Posted on 4/18/2008 4:00:53 PM

NBA Basketball Betting - Previewing the Pistons vs. Sixers

By Charles Jay

NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs

DETROIT PISTONS (59-23 SU, 46-35-1 ATS) vs. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (40-42 SU, 43-38-1 ATS)

BetUS NBA Basketball Betting Odds

Series Price

DETROIT -1600

PHILADELPHIA +800

The Schedule:

Game 1 — April 20, 76ers at Pistons, 6:00 p.m. (TNT)

Game 2 — April 23, 76ers at Pistons, 7:30 p.m. (NBATV)

Game 3 — April 25, Pistons at 76ers, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game 4 — April 27, Pistons at 76ers, 7:00 p.m. (TNT)

Game 5 (if necessary) — April 29, 76ers at Pistons TBD

Game 6 (if necessary) — May 1, Pistons at 76ers TBD

Game 7 (if necessary) — May 3, 76ers at Pistons TBD (TNT)

These teams split the season series, winning two games apiece. It is perhaps significant that Philadelphia won the last two meetings, as the Sixers came on like gangbusters to snare the #7 playoff spot. It is no secret that the Sixers did it with defense. The team has some bona fide stoppers in point guard Andre Miller, small forward Andre Iguodala and center Samuel Dalembert (2.3 blocks per game). But Maurice Cheeks, who must have been wondering where his offense was going to come from prior to the season with Allen Iverson gone, would admit he got more than expected out of Iguodala (20 ppg) and Miller (17.1 ppg). And Dalembert, viewed by some as a backup-type, emerged as a strong presence inside with 10.4 rebounds per game (ninth in the league). As a team, Philadelphia was able to grab 31.6% of all offensive rebounds, the highest figure in the league.

But this Sixer team has not appeared in the playoffs as a unit, while the Pistons are old hands at this thing. There is of course the steady quartet of players who have been together for quite a while - Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince - and these guys all averaged between 13 and 17.5 points per game, which represents great balance. And Detroit is developing some depth, as Rodney Stuckey (7.5 ppg), Jason Maxiell (7.9 ppg), Chuck Hayes and defensive stalwart Aaron Afflalo gave them quality minutes. Lou Williams is a dangerous guy off the Sixers' bench, scoring 11.3 points a game, but generally this is a team that is relatively thin.

Philadelphia is not a team that likes to speed up the pace, but according to Cheeks, that is exactly what they will try to do against Detroit, which held opponents to 90.1 points per contest, an NBA low. If there are going to be opportunities in transition, they are probably not going to come from the wily veteran Billups, who registered almost a 3.3-to-1 ratio of assists to turnovers, or the rest of the Pistons, who collectively coughed it up an NBA-best 11.6 times a game. And Hamilton has the ability to extend leads with long-range shooting (43.5% from beyond the arc), which is something the Sixers (last in NBA in threes) have not had since they dealt away Kyle Korver to the Jazz.

Even though they won the division handily, there was a sense that Detroit was pacing itself for a playoff run, knowing that the only real threat to them in the conference as going to come from the Celtics. That may indeed come to fruition, but for now Flip Saunders' team will be content with dusting off this Philly squad that was pesky and surged into playoff position, but petered out a little toward the end to finish under .500. Be careful with the Pistons, being overpriced, as they were just 2-5-1 ATS as a home favorite in the last post-season, but absolutely expect them to take care of business.

JAY'S PREDICTION: DETROIT (-1600) IN FIVE GAMES

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)