Chauncey Billups knows that few people outside the Detroit locker room think the Pistons can beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
''That doesn't bother us because we're ready to shock the world,'' the point guard said Saturday.
Count the oddsmakers in Las Vegas among those expecting the Lakers to win their fourth title in five years. A $100 bet on the underdog Pistons would return about $600 in they win the series, while a gambler would have to wager about $800 for a $100 return on the Lakers.
In Game 1 on Sunday at home, Los Angeles is almost a 10-point favorite.
''We know very few people believe we can win this series,'' Pistons reserve Corliss Williamson said. ''But the people who really know the game can see where we have an opportunity to win.''
Clearly, Detroit does not have a player as great as Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.
''I don't think there's a more dominant player than Shaq, and probably not a better player than Kobe,'' Pistons coach Larry Brown said.
The Pistons, however, believe their 11-man rotation can help them pull off a stunning upset.
Detroit's depth overcame the star power of the Lakers in a 106-96 victory at home in the regular season. Six Pistons scored in double figures, and their reserves outscored Los Angeles' 45-14.
''If we utilize our team the way we're capable, we'll have an opportunity to win,'' Williamson said. ''I don't think we can win this series with just five-to-seven guys, it's going to take our whole team.
''I think you're going to see Coach Brown utilize his bench a lot more this series.''
Granted, Detroit's victory over the Lakers was played in November when they weren't as motivated as they are now.
But they did have the ''Big Four'' of Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone and Gary Payton in the lineup, and the Pistons were three months away from acquiring Rasheed Wallace.
''That doesn't bother us because we're ready to shock the world,'' the point guard said Saturday.
Count the oddsmakers in Las Vegas among those expecting the Lakers to win their fourth title in five years. A $100 bet on the underdog Pistons would return about $600 in they win the series, while a gambler would have to wager about $800 for a $100 return on the Lakers.
In Game 1 on Sunday at home, Los Angeles is almost a 10-point favorite.
''We know very few people believe we can win this series,'' Pistons reserve Corliss Williamson said. ''But the people who really know the game can see where we have an opportunity to win.''
Clearly, Detroit does not have a player as great as Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.
''I don't think there's a more dominant player than Shaq, and probably not a better player than Kobe,'' Pistons coach Larry Brown said.
The Pistons, however, believe their 11-man rotation can help them pull off a stunning upset.
Detroit's depth overcame the star power of the Lakers in a 106-96 victory at home in the regular season. Six Pistons scored in double figures, and their reserves outscored Los Angeles' 45-14.
''If we utilize our team the way we're capable, we'll have an opportunity to win,'' Williamson said. ''I don't think we can win this series with just five-to-seven guys, it's going to take our whole team.
''I think you're going to see Coach Brown utilize his bench a lot more this series.''
Granted, Detroit's victory over the Lakers was played in November when they weren't as motivated as they are now.
But they did have the ''Big Four'' of Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone and Gary Payton in the lineup, and the Pistons were three months away from acquiring Rasheed Wallace.
