Posted on 4/25/2008 3:27:53 PM

NBA Basketball Playoff Betting - Detroit at Philadelphia

By Charles Jay

WHO: Detroit Pistons (59-23 SU, 46-35-1 ATS) at Philadelphia 76ers (40-42 SU, 43-38-1 ATS) -- Regular season records

WHERE: Wachovia Center in Philadelphia

WHEN: Friday, April 25 at 7 PM ET

BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: Detroit -4, Total 180.5

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

* PHIL has covered five of the last seven meetings

* DET has won 18 of the last 24 meetings SU

* Four of the last six meetings have gone UNDER the total

* DET has covered four of the last five meetings as the road team

* DET has won six of the last seven meetings SU as the road team

* DET has had the shooting edge in seven of the last ten meetings

* PHIL has had the rebounding edge in nine of the last ten meetings

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

Despite the fact that they were blown out on Wednesday night by a 105-88 score, the Sixers did exactly what they had to do in Detroit by getting the split. There were a few encouraging signs, including 50 points from the bench. Of course, there were a few discouraging things too, like the lack of intimidation underneath. Samuel Dalembert did not block a shot, and Philadelphia was out-rebounded by a 42-34 count. We have to accept that the Sixers are not going to make a lot of shots beyond the arc; they were last in the league this season with less than four a game and went only 1-for-6 from downtown in Game 2. But they got to the line 35 times. The problem is that they could only make 66%.

If Detroit is concentrating, they can play shutdown with the Philadelphia offense, which has made one three-pointer in three of the last four games. The Sixers are not bumblers by nature on the offensive end, but they are not dynamic, and if the opponent does not have to worry about long-range shooting, this can have a tendency to make the penetration of Andre Miller much less effective. Miller has shot for a high percentage (52%), but his assist-turnover ratio (9-to-7) has been poor.

These teams are going in different pointspread directions; Detroit has won and covered five of its last six games, while Philadelphia has lost five of six. Some of the media covering this series have made reference to the idea that the Sixers finished the season very strong, but the fact is that they lost seven of their last ten games, even though there was much to be gained from winning in terms of positioning within the Eastern Conference playoff scenario.

True, Philadelphia was good enough to take advantage of a Detroit team that was caught sleeping after building a sizable lead in Game 1. But that, we think, was the wakeup call for this team, and we're relatively confident they won't find themselves napping again. It's going to be hard to contend with the Pistons if they show the kind of scoring balance they exhibited in Game 2, with Rip Hamilton going for 20 points and Tayshaun Price, Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace accounting for 16 points apiece.

We're going to lay the points with Detroit, the four-point favorite in the BetUS NBA playoff basketball betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: DETROIT

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(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)