Pistons are built to last
Joe Dumars was sporting an NBA championship hat and T-shirt while chewing on an unlit cigar.
Almost two hours after Detroit beat the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, the Pistons’ president of basketball operations was still smiling.
“I don’t even smoke,” Dumars said. “But I just felt like Red Auerbach, so I grabbed a cigar and I threw it in my mouth.”
There could be more championship cigars in Dumars’ near future.
“Maybe we don’t have two superstars like the Lakers, but we’ve got five stars in their own way in the starting lineup and a lot of other solid players,” Dumars said. “We’ve got the best of both worlds because we won now, and we can win in the years to come.”
With a starting lineup of players 29 or younger, salary-cap space and a Hall of Fame coach, the Pistons seem like a team built to last.
Before thinking about the championship possibilities of the future, however, the Pistons and their fans plan to celebrate today with a parade in downtown Detroit and a rally at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
About 16 hours after winning his first NBA title in 21 seasons, coach Larry Brown was back in his office after sending off his four children, and his wife, to the airport.
Detroit stunned the Lakers — led by superstars Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant — with a group of unselfish castoffs.
The MVP of the NBA Finals was Chauncey Billups, who was on five teams in his first four seasons before finding a good fit in Detroit two years ago.
Ben Wallace, the team’s only All-Star, wasn’t even drafted out of college. Wallace was a little-known player when he came to the Pistons in the Grant Hill trade four years ago in what was Dumars’ first major move as an executive.
Even the volatile Rasheed Wallace fit in, and helped turn a contender into a champion.
“We’re a team full of misfits, but these misfits are world champions,” said Corliss Williamson, who once played for three teams in two years. “A lot of teams are probably kicking themselves right now for losing all the guys in this locker room.”
Re-signing Rasheed Wallace is Detroit’s No. 1 priority this off-season.
The Pistons might lose free agent Mehmet Okur, who may be looking for more money and playing time.
Dumars likes the Pistons’ future not only for the young nucleus in place, but for his two No. 1 picks last year: Darko Milicic and Carlos Delfino.
The Pistons got about what they expected from Milicic this season — which wasn’t much — after being they selected him second in the draft. But they still believe the 7-foot center, who turns 19 on Sunday, has a bright future.
Delfino is expected to provide depth at small forward and shooting guard next year after being one of the top players in Europe this season.
Finals rating highest since 2001
Detroit’s title-clinching win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night was the second-highest rated NBA Finals game since 1998, and the series was the highest-rated since 2001.
ABC’s broadcast of Detroit’s 100-87 win got a 13.8 rating with a 23 share. That’s 123 percent higher than Game 5 between San Antonio and New Jersey (6.2), and 23 percent better than Game 5 between the Lakers and Philadelphia in 2001 (11.2).
The only NBA Finals game since 1998 that got a higher rating was Game 6 between Indiana and Los Angeles (14.7) in 2000.
Stepania exercises option to stay
Center Vladimir Stepania exercised his option to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers through next season.
Stepania averaged 2.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 42 games with Portland this past season before he was placed on the disabled list Feb. 9 with soreness in his left knee.
The Blazers signed Stepania as a free agent Oct. 22.
Hornets acquire Brazilian guard
The New Orleans Hornets claimed guard Alex Garcia off waivers from the San Antonio Spurs.
Garcia, a 6-foot-3 Brazilian, played in two games for the Spurs last season as a rookie.
He missed most of the season with various injuries.