Different types of teams make the NBA Finals.  Sometimes it is high scoring teams with NBA stars, other times it is tough defensive minded teams with a bunch of role players.  And, the styles of the teams usually is indicative of how exciting the games are.  And to many, the Pistons – Spurs NBA finals series was boring – to others, it was the NBA at its best.

It was on this day, June 23rd, 2005, that the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Detroit Pistons in game 7 of the NBA finals.  The Pistons were looking for a repeat under Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown.  However, the Spurs were able to win the title and vault Tim Duncan into the conversations about the greatest power forward ever.

Game 7 was true to form in terms of the teams personalities. The game was a rugged, physical low scoring game.  It was pretty tightly played until the Spurs pulled away in the 4th quarter thanks to inside play from Tim Duncan and a key 3 pointer from Bruce Bowen.  The Spurs won the game 81 – 74, and the great Pistons team with Billups, Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Prince, and Ben Wallace – would never again come this close to an NBA title.