Still, the Lakers had the talent to reach the Finals. But once there, they were dismantled by a defensive-minded Pistons team led by Chauncey Billups, falling 4–1 in a shocking defeat. On the ...

Billups also has the distinction of holding a 22-17 record against LeBron James. In regular-season matchups, Billups was particularly successful, going 16-10. However, in the playoffs, James got the ...

Before the 2004 Finals, the Lakers had won three straight titles from 1999-00 to 2001-02 and lost a hard-fought semifinal series to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in 2002-03.

The five-time All-Star and 2004 Finals MVP led the most successful era of Detroit basketball this centurt, leading the team to its third NBA championship amid six consecutive Eastern Conference ...

Before the 2004 Finals, the Lakers had won three straight titles from 1999-00 to 2001-02 and lost a hard-fought semifinal series to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in 2002-03. They'd added ...