NBA Playoff Betting Preview
Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics (Series tied 2-2)
Wednesday, 8:35 pm Eastern – ESPN

SBG Global Opening Line: Celtics - 5.5 , Total 172.5

The Detroit Pistons got their must-win game on Monday as they won at home against the Boston Celtics to even the best of seven Eastern Conference Finals at two games each. Now the Boston Celtics are facing their must-win game on Wednesday in Game Five as they don’t want to go back to Detroit having to win a Game Six. SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Celtics at Home.

The Pistons were led on Monday by forward Antonio McDyess who showed a lot of energy and desire. McDyess had 21 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Piston to the 94-75 win. “(McDyess) knows that you can’t take any of this for granted,” Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. “Some of our guys have been in six straight conference finals, which is an amazing achievement, but for some of our guys, this is the first time.” The Celtics need to find some of the energy that McDyess had or they may lose this series. “We don’t get this opportunity too much in our careers,” Celtics’ forward Paul Pierce said, “We have to go out and play like it’s our last, because you never know when this is going to happen again. … We have to find some way, somehow to get a win at home and bring that momentum back to Detroit.” Home court is no guarantee in this series as both teams have won on each other’s court. The Celtics shot just 32 percent on Monday night and none of the Big Three played well. They will need a big performance on Wednesday or they could face a road game at Detroit with their season on the line and that is not a pleasant thought for Boston.

SBG Global Current Line: Celtics - 6 , Total 173

Here are the NBA betting stats for Wednesday’s game. The Pistons are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 1 day of rest. The Pistons are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. the Atlantic. The Pistons are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games overall. The Pistons are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games as a road underdog.
The Pistons are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 Wednesday games. The Underdog is 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings between the two teams. The road team is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.

The Celtics are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 Wednesday games. The Celtics are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games as a home favorite. The Celtics are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 1 day of rest.

The Under is 5-1 in the Pistons last 6 overall. The Under is 11-3 in the Pistons last 14 road games. The Under is 19-7-1 in the Pistons last 27 playoff games as an underdog. The Under is 12-5 in the Pistons last 17 games playing on 1 day of rest. The Under is 43-19-1 in the Pistons last 63 games as a road underdog.

The Over is 4-1 in the Celtics last 5 Wednesday games. The Under is 19-8 in the Celtics last 27 vs. the Central. The Under is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings between the two teams and the Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Boston.

Pick: Take the Celtics at home

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

 NBA Playoff Betting Preview
Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics (Game One)
Tuesday, 8:35 pm Eastern – ESPN

SBG Global Opening Line: Celtics  - 4 , Total  174

The two best teams in the Eastern Conference will meet for the right to play in the NBA Finals.  The Boston Celtics took the long way to get here as they defeated the Atlanta Hawks in seven games and the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.  The Detroit Pistons were more efficient, dispatching the 76ers in six games and the Magic in five. While the Western Conference gets all the publicity, the Eastern Conference actually had the two best teams in the NBA as the Celtics finished with 66 wins and the Pistons finished with 59 wins. SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Celtics at Home.

The Pistons are in the Conference Finals for the sixth straight season while it is been quite a while for Boston.  The teams are very evenly matched and it promises to be a very good series.  The Celtics are led by the big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen although lately it has only been the big two as Allen has been invisible in the playoffs.  The Pistons have Chauncey Billiups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace.   “We’re mirror images,” Detroit head coach Flip Saunders said, “Defensive-oriented teams; both teams are good offensively when they move the ball; both teams have inside guys who like to play outside at times; two guards (Allen and Hamilton), both (from) Connecticut … you can go right on down the list. Right now Pierce is their best player in the playoffs; Tay might be our best player, both at the three spot. And when their point guard plays well, they win; when our point guard plays well, we win.”

The difference might be the play of Ray Allen. He has been awful in the playoffs and actually sat on the bench in the fourth quarter of Game 7 against Cleveland. “Ray’s a great shooter,” said Hamilton, “You can’t sleep on him at any point in time of the game.” The question for Boston is whether or not Allen will turn around his poor shooting.  Another key in the series will be how well Rasheed Wallace handles Kevin Garnett. “Both have great respect for each other,” Saunders said. “The difference is that Rasheed has more of a perimeter, 3-point type of game where KG is more mid-range. Both have the ability to get down on the block and score, but they’re both reluctant to get down there. Both are great defensive players. Both can run the floor. They’re kind of clones of each other. Most of the time when we played Portland, when Sheed got the best of KG, they’d win. When KG got the best of Sheed, Minnesota would win. That’s a key matchup. If one of them can get on the other one, you have an opportunity for success for your team.” One matchup edge the Pistons hold is at the point where Chauncey Billups is a three-time All-Star and Rajon Rondo is a second-year player.  It could also be that Sam Cassell gets a lot of playing time for Boston in this series.

SBG Global Current Line: Celtics  - 4.5, Total  174

The home team has dominated in the playoffs but the Pistons know they can win in Boston.  They won in December 87-85 at Boston. “That’s a big plus for us, that we have won there … in a season that they pretty much won most of their home games, probably 30-something of them, but (Dec. 19) was one of their losses and we draw confidence from that,” Billups said. “Not only that, but we know we’re a great road team.” The Pistons rarely go into a series without the home court edge. “This will be a great, great challenge for us,” Billups said. “Starting out the series on the road, it’s been a long time since we’ve done that. So it will be a lot of great matchups out there. It’s going to be some great basketball. I’m excited for that.”

Here are the NBA betting stats for Tuesday’s game.  The Pistons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Atlantic. The Pistons are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall. The Pistons are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 playoff games as an underdog. The Pistons are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Tuesday games. The Pistons are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog. The Pistons are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 Conference Finals games. The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings between the two teams and the road team is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.

The Celtics are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games as a home favorite. The Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Conference Finals games. The Celtics are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. the Central.

The Under is 10-2 in the Pistons last 12 road games. The Under is 17-5-1 in the Pistons last 23 playoff games as an underdog. The Over is 12-4 in the Pistons last 16 Tuesday games. The Under is 5-2 in the Pistons last 7 vs. the Atlantic. The Under is 20-8-1 in the Pistons last 29 Conference Finals games. The Under is 42-18-1 in the Pistons last 61 games as a road underdog.

The Under is 4-1 in the Celtics last 5 Conference Finals games. The Under is 16-7 in the Celtics last 23 vs. the Central. The Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between the two teams and the Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Boston.

Pick: Still have to back the home team here: Celtics 4units

NBA Playoff Betting Preview
Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic (Pistons lead 2-0)
Wednesday, 8:05 pm Eastern – TNT

SBG Global Opening Line: Magic  - 3.5, Total  185.5

The Orlando Magic couldn’t quite pull off the upset in game two against the Detroit Pistons on Monday but they know it can be done.  They just need to avoid making mistakes and not panic.  They had their moments in Monday’s 100-93 loss at Detroit but could not handle the pressure late in the game. “We made some bad decisions and some tough shots down the stretch, and got away from playing the way that we had played when things were going well,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.  The Magic head home knowing they must win game #3 to get back in the series. SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Magic at Home.

The Magic just could not avoid turning the ball over in game two and it cost them the game.  They had 19 turnovers on Monday. “When you turn the ball over you aren’t giving yourself a chance, and we just have to do the little things like that, as well as not letting them get the offensive rebounds,” Orlando guard Jameer Nelson said. “There are just some things that we need to take care of. We have great competitors in this locker room that compete really hard, and we just turned the ball over.”  The Magic has lost nine straight playoff games to Detroit going back to 2003. Magic All-Star Dwight Howard had 22 points and 18 rebounds on Monday but it wasn’t enough.

The Pistons are happy they won their two home games but believe they can play better. “I thought we could have played a lot better. I thought that when had them down, we had a big lead, we didn’t kind of step on them,” Pistons guard Richard Hamilton said, “We went away from what got us there. I think we’ll do better next game.”

SBG Global Current Line: Magic  - 3.5, Total  186

Here are the NBA betting stats for Wednesday’s game.  The Pistons are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. the Southeast. The Pistons are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Pistons are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 Conference Semifinals games. The Pistons are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 playoff games as an underdog. The Pistons are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 Wednesday games. The

Pistons are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog. The Pistons are 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings in Orlando.

The Magic are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games. The Magic are 13-5-1 ATS in their last 19 games as a home favorite. The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings between the two teams.

The Under is 4-0 in the Pistons last 4 road games. The Under is 6-1 in the Pistons last 7 vs. the Southeast. The Under is 20-8-1 in the Pistons last 29 playoff games as an underdog. The Under is 9-4 in the Pistons last 13 Conference Semifinals games.

The Under is 6-1 in Orlando’s last 7 vs. the Central. The Over is 4-1 in Orlando’s last 5 playoff games as a favorite. The Under is 7-3 in Orlando’s last 10 games as a favorite. The Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings between the two teams.

Pick: Pistons +3.5 3units.

NBA Playoff Betting Preview
Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers (Pistons lead 3-2)
Thursday, 8:05 pm Eastern – TNT

SBG Global Opening Line: Pistons  - 5, Total 178

The Philadelphia 76ers will try and force a game seven in their series against the Detroit Pistons with a win on Thursday night. It may not be easy considering the 76ers have not played well in the last two games.  They collapsed in game #4 and were routed in game five. “I’ve believed in my players the whole season long and I’m not going to not believe in them now,” Philadelphia head coach Maurice Cheeks said. “We’ve done it before and we’ve been able to come back.”
SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Pistons on the Road.

Detroit does not want to let up and give the 76ers any hope. “You want to take care of things as quickly as possibly, because it can change quickly,” Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. “We’ve put together three solid halves, and we need to keep that up.” The winner of this series will face the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

SBG Global Current Line: Pistons  - 5.5, Total 178

Here are the NBA betting stats for Thursday’s game. The Pistons are 17-7-3 ATS in their last 27 Conference Quarterfinals games. The Pistons are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games as a road favorite. The Pistons are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games. The Pistons are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Philadelphia. The favorite is 15-7-1 ATS in the last 23 meetings between the two teams.

The 76ers are 6-13-3 ATS in their last 22 Conference Quarterfinals games. The 76ers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games. The 76ers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games. The 76ers are 5-14-1 ATS in their last 20 playoff games as an underdog.

The Under is 6-0 in the Pistons last 6 games as a road favorite. The Under is 14-4 in the Pistons last 18 vs. the Eastern Conference. The Under is 12-5 in the Pistons last 17 overall. The Over is 9-4 in the Pistons last 13 Conference Quarterfinals games.

The Under is 4-0 in the 76ers last 4 home games. The Under is 6-1 in the 76ers last 7 games as a home underdog. The Under is 5-2 in the 76ers last 7 Conference Quarterfinals games.

Pick: Pistons to take the series here in game 6 3units