NBA Picks – Pistons Ten-Point Dogs in Cleveland

It was only a couple years ago that LeBron went bananas in the historic Game 5 of the Pistons-Cavaliers playoff series. My how the tables of turned. At the time, Detroit was a perennial playoff powerhouse and Cleveland was a team with a legend in the making. Well that legend took off in that game and, while the Cavs have surged to the top, Detroit has never truly recovered.

You can watch the highlights on YouTube and see just how shocked Tayshaun Prince is during the whole debacle. He’s speechless. And for the vast chunk of this NBA betting season, he’s been just as quiet. The Pistons are in the middle of an awkward rebuilding phase, which makes Allen Iverson an even more confusing player to bring on board. Rodney Stuckey has been fine in his place, but he’s not a championship point man, nor is he leading a championship team. The Pistons have sucked a big fat one this season, and the trends are solid proof.

NBA Betting Trends

-Detroit is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games

-Detroit is 3-6 SU in their last 9 games

-Detroit is 6-3 ATS in their last 9 games on the road

-Detroit is 4-11 ATS against Cleveland

-Cleveland is 3-6 ATS in their last 9 games

-Cleveland is 5-0 SU in their last 5 games

-Cleveland is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games at home

-total has gone UNDER in 14 of 16 when Cleveland plays Detroit at home

Meanwhile, Cleveland has made it a habit of becoming the team to beat. And now that the Celtics have opted to sit Kevin Garnett for a large chunk of the remainder this season, the Cavs look like a cinch to win the Eastern Conference. A 102-74 drubbing of the Mavericks is certainly proof.

And while most critics would have you believe that Cleveland may take their foot off the peddle, I’d beg to differ. They’ve gone in to “raising the bird” mode, crushing both Minnesota and Dallas by more than twenty-points. If that isn’t evidence that a ten-point spread against Detroit shouldn’t worry you too much, then nothing will.

Detroit Pistons (36-37) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (60-13)

Tuesday, March 31st — Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland — 7:00pm EST

NBA Betting Line: Cleveland -9.5 (179.5)

The UNDER is likely a good bet, because Detroit simply doesn’t get it done on the road. They’ve beaten Washington *(whoop-de-doo) but were outlasted by Chicago when they visited the Windy City. I’m not comfortable with the road offense of Detroit, especially when LeBron has had their number for the last few years.

NBA Free Pick: Cleveland -9.5 (UNDER)