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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

NBA superstars Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have cemented their names as some of the top players in this era. They have led their respective teams to the NBA title in the last three seasons. While Curry and Antetokounmpo have two NBA MVP awards to their names, James has four. Interestingly, all three players have won the MVP award back-to-back. And LeBron James did it twice. Even though these stars have been part of great title-winning teams, their individual game stands out. Any current team would have a tough time guarding them.

But what about a team from a different era? That has been a topic of discussion recently on social media. And former Boston Celtics star Kendrick Perkins has joined the party. Perkins took to Twitter and shared his opinion that the 2004 Detroit Pistons would beat any team from any era. He also claimed that the team is arguably the best defensive team ever assembled.

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A lot of fans showed their discontent with the tweet. And Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the superstars of today might not agree as well.

Would the 2004 Detroit Pistons stop today’s superstars like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo?

The 2004 title-winning Detroit Pistons were a great team. They were solid defensively and their opponents often succumbed to low scores. And they shocked the world when they beat the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in the 2004 NBA Finals. However, could they really stop some of the superstars and superteams of today’s age? Even though that Pistons team stopped the Lakers dynasty, could they stop the current dynasty of the Golden State Warriors?

The 2004 Lakers team had one of the best duos the league has ever seen in Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. They also had some veterans like Gary Payton and Karl Malone who were well past their prime. Also, it was the beginning of the end of the dominance of O’Neal. The 2003-04 season was his lowest scoring season since his rookie season. And it was less than his rookie year. Furthermore, his struggles continued in the playoffs as well.

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The struggles of three straight Finals MVP winner was a huge blow for the Lakers. So the results could have been different had the Pistons met the Lakers in 2000. Or the 2001 Lakers team which almost went the entire playoffs unbeaten only to lose 1 game in the Finals against Allen Iverson and the 76ers.

More importantly, the game has changed a lot since the 2000s. The number of 3-pointers made in a game has increased. The speed of the game has increased. Even though Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace could bully the small lineup of the Warriors, for example, they would have a tough time guarding their sharpshooters. Also, the small and quick lineup of the Warriors would have no trouble keeping up with Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups.

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Being said that, the legends of old like Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, Magic Johnson and the Lakers, etc wouldn’t agree with Perkins’ comments as well.