Elden Campbell Puts on a Backdoor Passing Clinic at the 2004 Finals

Описание: Pieces form the whole.

The story of the 2004 Detroit Pistons has long centered around the achievement of team & cohesion over stardom & individuality. Still, it's often a small group of names that bubble to the surface: Chauncey, Rip, Tayshaun, the Wallaces. However, the true breadth of the Pistons' depth & balance often extended much deeper. Whether it was Lindsey Hunter and Mike James teaming up to hassle opposing backcourts in a surprise halfcourt trap, Corliss burrowing his way to the hoop with an array of back-to-the-basket evasive maneuvers, or Memo coming in to contribute seven quick points on perfect efficiency to close the half of the championship clincher.

Then there's Elden Campbell. After collecting nine DNP-CDs in the first three rounds of the 2004 postseason, Campbell stepped up to the plate as the team's defacto sixth man in the Finals, battling former teammate Shaquille O'Neal in the post while sprinkling in difference-making contributions elsewhere on the court. In particular, while Campbell played just a touch over 13 minutes a night in the Finals, he still finished fourth on the team in assists, standing in as the only Pistons big to repeatedly recognize and convert on backdoor pass opportunities.

Campbell's passing, a perceivably small aspect of the Finals as a whole, served as a doubly beneficial means of pulling the looming O'Neal away from the hoop while also allowing the Pistons offense to continue buzzing even as they delved deep into their bench.

For more Campbell higlights:

Sampler of his defensive efforts vs. Shaq:    • Elden Campbell's Underrated NBA Finals Def...  

His steal and fastbreak dunk in Game 3:    • Elden Campbell's NBA Finals Slamadamonth  

His full Game 1 highlights:    • Elden Campbell's Unsung Game 1 Highlights ...  

2004 Finals Box Score: https://www.basketball-reference.com/...