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NBA Playoff Prediction: Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons |
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Written by Scott Burgess
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Tuesday, 20 May 2008
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 Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals goes ahead tonight. The Boston Celtics host the Detroit Pistons. If tonight’s game is anything like their regular season meetings, we’re in for a tough fought out battle. The Celtics lead the regular season 2-1. Oddsmakers at SBGglobal.com have the Celtics as 4 ½-point favorites over the Pistons with the over/under listed at 174. Get your NBA Playoff Prediction in now at SBGglobal.com.
The Celtics won a close Game 7 over the Cavs 97-92 at home, against a Cavs team that didn’t have the depth or multi talented lineup that the Pistons posses. The Celtics are still perfect at home with a 8-0 SU record, but they have a dismal 0-6 SU road record. Both of their playoff series against Atlanta and Cleveland needed to be decided by a do or die Game 7. At the beginning of the playoffs, and regular season, they were expected to sweep the East. Now it’s looking more like they could make the NBA Final without winning on the road. The Celtics have averaged 84 PPG in their last five games where they are shooting 43% from the field, 30% from beyond the arch and 79% at the line. At home they are averaging 99 PPG, 47% from the field, 36% beyond the arch and 76% from the line. The Celtics haven’t played against a team with a lot of talent or playoff experience. Their defense is the best in the playoffs, they’ve allowed an average of 90 PPG in their last five and they give up an average 86 PPG at home. The Celtics have played three games while the Pistons have been getting healthy and practicing.
The Pistons have everything it takes to beat the Celtics; they have sharp shooters, 3-point shooters and guys that can drive to the hoop with the best of them. Richard Hamilton is averaging 21 PPG, Tayshaun Prince is good for 16 PPG and Rasheed Wallace adds 13 PPG, but his main bread and butter is his blocking and rebounding. Chauncey Billups sat out the last two games with an Injury and now he’s healthy and should be ready to go tonight. The Pistons went 3-2 SU on the road where they averaged 91 PPG. Overall they’ve averaged 96 PPG, 45% from the field, 37% beyond the arch and 77% at the line. The Pistons are great on the road and if they take Game 1 tonight the whole series could shift in favor of the Pistons. Detroit also was solid on the road, going 25-16 in the regular season, with one of those wins in Boston. The Celtics were 35-6 at home. "That's a big plus for us that we have won there in a season that they won most of their home games," Billups said. "We know we're a great road team in anybody's building and that's to our advantage. Our whole mind-set is to go there and win Game 1." If they do, the Celtics would be in a big, early hole. The best they could get, then, would be a split before the series shifts to The Palace, where the Pistons were 34-7.
Recent Trends to Consider
- Road team is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
- Underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
- Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
- Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Boston.
- Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS loss.
- Celtics are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Celtics are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
GAME: Detroit Pistons (67-26) at Boston Celtics (74-22)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 20 - 8:30 PM EST
LINE: SBGglobal.com TOTAL: 174
PICK: Detroit +4 ½
The Bottom Line: If the Celtics had a hard time against Atlanta and Cleveland, wait till they meet the Pistons. Get your NBA Playoff Prediction in now.
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