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The Detroit Pistons beat the Lakers in Los Angeles to take Game 1 of the best-of-seven NBA championship series. Here's what Pistons head coach Larry Brown and players Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and Corliss Williamson said to the media after the game.

LARRY BROWN

Q: Are you even surprised by this?

Brown: Yeah.

Q: Why?

Brown: Well, you know, to hold them to 75 points, I think is pretty incredible defensive performance. You know, we got in early foul trouble. Rasheed plays eight minutes the first half, and, you know, Rip struggled. But we played great. I don't know if we could ever defend better. We contested shots. We did an unbelievable job and I think that's what it's going to take.

Q: Talk about your bench production, particularly early in the second quarter when you had Corliss and Okur and Hunter in there and held your own for six or seven minutes.

Brown: Well, our bench was great, because Elden, you know, I thought did a great job, as well. But those guys come in and defend, I think Corliss got seven points in the first half on two shots. Memo, I guess played five minutes, but, you know, he at least gave us an opportunity to keep Rasheed on the bench without him picking up his third. And Lindsey's defensive presence is so vital because we had to kind of extend our defense a little bit in order to have any chance of stopping them.

Q: Talk about Chauncey and the way he stepped up tonight, of course he's been in this position before a few years ago when you were coach of the Sixers, one game up.

Brown: You know, he plays great sometimes when he doesn't score. Tonight with Rip struggling, I thought Kobe and Kareem and a lot of them did a really good job of trying to take him away from us. We needed somebody to step up, and he really did. He really delivered. He took great shots for the most part. He took one bad one and I got on him, like I always do. But he defended his position, because, you know, Gary got in foul trouble and I thought that had an impact on the game, and maybe Chauncey being aggressive helped in that regard.

But when we don't have a lot of scoring options, it's not the players' fault; it's probably my fault because we are selective in what we call. But we needed somebody to step up when our primary scorer and Rasheed were in foul trouble, and he did that.

Q: Given in 2001 you came in here and won Game 1, do you feel a need to emphasize that they can't be satisfied with just winning this first game?

Brown: If I had a speech for every experience I've been in, it would be terrible. But I think we've been talking about this all year. We're not only talking about the next game, we're talking about each possession. I think we're trying to play the right way each possession. So, I think they understand. We all watch television, we all see how good they are, how well-coached they are. I did experience firsthand, you're right. I mentioned that before we even started this series.

You know, we're a different team. We had a chance to win Game 2 and didn't get it done. And I don't want them to be satisfied with coming here and, you know, feeling our oats because we won our first game. We've got to continue to play the same way if we have any chance.

Q: Do you feel any similarities or see any other similarities to the experience, Game 1 of 2001 and Game 1 here tonight?

Brown: No. Remember 2001, we had the lead and then gave it away and then found a way to win it in overtime, I think, if I recall.

I think from a personal standpoint, I had the same kind of feeling going into the game, that if you take four, five, six days off, you've got a chance. You know, they were sitting here waiting at home and I thought we had time to prepare, we're coming off a real tough series, and I think mentally, we were into this game. I thought it would take them a little bit to get into it, but I'm saying this again, I don't know if we can play better. You know, to hold them to 75 points, with Shaquille going 13 for 16, I think that was pretty darn significant. And they got a lot of points off turnovers from us. So I don't know how we could defend any better.

Q: Tayshaun's length, how does that make him unique as a defender and what kind of problems did he pose tonight for Kobe, did you see?

Brown: Well, if you're long, that's one thing, but if you can generally keep people in front of you, that's the critical thing. He's gotten better.

I don't think, you know, he's ever played anybody as good as Kobe. But the last three series, we've had -- he's had unique match-ups with Desmond Mason and then Richard Jefferson, who is really becoming a star, and then Ron Artest who is a post-up player, can go outside, is very physically strong.

But he's gotten better. He's learned to keep people in front of him and use his size, and it's not a matter of blocking shots; it's a matter of contesting shots.

But the big thing -- the only way you can have any success against Kobe is if you keep him from getting cheap baskets in transition and I think they only got two baskets, if I'm remembering. That impacts him a lot.

Q: It's obvious, your team can play as an underdog, when you come in as an underdog, do you say anything to the team? Do you help them get over the belief thing or did you put them on that?

Brown: I played golf with Michael in the summer and he calls me Seabiscuit.

I don't look at us as underdogs. How can you be a coach going into the locker room. The kids play 82 games for you and you get into the playoffs and you walk in, act like you're the underdog. I would never want to be in that position.

Every year I've ever coached, our goal is to win a championship. And then at the end of the year, we always talk about, did we play up to our potential or not? But we recognize, they have got a coach who has won nine championships. I haven't pissed a lick, excuse me. (Laughter) they Have got arguably the most dominant big player and a young kid who is phenomenal.

But our players look at themselves as pretty special in their own right and that's the way I would approach it as a coach.

CHAUNCEY BILLUPS and RICHARD HAMILTON

Q: Chauncey, talk about how you put you yourself in the zone this game.

Billups: I wanted to come out and be aggressive and try to set the tone. We want to get these guys on as many pick-and-rolls as we can, whether it's me or Rip or Lindsey coming off the bench. We did that, and just look really to be aggressive and the shots were falling.

Q: Chauncey, you had 53 against the Lakers in two games in the regular season, another 22 tonight. What is it about the Lakers that seems to bring out the best in you?

Billups: I'm a shooter, I can score the ball. We get in pick-and-roll situations, I come off of the pick and nobody is there, you know, I look to shoot that, and most times, you know, more times than not, I'm going to make that shot.

So, I think that's what it is.

Q: Is it how they defend the pick and roll that's different than other teams?

Billups: Well, they defended the same way as other teams, but you know, when you've got myself or Rip and the pick and roll, handling the ball, or you've got Rasheed setting the pick or Okur hitting the jumpshot. Pick your poison. Either you trap me and leave one of those guys open or you let me come off and hope that everybody else helps. You know, it's a tough play to play.

Q: Rip, talk about yourself going 5 for 16, getting the win. You probably couldn't play any worse than you played tonight, and you guys win the ballgame?

Hamilton: You know, we did a great job. I think all of the guys on the team did a great job of stepping up tonight. Coming into the game, you know, Chauns and Coach told me, they was really going to focus on me coming off pin-downs and trying to deny me the ball a whole lot. A couple of times, first time-out here in The Finals, you're moving a little too fast, you know, but like I said, my teammates held it down. Tayshaun was big tonight, Ben was big; Rasheed, he came off, and Lindsey and Corliss. It was a total team effort. It tells you how big this team is. When you focus on one player, you can't on this team because we spread the floor and we play together and we did that tonight.

Q: Can both of you talk about what you saw as far as the Tayshaun and Kobe matchup, and what Tayshaun was able to do against Kobe?

Billups: I tell you, people underestimate Tayshaun. He's really 6'9 and when he stretches those arms out, he's seven feet. His length bothers guys, and I think Kobe is the best one-on-one player in the game. You've just got to contest his shots and you've just got to try to make things tough on him. You have to trap him and change defenses, and I think Tayshaun did a great job of staying with him and contesting his shots, and he's the kind of player that's going to hit tough shots. He did that. Tonight he hit tough shots, but I thought Tay did a great job. He's had tough matchups the entire playoffs, with Desmond and Ron Artest and now Kobe. He's battled and I think he did a great, great job.

Q: Could you talk about the job Rasheed did tonight on Karl Malone not only defensively, but getting some key shots for you guys tonight?

Hamilton: Sheed did an excellent job. He's a vet, playing in Portland, he understands everybody in the West. He did a good job of using his length. We got each other's back down there and he was helping us out, too. You could not ask for a better player on your team than him.

Q: Chauncey, it's still a long series ahead, but could you think of even a better script for you individually and the team in Game 1 to start off with?

Billups: I can't, man, I can't. This is unbelievable, man, the feeling that we have right now. But, you know, it's no time to dwell on that. We've got a long, long series ahead of us, but we came in here to try to win Game 1 and we've done that.

We've got to come in tomorrow and there are some things that we still need to execute better and do better. And we've got to come in tomorrow and start worrying about Game 2, but that's -- I thought we did a great job of taking care of business.

Q: How about individually, yourself?

Billups: Individually, I had a good game. I mean, I came out, I wanted to be aggressive. You know, a lot of people talk about how I struggled last series, you know, against Indiana, and I had some games that were good and some games that weren't so good. That's how this game goes. That's how this game goes.

One thing is no matter how bad I play, I never lose confidence. I know what I can do. I know I'm going to be aggressive. These are things that can happen when it's going good.

Q: Heading into the series, the defensive will you are able to put on teams in the East, there is a sense, as well as you guys played, part of that was those teams were not as good offensively as the Lakers would be. Can you talk about the satisfaction of doing the exact same things you did to these other opponents to the Lakers tonight?

Hamilton: One thing we do, regardless of who we play we play as a unit in the defensive ends. We play as five. We are going to pressure the ball, we are going to try to deny and things like that. The Lakers, they have the most dominant player in the game in Shaq, and so we really have to have each other's back. We are a team that, you know, we're never scared. We're going to go out there and play and have each other's back, and that's what we did tonight.

Q: Rip, was it the game plan defensively to concentrate on the other players on Devean George, on Fish, and Gary and Karl and not let the others get involved?

Hamilton: I don't think so. I think that Shaq made plays, Kobe made plays, but we wanted to defend everybody out there. We didn't just want to give Fisher wide-open looks, or Devean George, wide-open looks. We wanted to play everybody straight-up try to deny the ball and try to play them aggressive. We know Shaq is going to make plays. You know Kobe is going to make plays, and Karl is going to make plays and Gary. We just stay with it and stay consistent. Regardless of who we play, we don't underestimate nobody and you can't do that at this level.

Q: Chauncey, 58-54, the Lakers are coming back and you guys come out of the time-out, next two offenses you play peek-a-boo and knock down the jumpshot and go to the bucket and get fouled and take two shots, was this called by Coach Brown or was this the feeling you had or you had that confidence that you could do it?

Billups: You know, we had the option to run a couple of different plays. So I called, you know, the pick-and-roll, and you know, Coach knows that I'm going to be aggressive. And over the season, I've become a better pick-and-roll player. Because we've run pick-and-roll so much, I felt like I could get a lot of different things. You know, the one that you said, I came off and I scored it. The other one, you know, you bait them in a little bit and try to make a play at the basket.

It's just really a game-type situation, just knowing the game, knowing the clock and knowing that we're up, but the game is winding down and they are making a run. Either you try to get a good shot or try to get to the free throw line and slow the game down.

Q: Rip were you surprised on the time-out, we go to time-out on the international feed when Coach Brown said to you: I don't care if you're 5-for-15 or 5-for-100, keep shooting the ball, is that the way he's been to you the whole way along? That's a lot of confidence you're playing in L.A., you know it's a close game and you weren't playing your best game of the year.

Hamilton: You know, Coach is our biggest fan on this team. He tells me all the time: "You know, Rip, just slow down a little bit, it's going to be there. I mean, you done everything you asked and the shots you take, just slow it down but keep shooting."

I'm always a confident person. You ask Chauncey, me and Chauncey talk, we're best friends on the court and off the court. He tells me sometimes: "Rip, regardless of how the ball is going in, I need you to stay aggressive.: When you have that coming from your point guard and your coach, man, it's all the confidence in the world for you to succeed, and I just keep on playing. I feel as though I'm a great shooter, and at some point in time, it's going to drop.

TAYSHAUN PRINCE

Q: Does this prove that you can play with these guys?

Prince: We knew we could play with these guys but it was a matter of going out there and doing it for the whole 48 minutes. You go out there and make plays, really pass the ball and move and good things will happen. On the defensive end you have to make them work.

Q: How did you use your length against Kobe?

Prince: For the most part I just tried to stay on the floor and once he got off the ground I got off the ground. He has a variety of moves and you just have to be prepared, but for the most part your teammates need to be in great position to be ready to help because he will get around you. Good thing I have some long arms to make him change his shot a little bit. This is only one game. I am going to expect something different in Game 2, so I will have to step my defense up.

Q: Did it help that Kobe had to deal with Richard Hamilton at the other end?

Prince: He did a great job on Rip tonight. They did a great job of coming over the top of screens and making other guys make plays. Rip is human now. He’s had an unbelievable playoff but he will bounce back and Kobe will bounce back too.

Q: How important was it to come here and win Game 1?

Prince: I think it’s very important that we set the tone quickly. We moved the ball well and had guys stay out of foul trouble and guys on the bench were ready to step up and make plays. We know what type of Laker team to expect next game.

Q: Is it a different atmosphere playing in this game rather then other playoff games?

Prince: Whenever we play the Lakers it feels different. At the same time we need to stay patient and keep our composure, especially when they make their runs. We really have to play together as a team.

BEN WALLACE

Q: If I would have told you before the game that Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant would combine for 60 points and Richard Hamilton would have an off-night, would you have thought this would be a loss?

Wallace: Not really. We don’t depend on no one guy to carry this team. We got guys that can step up. If we got a guy that’s struggling, we’ve got other guys that can step up. We got guys that can come off the bench who’s capable of carrying the load. That’s one thing about this team: We don’t depend on one guy to carry us night in and night out. We all can just get out there and put forth a great effort.

Q: Why more than anything else did you guys win tonight?

Wallace: I think we defended. We played Shaq and Kobe honest. They got their numbers and we played everybody else honest. We didn’t let the role players come out and just line up shots from the outside. We played everybody with a hand in their face.

Q: What are you most proud of with the guys in this room?

Wallace: Just their willingness to go out there and give it everything they got night in and night out. Even though when things are not going well for us, nobody starts to pout, nobody points fingers, everybody just continues to play.

Q: Talk about how huge Chauncey Billups was for you?

Wallace: Chauncey came out aggressive for us and really shouldered the load early in the game when I think everybody was a little bit nervous and the shot wasn’t falling. Chauncey took it upon himself to go out and make things happen. That’s what you’ve got to do to be one of the leaders on this team.

RASHEED WALLACE

Q: How good was Tayshaun's defense on Kobe tonight?

Wallace: Tayshaun did a good job on Kobe. We thought, you know, there was a couple of tough plays for Kobe, either got by him or hit the jumpshot, but, hey you've just got to stay consistent with it and that's what Tayshaun did.

Q: This has to be a satisfying win for two reasons for you: You are booed by the L.A. fans, remember your Portland days, and then everybody seems to write you guys off before the first game, so what was the atmosphere in the locker room and it must be an enormous amount of satisfaction on the team's part?

Wallace: I mean, you know, we're excited or whatever, but can't get too excited. It's only one game. It's a race to four so we can't sit up here and get overzealous over one win. That's how teams lose. That's how you go out there in that second game and playing lackadaisical and you lose or fall apart. We just take it one game at a time.

Q: How did it feel to sit so long in the first half, and did you feel you were getting taken out of the game a little bit and how come you were so active today on offense as usually you are so much more passive?

Wallace: Well, I mean, just as far as the first half goes, it was so many things you've got to deal with as far as foul trouble, I had to sit, what, for mad minutes, I missed all the second quarter. I missed three minutes of the first quarter, so, I mean, I was still kind of fresh a little bit in the second half and just came out and tried to supply the team with energy. They were out there busting their butts while I was on the bench. I had the energy and had to leave it on the floor.

Q: Was this the game plan or just the way it turned out?

Wallace: No, just the way it turned out. I just took what they gave me. Rip was curling, he ditched a little bit, Chauncey got me, I just took what they gave me.

Q: In pregame, one, it looked like you were having a good time and joying yourself and then you got in the game and put yourself in the zone, the first game of the Finals, Lakers' home floor, how do you put yourself in that zone?

Wallace: I mean, you just got to play. You can't think of it like, oh, it's the Finals or whatever. We're excited because it's the majority of the guys' first trip here, but like I said, we've still got to play. We're not happy just to be here, like some people would be. Everyone in that locker room is hungry. Before the game, you joke around or whatever, but once that ball goes up, it's all business.

Q: You opened up both halves with 3s, your perimeter game seemed better physically. Do you feel good? No lingering effects?

Wallace: Like I said, I was sitting down for that first half, you know, what, five, six minutes, maybe, tops. So my legs was fresh. I tell what you, guys was out there busting their butts. I knew what I had to do once I got back in the game.

Q: You played against Karl Malone a lot in the Western Conference. Have you ever seen him not making the shots like he did tonight, and is it something you're predicting for the rest of the series?

Wallace: No, we are not expecting that the rest of the series. Karl, he didn't store them 32,000-33,000 points nothing. I think what it was, he just didn't have the opportunities. Usually when he was in Utah, he was getting the ball four out of every five possessions. Here he's limited a little bit. He just wants to win. Out there talking to him, he just wants to win.

Q: Was it your defense?

Wallace: I wouldn't necessarily say it was my defense. I think it was a team effort tonight. So not one particular person was smothering the ball or whatever. It was team defense.

Q: Talk about the performance of Chauncey Billups.

Wallace: I think Chauncey did pretty well tonight. I didn't get a chance to see the stats, so I'm not sure what his assist/turnover ratio was tonight, but, I mean, you know he kept things together pretty well, and in crunch time when they were trying to come back in the game, Chauncey just slowed it down, make sure we executed the plays.

Q: How important is it to be aggressive in the Finals against a team like the Lakers?

Wallace: You've got to be aggressive, period, in the Finals no matter if it's us, no matter if it's the Lakers, it could be whoever. It's the last few games of the season, so you've got to be aggressive. If not, you're going to kick yourself in the butt all summer saying, I coulda, shoulda, woulda.

Q: Winning Game 1 in such convincing fashion, how do you guys make sure the emotions do not get the better of you going into Game 2? Shaq said it's a must-win in Game 2 for the Lakers, how do you guys address that issue?

Wallace: We've still got to go out there and play. Just try to do some of the things that we did tonight, and just go out there and play.

CORLISS WILLIAMSON

Q: Why did you guys win tonight?

Williamson: We just grinded the game out. Some of their guys didn’t have a great shooting night and we had to take advantage of it. It was a total team effort defensively and offensively and that’s the only way we can win.

Q: If I would have told you before the game that Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant would combine for 60 points and Richard Hamilton would have an off-night, would you have thought this would be a loss?

Williamson: Not at all. Those guys are going to have 30 points apiece, regardless whether they have a good shooting night or a bad shooting night. They’ll find a way to do that. The key tonight was some of the other guys really didn’t have a good game and that was big for us. We know they’re going to come out and be more aggressive in the next game but we’re just very happy to get the first one.

Q: In the last series you didn’t look this good offensively. Did you guys do anything different offensively?

Williamson: No. We’ve been doing the same thing offensively that we’ve been doing all season long. You look at the numbers – I don’t know how many points we scored tonight – but that’s pretty much typical of the way we’ve been playing all season long.

Q: Now that you got one game on the road, do you get greedy and go for two?

Williamson: You’ve got to get greedy. If you can get out of here with two wins, that’s a great trip for you. Like I said earlier, they’re going to come back and be prepared and be more aggressive, so we’ve got to be able to step up and meet that challenge.