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Detroit Pistons: Predictions that went horribly wrong

By Aaron Kellerstrass

Kobe Bryant (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket between Tayshaun Prince (L) and Richard Hamilton (R) of the Detroit Pistons (JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket between Tayshaun Prince (L) and Richard Hamilton (R) of the Detroit Pistons (JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Detroit Pistons, Rasheed Wallace
Rasheed Wallace (L) of the Detroit Pistons drives into Karl Malone (R) of the Los Angeles Lakers (JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /

Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers: 2004 NBA Finals by the numbers

Karl Malone vs. Rasheed Wallace

Edge: Sheed

This one wasn’t even close, as Sheed dominated this matchup in every regard. Rasheed’s defense was key in this series and Malone being no threat allowed Sheed to roam around and rack up weakside blocks. The worst part of this prediction in retrospect was calling Malone “cunning,” though I suppose that the fact that he stayed out of prison all of these years does show some amount of cunning. You can Google Karl Malone if you’re not sure what I’m referring to. I’m glad he never won a ring.

light. Related Story. 7 biggest free-agent mistakes in Pistons' history

Devean George vs. Tayshaun Prince

Edge: Tayshaun

Tayshaun Prince is one of the most underrated Pistons of all time and this series showed why. Not only did he average 10 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals (doubling George’s numbers) but played outstanding defense on Kobe Bryant, essentially locking him up for the series, forcing him into tough shots and frustrating the all-time great. Nothing was easy for Kobe, who shot just 38 percent in the series, mostly because of the defense of Tayshaun Prince.

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