If the Detroit Pistons plan on preserving their home court advantage through the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs, they can’t slip up against weaker teams like tonight’s opponent, the Indiana Pacers. If the Pacers hope to pass the Orlando Magic, and slip into the final Eastern Conference eighth and final playoff spot, they must win and hope the visiting Pistons execute a “mail it in performance.” That is unlikely since the Pistons still have incentive to bring their A-game. The Cleveland Cavaliers are breathing down their necks as the second best team in the East only 3 ½ games back while the third place Chicago Bulls are only four games back with nine games to go in the regular season.
The current playoffs picture in the East has the Pacers on the outside looking in, sitting in the ninth spot but only 1 ½ games behind the Magic. The Pacers really stepped it up against the Spurs at home on Sunday winning the game straight up 100-99 as a +8.0-point home underdog. Tonight the Pacers find themselves home dogs again by a +5 ½ point chalk to the Pistons. Oddsmakers set the game total at 182 ½.
Detroit has won four out of its last five games SU while covering three-of-five ATS. The total has gone OVER in four of the last five Piston’s games. The recent trend in Pacers games has been to lose both SU and ATS. The Pacers have lost four of their last five games SU and failed to cash for backers by going 1-4 of their last five games. The total went OVER in three of their last five games.
The betting public is riding the Pistons hard with 93 per cent of the side money going their way while 99 per cent of the money line bets are on the Pistons. The betting trend in totals betting favors the OVER with 87 per cent of the wagers.
I am going to buck the public in this game just as I did on Sunday with my Pacers pick. The Pacers are playing for their playoff lives and can almost touch that eighth playoff spot. I like the Pacers at home + 5 ½.
