Toronto at Detroit from The Palace of Auburn Hills
The Toronto Raptors (16-27 SU, 17-24-2 ATS, 25-18 O/U) have dropped six straight games in the BetUS Sportsbook. The Detroit Pistons (23-17 SU, 17-23 ATS, 15-24-1 O/U) snapped their five-game skid the last time out. Tonight, both teams will look to pick up an SU and ATS victory when they battle at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Raptors got a double-double from team scoring leader Chris Bosh who totaled 22 points and 14 rebounds in a losing effort as they played their fifth consecutive game without starting point guard Jose Calderon, who has been out of the lineup with a strained right hamstring.
“We’re running out of time,” forward Chris Bosh said. “We’ve got to do it now or we’ll be watching the first round of the playoffs eating popcorn.”
Toronto managed only 33 points in the second half and made just 2 of 18 3-pointers in one of its worst offensive performances of the season.
“I think we’re going to have to find a way to fight through this, and if we do I think we’ll be a pretty good basketball team,” Raptors coach Jay Triano said.
The Pistons defeated Memphis handily as veteran gunner Allen Iverson scored a game-high 27 points while blossoming second-year point guard Rodney Stuckey and veteran shooting guard Richard Hamilton each added 14 points in the win.
Detroit has struggled with its chemistry since adding Iverson in a trade with the Denver Nuggets back in November.
With three guards Allen Iverson, Rodney Stuckey and Richard Hamilton all in Detroit’s starting lineup, first-year head coach Michael Curry is contemplating lineup changes that could take place starting tonight.
According to the Pistons’ official Web site, Iverson and Hamilton are being considered as candidates to come off the bench with Stuckey now entrenched as the starting point guard due to his strong play recently. However, the Pistons have had problems with their three-guard lineup against taller lineups.
“We just want to win – bottom line,” Hamilton said. “We want to win games. Guys are coming out trying to figure out a way to do everything possible to help the team win. That’s the most important thing right now – to try to win games.”
Here is a look at tonight’s key trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and NBA Free Pick.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Toronto’s last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto’s last 5 games
Toronto is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Toronto is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto
Detroit is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Toronto
Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Detroit’s last 8 games
NBA Odds
Toronto Raptors +5½ -110
Detroit Pistons -5½ -110
Over 180½ -110
Under 180½ -110
Analysis: I really don’t think very much of the Pistons these day with their idiotic trade for Iverson, a one-on-one gunner if ever there were one. Now, with their chemistry totally gone, the Pistons don’t look like they’ll be back in the Eastern Conference Finals for the seventh straight season.
Still, I think they’ve got just enough will power to cover this spread at home against the struggling Raptors who have quickly found out their pairing of Jermaine O’Neal and Chris Bosh is a big, fat, failure.
