You can cite shaqs shooting% on 20 ppg but he isn't shooting that at 30ppg vs that Detroit Frontline. And then who else can get the ball and do something with it?

[RRR3]

It is on Kobe for how he shot but who did he have to pass the ball to other than Shaq in a tough matchup vs Ben Wallace? You can cite shaqs shooting% on 20 ppg but he isn't shooting that at 30ppg vs that Detroit Frontline. And then who else can get the ball and do something with it?
Imagine if you held Kobe to the standards you hold LeBron to :roll:

[Kblaze8855]

It is on Kobe for how he shot but who did he have to pass the ball to other than Shaq in a tough matchup vs Ben Wallace? You can cite shaqs shooting% on 20 ppg but he isn't shooting that at 30ppg vs that Detroit Frontline. And then who else can get the ball and do something with it?


It was 27-11 on 63% for the record.

[RRR3]

It was 27-11 on 63% for the record.
He knows.

[Wardell Curry]

It is on Kobe for how he shot but who did he have to pass the ball to other than Shaq in a tough matchup vs Ben Wallace? You can cite shaqs shooting% on 20 ppg but he isn't shooting that at 30ppg vs that Detroit Frontline. And then who else can get the ball and do something with it?

If you keep going to Shaq, you're going to eventually collapse that defense which will then open stuff up for everyone.

Kobe trying to dribble through 3-4 defenders isn't opening up anything for anyone.

The 2004 Finals was the epitome of everything wrong with Kobe Bryant #8 as a basketball player. He still had the same problems as #24 but he did get a bit tamer.

[tpols]

Imagine if you held Kobe to the standards you hold LeBron to :roll:

2004 was Kobes 2011.

Every superstar had a falling out except MJ. And Bill Russell.

[Wardell Curry]

2004 was Kobes 2011.

Every superstar had a falling out except MJ. And Bill Russell.

:applause:

[Xiao Yao You]

If you keep going to Shaq, you're going to eventually collapse that defense which will then open stuff up for everyone.

Kobe trying to dribble through 3-4 defenders isn't opening up anything for anyone.

The 2004 Finals was the epitome of everything wrong with Kobe Bryant #8 as a basketball player. He still had the same problems as #24 but he did get a bit tamer.

after he figured out he could barely get his team in to the playoffs trying to do it all by himself

[tpols]

after he figured out he could barely get his team in to the playoffs trying to do it all by himself

Except for the time he did twice and then led 3 Finals teams and B2B championships. But whose counting?

[red1]

too many chokers on that lakers team


got pimp-slapped by the pistons for acting cute

[Xiao Yao You]

Except for the time he did twice and then led 3 Finals teams and B2B championships. But whose counting?

Gasol. Before that he scored 81 and barely made the playoffs before a quick exit.

[Lebron23]

I thought the Lakers were going to win that series.

[tpols]

Gasol. Before that he scored 81 and barely made the playoffs before a quick exit.

Gasol never came close to winning anything before or after Kobe. And Shaq didn't either.

[Kblaze8855]

Gasol never came close to winning anything before or after Kobe. And Shaq didn't either.


What a weird thing to be dishonest about.

[Xiao Yao You]

Gasol never came close to winning anything before or after Kobe. And Shaq didn't either.

And? Kobe barely made the playoffs without Gasol or Shaq. He thought he could do it alone. He couldn't

[dankok8]

2004 Pistons have a serious argument as the GOAT defensive team. They had a 95.4 DRtg (-7.5 rDRtg) for the entire season but after the Sheed trade it was 90.9 DRtg (-12 rDRtg). In the playoffs it was 92.0 DRtg (-11.8 rDRtg). These are absolutely bonkers numbers.

Kobe struggled mightily against them and honestly had a terrible series, definitely the worst of his career.

Shaq did well on offense but he was ineffective on defense and on the glass. Ben did a great job actually pushing Shaq further from the basket and destroyed the boards while also protecting the paint. The Lakers lost the series because their defense couldn't stop the Pistons as much if not more than their offense let them down.

[eliteballer]

You must have forgot the Lakers beat an arguably better team in the Spurs two rounds earlier.

Kobe being worn down by not being able to condition from two offseason surgeries (was taking IV's during the playofs) and Malone getting injured did the Lakers in.

As did Big Ben's roiding..

[Kblaze8855]

You must have forgot the Lakers beat an arguably better team in the Spurs two rounds earlier.

Kobe being worn down by not being able to condition from two offseason surgeries (was taking IV's during the playofs) and Malone getting injured did the Lakers in.

As did Big Ben's roiding..


You realize I was here with you that whole season right? You had the Lakers winning in 2003 before the Spurs series and were even more sure they were beating the Pistons. And I didn’t disagree in 04. I distinctly remember you still thinking they were gonna win when they pulled out that one game and everyone was talking how they had only won like 1-2 quarters and talking shit back and forth.

You were just wrong. So was I. It happens. I believe I said something along the lines of “They went to 7 with the Nets. What the **** they gonna do with Shaq and Kobe?” and Pistons fans barely even disagreed.

Just didn’t play out how we thought. Don’t get salty and act like some shit from 2 offseasons previous blew it. Team just got beat fair and square.

[Legend248]

I thought the Lakers were going to win that series.

I thought you were going to grow more than 5 feet tall.....you ****** mother ****er

[kawhileonard2]

greatest upset haha.

Dallas over Miami in 2011 was.

[Reggie43]

They would have won if Malone was healthy. They barely had any depth and you take out their glue guy. Thats like if Tayshaun or even Rasheed had an injury in the Finals because Karl was that good even at that age.