2004–05 Detroit Pistons season explained

The 2004–05 NBA season was the 64th season for the Pistons, the 57th in the National Basketball Association, and the 48th in the Detroit area.[1] During the offseason, the Pistons signed free agent Antonio McDyess. Coming off their upset victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, the Pistons began the season playing around .500. However, things would get out of control at the end of a November 19 game against the Indiana Pacers, when a huge brawl occurred between Pacers players and Pistons fans after Ben Wallace and Ron Artest got into a shoving match.[2] As the season progressed, the Pistons would post an 11-game winning streak near the end of the season, and would eventually finish first overall in the Central Division, and second overall in the Eastern Conference with a 54–28 record. Ben Wallace was named Defensive Player of the Year for the third time, and was selected for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Pistons defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in five games, then defeated the 6th-seeded Pacers in six games in the second round. The Pistons would then defeat the top-seeded Miami Heat in a full seven game series after trailing 3–2 to advance to the Finals for the second straight year. However, they narrowly missed out on repeating as NBA champions, losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2005 NBA Finals in seven games.[3]

After the Finals defeat, Larry Brown and the Pistons parted ways after spending two seasons as head coach. He would later be the head coach of his hometown New York Knicks, but after winning only 23 games in his only season in New York, Brown was fired again before returning to coaching with the Charlotte Bobcats.[4] It was later announced in the off-season that Flip Saunders, who was fired as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves at midseason, would be the Pistons head coach for next season.

, this marks the last time the Pistons had reached the NBA Finals.

Draft picks

Round!scope="col" style="background:#006BB7; color:#ED164B" width="10%"
PickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
254Rickey PauldingGuardMissouri

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

2004-05 NBA records of the Detroit Pistons
TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMEMMIAMILMINNJNNOHNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAWAS
1–3 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–3 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–2 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–2 0–2 0–4
3–1 4–0 2–2 1–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–2 3–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 3–1 3–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–0 3–1
3–1 0–4 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 2–0 0–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–3 3–1 0–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–2 1–1 0–4
4–0 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 2–2 2–0 0–4 1–1 4–0 3–0 2–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–0 2–0 1–2
4–0 2–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–3 3–1 0–3 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–2
1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–2 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–2 4–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–0 3–0 2–0
2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–2 2–0 2–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 3–1 1–2 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–2 2–0
Detroit 3–1 3–1 1–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–1 2–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 3–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 4–0
2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–2 1–1 0–4 1–3 1–3 0–2 2–0 1–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–3 2–2 1–1 2–1 1–1
1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–1 0–2 2–1 1–1 3–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–1
3–0 2–1 3–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–1 2–0 2–2
2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–2 0–2 4–0 0–3 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 2–2 0–4 0–4 2–1 1–1 2–2 1–1
L.A. Lakers1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–3 0–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–4 2–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–3 0–2
2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–4 2–0 3–1 1–3 0–2 3–1 3–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 0–3 3–1 0–3 2–0 3–0 0–2
4–0 2–1 3–1 3–1 3–0 0–2 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 3–0 2–0 4–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–1 2–0 4–0
2–1 1–3 4–0 2–2 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–3
1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 2–1 2–1 0–2 3–1 1–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 4–0 3–1 1–2 1–3 0–2 3–1 1–1
3–0 3–1 4–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–2 2–0 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–3 1–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 1–3
1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–1 1–3 0–3 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–1 1–2 0–4 0–3 0–2 2–2 1–1
3–1 1–3 3–1 0–4 3–1 0–2 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–2 3–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–0 2–1
3–1 0–3 1–3 0–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–2
3–1 3–1 3–0 1–2 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–2 4–0 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–1
2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 4–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–0 2–2 1–2 2–1 2–0 3–1 1–1
2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 2–2 1–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 0–4 1–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–3 1–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 0–2
2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 3–0 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–1 2–0
2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–1 3–0 2–2 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–1
2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–2 3–1 3–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 3–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 0–2
2–1 1–3 2–1 0–3 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–3
2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–3 2–2 1–1 1–2 2–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–2 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 0–2
Washington4–0 1–3 4–0 2–1 2–1 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–4 3–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 1–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 23| Philadelphia| W 106–85| Rasheed Wallace (29)| B. Wallace, R. Wallace (10)| Richard Hamilton (5)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 26| Philadelphia| W 99–84| Richard Hamilton (23)| Ben Wallace (10)| Chauncey Billups (8)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 29| @ Philadelphia| L 104–115| Ben Wallace (29)| Ben Wallace (16)| Richard Hamilton (12)| Wachovia Center
16,907| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 1| @ Philadelphia| W 97–92 (OT)| Chauncey Billups (25)| Ben Wallace (12)| Chauncey Billups (7)| Wachovia Center
15,894| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 3| Philadelphia| W 88–78| Billups, Hamilton (23)| Ben Wallace (13)| Chauncey Billups (7)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 4–1|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| May 9| Indiana| W 96–81| Richard Hamilton (28)| Ben Wallace (15)| Chauncey Billups (7)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| May 11| Indiana| L 83–92| Tayshaun Prince (24)| Ben Wallace (16)| Chauncey Billups (10)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 13| @ Indiana| L 74–79| Chauncey Billups (23)| Ben Wallace (14)| Tayshaun Prince (6)| Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 15| @ Indiana| W 89–76| Chauncey Billups (29)| Rasheed Wallace (12)| Richard Hamilton (7)| Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 17| Indiana| W 86–67| Ben Wallace (19)| Tayshaun Prince (9)| Chauncey Billups (7)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| May 19| @ Indiana| W 88–79| Richard Hamilton (28)| B. Wallace, R. Wallace (11)| Chauncey Billups (8)| Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345| 4–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| May 23| @ Miami| W 90–81| Rasheed Wallace (20)| Ben Wallace (13)| Carlos Arroyo (7)| American Airlines Arena
20,203| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| May 25| @ Miami| L 86–92| Richard Hamilton (21)| Ben Wallace (14)| Chauncey Billups (6)| American Airlines Arena
20,228| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 29| Miami| L 104–113| Richard Hamilton (33)| Rasheed Wallace (8)| Richard Hamilton (5)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 31| Miami| W 106–96| Richard Hamilton (28)| Ben Wallace (15)| Richard Hamilton (8)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| June 2| @ Miami| L 76–88| Richard Hamilton (21)| Antonio McDyess (9)| Richard Hamilton (5)| American Airlines Arena
20,225| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| June 4| Miami| W 91–66| Richard Hamilton (24)| Prince, R. Wallace (9)| Chauncey Billups (7)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| June 6| @ Miami| W 88–82| Richard Hamilton (22)| Ben Wallace (9)| Chauncey Billups (8)| American Airlines Arena
20,241| 4–3|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| June 9| @ San Antonio| L 69–84| Chauncey Billups (25)| Ben Wallace (8)| Chauncey Billups (6)| SBC Center
18,797| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| June 12| @ San Antonio| L 76–97| Antonio McDyess (15)| B. Wallace, R. Wallace (8)| Rasheed Wallace (4)| SBC Center
18,797| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| June 14| San Antonio| W 96–79| Richard Hamilton (24)| Ben Wallace (11)| Chauncey Billups (7)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| June 16| San Antonio| W 102–71| Billups, Hunter (17)| Ben Wallace (13)| Chauncey Billups (7)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| June 19| San Antonio| L 95–96 (OT)| Chauncey Billups (34)| Ben Wallace (12)| Chauncey Billups (7)| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| June 21| @ San Antonio| W 95–86| Richard Hamilton (23)| Ben Wallace (9)| Chauncey Billups (6)| SBC Center
18,797| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| June 23| @ San Antonio| L 74–81| Richard Hamilton (15)| Ben Wallace (11)| Chauncey Billups (8)| SBC Center
18,797| 3–4|-

Awards and records

Player statistics

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
40 0 17.7 .376 .083 .767 1.5 3.2 .6 .0 5.4
80 80 35.8 .442 .426 .898 3.4 5.8 1.0 .1 16.5
30 1 11.3 .336 .000 .784 2.7 .5 .3 .2 3.9
5 0 10.0 .214 .000 1.000 3.0 .0 .0 .0 1.8
30 4 15.3 .359 .257 .575 1.8 1.3 .7 .2 3.9
47 0 10.0 .480 .500 .617 2.0 .5 .1 .2 3.2
9 0 6.1 .267 .333 .875 .9 .0 .0 .0 2.0
47 0 5.9 .459 .387 .7 .1 .1 .1 1.0
76 76 38.5 .440 .305 .858 3.9 4.9 1.0 .2 18.7
76 3 15.1 .358 .274 .793 1.6 1.7 .9 .2 3.8
15 0 6.9 .333 .000 .923 .6 .6 .3 .1 2.8
77 8 23.3 .513 .000 .656 6.3 .9 .6 .7 9.6
37 2 6.9 .329 .708 1.2 .2 .1 .5 1.8
11 1 10.0 .393 .222 .692 .8 1.0 .3 .0 3.0
82 82 37.1 .487 .341 .807 5.3 3.0 .7 .9 14.7
74 74 36.1 .453 .111 .428 12.2 1.7 1.4 2.4 9.7
79 79 34.0 .440 .318 .697 8.2 1.8 .8 1.5 14.5

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
19 0 7.9 .356 .000 .667 .5 2.1 .2 .1 2.1
25 25 39.4 .428 .349 .893 4.3 6.5 1.0 .2 18.7
10 0 5.7 .308 .500 1.8 .5 .2 .0 1.2
14 0 2.7 .286 .4 .0 .0 .0 .3
14 0 1.7 .333 1.000 .2 .0 .0 .0 .3
25 25 43.2 .453 .294 .798 4.3 4.3 .8 .1 20.0
25 0 15.0 .319 .222 .727 1.6 1.6 .9 .3 3.8
25 0 19.8 .486 .694 5.9 .8 .6 .9 8.0
9 0 2.3 .286 1.000 .4 .1 .0 .1 .6
25 25 40.9 .433 .367 .800 6.3 3.3 1.0 .4 13.4
25 25 39.2 .481 .000 .461 11.3 1.0 1.7 2.4 10.0
25 25 33.0 .439 .337 .741 6.9 1.3 1.0 1.8 13.6

Transactions

See main article: List of 2004–05 NBA season transactions.

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2005.html 2004-05 Detroit Pistons
  2. News: 5 Players, 7 Fans Charged in Brawl . Los Angeles Times . December 9, 2004 . August 29, 2017.
  3. News: PRO BASKETBALL; In Final Hour, Duncan Carries Spurs to Title . New York Times . June 24, 2005 . October 10, 2017.
  4. News: Brown Leaves the Pistons; Knicks Leave a Door Open . New York Times . July 20, 2005 . October 10, 2017.