Posted on
3/14/2008 3:45:45 PM
NBA Basketball Picks – Possible Finals Preview
By Eric Williams
The San Antonio Spurs, (44-20 SU, 28-34-2 ATS, 26-38 O/U), and Detroit Pistons, (46-18 SU, 34-29-1 ATS, 30-33-1 O/U), are two of the best teams in the entire NBA and could each reach the NBA Finals out of their respective conferences, neither team has been playing like it much lately.
The Spurs have lost three of their last four games in the BetUS.com Sportsbook and come into tonight’s matchup off their worst loss of the regular season, a 100-75 defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday.
The Pistons also enter tonight’s contest coming off a loss, an 83-82 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday and have dropped two of their last four games.
"We were terrible," Pistons head coach Flip Saunders said. "The score isn't reflective of the way we played - we shouldn't have only lost this game by one point."
While Saunders was none-too-happy with his team’s play against the Sixers, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, gave the Hornets credit for their victory but didn’t want to make too big a deal because of his club’s loss.
"They just played better than we did," Popovich said. "They shot the ball well. They were aggressive. Any way you want to slice it, they did a great job."
The Spurs have lost three straight road games by an average of 15.0 points per contest.
The Spurs are 2-7-1 against the spread in their last ten games while the Pistons have gone 4-6 against the spread over the same span. Both teams have failed to cover the spread in their last five games.
Here is a look at tonight’s Key Trends, followed by my NBA Betting Picks.
The Spurs are 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight vs. Eastern Conference.
The Spurs are 1-4 ATS in their last five road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600.
The Pistons are 7-1-1 ATS in their last nine vs. NBA Southwest.
The Pistons are 7-3 ATS in their last ten home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
The Under is 5-1 in Spurs last six games playing on one days rest.
The Under is 5-1 in Pistons last six vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
The Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
The Spurs are 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings in Detroit.
Analysis: While this pick certainly a ‘toughie’ I say take the Pistons to cover the spread by the slimmest of margins with the Spurs playing such mediocre basketball on the road lately.
NBA Free Picks: Pistons -3 Points/Over 178 Total Points
08:05 PM EST NBA Betting Odds
San Antonio Spurs +3 -110
Detroit Pistons -3 -110
Over 178 -110
Under 178 -110
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