Ex-Laker 'knew we'd get exposed' by 2004 Pistons

Bleacher Report NBA writer Ric Bucher put together an interesting oral history of the 2003-04 Los Angeles Lakers. Of course, the topic turns to the Detroit Pistons, who stunned the Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals.

Former Lakers forward Rick Fox wasn't exactly confident going into the series — despite the Lakers being heavy favorites.

"I knew we'd get exposed," Fox said. "But I remember back in January or December, watching the Detroit Pistons and having the utmost respect for them in the regular season. They held six or seven teams in a row to under 70 points. I was listening to our team and I personally felt we didn't have enough respect for the Pistons. We thought we were going to steamroll them. And that's how we, as a group, behind the scenes, were talking about it."

Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince remembers a pep talk before the series.

"And I'll never forget this: A couple of us starters were in (general manager Joe Dumars') office, and we had Isiah (Thomas) on a conference call. He said, 'We're about to shock the world, and nobody knows it but us. Everybody thinks we're about to get swept, and it's a possibility that they're going to get swept.' This was two or three days before the series even started. He was like, 'Once we win Game 1, people will realize we're here to win it, not just be a part of it.'"

Former Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups added: "You know, man, I was very, very confident, even before we started Game 1 of that series. In our two meetings against them during the season, we had our way with them. We did. With the team we had — not the personnel — we were tough to contend with. I actually thought we'd have a tougher time against Minnesota than we would have against the Lakers, because of two things: Our most potent offensive players, there was no way they could stop either one of us. There was no way they could stop me in the pick-and-roll, because I was just going to bring Shaq (O'Neal) out on the perimeter and wear him down, and if he didn't step out, I would have open jump shots all series. And two, Rip (Hamilton), I was going to run Rip all over the place, and every play that I called, it was going to be him coming off Shaq's side."

The Pistons won the series in five games — their third NBA title — with Billups being named Finals MVP.

Contact Vince Ellis at vellis@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56 .