The New York Times > Sports > Pro Basketball: "The National Basketball Association has new kings, and for the first time in 25 years, there is not a superstar among them. The Detroit Pistons, the essence of teamwork, the essence of grit, manhandled the built-to-win, built-to-gloat Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 on Tuesday night, winning, 100-87, and giving the Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown his first league title in 21 seasons on an N.B.A. bench.
Shaquille O'Neal did not appear 7 feet 1 inch and 340 pounds, Kobe Bryant did not look like an unparalleled high flier, and Karl Malone did not look like the indestructible force he had been for the better part of his 19-year career; he sat on the bench in street clothes.
The Pistons became the first home team since the 2-3-2 finals format was instituted in 1985 to win all three middle games. The Lakers' Phil Jackson, losing for the first time in 10 finals appearances as a coach, failed to surpass Red Auerbach's nine championships. Billups is playing for his sixth team in seven seasons."
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