Celtics Host Pistons in Possible Conference Finals Preview
The Detroit Pistons (8-3 SU, 6-5 ATS, 7-4 O/U) look like they are beginning to come together after acquiring mercurial shooting guard Allen Iverson recently. The Boston Celtics (10-2 SU, 5-7 ATS, 5-7 O/U) have generally looked like the defending championship team that they are all season long.
Tonight, last season’s Eastern Conference finalists will both be looking to pick up a message-sending victory when they meet at TD Banknorth Garden.
The Pistons have won four of their last five games and knocked off two of the NBA’s best teams this week, including Wednesday’s 96-89 win over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, while looking more comfortable with Iverson on the roster each time out.
“It’s early, but it’s exciting,” Iverson said.
The Pistons gave up 25 points to James and new sidekick Maurice Williams, but got 23 points from Iverson and 21 points and 15 rebounds from Rasheed Wallace in the win as they easily covered the spread for NBA sports betting backers as a 2.5-point home favorite.
Detroit also knocked off the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, winning 106-95 to snap the reigning Western Conference champions’ seven-game win streak.
“It’s not like we set out and said, ‘Oh, these are the NBA’s hottest teams.’ We’re just trying to make ourselves better,” said Wallace, who added a season-high 15 rebounds. “We really don’t care about what the other teams are doing at that moment. We just want to make ourselves better for June.”
The Pistons will take on a Celtics team that has won two straight games in the BetUS Sportsbook, including Monday’s 110-101 home win over the New York Knicks.
While Boston didn’t cover the spread for BetUS NBA sports betting backers, they did manage to win without the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Kevin Garnett, who sat out as part of a one-game suspension in order to handle the Knicks.
Paul Pierce scored 22 points to lead five Boston players that reached double figures in scoring.
“Not having a great player out there, you definitely miss him,” said point guard Rajon Rondo, who had a season-high 15 points and added eight rebounds and seven assists. “But we tried to go out tonight and get the ball moving and that’s what we did. … A lot of guys got shots.”
Here is a look at the key trends for each team, followed by my in-depth analysis and NBA Free Picks.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Detroit’s last 11 games when playing Boston
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Detroit is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Detroit’s last 9 games on the road
Boston is 23-2 SU in its last 25 games at home
Boston is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Boston’s last 11 games when playing Detroit
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit
NBA Odds
Detroit Pistons +7 -110
Boston Celtics -7 -110
Over 183½ -110
Under 183½ -110
Analysis: While the Celtics ran the Pistons off the floor in their 88-76 road win on Nov. 9, I really like the Pistons to come with an excellent effort tonight. While I fully believe the Celtics will want to send another message to the rest of the league, I like the Pistons to find a way to keep it close while covering the spread in the end. Take the Under as well, as these two teams generally hook up in a defensive struggle.
