NBA
Saturday, April 18
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tips and Trends
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers [ABC | 3:05 PM ET]
Pistons: "It's going to be a good challenge," Pistons center Rasheed Wallace said. "They've got a pretty good record, a pretty good home record and I know they are feeling themselves right now. "So I guess it's going to be like David vs. Goliath." The Pistons only broke 90 points once this season against the Cavs, who were the league's stingiest defensive team, holding opponents to 91.4 points per game. Detroit averaged just 81 and shot only 41 percent against Cleveland. Scoring has been a problem all season for the Pistons, who never recovered from the trade that sent Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson.
The Pistons are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU loss.
The Under is 29-6 in the last 35 meetings.
Key Injuries - G Allen Iverson (back) is OUT for the season.
PROJECTED SCORE: 79
Cavaliers (-12, O/U 175): "They have a lot of experience," Cleveland center Zydrunas Ilgauskas said of Detroit. "They've been in the playoffs. They are a dangerous team. It won't be easy. We expect a tough series." Cleveland took the season series 3-1, winning the most recent matchup 79-73 at home on March 31. That game was like most between the defensive-minded teams in recent years - tight, tough and tense where open shots are rare and one scoring run can be all it takes to win. "We know their personnel. We know what they like to do," Ilgauskas said. "When they call a play, we already know what it's going to be."
The Cavaliers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 playoff games as a favorite.
The Favorite is 8-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings.
Key Injuries - F Ben Wallace (knee) is DOUBTFUL
PROJECTED SCORE: 91 (UNDER - Total Play of the Day)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, April 18
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tips and Trends
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers [ABC | 3:05 PM ET]
Pistons: "It's going to be a good challenge," Pistons center Rasheed Wallace said. "They've got a pretty good record, a pretty good home record and I know they are feeling themselves right now. "So I guess it's going to be like David vs. Goliath." The Pistons only broke 90 points once this season against the Cavs, who were the league's stingiest defensive team, holding opponents to 91.4 points per game. Detroit averaged just 81 and shot only 41 percent against Cleveland. Scoring has been a problem all season for the Pistons, who never recovered from the trade that sent Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson.
The Pistons are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU loss.
The Under is 29-6 in the last 35 meetings.
Key Injuries - G Allen Iverson (back) is OUT for the season.
PROJECTED SCORE: 79
Cavaliers (-12, O/U 175): "They have a lot of experience," Cleveland center Zydrunas Ilgauskas said of Detroit. "They've been in the playoffs. They are a dangerous team. It won't be easy. We expect a tough series." Cleveland took the season series 3-1, winning the most recent matchup 79-73 at home on March 31. That game was like most between the defensive-minded teams in recent years - tight, tough and tense where open shots are rare and one scoring run can be all it takes to win. "We know their personnel. We know what they like to do," Ilgauskas said. "When they call a play, we already know what it's going to be."
The Cavaliers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 playoff games as a favorite.
The Favorite is 8-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings.
Key Injuries - F Ben Wallace (knee) is DOUBTFUL
PROJECTED SCORE: 91 (UNDER - Total Play of the Day)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comment