Hard Drive to the Hardwood:
The Conference Finals
Our scintillating simulations get to the four finalists

With the NBA Playoffs 2004 in the conference finals, we wanted to see which two teams would make it to the ultimate Destination: Finals. So, we revved up the trusty XBOX once again, plopped in the NBA Inside Drive 2004 and we took the future into our hands. Here are the results of our Conference Finals simulations.

We ran simulations based on the conference finals matchups. The first-round simulations went according to form and the conference semifinals produced some surprises.

Here are the NBA Playoffs 2004 conference finals simulations powered by XBOX'S NBA Inside Drive 2004.

EASTERN FINALS

Pistons 4 - Pacers 1
The Pacers, with the best "real" regular-season record in the NBA, held serve with a Game 1 win. But the Pistons, with mid-season acquisition Rasheed Wallace, stormed to the NBA Finals with four consecutive wins, including two in Indiana.

Game 1: Indiana 99, Detroit 92
Game 2: Detroit 97, Indiana 71
Game 3: Detroit 103, Indiana 92
Game 4: Detroit 105, Indiana 89
Game 4: Detroit 97, Indiana 93

NBA Playoffs 2004: Pacers-Pistons series page

WESTERN FINALS

Lakers 4 - Timberwolves 2
After capturing the No. 1 seed in the West, the Wolves saw their hard work in the regular season pay off when they took the first two in the Target Center. But, the series shifted to Los Angeles and so did the momentum. The Lakers took two at STAPLES, took Game 5 in Minnesota and clinched at home.

Game 1: Wolves 101, Lakers 93
Game 2: Wolves 93, Lakers 82
Game 3: Lakers 121, Wolves 83
Game 4: Lakers 101, Wolves 87
Game 5: Lakers 112, Wolves 101
Game 5: Lakers 120, Wolves 103

NBA Playoffs 2004: Lakers-Wolves series page

These playoffs simulations were powered by Xbox's NBA Inside Drive 2004 .

SIMULATED LEADERS THROUGH CONF. FINALS

SCORING LEADERS
1. Mobley, HOU: 35.3
2. Pierce, BOS: 34.8
3. S. O'Neal, LAL: 32.5*
4. J. O'Neal, IND: 31.7*
5. Davis, N.O.: 31.1
6. Redd, MIL: 30.4
7. Webber, SAC: 26.9
8. Bryant, LAL: 25.0*
9. Duncan, S.A.: 26.4
10. Nowitzki, DAL: 24.9
* Through three rounds

REBOUNDING LEADERS
1. Garnett, MIN: 10.9*
2. Duncan, S.A.: 10.6
3. Nowitzki, DAL: 10.3
4. S. O'Neal, LAL: 9.9*
5. Gasol, MEM: 9.8
6. Wallace, IND: 8.1*
7. Grant, MIA: 9.0
8. Nene, DEN: 9.0
9. Webber, SAC: 8.9
10. Grant, MIA: 8.6
* Through three rounds

ASSISTS LEADERS
1. Kidd, NJN: 10.2
2. Payton, LAL: 9.1*
3. Marbury, NYK: 8.2
4. Bryant, MIN: 8.1*
5. Williams, MEM: 8.0
6. Finley, DAL: 7.7
7. Cassell, MIN: 7.6*
8. Pierce, BOS: 7.5
9. Francis, HOU: 7.5
10. Tinsley, IND: 7.2*
* Through three rounds