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Ultimate 5: The best Pistons lineup since '95

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

While hoops remain on hiatus, theScore's NBA editors will be compiling ultimate starting lineups for each team in the Association. The catch: Only players who have been in the league since the 1995-96 season can be included.

The 2003-04 Detroit Pistons became one of the more unique champions in recent memory. While not featuring a truly elite superstar on their roster, the Pistons relied on top-tier defense to dismantle the Los Angeles Lakers in five games during that season's NBA Finals.

That squad is the only version of the Pistons to even come close to a championship over the last 25 seasons, and players on the team's talented, underrated 2003-04 roster are heavily featured in Detroit's ultimate starting five.

Guard

Chauncey Billups

Billups quietly built a resume that could land him in the Hall of Fame, piling up three All-NBA selections, five All-Star appearances, and a 2004 Finals MVP Award. He earned the nickname "Mr. Big Shot" through his ability to deliver during pivotal late-game situations.

The 1997 third overall pick also made some unique history during his NBA career, becoming the only player to earn a winning record against the trio of Michael Jordan (6-4), Kobe Bryant (24-21), and LeBron James (22-17).

Throughout his eight-season tenure in Detroit, Billups averaged 16.5 points while connecting on 39.7% of his 3-point attempts, and logging 6.2 assists and one steal per game.

Guard

Richard Hamilton

Hamilton provided a consistent scoring punch that helped compliment Billups' playmaking ability in Detroit's backcourt. The shooting guard spent nine of his 14 NBA seasons with the team, averaging 18.4 points per game over that span.

Following the Pistons' championship in 2004, he went on to make three consecutive All-Star appearances from 2006 to 2008.

Forward

Grant Hill

After Hill became one of college basketball's biggest stars during a four-year run with the Duke Blue Devils, the Pistons drafted him third overall in 1994, and he continued his success. The do-it-all forward instantly emerged as a premier young player in the league, earning co-Rookie of the Year honors with Jason Kidd following the 1994-95 campaign.

Before ankle and knee injuries began limiting his production starting in the 2000-01 season, the Hall of Famer made five All-NBA teams and five All-Star appearances in six seasons with Detroit. With strong averages of 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.6 steals in 435 games, Hill is the most talented small forward to ever don a Pistons uniform.

Forward

Rasheed Wallace

Wallace's arrival following a midseason trade with the Atlanta Hawks during the 2003-04 campaign gave the Pistons a much-needed offensive jolt at power forward. Detroit went on to win 20 of its final 24 games after his acquisition before going 16-7 in the playoffs en route to capturing a title.

The UNC product played five more seasons for Detroit. In 399 career games with the team, Wallace averaged 13.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and one steal.

Center

Ben Wallace

Wallace will likely become a Hall of Famer due to his defensive dominance during the 2000s. He was the NBA's most feared rim-protector for more than half a decade, serving as a crucial defender on the Pistons' championship-caliber squads.

A four-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection, Wallace dominated the shot-blocking and rebounding departments during his nine-season Pistons tenure, averaging 2.3 rejections and 11.1 boards per game.

The center's record four Defensive Player of the Year awards - won during a five-year stretch from 2001 to 2006, no less - tie him with Dikembe Mutombo for the most all time.

Just Missed

Tayshaun Prince

Prince, who started at small forward on the Pistons' 2004 title team, was one of the league's leading perimeter defenders in his prime.

In addition to his four consecutive All-Defensive second-team selections between 2004 and 2008, the Kentucky product was also incredibly durable for Detroit during the mid-to-late 2000s, appearing in all 82 regular-season games in six straight campaigns.

Andre Drummond

While Drummond's superb rebounding numbers certainly jump off the page, his play rarely helped the Pistons make much noise in the win column over seven-plus seasons with the franchise.

Despite impressive averages of 14.4 points, 13.9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.4 steals in 591 games, Drummond only led Detroit to an above-.500 record on one occasion (2015-16).

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