Posted on 4/8/2008 6:58:06 PM

NBA Basketball Betting New York at Detroit

By Charles Jay

WHO: New York Knicks (21-56 SU, 35-41-1 ATS) at Detroit Pistons (55-21 SU, 42-33-1 ATS)

WHERE: The Palace in Auburn Hills, MI

WHEN: Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 PM ET

BetUS NBA sports betting odds: Detroit -11, Total 193.5

In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:

* DET has won 11 of the last 14 meetings SU

* Three of the last four meetings have gone UNDER the total

* Fourteen of the last 20 meetings have gone OVER the total

* DET has covered six of the last nine meetings as the home team

* DET has won the last five meetings SU as the home team

* Four of the last five meetings in Detroit have gone OVER the total

* DET has made more three-pointers in eight of the last ten meetings

New York has made a mediocre 72.5% of its free throws. The Knicks have averaged 6.3 steals a game and are 29th in the league with 43.8% shooting. Also:

* NY has covered five of its last six games

* NY has covered six of its last 19 games

* NY has lost 17 of its last 20 games SU

* NY has covered four of its last five road games

* NY has lost its last seven road games SU

* NY has played its last six road games OVER the total

Detroit has a sterling assist/turnover ratio of 2-to-1. The Pistons are second in the league in points allowed at home, with 88.2 per game. Also:

* DET has covered four of its last five games

* DET has won its last five games SU

* DET has played four of its last six games UNDER the total

* DET has covered six of its last seven home games

* DET has won its last seven home games SU

* DET has played four of its last six home games OVER the total

Don't look now, but the Knicks are actually starting to cover some games, going 5-1 against the number in their last six. As for the "how," well, the oddsmaker is giving them plenty of room, as in three of those games New York has been a dog of 14 points or more. For the "why," who knows - maybe with a regime change in the process of happening (Donnie Walsh in as new Knick president), the players are trying to protect their jobs.

One of the guys who never needs any additional motivation (and who, ironically, might make for good trade bait) is the hustlin' David Lee, who has taken advantage of the additional playing time to average 14.5 points and 10.3 rebounds over the last ten games. he does bring an intensity that the now-injured Eddy Curry lacked. Zach Randolph is low-impact, but he has had four straight double-digit rebounding games. So New York is all of a sudden a little tougher on the boards.

The Pistons are hardly coasting to the finish, as they've covered their last four and have given up 78 points a game over their last five. But Detroit finds itself locked into a #2 playoff seed, so there will be some consciousness about resting players. For example, they're taking no chances with Richard Hamilton's hip injury and will keep him out until Wednesday.

There might be some room for the Knicks to move through - not for the straight-up win, of course, but thay've got a lot of points to work with. We'll grab those points with New York, the 11-point underdog in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: NEW YORK

You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!

(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)