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The Detroit Pistons won their three NBA championships in 1989, 1990, and 2004. Most of the “experts” in professional basketball expected the Pistons to be beaten handily by the Lakers last year but the Lakers didn’t stand a chance against the Pistons when they worked together and played as a team, and the Pistons championship run showed everyone that the whole is always greater than the sum of the parts. Larry Brown finally won his first NBA championship as a coach last season after numerous attempts. Brown’s attitude that teamwork and toughness can defeat any obstacle was on display for five unforgettable games against the Lakers. The team’s only pick in the 2004 draft was Rickey Paulding, a small forward out of Missouri, with the 54 th pick overall. Paulding will likely back up Richard “Rip” Hamilton at the shooting guard spot and Tayshaun Prince at the small forward position.
The team lost Mehmut Okur and Corliss Williamson in the off-season but they were able to resign Rasheed Wallace and also sign Antonio McDyess as a free agent. The Pistons will open their season with Chauncey Billups at the point guard spot. Richard Hamilton will start at the shooting guard position and Tayshaun Prince will start along side him at the three. Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace will interchange at the power forward and center spots. In 2004, the Pistons will move into the new and improved Central division against teams like the Indiana Pacers, the Chicago Bulls, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers still have LeBron James and the Indiana Pacers are the team that the Pistons had to dethrone to advance to the NBA Finals last season. The Bulls are once again full of young talent and they had an excellent draft while the Bucks played well all last season and if they can avoid the injury bug, they’ll likely be chasing Detroit all next season.
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