Login
Login

2003–04 Detroit Pistons season

{{Short description|NBA team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NBA season

| team = Detroit Pistons

| end_year = 2004

| ConferenceWin = yes

| ChampionshipWin = yes

| wins = 54

| losses = 28

| division = Central

| division_place = 2

| conf_place = 3

| coach = Larry Brown

| arena = The Palace of Auburn Hills

| gm = Joe Dumars

| president = Joe Dumars

| owner = Bill Davidson

| playoffs = NBA Champions
(Defeated Lakers 4–1)

| bbr_team = DET

| television =

| radio = WDFN

}}

The 2003–04 NBA season was the 63rd season for the Pistons, the 56th in the National Basketball Association, and the 47th in the Detroit area.{{Cite web |title=2003-04 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2004.html |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} Despite a solid year the previous season, the Pistons received the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, which they obtained from the Memphis Grizzlies. They selected Darko Miličić as their top pick but only used him as a reserve, as he played limited minutes off the bench; he would later be regarded as one of the most suboptimal picks in the history of the NBA draft. After their first trip to the Conference Finals since 1991, the Pistons hired Larry Brown as head coach. Under Brown, the Pistons were once again a tough defensive team, as they went on a 13-game winning streak between December and January. However, after a solid 33–16 start, they struggled in February, losing six straight games. At midseason, the team acquired All-Star forward Rasheed Wallace from the Atlanta Hawks after playing just one game for them.{{cite news | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Giving Up Little, Pistons Pull Off Deal for Wallace | work = The New York Times | date = February 20, 2004 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/20/sports/pro-basketball-giving-up-little-pistons-pull-off-deal-for-wallace.html?mcubz=1 | access-date = August 29, 2017}} With the addition of Wallace, the Pistons won 16 of their final 19 games, finishing second in the Central Division with a 54–28 record. Ben Wallace was selected for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. The Pistons went on to win the NBA Championship for the third time in franchise history, with Miličić being the youngest player to win said championship.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Pistons defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games despite losing Game 2 at home. In the semifinals, they faced the New Jersey Nets who swept them in the Eastern Conference Finals in the previous year. The Pistons would win the first two games at home, but the Nets would put up a fight against the Pistons by winning 3 straight games to take a 3–2 series lead, which included a triple overtime win in Game 5 at The Palace. However, with the Pistons facing elimination, the Pistons were digging an early hole in Game 6, but the Pistons were able to erase a 13–2 deficit and never trailed for the remainder of the game as they would refuse to relinquish the lead to the Nets and win Game 6 81–75. In Game 7, the Pistons stingy defense held Jason Kidd to 0 points to defeat the Nets 90–69 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they defeated the top-seeded Indiana Pacers in a defensive six game series to earn their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 1990. In the Finals, the Pistons would pull off one of the greatest upsets in NBA history by defeating the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers four games to one, winning their third overall championship and first since 1990. Chauncey Billups was named Finals MVP.{{cite news | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Teamwork Thumps Star Power | work = New York Times | date = June 16, 2004 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/16/sports/pro-basketball-teamwork-thumps-star-power.html | access-date = October 10, 2017}} The 2004 Pistons are one of only three teams in history (the 1951 Rochester Royals and the 1979 Seattle Supersonics being the other) to win an NBA title without a single player named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. https://pistonpowered.com/2022/02/24/2004-detroit-pistons-top-75/

Draft picks

{{main|2003 NBA draft}}

class="wikitable sortable sortable"

! style="background:#006BB7; color:#ED164B" width="10%"| Round

! style="background:#006BB7; color:#ED164B" width="10%"| Pick

! style="background:#006BB7; color:#ED164B" width="20%"| Player

! style="background:#006BB7; color:#ED164B" width="15%"| Position

! style="background:#006BB7; color:#ED164B" width="15%"| Nationality

! style="background:#006BB7; color:#ED164B" width="20%"| College / Team

1

| 2

| Darko Miličić

| Forward/Center

| {{SCG}}

| Hemofarm Vrsac (Serbia and Montenegro and Adriatic League)

1

| 25

| Carlos Delfino

| Guard

| {{ARG}}

| Unión de Santa Fe (Argentina)

2

| 58

| Andreas Glyniadakis

| Center

| {{GRC}}

| AEK Athens (Greece)

Roster

{{NBA roster header|team=Detroit Pistons|season=2003–04

| bg1 = #006BB7 | color1 = #FFFFFF

| bg2 = #B50000 | color2 = #FFFFFF

}}

{{player2 | num = 1 | first = Chauncey | last = Billups | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 202 | DOB = 1976-09-25 | college = Colorado}}

{{player2 | num = 41 | first = Elden | last = Campbell | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 279 | DOB = 1968-07-23 | college = Clemson}}

{{player2 | num = 24 | first = Tremaine | last = Fowlkes | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 212 | DOB = 1976-04-11 | college = Fresno State}}

{{player2 | num = 8 | first = Darvin | last = Ham | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 240 | DOB = 1973-07-23 | college = Texas Tech}}

{{player2 | num = 32 | first = Richard | last = Hamilton | dab = basketball | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 193 | DOB = 1978-02-14 | college = Connecticut}}

{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Lindsey | last = Hunter | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 195 | DOB = 1970-12-03 | college = Jackson State}}

{{player2 | num = 7 | first = Mike | last = James | dab = basketball, born 1975 | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 188 | DOB = 1975-06-23 | college = Duquesne}}

{{player2 | num = 31 | first = Darko | last = Miličić | pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 275 | DOB = 1985-06-20 | from = Serbia and Montenegro}}

{{player2 | num = 13 | first = Mehmet | last = Okur | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 290 | DOB = 1979-05-26 | from = Turkey}}

{{player2 | num = 22 | first = Tayshaun | last = Prince | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 215 | DOB = 1980-02-28 | college = Kentucky}}

{{player2 | num = 3 | first = Ben | last = Wallace | dab = basketball | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 245 | DOB = 1974-09-10 | college = Virginia Union }}

{{player2 | num = 30 | first = Rasheed | last = Wallace | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 230 | DOB = 1974-09-17 | college = North Carolina}}

{{player2 | num = 34 | first = Corliss | last = Williamson | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 245 | DOB = 1973-12-04 | college = Arkansas}}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach =

| asst_coach =

| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2004.html

| accessdate = February 26, 2004

}}

Regular season

=Season standings=

{{2003–04 NBA Central standings|team=DET}}

{{2003–04 NBA East standings|team=DET}}

=Record vs. opponents=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
colspan=30|2003–04 NBA Records
width=100|Team

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|ATL

!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#000000;width=35"|CHI

!style="background:#9F1F32;color:#001D43;width=35"|CLE

!style="background:#0055BA;color:#898D8F;width=35"|DAL

!style="background:#4C92CC;color:#FDB827;width=35"|DEN

!style="background:#006BB7;color:#ED164B;width=35"|DET

!style="background:#072E63;color:#DC5A34;width=35"|GSW

!style="background:#D31145;color:#CBD4D8;width=35"|HOU

!style="background:#000080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|IND

!style="background:#F9160D;color:#1A2E8B;width=35"|LAC

!style="background:#800080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|LAL

!style="background:#000000;color:#0CB2AC;width=35"|MEM

!style="background:#000000;color:#8B0000;width=35"|MIA

!style="background:#00471B;color:#5C378A;width=35"|MIL

!style="background:#044D80;color:#000000;width=35"|MIN

!style="background:#12305B;color:#C4CED4;width=35"|NJN

!style="background:#0093B1;color:#FDB827;width=35"|NOH

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF8C00;width=35"|NYK

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#000000;width=35"|ORL

!style="background:#000000;color:#BB9754;width=35"|PHI

!style="background:#800080;color:#FF4500;width=35"|PHO

!style="background:#000000;color:#FF0000;width=35"|POR

!style="background:#6846A8;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|SAC

!style="background:#000000;color:#C0C0C0;width=35"|SAS

!style="background:#005831;color:#FFC322;width=35"|SEA

!style="background:#7436BF;color:#BE0F34;width=35"|TOR

!style="background:#644A9C;color:#149BC7;width=35"|UTA

!style="background:#044D7D;color:#BC7A44;width=35"|WAS

style="text-align:left;" | Atlanta—3–13–11–32–02–01–30–20–20–40–21–10–21–32–21–11–32–20–31–31–21–10–20–21–11–11–30–22–2
style="text-align:left;" | Boston1–3—1–23–11–12–00–32–01–11–30–20–21–12–21–31–12–20–41–33–13–11–10–21–10–21–13–11–13–1
style="text-align:left;" | Chicago1–32–1—2–20–20–20–41–10–21–31–10–20–20–41–30–20–32–22–23–10–41–10–20–20–20–24–01–11–3
style="text-align:left;" | Cleveland3–11–32–2—0–20–22–20–20–21–31–10–20–22–22–20–21–23–14–02–13–10–21–10–21–12–01–31–12–2
style="text-align:left;" | Dallas0–21–12–02–0—2–21–13–13–10–22–22–22–21–11–12–22–02–02–02–01–13–13–13–13–13–11–12–21–1
style="text-align:left;" | Denver0–20–22–02–02–2—0–23–12–20–22–21–32–21–12–01–30–21–11–11–12–04–04–02–21–32–20–23–12–0
style="text-align:left;" | Detroit3–13–04–02–21–12–0—1–11–11–32–01–12–04–03–10–22–21–33–13–12–22–02–00–21–11–13–11–13–0
style="text-align:left;" | Golden State2–00–21–12–01–31–31–1—2–20–22–21–31–31–11–12–20–20–22–01–11–12–22–22–22–23–11–12–21–1
style="text-align:left;" | Houston2–01–12–02–01–32–21–12–2—1–14–02–21–31–12–02–21–12–02–02–02–01–33–10–40–41–31–12–22–0
style="text-align:left;" | Indiana4–03–13–13–12–02–03–12–01–1—2–01–11–13–01–31–13–12–23–13–14–02–01–10–21–12–04–02–02–1
style="text-align:left;" | L.A. Clippers2–02–01–11–12–22–20–22–20–40–2—1–30–40–22–00–40–21–11–12–01–13–12–20–41–30–41–11–30–2
style="text-align:left;" | L.A. Lakers1–12–02–02–02–23–11–13–12–21–13–1—2–22–02–01–32–01–12–02–01–13–12–21–33–13–12–03–12–0
style="text-align:left;" | Memphis2–01–12–02–02–22–20–23–13–11–14–02–2—1–11–11–32–01–11–12–02–02–22–22–23–11–32–01–32–0
style="text-align:left;" | Miami3–12–24–02–21–11–10–41–11–10–32–00–21–1—1–20–23–23–11–34–01–31–10–21–10–22–02–11–14–0
style="text-align:left;" | Milwaukee2–23–13–12–21–10–21–31–10–23–10–20–21–12–1—0–23–11–32–23–12–11–11–11–11–10–23–11–13–1
style="text-align:left;" | Minnesota1–11–12–02–02–23–12–02–22–21–14–03–13–12–02–0—1–12–01–12–01–14–01–33–12–23–12–02–22–0
style="text-align:left;" | New Jersey3–12–23–02–10–22–02–22–01–11–32–00–20–22–31–31–1—2–13–14–03–11–10–21–10–22–02–21–14–0
style="text-align:left;" | New Orleans2–24–02–21–30–21–13–12–00–22–21–11–11–11–33–10–21–2—1–24–02–21–12–00–21–10–21–31–13–1
style="text-align:left;" | New York3–03–12–20–40–21–11–30–20–21–31–10–21–13–12–21–11–32–1—3–13–11–11–11–10–21–13–10–24–0
style="text-align:left;" | Orlando3–11–31–31–20–21–11–31–10–21–30–20–20–20–41–30–20–40–41–3—2–21–10–20–20–20–21–21–14–0
style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia2–11–34–01–31–10–22–21–10–20–41–11–10–23–11–21–11–32–21–32–2—1–11–10–22–01–11–30–22–2
style="text-align:left;" | Phoenix1–11–11–12–01–30–40–22–23–10–21–31–32–21–11–10–41–11–11–11–11–1—2–21–30–42–20–21–31–1
style="text-align:left;" | Portland2–02–02–01–11–30–40–22–21–31–12–22–22–22–01–13–12–00–21–12–01–12–2—3–10–42–21–12–21–1
style="text-align:left;" | Sacramento2–01–12–02–01–32–22–02–24–02–04–03–12–21–11–11–31–12–01–12–02–03–11–3—2–23–12–03–11–1
style="text-align:left;" | San Antonio1–12–02–01–11–33–11–12–24–01–13–11–31–32–01–12–22–01–12–02–00–24–04–02–2—4–02–04–02–0
style="text-align:left;" | Seattle1–11–12–00–21–32–21–11–33–10–24–01–33–10–22–01–30–22–01–12–01–12–22–21–30–4—1–11–31–1
style="text-align:left;" | Toronto3–11–30–43–11–12–01–31–11–10–41–10–20–21–21–30–22–23–11–32–13–12–01–10–20–21–1—1–11–3
style="text-align:left;" | Utah2–01–11–11–12–21–31–12–22–20–23–11–33–11–11–12–21–11–12–01–12–03–12–21–30–43–11–1—1–1
style="text-align:left;" | Washington2–21–33–12–21–10–20–31–10–21–22–00–20–20–41–30–20–41–30–40–42–21–11–11–10–21–13–11–1—

=Game log=

{{NBA game log start|Detroit Pistons|end_year=2004|bgcolor=#006BB7|color=#ED164B|record=Total: 54–28 (Home: 31–10; Road: 23–18)}}

{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|October|first=yes|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 0

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 0

}}

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 1

| October 29

| Indiana

| {{NBA game br|date=20031029|home=DET|pf=87|pa=89}}

| Wallace, Prince (16)

| Ben Wallace (17)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 0–1

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 2

| October 31

| @ Miami

| {{NBA game br|date=20031031|home=MIA|pf=93|pa=81}}

| Chauncey Billups (27)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Tayshaun Prince (5)

| American Airlines Arena
15,825

| 1–1

{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|November|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 6

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 5

| road_losses = 4

}}

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 3

| November 1

| @ Orlando

| {{NBA game br|date=20031101|home=ORL|pf=96|pa=85}}

| Richard Hamilton (20)

| Ben Wallace (17)

| Chauncey Billups (4)

| TD Waterhouse Centre
14,588

| 2–1

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 4

| November 5

| Boston

| {{NBA game br|date=20031105|home=DET|pf=96|pa=88}}

| Chauncey Billups (27)

| Ben Wallace (13)

| Chauncey Billups (6)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
17,376

| 3–1

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 5

| November 7

| Milwaukee

| {{NBA game br|date=20031107|home=DET|pf=105|pa=99}}

| Chauncey Billups (27)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,204

| 4–1

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 6

| November 9

| New Jersey

| {{NBA game br|date=20031109|home=DET|pf=98|pa=84}}

| Richard Hamilton (24)

| Ben Wallace (11)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,664

| 5–1

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 7

| November 11

| @ Sacramento

| {{NBA game br|date=20031111|home=SAC|pf=91|pa=97}}

| Richard Hamilton (19)

| Mehmet Okur (9)

| Hamilton, Billups (3)

| ARCO Arena
17,317

| 5–2

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 8

| November 12

| @ Golden State

| {{NBA game br|date=20031112|home=GSW|pf=85|pa=87|ot=1}}

| Chauncey Billups (19)

| Ben Wallace (11)

| Chauncey Billups (12)

| The Arena in Oakland
14,382

| 5–3

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 9

| November 14

| @ L.A. Lakers

| {{NBA game br|date=20031114|home=LAL|pf=89|pa=94}}

| Chauncey Billups (29)

| Mehmet Okur (9)

| Billups, Hamilton (5)

| Staples Center
18,997

| 5–4

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 10

| November 15

| @ Phoenix

| {{NBA game br|date=20031115|home=PHO|pf=100|pa=91}}

| Richard Hamilton (27)

| Ben Wallace (16)

| Tayshaun Prince (5)

| America West Arena
15,681

| 6–4

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 11

| November 18

| L.A. Lakers

| {{NBA game br|date=20031118|home=DET|pf=106|pa=96}}

| Chauncey Billups (25)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Chauncey Billups (8)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 7–4

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 12

| November 19

| @ Memphis

| {{NBA game br|date=20031119|home=MEM|pf=99|pa=92}}

| Chauncey Billups (33)

| Mehmet Okur (9)

| Tayshaun Prince (6)

| Pyramid Arena
13,340

| 8–4

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 13

| November 21

| New York

| {{NBA game br|date=20031121|home=DET|pf=94|pa=85}}

| Chauncey Billups (23)

| B. Wallace, Okur (9)

| Chauncey Billups (3)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 9–4

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 14

| November 23

| New Orleans

| {{NBA game br|date=20031123|home=DET|pf=80|pa=81}}

| Prince, Hamilton (13)

| Mehmet Okur (18)

| Chauncey Billups (9)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 9–5

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 15

| November 24

| @ Atlanta

| {{NBA game br|date=20031124|home=ATL|pf=94|pa=89}}

| Chauncey Billups (24)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Billups, Sura (4)

| Philips Arena
18,255

| 10–5

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 16

| November 26

| @ Philadelphia

| {{NBA game br|date=20031126|home=PHI|pf=86|pa=90}}

| Richard Hamilton (19)

| Ben Wallace (8)

| Richard Hamilton (6)

| Wachovia Center
20,512

| 10–6

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 17

| November 28

| Cleveland

| {{NBA game br|date=20031128|home=DET|pf=92|pa=88}}

| Richard Hamilton (44)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Tayshaun Prince (7)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 11–6

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 18

| November 29

| @ Washington

| {{NBA game br|date=20031129|home=WAS|pf=80|pa=69}}

| Richard Hamilton (25)

| Ben Wallace (11)

| Chauncey Billups (6)

| MCI Center
16,853

| 12–6

{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|December|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 5

| home_losses = 3

| road_wins = 2

| road_losses = 4

}}

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 19

| December 1

| @ New York

| {{NBA game br|date=20031201|home=NYK|pf=79|pa=78|ot=1}}

| Chauncey Billups (24)

| Ben Wallace (14)

| Richard Hamilton (6)

| Madison Square Garden
17,082

| 13–6

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 20

| December 3

| Miami

| {{NBA game br|date=20031203|home=DET|pf=87|pa=73}}

| Richard Hamilton (18)

| Ben Wallace (21)

| B. Wallace, Billups, Prince (3)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
17,703

| 14–6

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 21

| December 6

| @ Houston

| {{NBA game br|date=20031206|home=HOU|pf=80|pa=86}}

| Richard Hamilton (17)

| Ben Wallace (10)

| Chauncey Billups (4)

| Toyota Center
18,144

| 14–7

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 22

| December 9

| Philadelphia

| {{NBA game br|date=20031209|home=DET|pf=76|pa=78}}

| Chauncey Billups (29)

| Ben Wallace (9)

| Richard Hamilton (5)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,166

| 14–8

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 23

| December 11

| @ Cleveland

| {{NBA game br|date=20031211|home=CLE|pf=86|pa=95}}

| Richard Hamilton (19)

| Ben Wallace (9)

| Richard Hamiton (8)

| Gund Arena
15,115

| 14–9

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 24

| December 12

| Seattle

| {{NBA game br|date=20031212|home=DET|pf=72|pa=93}}

| Ben Wallace (14)

| Ben Wallace (11)

| Chauncey Billups (6)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,244

| 14–10

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 25

| December 17

| Chicago

| {{NBA game br|date=20031217|home=DET|pf=77|pa=73}}

| Richaed Hamilton (20)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Prince, Hamilton, Atkins (5)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
17,041

| 15–10

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 26

| December 19

| @ Indiana

| {{NBA game br|date=20031219|home=IND|pf=75|pa=80}}

| Chauncey Billups (13)

| Ben Wallace (11)

| Chauncey Billups (3)

| Conseco Fieldhouse
16,383

| 15–11

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 27

| December 21

| Utah

| {{NBA game br|date=20031221|home=DET|pf=96|pa=75}}

| Chauncey Billups (19)

| Ben Wallace (13)

| Chauncey Billups (6)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 16–11

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 28

| December 23

| @ Milwaukee

| {{NBA game br|date=20031223|home=MIL|pf=78|pa=83}}

| Richard Hamilton (17)

| Ben Wallace (20)

| Hamilton, Billups (4)

| Bradley Center
15,081

| 16–12

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 29

| December 26

| New Jersey

| {{NBA game br|date=20031226|home=DET|pf=79|pa=82}}

| Richard Hamilton (20)

| Ben Wallace (18)

| Ben Wallace (5)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 16–13

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 30

| December 27

| @ Atlanta

| {{NBA game br|date=20031227|home=ATL|pf=87|pa=84}}

| Richard Hamilton (28)

| Ben Wallace (10)

| Chauncey Billups (4)

| Philips Arena
19,445

| 17–13

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 31

| December 29

| New Orleans

| {{NBA game br|date=20031229|home=DET|pf=108|pa=99}}

| Chauncey Billups (31)

| Ben Wallace (18)

| Richard Hamilton (7)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 18–13

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 32

| December 31

| Portland

| {{NBA game br|date=20031231|home=DET|pf=78|pa=71}}

| Chauncey Billups (22)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,458

| 19–13

{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|January|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 8

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 5

| road_losses = 2

}}

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 33

| January 2

| Phoenix

| {{NBA game br|date=20040102|home=DET|pf=93|pa=81}}

| Richard Hamilton (26)

| Ben Wallace (22)

| Hamilton, Billups (6)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 20–13

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 34

| January 3

| Golden State

| {{NBA game br|date=20040103|home=DET|pf=99|pa=93}}

| Tayshaun Prince (20)

| Tayshaun Prince (9)

| Chauncey Billups (10)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,719

| 21–13

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 35

| January 5

| @ Boston

| {{NBA game br|date=20040105|home=BOS|pf=78|pa=68}}

| Richard Hamilton (15)

| Ben Wallace (16)

| Ben Wallace (5)

| FleetCenter
13,015

| 22–13

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 36

| January 7

| Houston

| {{NBA game br|date=20040107|home=DET|pf=85|pa=66}}

| Richard Hamilton (16)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Chauncey Billups (5)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
19,111

| 23–13

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 37

| January 11

| Dallas

| {{NBA game br|date=20040111|home=DET|pf=115|pa=102}}

| Chauncey Billups (27)

| Ben Wallace (13)

| Prince, Billups (5)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 24–13

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 38

| January 13

| @ Chicago

| {{NBA game br|date=20040113|home=CHI|pf=105|pa=89}}

| Richard Hamilton (24)

| Ben Wallace (17)

| Prince, Billups (7)

| United Center
17,295

| 25–13

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 39

| January 14

| Toronto

| {{NBA game br|date=20040114|home=DET|pf=95|pa=91}}

| Hamilton, Okur (27)

| Mehmet Okur (14)

| Chauncey Billups (6)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
18,473

| 26–13

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 40

| January 16

| Washington

| {{NBA game br|date=20040116|home=DET|pf=98|pa=77}}

| Richard Hamilton (17)

| Mehmet Okur (9)

| Chauncey Bullups (10)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,539

| 27–13

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 41

| January 17

| @ Milwaukee

| {{NBA game br|date=20040117|home=MIL|pf=99|pa=94}}

| Chauncey Billups (26)

| Ben Wallace (11)

| Chaucney Billups (6)

| Bradley Center
18,717

| 28–13

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 42

| January 19

| San Antonio

| {{NBA game br|date=20040119|home=DET|pf=85|pa=77}}

| Chauncey Billups (18)

| Ben Wallace (16)

| Richard Hamilton (6)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 29–13

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 43

| January 20

| @ Indiana

| {{NBA game br|date=20040120|home=IND|pf=69|pa=81}}

| Richard Hamilton (15)

| Ben Wallace (10)

| Chucky Atkins (4)

| Conseco Fieldhouse
15,848

| 29–14

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 44

| January 23

| @ Minnesota

| {{NBA game br|date=20040123|home=MIN|pf=79|pa=80}}

| Mehmet Okur (21)

| B. Wallace, Hamilton (10)

| Chucky Atkins (5)

| Target Center
19,006

| 29–15

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 45

| January 25

| Atlanta

| {{NBA game br|date=20040125|home=DET|pf=82|pa=91}}

| Ben Wallace (14)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Ben Wallace (5)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 29–16

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 46

| January 28

| @ Boston

| {{NBA game br|date=20040128|home=BOS|pf=106|pa=103}}

| Billups, Okur (21)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| B. Wallace, Atkins (4)

| FleetCenter
14,042

| 30–16

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 47

| January 30

| @ Toronto

| {{NBA game br|date=20040130|home=TOR|pf=90|pa=89|ot=1}}

| Richard Hamilton (28)

| Ben Wallace (18)

| Chauncey Billups (4)

| Air Canada Centre
19,555

| 31–16

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 48

| January 31

| Memphis

| {{NBA game br|date=20040131|home=DET|pf=80|pa=78}}

| Richard Hamilton (20)

| Ben Wallace (13)

| Chauncey Billups (5)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 32–16

{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|February|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 2

| home_losses = 4

| road_wins = 4

| road_losses = 4

}}

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 49

| February 2

| @ Miami

| {{NBA game br|date=20040202|home=MIA|pf=102|pa=100|ot=1}}

| Tayshaun Prince (24)

| Ben Wallace (12)

| Richard Hamilton (7)

| American Airlines Arena
15,438

| 33–16

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 50

| February 3

| Cleveland

| {{NBA game br|date=20040203|home=DET|pf=82|pa=85}}

| Chauncey Billups (19)

| Ben Wallace (17)

| Chauncey Billups (5)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 33–17

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 51

| February 6

| @ New Orleans

| {{NBA game br|date=20040206|home=NOH|pf=81|pa=92}}

| Ben Wallace (14)

| Ben Wallace (13)

| Richard Hamilton (5)

| New Orleans Arena
14,016

| 33–18

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 52

| February 7

| @ Dallas

| {{NBA game br|date=20040207|home=DAL|pf=108|pa=111}}

| Chauncey Billups (17)

| Ben Wallace (8)

| Richard Hamilton (6)

| American Airlines Center
20,357

| 33–19

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 53

| February 10

| @ New Jersey

| {{NBA game br|date=20040210|home=NJN|pf=78|pa=89}}

| Chauncey Billups (23)

| Ben Wallace (12)

| Chauncey Billups (5)

| Continental Airlines Arena
13,781

| 33–20

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 54

| February 11

| Sacramento

| {{NBA game br|date=20040211|home=DET|pf=94|pa=96}}

| Richard Hamilton (27)

| Ben Wallace (19)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 33–21

|- align="center"

|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 55

| February 17

| @ New York

| {{NBA game br|date=20040217|home=NYK|pf=88|pa=92}}

| Chauncey Billups (26)

| Ben Wallace (13)

| Okur, Sura (3)

| Madison Square Garden
19,763

| 33–22

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 56

| February 18

| Milwaukee

| {{NBA game br|date=20040218|home=DET|pf=102|pa=98}}

| Richard Hamilton (23)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 34–22

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 57

| February 20

| Minnesota

| {{NBA game br|date=20040220|home=DET|pf=87|pa=88}}

| Richard Hamilton (24)

| Ben Wallace (12)

| Chauncey Billups (11)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 34–23

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 58

| February 22

| Orlando

| {{NBA game br|date=20040222|home=DET|pf=86|pa=87}}

| Richard Hamilton (23)

| Ben Wallace (13)

| Chauncey Billups (8)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 34–24

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 59

| February 23

| @ Philadelphia

| {{NBA game br|date=20040223|home=PHI|pf=76|pa=66}}

| Richard Hamilton (15)

| Ben Wallace (13)

| Chauncey Billups (4)

| Wachovia Center
19,972

| 35–24

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 60

| February 25

| @ Chicago

| {{NBA game br|date=20040225|home=CHI|pf=107|pa=88}}

| Richard Hamilton (21)

| Ben Wallace (8)

| Billips, Hamilton (6)

| United Center
19,814

| 36–24

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 61

| February 27

| Atlanta

| {{NBA game br|date=20040227|home=DET|pf=105|pa=83}}

| Billups, Hamilton (20)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Chauncey Billups (8)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 37–24

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 62

| February 29

| @ L.A. Clippers

| {{NBA game br|date=20040229|home=LAC|pf=100|pa=88}}

| Chauncey Billups (28)

| Ben Wallace (13)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| Staples Center
18,775

| 38–24

{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|March|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 5

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 5

| road_losses = 3

}}

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 63

| March 1

| @ Utah

| {{NBA game br|date=20040301|home=UTA|pf=86|pa=94}}

| Rasheed Wallace (27)

| Ben Wallace (16)

| Billups, Prince (3)

| Delta Center
19,911

| 38–25

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 64

| March 4

| @ Portland

| {{NBA game br|date=20040304|home=POR|pf=83|pa=68}}

| Chauncey Billups (16)

| Ben Wallace (19)

| Tayshaun Prince (6)

| Rose Garden
20,243

| 39–25

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 65

| March 6

| @ Denver

| {{NBA game br|date=20040306|home=DEN|pf=97|pa=66}}

| Rasheed Wallace (20)

| Rasheed Wallace (10)

| Chauncey Billups (13)

| Pepsi Center
19,681

| 40–25

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 66

| March 7

| @ Seattle

| {{NBA game br|date=20040307|home=SEA|pf=86|pa=65}}

| Rasheed Wallace (18)

| Ben Wallace (13)

| Mike James (6)

| KeyArena
14,739

| 41–25

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 67

| March 10

| Chicago

| {{NBA game br|date=20040310|home=DET|pf=98|pa=65}}

| Chauncey Billups (19)

| Ben Wallace (9)

| Hamilton, Billups, James (6)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 42–25

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 68

| March 14

| Philadelphia

| {{NBA game br|date=20040314|home=DET|pf=85|pa=69}}

| Rasheed Wallace (14)

| Rasheed Wallace (8)

| Chauncey Billups (9)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 43–25

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 69

| March 18

| @ New Jersey

| {{NBA game br|date=20040318|home=NJN|pf=89|pa=71}}

| Chauncey Billups (20)

| Richard Hamilton (9)

| Chauncey Billups (8)

| Continental Airlines Arena
14,799

| 44–25

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 70

| March 19

| Denver

| {{NBA game br|date=20040319|home=DET|pf=94|pa=75}}

| R. Wallace, Hamilton (20)

| Ben Wallace (9)

| Chauncey Billups (12)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 45–25

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 71

| March 21

| @ Cleveland

| {{NBA game br|date=20040321|home=CLE|pf=96|pa=76}}

| Chauncey Billups (18)

| Ben Wallace (10)

| Chauncey Billups (6)

| Gund Arena
20,562

| 46–25

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 72

| March 23

| @ New Orleans

| {{NBA game br|date=20040323|home=NOH|pf=81|pa=82}}

| Richard Hamilton (17)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| New Orleans Arena
14,377

| 46–26

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 73

| March 25

| @ San Antonio

| {{NBA game br|date=20040325|home=SAS|pf=75|pa=84}}

| Rasheed Wallace (17)

| Rasheed Wallace (14)

| Hamilton, Hunter (5)

| SBC Center
17,695

| 46–27

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 74

| March 27

| New York

| {{NBA game br|date=20040327|home=DET|pf=100|pa=85}}

| Tayshaun Prince (20)

| Ben Wallace (12)

| Chauncey Billups (13)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 47–27

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 75

| March 31

| L.A. Clippers

| {{NBA game br|date=20040331|home=DET|pf=108|pa=99}}

| Richard Hamilton (28)

| Ben Wallace (8)

| Mike James (8)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 48–27

{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|April|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 5

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 1

}}

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 76

| April 2

| Miami

| {{NBA game br|date=20040402|home=DET|pf=92|pa=84}}

| Chauncey Billups (31)

| Ben Wallace (8)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 49–27

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 77

| April 4

| Indiana

| {{NBA game br|date=20040404|home=DET|pf=79|pa=61}}

| Richard Hamilton (24)

| Ben Wallace (11)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 50–27

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 78

| April 6

| Orlando

| {{NBA game br|date=20040406|home=DET|pf=102|pa=86}}

| Rasheed Wallace (17)

| Rasheed Wallace (11)

| Mike James (9)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 51–27

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 79

| April 9

| Toronto

| {{NBA game br|date=20040409|home=DET|pf=74|pa=66}}

| Richard Hamilton (20)

| Ben Wallace (16)

| Lindsey Hunter (6)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 52–27

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 80

| April 10

| @ Orlando

| {{NBA game br|date=20040410|home=ORL|pf=101|pa=89}}

| Tayshaun Prince (25)

| Williamson, Miličić (6)

| Mike James (8)

| TD Waterhouse Centre
15,571

| 53–27

|-style="background:#cfc;"

| 81

| April 12

| Washington

| {{NBA game br|date=20040412|home=DET|pf=101|pa=79}}

| Richard Hamilton (24)

| Ben Wallace (12)

| Richard Hamilton (12)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 54–27

|-style="background:#fcc;"

| 82

| April 13

| @ Toronto

| {{NBA game br|date=20040413|home=TOR|pf=78|pa=87}}

| Tayshaun Prince (21)

| Ben Wallace (7)

| Richard Hamilton (10)

| Air Canada Centre
18,273

| 54–28

{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=DET|end_year=2004}}

Playoffs

{{NBA game log start|Detroit Pistons|end_year=2004|playoffs=yes|bgcolor=#006BB7|color=#ED164B}}

{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|First Round|first=yes|playoffs=yes|show=no|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 2

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 2

| road_losses = 0

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| April 18

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200404180DET.html W 108–82]

| Richard Hamilton (21)

| Ben Wallace (14)

| Richard Hamilton (8)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 2

| April 21

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200404210DET.html L 88–92]

| Chauncey Billups (20)

| Ben Wallace (12)

| Chauncey Billups (8)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 1–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 3

| April 24

| @ Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200404240MIL.html W 95–85]

| Chauncey Billups (21)

| Ben Wallace (21)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| Bradley Center
18,717

| 2–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 4

| April 26

| @ Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200404260MIL.html W 109–92]

| Richard Hamilton (27)

| B. Wallace, R. Wallace (9)

| Chauncey Billups (9)

| Bradley Center
17,316

| 3–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 5

| April 29

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200404290DET.html W 91–77]

| Tayshaun Prince (24)

| Ben Wallace (12)

| Tayshaun Prince (8)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 4–1

|-

{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|Conference Semifinals|playoffs=yes|show=no|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 3

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 2

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| May 3

| New Jersey

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405030DET.html W 78–56]

| Hamilton, Prince (15)

| Ben Wallace (11)

| Richard Hamilton (7)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 2

| May 7

| New Jersey

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405070DET.html W 95–80]

| Billups, Hamilton (28)

| Ben Wallace (11)

| Chauncey Billups (13)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 2–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 3

| May 9

| @ New Jersey

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405090NJN.html L 64–82]

| Hamilton, B. Wallace (15)

| Ben Wallace (24)

| Ben Wallace (4)

| Continental Airlines Arena
19,000

| 2–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 4

| May 11

| @ New Jersey

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405110NJN.html L 79–94]

| Richard Hamilton (30)

| Ben Wallace (15)

| Chauncey Billups (5)

| Continental Airlines Arena
19,860

| 2–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 5

| May 14

| New Jersey

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405140DET.html L 120–127 (3OT)]

| Chauncey Billups (31)

| Ben Wallace (11)

| Richard Hamilton (11)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 2–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 6

| May 16

| @ New Jersey

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405160NJN.html W 81–75]

| Richard Hamilton (24)

| Ben Wallace (20)

| Richard Hamilton (4)

| Continental Airlines Arena
19,968

| 3–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 7

| May 20

| New Jersey

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405200DET.html W 90–69]

| Chauncey Billups (22)

| Ben Wallace (8)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 4–3

|-

{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|Conference Finals|playoffs=yes|show=no|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 2

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 2

| road_losses = 1

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 1

| May 22

| @ Indiana

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405220IND.html L 74–78]

| Richard Hamilton (23)

| Ben Wallace (22)

| Ben Wallace (5)

| Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345

| 0–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 2

| May 24

| @ Indiana

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405240IND.html W 72–67]

| Richard Hamilton (23)

| three players tied (8)

| Chauncey Billups (6)

| Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345

| 1–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 3

| May 26

| Indiana

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405260DET.html W 85–78]

| Hamilton, R. Wallace (20)

| Ben Wallace (16)

| Chauncey Billups (8)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 2–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 4

| May 28

| Indiana

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405280DET.html L 68–83]

| Richard Hamilton (22)

| Ben Wallace (19)

| Chauncey Billups (5)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 2–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 5

| May 30

| @ Indiana

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405300IND.html W 83–65]

| Richard Hamilton (33)

| Ben Wallace (12)

| Chauncey Billups (7)

| Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345

| 3–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 6

| June 1

| Indiana

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406010DET.html W 69–65]

| Richard Hamilton (21)

| Ben Wallace (16)

| Richard Hamilton (5)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 4–2

|-

{{NBA game log section|Detroit Pistons|NBA Finals|playoffs=yes|show=no|bgcolor=#ED164B|color=#FFFFFF

| home_wins = 3

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 1

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| June 6

| @ L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406060LAL.html W 87–75]

| Chauncey Billups (22)

| B. Wallace, R. Wallace (8)

| Richard Hamilton (5)

| Staples Center
18,997

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 2

| June 8

| @ L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406080LAL.html L 91–99 (OT)]

| Chauncey Billups (27)

| Ben Wallace (14)

| Chauncey Billups (9)

| Staples Center
18,997

| 1–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 3

| June 10

| L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406100DET.html W 88–68]

| Richard Hamilton (31)

| Ben Wallace (11)

| three players tied (3)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 2–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 4

| June 13

| L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406130DET.html W 88–80]

| Rasheed Wallace (26)

| B. Wallace, R. Wallace (13)

| Richard Hamilton (6)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 3–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 5

| June 15

| L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200406150DET.html W 100–87]

| Richard Hamilton (21)

| Ben Wallace (22)

| Chauncey Billups (6)

| The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076

| 4–1

|-

{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=DET|end_year=2004|playoffs=yes}}

NBA Finals

=Series summary=

align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="425"
style="text-align:center; background-color:#CCCCFF;"

!align=left width=28%|Team/Game

!width=10%|1

!width=10%|2 (OT)

!width=10%|3

!width=10%|4

!width=10%|5

!width=10%|Wins

style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Los Angeles (West)

|75

996880871
style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Detroit (East)

|87

9188881004
style="text-align:center;"

(OT) denotes a game that required overtime.

The Finals were played using a 2–3–2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage. This was only used in the Finals, all other playoff series are held in a 2–2–1–1–1 format (the team with home court advantage starts).{{cite web|url=http://www.betinf.com/nba_playoffs.htm|work=betinf.com|title=Basketball: NBA Playoffs 2007 preview|access-date=2007-09-03}}

=Aspects=

The Lakers had a lineup of stars such as Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal – their offensive capability was expected to overpower Detroit's defensive-based gameplan.

Payton and Malone also added to the publicity of the Finals. Perennial All-Stars who had both previously reached the Finals, Payton had led the Seattle SuperSonics there in 1996, while Malone had led the Utah Jazz there in 1997 and 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/UTA|work=CBS Sports|title=Utah Jazz|access-date=2007-09-04}} However, Michael Jordan and the Bulls denied their championship rings a total of three times. By the time of Jordan's retirement in 2003, the two veterans were aged and failed to lead their teams deep into the playoffs.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/SEA|work=CBS Sports|title=Seattle Supersonics|access-date=2007-09-04| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070826231320/http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/history/SEA| archive-date= 26 August 2007 | url-status= live}} Thus, this Finals series was seen as the last chance for two of the greatest players in NBA history to finally become NBA champions (Later on, Malone retired while Payton became a champion as a key bench player for the Miami Heat).

=Game One=

Sunday, June 6, 2004, 14:30 at the Staples Center.

Considered to be a stunning upset by most of the NBA world, the Detroit Pistons managed to defeat the Lakers with imposing defense.{{cite web|work=NBA|title=Billups, Pistons Swipe Home-Court Advantage|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20040606/DETLAL/recap.html|quote=Led by their trademark daunting defense|access-date=2007-09-04}} Defensively clamping down on everyone but Bryant and O'Neal, the Pistons managed to hold everyone else to a total of 16 points.

The Pistons trailed the Lakers 41–40 at halftime, but a 10–4 surge capped by Billups's 3-pointer gave the Pistons the lead. O'Neal's foul trouble furthered the scoring gap, with the Pistons leading by 13 points early in the fourth quarter.

border=1 cellspacing=0 width=425 style="margin-left:3em;"
style="text-align:center; background-color:#e6e6e6;"

!align=left width=16%|Team

!width=6%|1st Qt.

!width=6%|2nd Qt.

!width=6%|3rd Qt.

!width=6%|4th Qt.

!width=6%|Total

style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Detroit

|22

1824

|23

87
style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Los Angeles

|19

2217

|17

75
style="text-align:center;"

=Game Two=

Tuesday, June 8, 2004, 15:04 at the Staples Center.

The second game was close throughout the first half, but in the third quarter Detroit would score 30 points, cutting the deficit 68–66. However, at the end of the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant's 3-point shot at 2.1 seconds to go would tie the game at 89–89. The Lakers and Pistons would then go to overtime, with the Lakers outscoring the Pistons 10–2.

border=1 cellspacing=0 width=425 style="margin-left:3em;"
style="text-align:center; background-color:#e6e6e6;"

!align=left width=16%|Team

!width=6%|1st Qt.

!width=6%|2nd Qt.

!width=6%|3rd Qt.

!width=6%|4th Qt.

!width=6%|OT

!width=6%|Total

style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Detroit

|16

2030

|23

291
style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Los Angeles

|18

2624

|21

1099
style="text-align:center;"

=Game Three=

Thursday, June 10, 2004, 14:31 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Pistons beat Los Angeles by 20 in their first NBA Finals appearance together at The Palace of Auburn Hills since 1989{{cite web|url=http://www.tickets-nba-basketball.com/pistons/history.htm|title=DETROIT PISTONS HISTORY|work=Basketball Tickets|access-date=2007-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806215319/http://www.tickets-nba-basketball.com/pistons/history.htm|archive-date=2007-08-06|url-status=dead}} to take a 2–1 lead in the series. The 68 points scored by the Lakers set a (post-shot clock) franchise record for the fewest points scored in a Finals game. (Even Jay Leno was upset, saying in his Tonight Show monologue: "68 points? 68 is a great score...if you're playing golf!")

border=1 cellspacing=0 width=425 style="margin-left:3em;"
style="text-align:center; background-color:#e6e6e6;"

!align=left width=16%|Team

!width=6%|1st Qt.

!width=6%|2nd Qt.

!width=6%|3rd Qt.

!width=6%|4th Qt.

!width=6%|Total

style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Los Angeles

|16

1619

|17

68
style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Detroit

|24

1524

|25

88

=Game Four=

Sunday, June 13, 2004, 14:49 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Again, the Pistons defeated the Lakers, although this time by eight, to take a 3–1 series advantage.

border=1 cellspacing=0 width=425 style="margin-left:3em;"
style="text-align:center; background-color:#e6e6e6;"

!align=left width=16%|Team

!width=6%|1st Qt.

!width=6%|2nd Qt.

!width=6%|3rd Qt.

!width=6%|4th Qt.

!width=6%|Total

style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Los Angeles

|22

1717

|24

80
style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Detroit

|21

2015

|32

88
style="text-align:center;"

=Game Five=

Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 14:32 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

In Game 5, the Pistons won their first championship since 1990, and Larry Brown finally won a title as an NBA head coach. The Pistons defense had overcome the high-scoring Laker offense, winning the game by 13, winning the series 4–1, and also ending a long Laker dynasty that lasted for many years. The game saw the end of Phil Jackson's first run as the coach (he returned for the 2005–06 season), and saw O'Neal, Payton, and Malone's last games in Laker uniforms (O'Neal and Payton were both acquired by the soon-to-be NBA Champions Miami Heat and Malone retired).

border=1 cellspacing=0 width=425 style="margin-left:3em;"
style="text-align:center; background-color:#e6e6e6;"

!align=left width=16%|Team

!width=6%|1st Qt.

!width=6%|2nd Qt.

!width=6%|3rd Qt.

!width=6%|4th Qt.

!width=6%|Total

style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Los Angeles

|24

2114

|28

87
style="text-align:center;"

|align=left|Detroit

|25

3027

|18

100

Playoff defensive records

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.{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=89&order_by=pts}}
  • Allowed under 85 points in sixteen playoff games.{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=84&order_by=pts}}
  • Allowed under 80 points in eleven playoff games.{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=79&order_by=pts}}
  • Allowed under 75 points in six playoff games.{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=74&order_by=pts}}
  • Allowed under 70 points in six playoff games.{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=69&order_by=pts}}
  • Allowed 65 or less points in three playoff games.{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1955&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=65&order_by=pts}}
  • One of two teams (1998 Bulls) to allow under 60 points in a playoff game.{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1955&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_pts&c1comp=lt&c1val=60&order_by=pts}}
  • Allowed under 40% FG in twelve playoff games.{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_fg_pct&c1comp=lt&c1val=40&order_by=pts}}
  • Allowed under 35% FG in five playoff games (tied with 1999 Knicks).{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_fg_pct&c1comp=lt&c1val=35&order_by=pts}}
  • Allowed under 30% FG in two playoff games (tied with 1999 Knicks).{{cite web|title=Team Game Finder|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=season&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=Y&team_seed_cmp=eq&opp_seed_cmp=eq&year_min=1947&year_max=2018&is_range=N&game_num_type=team&c1stat=opp_fg_pct&c1comp=lt&c1val=30&order_by=pts}}

Least Points Per Game (PPG) allowed in a shot-clock era playoff run of any length:

  • The 2004 Pistons allowed 80.696 PPG,{{cite web|title=2004 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2004.html}} slightly lower than the 2000 Heat at 80.700 PPG allowed.{{cite web|title=2000 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2000.html}} 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.{{cite web|title=2004 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2004.html}} 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.{{cite web|title=2004 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2000.html}}

Player statistics

{{NBA roster statistics legend}}

=Season=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|Player

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|GP

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|GS

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|MPG

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|FG%

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|3P%

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|FT%

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|RPG

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|APG

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|SPG

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|BPG

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|PPG

{{sort|Billups, Chauncey|Chauncey Billups}}

| 78

7835.4.394.388style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | .8783.5style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 5.71.080.1016.9
{{sort|Campbell, Elden|Elden Campbell}}

| 65

2713.7.439–.6853.20.70.320.775.6
{{sort|Fowlkes, Tremaine|Tremaine Fowlkes}}

| 36

07.3.313.125.7221.50.40.250.081.2
{{sort|Ham, Darvin|Darvin Ham}}

| 54

29.0.493style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | .500.6001.70.30.240.151.8
{{sort|Hamilton, Richard|Richard Hamilton}}

| 78

7835.5.455.265.8683.64.01.320.22style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 17.6
{{sort|Hunter, Lindsey|Lindsey Hunter}}

| 33

820.0.343.280.6252.02.61.180.183.5
{{sort|James, Mike|Mike James*}}

| 26

019.7.405.364.8442.23.71.000.046.3
{{sort|Milicic, Darko|Darko Miličić}}

| 34

04.7.262.000.5831.30.20.210.441.4
{{sort|Okur, Mehmet|Mehmet Okur}}

| 71

3322.3.463.375.7755.91.00.510.899.6
{{sort|Prince, Tayshaun|Tayshaun Prince}}

| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 82

8032.9.467.363.7664.82.30.770.8410.3
{{sort|Wallace, Ben|Ben Wallace}}

| 81

style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 81style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 37.7.421.125.490style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 12.41.7style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 1.77style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 3.049.5
{{sort|Wallace, Rasheed|Rasheed Wallace*}}

| 22

2130.6.431.319.7047.01.81.092.0513.7
{{sort|Williamson, Corliss|Corliss Williamson}}

| 79

019.9style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | .505–.7313.20.70.380.259.5

* Statistics include only games with the Pistons

=Playoffs=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|Player

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|GP

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|GS

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|MPG

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|FG%

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|3P%

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|FT%

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|RPG

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|APG

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|SPG

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|BPG

! style="background:#003DA5; color:#FFFFFF; border-top:#D50032 3px solid; border-bottom:#D50032 3px solid;"|PPG

{{sort|Billups, Chauncey|Chauncey Billups}}

| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23

style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 2338.3.385.346.8903.0style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 5.91.350.0916.4
{{sort|Campbell, Elden|Elden Campbell}}

| 14

08.9.286–.5561.80.70.430.642.1
{{sort|Ham, Darvin|Darvin Ham}}

| 22

04.9style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | .500.000–0.60.00.140.180.7
{{sort|Hamilton, Richard|Richard Hamilton}}

| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23

style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 40.2.447.385.8484.64.21.170.04style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 21.5
{{sort|Hunter, Lindsey|Lindsey Hunter}}

| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23

011.9.292.233style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | .9171.40.90.780.172.4
{{sort|James, Mike|Mike James}}

| 22

08.9.396style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | .429.5631.21.10.230.002.6
{{sort|Milicic, Darko|Darko Miličić}}

| 8

01.8.000–.2500.40.10.130.000.1
{{sort|Okur, Mehmet|Mehmet Okur}}

| 22

011.5.470.400.6922.80.40.230.413.7
{{sort|Prince, Tayshaun|Tayshaun Prince}}

| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23

style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 2334.6.410.265.7456.02.31.091.359.9
{{sort|Wallace, Ben|Ben Wallace}}

| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23

style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 40.2.454.000.427style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 14.31.9style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 1.91style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 2.4310.3
{{sort|Wallace, Rasheed|Rasheed Wallace}}

| style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 23

style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" | 2334.9.413.243.7677.81.60.571.9613.0
{{sort|Williamson, Corliss|Corliss Williamson}}

| 22

014.9.364.000.8092.20.70.270.145.7

Award winners

Transactions

{{main|List of 2003–04 NBA season transactions}}

=Overview=

border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; background-color:#eeeeee" bordercolor="#DFDFDF" cellpadding="5"

| valign="top"|Players Added

Via draft

Via trade

Via free agency

| valign="top"|Players Lost

Via trade

Via retirement

Waived

=Trades=

border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align: center; width: 100%" bordercolor="#DFDFDF" cellpadding="5"
style="background:#eee;"

| style="width:12%" | August 21, 2003{{cite web|title=Robinson should be help to Dunleavy in frontcourt|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1600343|website=ESPN.com|agency=ESPN.com news services|date=August 21, 2003|access-date=June 8, 2019}}

| style="width:44; vertical-align:top;"| To Detroit Pistons

Bob Sura

| style="width:44; vertical-align:top;"| To Golden State Warriors

Clifford Robinson
Pepe Sánchez
style="width:12%" | August 28, 2003{{cite web|title=Pistons trade Curry for Hunter|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1605003|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=August 28, 2003|access-date=June 8, 2019}}

| style="width:44; vertical-align:top;"| To Detroit Pistons

Lindsey Hunter

| style="width:44; vertical-align:top;"| To Toronto Raptors

Michael Curry
style="background:#eee;"

| style="width:12%" rowspan="3" | February 19, 2004{{cite web|title=Pistons Acquire Forward/Center Rasheed Wallace From Hawks And Guard Mike James From Boston In Three-Way Deal|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/rwallace_040219.html|website=Pistons.com|date=February 19, 2004|access-date=June 8, 2019}}

| style="width:30%" valign="top" colspan="2" | Three-team trade

bgcolor="#eee"

| style="width:30%" valign="top"| To Atlanta Hawks

:Chris Mills (from Boston)

:Bob Sura (from Detroit)

:Željko Rebrača (from Detroit)

:2004 first-round pick (from Milwaukee via Denver and Detroit)

| style="width:30%" valign="top"| To Boston Celtics

:Chucky Atkins (from Detroit)

:Lindsey Hunter (from Detroit)

:2004 first-round pick (from Detroit)

:Cash considerations

bgcolor="#eee"

| style="width:30%" valign="top" colspan="2"| To Detroit Pistons

:Mike James (from Boston)

:Rasheed Wallace (from Atlanta)

=Free agency=

==Additions==

class="wikitable sortable sortable" style="text-align: center"

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="5%"| Date

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="10%"| Player

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="10%"| Former team

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="1%" class="unsortable" | Ref.

style="text-align: center"

|July 26

| Elden Campbell

| Seattle SuperSonics

|{{cite web|title=Pistons Sign Free-Agent Center Elden Campbell|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pistons_Sign_FreeAgent_Center-81209-50.html|website=Pistons.com|date=July 26, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203092858/http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pistons_Sign_FreeAgent_Center-81209-50.html|archive-date=December 3, 2010|access-date=June 8, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Campbell signs with the Pistons|url=https://www.deseret.com/2003/7/27/19737903/campbell-signs-with-the-pistons/|website=Deseret News|agency=Associated Press|date=July 27, 2003|access-date=June 8, 2019}}

style="text-align: center"

| September 23

| Darvin Ham

| Atlanta Hawks

|{{cite web|title=Pistons sign free agent F Darvin Ham|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/id/1622017|website=ESPN.com|date=September 23, 2003|access-date=June 8, 2019}}

style="text-align: center"

| October 28

| Tremaine Fowlkes

| Los Angeles Clippers

|{{cite web|title=Pistons sign free-agent Tremaine Fowlkes|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/id/1649103|website=ESPN.com|date=October 28, 2003|access-date=June 8, 2019}}

style="text-align: center"

| February 26

| Lindsey Hunter

| Boston Celtics

|{{cite web|title=Pistons Sign Lindsey Hunter|url=http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pisutons_Sign_Lindsey_Hunter_040226.html|website=Pistons.com|date=February 26, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203092718/http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pisutons_Sign_Lindsey_Hunter_040226.html|archive-date=December 3, 2010|access-date=June 8, 2019}}

==Subtractions==

class="wikitable sortable sortable" style="text-align: center"

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="5%"| Date

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="10%"| Player

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="10%"| Reason

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="10%"| New team

! style="{{NBA color cell|Detroit Pistons}}" width="1%" class="unsortable" | Ref.

style="text-align: center"

| September 13

| Danny Manning

| Retired

| {{n/a}}

| {{cite web|title=Manning Retires After 15 Seasons in NBA|url=https://www.nba.com/news/manning_030912.html|website=NBA.com|date=September 13, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608142557/https://www.nba.com/news/manning_030912.html|archive-date=June 8, 2019|access-date=October 31, 2019}}

style="text-align: center"

| rowspan="2"|October 22

| Justin Hamilton

| Waived

|{{flagicon|Greece}} Ionikos

|rowspan="2"|{{cite web|title=Pistons Waive Guards Derrick Zimmerman and Justin Hamilton|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/waive_zimmerman_hamilton.html|website=Pistons.com|date=October 22, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203092828/http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/waive_zimmerman_hamilton.html|archive-date=December 3, 2010|access-date=June 8, 2019}}{{cite web|title=HAMILTON, JUSTIN|url=https://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=CSW&seasoncode=U2003|website=Euroleague.net|access-date=July 13, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Brose Baskets signs Zimmerman at point|url=https://admin.euroleague.net/eurocup/news/i/3187/brose-baskets-signs-zimmerman-at-point|website=Euroleague.net|date=November 8, 2006|access-date=July 13, 2019}}

style="text-align: center"

| Derrick Zimmerman

| Waived

|Columbus Riverdragons

style="text-align: center"

| October 23

| Ronald Dupree

| Waived

| Chicago Bulls

| {{cite web|title=Pistons Waive Forward Ronald Dupree|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pistons_Waive_Forward_Ronald_D-87638-50.html|website=Pistons.com|date=October 23, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203092824/https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/Pistons_Waive_Forward_Ronald_D-87638-50.html|archive-date=December 3, 2010|access-date=June 8, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Transactions|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/dwight-buycks-sign-with-shenzhen/|website=Deseret News|date=January 8, 2004|access-date=June 8, 2019}}

style="text-align: center"

| January 20

| Hubert Davis

| Waived

| New Jersey Nets

| {{cite web|first=Fred|last=Kerber|title=HUBERT'S GOT STREAK OF HIS OWN|url=https://nypost.com/2004/02/22/huberts-got-streak-of-his-own/|website=New York Post|date=February 22, 2004|access-date=June 8, 2019}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20071112003736/http://databasebasketball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=DET&lg=n&yr=2003 Detroit Pistons on Database Basketball]
  • [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2004.html Detroit Pistons on Basketball Reference]

{{Detroit Pistons 2003–04 NBA champions}}

{{NBA Champions}}

{{Detroit Pistons}}

{{Detroit Pistons seasons}}

{{2003–04 NBA season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2003-04 Detroit Pistons Season}}

Det

Category:Detroit Pistons seasons

Category:Eastern Conference (NBA) championship seasons

Category:NBA championship seasons

Detroit

Detroit