The class of the Eastern Conference meets tonight in Boston when the Detroit Pistons visit the Celtics (who are 5-point favorites on WagerWeb.com), and while most NBA regular-season games are meaningless, this one could have a huge impact on the playoffs.
Boston and Detroit have had not just the East's but the NBA's league's best records for most of the season, and if things hold, they would meet again in the Eastern Conference finals; this game is the rubber match and could well determine homecourt advantage (Boston currently holds a three-game lead over Detroit).
"You know what?" inquires Joe Dumars, the president of basketball operations for the Pistons. "It would be disingenuous for any player to say that when the two top teams in the conference play each other, it is not a significant game. It is a significant game, because this is a game where you are gauging yourself."
A quick recap of the first two matchups this year: Detroit knocked off a 20-2 Celtics team, then undefeated at home, back on Dec. 19 when Chauncey Billups hit two game-winning free throws one-10th of a second left in an 87-85 Detroit triumph. Billups had a game-high 28 points in the game. Fifteen days later, the Celtics defeated Detroit in Auburn Hills, 92-85, as rookie Glen "Big Baby" Davis scored an unexpected 20 points during a comeback triumph.
Billups is averaging 22.5 points and 7.0 assists against Boston this season. Richard Hamilton is averaging 19.5 points, while Rasheed Wallace is averaging 12.5 points and 10.5 rebounds against the Celtics.
The Pistons come in tonight winners of 15 of 18, with the second-best road record in the East at 21-11 and winners of four straight and seven of their last eight in Boston, but Boston has won five in a row overall and eight consecutive at home and is 26-4 at home this season.The Pistons and Celtics rank 1-2 in the league in scoring defense, allowing 90.2 and 90.6 points per game, respectively.
"People are expecting that to be the Eastern Conference finals matchup," Boston's Kevin Garnett
Garnett is averaging 20.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games vs. the Pistons this season, while Ray Allen is averaging 16.5 points and Paul Pierce 15.
Newly acquired Sam Cassell won't be on the court for the Celtics tonight. The veteran point guard is headed to Baltimore to attend the funeral of a family member and won't be available Wednesday, but he is expected to be play Friday against Chicago. The 38-year-old Cassell averaged 12.8 points this season for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Meanwhile, Detroit also made a late-season acquisition, signing center Theo Ratliff. The 13-year veteran was released Friday by Minnesota to pursue opportunities with a contender.
Ratliff will provide depth in the frontcourt behind Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess. Coach Flip Saunders said that Ratliff could play Wednesday.
said. "It should be a fun game."
ATS | Detroit | Boston |
| Record: | 44-16-0 (.733) | 46-12-0 (.793) |
| As Favorite: | 39-12-0 (.765) | 42-9-0 (.824) |
| As Underdog: | 5-4-0 (.556) | 4-3-0 (.571) |
| At Home: | 23-5-0 (.821) | 26-4-0 (.867) |
| On Road: | 21-11-0 (.656) | 20-8-0 (.714) |
Bet on the NBA at WagerWeb.com
No comments:
Post a Comment