City of Champions - 04 "Going to Work" Detroit Pistons
- Noah Reiber
- Mar 19, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 25, 2024
The Legacy
Few teams in sports history have embodied the spirit of their city as perfectly as the 2004 Detroit Pistons did. Known as the "Going to Work" Pistons, this group of blue-collar, defensive minded players would go on to win one of the most improbable championship runs of the modern era. We take a deep dive into what made that team, and that era, so special. Let's explore how their identity, work ethic, determination, and selfness led to one of the most unheralded near dynasties in NBA history!
The "Land of Misfit Toys"
The 2004 Pistons were not built like the typical NBA champion. In an era increasingly dominated by superstar-led teams, Detroit's roster was absent of a singular, transcendent talent. Instead, they put together a starting lineup of savvy, hardnosed veterans and castaways. Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace made up the starting 5 for the Pistons during the "Going to Work" era. Billips, a former #3 overall pick, was arriving to Detroit to join his 5th team in his first 6 years in the NBA. Tayshaun Prince was in his second year with the team after being the #23 pick in the 2002 NBA draft. Ben Wallace was an undrafted free agent out of a DII school, who found a role in the NBA as a hard-working rebounder and defender. The Pistons acquired Wallace in a sign and trade deal that included shipping Grant Hill to Orlando. Richard Hamilton was a young scorer for the Washington Wizards during the Michael Jordan era. He famously told Hamilton that he "Wasn't good enough to wear his shoes". "RIP" as he became known, was included in a deal sending Jerry Stackhouse to the Wizards. The team was solid for much of the 2003-2004 year, but a late skid showed them more was needed. Enter the last piece of the puzzle, Rasheed Wallace. The second Wallace in Detroit's front court was a skilled big from Portland with a knack for trash talking. Wallace was one of the faces of Portland when they were known as the "Jailblazzers" and was famous for setting one of the most infamous records in NBA history with 41 technical fouls in one season. While seemingly "a land of misfit toys" each player brought a unique, complementary skill set to the table and all had something to prove. Off the court, the mastermind that brought it all together was none other than Joe Dumars. A Piston's legend in his own right, Dumars was the second half of an all-star backcourt for the "Bad Boy" era pistons with Isiah Thomas.
The Journey
The team's identity was rooted in defense, work ethic, and teamwork. Under the guidance of Hall of Fame head coach Larry Brown, who had something to prove as well with an NBA championship being the one piece missing in his legendary basketball career, the Pistons perfected a stifling defensive scheme that prioritized team effort over individual glory. Ben Wallace, a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, anchored this effort, but every player on the roster bought into the defensive philosophy, making them a nightmare for opposing offenses and arguably the greatest defensive team in NBA history. They finished the regular season on a tear, allowing the fewest points per game in the league, and with a 16-3 record heading into the playoffs.
However, their journey to the championship was far from easy. The Eastern Conference was competitive, and the Pistons had to navigate a tough path to the NBA Finals, including a tense seven-game series against the New Jersey Nets in the conference semifinals, and a defensive slugfest with the Indiana Pacers. With Richard Hamilton getting on a scoring tear, and some Prince defensive heroics, the Pistons advanced to their first NBA finals since 1990. Waiting for them in this finals matchup was the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers dynasty was 1 year removed from a 3 peat, the first since Jordan's Bulls, and had picked up several legends late in their careers looking to cement their legacies. The Lakers, boasted a lineup of dynamic 1-2 punch of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, as well as Gary Payton, and Karl Malone. The final series was expected to be a formality, and the world expected L.A. make short work of the Pistons. What followed, however, was a stunning upset that no one outside of Detroit saw coming.
"David vs Goliath"
Detroit's team-centric approach proved to be the perfect antidote to the star-studded Lakers. Their game plan to play the dominant Shaquille O'Neal 1 on 1, and allow Kobe Bryant, as Billups put it, "break the Laker offense" by forcing shots after not getting enough touches early. The Pistons won the series in five games, with their defense disrupting the Lakers' offense and proving that a well-organized, dedicated team could prevail over individual brilliance. Chauncey Billups, who averaged 21 points and 5.2 assists per game in the Finals, was named NBA Finals MVP, epitomizing the "team-first" ethos of the Pistons.
The 2004 Detroit Pistons' championship run was not just a victory for the team, but also for the city of Detroit. In a period of economic uncertainty and struggle for the city, the Pistons' success provided a source of pride and inspiration. The "Going to Work" Pistons reminded everyone that with teamwork, determination, and a strong defensive foundation, underdogs can overcome the odds and achieve greatness.
As a result of their incredible defensive dominance, the 2004 Pistons set a number of notable shot-clock era (1955–present) defensive playoff records:
Allowed under 90 points in eighteen playoff games.
Allowed under 85 points in sixteen playoff games.
Allowed under 80 points in eleven playoff games.
Allowed under 75 points in six playoff games.
Allowed under 70 points in six playoff games.
Allowed 65 or less points in three playoff games.
One of two teams (1998 Bulls) to allow under 60 points in a playoff game.
Allowed under 40% FG in twelve playoff games.
Allowed under 35% FG in five playoff games (tied with 1999 Knicks).
Allowed under 30% FG in two playoff games (tied with 1999 Knicks).
Least Points Per Game (PPG) allowed in a shot-clock era playoff run of any length:
The 2004 Pistons allowed 80.696 PPG, slightly lower than the 2000 Heat at 80.700 PPG allowed. Excluding overtime periods, the 2004 Pistons allowed 78.6 PPG during the playoffs in regulation compared to 79.9 PPG allowed for the 2000 Heat.
The 2004 Pistons had a Defensive Rating of 92.0 in the playoffs.
This is the lowest Defensive Rating any team has had in a post-1st round playoff run in the 3-point era (1980–present). The 2000 Spurs had a 91.4 Defensive Rating, but this was in a 1st round loss of only four games.
Today, the legacy of the 2004 Pistons lives on as a powerful example of what can be achieved when individuals come together for a common goal, prioritizing collective success over personal accolades. Their championship run remains one of the most one of the biggest underdog narratives in NBA history, even though that team went to 6 straight ECF's, a testament to the power of teamwork and the enduring spirit of the city of Detroit!
This article draws upon historical records, team and player statistics, and NBA archives to capture the essence of the 2004 Detroit Pistons including:
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