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NBA: Top 5 Underdog Teams That Have Won The Title

By James D. Tillman III

Jun 2, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; (Editors note: a tilt-shift lens was used to create this image) A overall view of the court before game one of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 2, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; (Editors note: a tilt-shift lens was used to create this image) A overall view of the court before game one of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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AUBURN HILLS, MI - JUNE 15: Tayshaun Prince #22 celebrates with teammate Richard Hamilton #32 of the Detroit Pistons seconds before defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 100-87 in game five of the 2004 NBA Finals on June 15, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – JUNE 15: Tayshaun Prince #22 celebrates with teammate Richard Hamilton #32 of the Detroit Pistons seconds before defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 100-87 in game five of the 2004 NBA Finals on June 15, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

4. 2004 Detroit Pistons

The 2004 Finals was the proverbial David vs. Goliath battle. In one corner, there were the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that was making its fourth Finals appearance in five seasons.

Not only did they have Shaq and Kobe Bryant leading the way, they had also acquired Karl Malone and Gary Payton in the offseason.

In the other corner, there was this Pistons team that didn’t have a bonafide superstar. However, what they did have was a team that knew how to play well together at both ends of the floor.

The teams split the first two games of the series at the Staples Center, shifting the venue to the Palace of Auburn Hills for the next three contests.

Detroit pounded the Lakers by an astounding 88-68 margin in Game 3 and took the remaining two games to claim the team’s first title since 1990.

Oh, and by the way, the Pistons held that star-studded Lakers squad to just 81.8 points per outing in that five-game set. Furthermore, the Pistons became the first team in NBA history to sweep the middle three games of the Finals (the Heat duplicated the feat against the Mavs in 2006).