NBA Playoff Betting Preview
Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics (Celtics lead 1-0)
Thursday, 8:35 pm Eastern – ESPN

SBG Global Opening Line: Celtics  - 3.5, Total  172.5

The Boston Celtics had enough energy to win Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons as they won 88-79 on Tuesday.  They expect a much tougher test on Tuesday since Detroit is not likely to be as rusty.  Point guard Chauncey Billups had not played in quite a while after missing the last two games against Orlando.  He had just nine points with two assists and two turnovers. “I needed to play that game,” he said. “I don’t feel good about the outcome of it, but I feel good having been out there, having seen what it was going to be like in my first game, and I look to make improvements in the second game. It’s difficult getting back out there. It’s not like I’m just getting out there in a regular season game. There’s a lot at stake.” The Celtics were led by Kevin Garnett who had 26 points and 9 rebounds while Paul Pierce added 22 points, 6 rebounds and six assists. “The things he does on the floor don’t surprise me,” Kevin Garnett said about Pierce. “You see him work on it every day. He’s probably one of the strongest mental players in the league. He’s able to, for some reason, lock in a zone there and get his work done and come in today and carry it over to the floor. And not a lot of players can do that in this league.”  SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Celtics at Home.

“We played a horrible game,” Detroit’s Antonio McDyess said. “We felt we played a horrible game and we just can’t continue playing that way. I think tomorrow is going to be a little different.”  The Pistons were fortunate to only be down one at the half but then came out and played a poor third quarter. “We didn’t get it done. We turned the ball over too much. We beat ourselves. We’re a team that, we came off of a playoff low of three turnovers and we had seven in the third quarter.” Head coach Flip Saunders said, “So when it’s a close game, we turn it over seven times, we don’t give ourselves a chance.”

The Celtics won Game One without much from Ray Allen who continues to play poorly in the playoffs. Allen had just nine points. “I’ve scored a lot in my career,” Allen said, “But it’s good to be in this position, where I’m not going to let it” affect the rest of the game. As part of the Big Three, Allen was expected to score more in the playoffs but so far it has been all Garnett and Pierce. “Ray’s a part of the Boston Celtics, and the Boston Celtics are winning,” Garnett said, “I’m sure it’s not his first shooting slump, and it’s definitely not his last. So I don’t have any sympathy for Ray Allen. I think he’s playing great basketball.”

SBG Global Current Line: Celtics  - 4 , Total  172

Here are the NBA betting stats for Thursday’s game.  The Pistons are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 day of rest. The Pistons are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games overall. The Pistons are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 Conference Finals games. The Pistons are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 playoff games as an underdog. The Pistons are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games as a road underdog. The Pistons are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings between the two teams. The Underdog is 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings. The road team is 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings.

The Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games. The Celtics are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games as a home favorite. The Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Conference Finals games. The Celtics are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 day of rest.

The Under is 13-3 in the Pistons last 16 road games. The Under is 4-1 in the Pistons last 5 vs. the Atlantic. The Under is 41-12-1 in the Pistons last 54 Thursday games. The Under is 19-7-1 in the Pistons last 27 Conference Finals games. The Under is 19-7-1 in the Pistons last 27 playoff games as an underdog. The Under is 10-4 in the Pistons last 14 games playing on 1 day of rest. The Under is 5-2 in the Pistons last 7 overall. The Under is 43-18-1 in the Pistons last 62 games as a road underdog.

The Under is 5-1 in the Celtics last 6 Conference Finals games. The Under is 8-2 in the Celtics last 10 Thursday games. The Under is 17-7 in the Celtics last 24 vs. the Central. The Under is 9-4 in the Celtics last 13 games as a home favorite. The Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between the two teams. The Under is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings in Boston.

Pick: Stick with the home teams in this series. Celtics 3units