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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, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton
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) /

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

Kobe Bryant vs. Richard Hamilton

Edge: Rip

Kobe narrowly outscored Rip in the series but had to take a lot more shots to do it and Hamilton outrebounded him as well. This was supposed to be a big advantage for the Lakers, but Rip’s scoring basically offset Kobe’s and he did it more efficiently, though Rip didn’t shoot particularly well in the series either.

Related Story. "Winning Time" cruelly cancelled before they got to the Pistons. light

Gary Payton vs. Chauncey Billups

Edge: Billups

This was the one matchup where the Pistons had the edge coming into the series and Billups didn’t disappoint. He dominated this matchup, scoring 21 ppg to Payton’s four. Payton was 35 years old at this point and chasing a ring, so it’s not like he was in his prime, but the Pistons had a huge advantage in the backcourt.

So the prognosticators got this one wrong and the Detroit Pistons stunned just about everyone by dominating the Lakers all over the court. As someone who hates the Lakers, it could not have been much more satisfying.

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