The Detroit Pistons ambushed the favored Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals. Despite facing a Lakers team that was reinforced by Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Horace Grant, and Bryon Russell, the Pistons emerged victorious and won their first NBA championship since the Bad Boys era.
But according to Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince , perhaps more impressive than the Pistons' 4-1 rout of the Lakers was the fact that even before the team traveled to Los Angeles for Game 1, former Bad Boys team captain Isiah Thomas already predicted that the Pistons would win Game 1 because the Lakers won't have an answer for their defense.
"Isaiah met with us and was talking about how to prepare for the Finals, what to expect, and as he was talking to us, he said, 'Y'all gonna win Game 1, I ain't worried about Game 1. Y'all gonna win that cuz they don't know what's gonna hit them. They hadn't seen nothing like you before.' So he starts talking about Game 2, and I'm like, 'What?' Game 1 is probably the most important game. He said, 'Yeah, y'all gonna win that one. They ain't know what hit them, they got no clue," the retired forward shared.
The Lakers were heavily favored
Entering the playoffs, the Lakers were the 2nd seed in the West and had the 4th best record in the league at 56-26. On the other hand, the Pistons were the No.3 seed in the East and had the 6th best record in the Association at 54-28.
Having won the NBA title in three out of the previous four seasons, plus the additions of the Mailman and the Glove, Las Vegas oddsmakers installed the Purple and Gold as heavy favorites in the 2004 NBA Finals. Los Angeles entered the matchup with an implied probability of 87.5% to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
But with suffocating defense, the Pistons stunned the Lakers in Game 1, holding the high-powered Lakers to just 75 points. That was a far cry from their 98.2 PPG scoring average during the regular season, which was 3rd best overall in the league, and that was just the beginning of Detroit's defensive masterclass.
Related: "He was alienated from those guys" - Clyde Drexler named the Dream Team members who didn't want Isiah Thomas on the team
A defensive clinic by the Pistons
The Pistons went on to limit the Lakers to an average of 81.8 points per game in the series. Los Angeles shot just 41.6% from the floor, 24.7% from three-point distance, and 64.0% from the foul line. With their offense out of synch, they managed only one win while the Pistons hoisted the trophy.
"And just to hear those Bad Boys guys talk about their experience in the Finals," added Prince. "What to expect, what to prepare for, and how to handle the stage and all that kind of stuff, the support from the city, it just even made it more special."
The Pistons' victory over the Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals remains one of the greatest upsets in history, with their stifling defense holding L.A. to just 77.5 points per game in their four wins. However, Zeke’s bold prediction of a Game 1 victory might have been the craziest part.
Related: Tayshaun Prince on how many championships the Detroit Pistons would've won if they drafted Carmelo Anthony: "If you take Melo, we got a guy"
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