I do have opinions on both games and will get to them as soon as I can but first....
Detroit @ Cleveland +4.5 / 190
I have seen several people already mentioning this
game, but it is a bit shaky. Trend players should be
all over the pistons in this one as the trends heavily
side with Detroit.
I always thought the Pistons were a bit over rated in
the early going as they just were beating up on sorry
teams, however not only have they played well against
some decent teams, they have done it on the road
posting outright victories at Charlotte, New York, and
Orlando. Then it should be no suprise as they have
played well on the road all year posting an ATS mark
of 8-1, with the only loss coming to Atlanta.
Cleveland has played well of late has they have won
four out of six straight up and ATS. They also had an
impressive win against the hornets last game as they
won outright as a 3 pont dog, however in the past this
has been a problem for them. In fact when they cover
the line by at least ten points in their previous game
they are just 2-9 su, and 1-10 ats. It gets worse.
Cleveland is only 2-9 su, and 2-8-1 against the number
as an underdog after a straight up win. And after a
win as a home underdog, yet they are still underdogs
in the next game? You guessed it, more bad news, they
are a woeful 0-10 su, and ats. In fact the last three
years, the cavs come off an upset win they are just
10-23 ats, last five years 18-38. I told you trend
players would love the pistons.
However there is another side to this coin. The
pistons are also coming off an impressive win in the
garden and are playing the last game on the road
before they go home to the palace.
Breaking the trends down on detroit also reveals some ugliness and in the same category as the cavs. The pistons coming off of an upset win are just 11-15 in the last three years, and in the last five they are 19-31. Also the head to head numbers have a bit of intrest to them as well. The Cavs are 10-9 su against the pistons since '96, and when the play in Cleveland that number jumps to 7-3 straight up, which is all you would need to get the money tonight.
Finally the Cavs get the services of Zydrunas Ilgauskas tonight, and this seven footer will be just what the doctor ordered for the cavs usually I will go against a team on the first night they get a returning player, but I don't think "Z" will have as much of an impact on the scoreboard as he does in the rebounding department. In the last four matchups between these two teams dating back to last year, the cavs have tied or outrebounded the pistons every game. Rebounding has been key for the pistons this year, when they get beat on the boards they often lose the game, and the first game against the hornets was a perfect example as they were outrebounded 45-18, and although the final score was not a good indicator of the game, the pistons lost 104-96.
The cavs should win in the board department and this game.
Two Unit Selection:
+5
Final Cleveland 101 Detroit 94
JT
Sneaks
[This message has been edited by JT Sneaks (edited 12-04-2001).]
Sneaks
