It’s do or die for the Detroit Pistons tonight when they host Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Boston Celtics. Boston leads the best of seven series 3-2 and good news for Boston is that Detroit’s leading scorer, Richard Hamilton, is listed as questionable for tonight’s game. Oddsmakers at SBGglobal.com have Detroit as 5 ½ point favs over Boston with the over/under listed at 175. Get your NBA Playoff Prediction in now at SBGglobal.com
Detroit’s Richard Hamilton strained his elbow late in Game 5 and is now questionable for tonights must win home game. "It's sore right now," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said of Hamilton's elbow. "We're going to have to wait and see how it is tomorrow, wait and see how it is in 48 hours. Hamilton managed to score 25pts before leaving the game in the final minute of play. Chauncey Billups finished with 26pts while Rasheed Wallace added 18pts. They came within one point with under 10 seconds left but they just couldn’t getter done. As a team they shot 46% from the field, 52% from downtown and 76% at the line. They are 6-2 SU at home in the playoffs where they’ve averaged 98 PPG. They give up an average 87 PPG at home. The Pistons have to find a way to stop Ray Allen and prevent Kendrick Perkins from driving to the hoop. Rasheed received his sixth technical foul last game and one more tonight and he’s suspended for Game 7, if there is one.
The Celtics got their first road win of the playoffs, in Detroit, and they know they can do it again. The Celtics are 1-7 SU on the road in the playoffs where they’ve averaged 98 PPG. They allow an average 92 PPG on the road. Kevin Garnett finished last game with 33pts with most of them coming from the field and the free throw line. Ray Allen had a much improved night making 5 of 6 from downtown and 6 of 6 from the line for 29pts. Kendrick Perkins was the most dominant and most improved player on the Celtics, he hit 8 of 11 from the field and 2 for 2 from the line. Boston dominated the boards by a 42-25 margin. If Boston’s big three shoot above 50% they will be a force to reckon with. They’ve averaged 92 PPG in the last five games and they’ve given up a low 91 PPG. Even though the Celtics have the cushion of another home game, coach Doc Rivers wants his team to play with a sense of urgency. "We don't want to go to a Game 7," Rivers said. "We want to win this now if we can. They're not going to let us win it. We're going to have to come in and take it.
Recent Trends to Consider
- Celtics are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Detroit.
- Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5
- Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Detroit.
- Under is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.
- Underdog is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
- Road team is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
GAME: Boston Celtics (77-24) at Detroit Pistons (69-29)
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 30 – 8:30 PM EST
LINE: SBGglobal.com TOTAL: 175
PICK: Boston +5 ½
The Bottom Line: It all boils down to if Richard Hamilton is able to play. The Last road game Boston played in Detroit was a Celtics blowout, they know they can win there and they will again tonight. Get your NBA Playoff Prediction in now at SBGglobal.com and receive a 30% sign-up bonus on your initial deposit.
