Sports betting darling Detroit should be able to hold off Cleveland in a division that always offers many wagering opportunities. Straight up (SU), against the spread (ATS), and over/under (O/U) records for the 2006/07 season are in parentheses:
DETROIT PISTONS (69-30 SU, 57-42 ATS, 42-54-3 O/U): The Pistons have a new coach in Michael Curry but the same aging, though highly effective, lineup that won the division a year ago. Richard Hamilton (17.3 PPG) and Chauncey Billups (17.0 PPG) are the old hands in the backcourt with Tayshaun Prince (13.2 PPG), Rasheed Wallace (12.7 PPG) and Antonio McDyess (8.8 PPG, 8.5 RPG) up front. The bench is young and, as always, defense should carry Detroit to another playoff run.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 30-18
Home Underdog: 0-1
Away Favorite: 16-14
Away Underdog: 10-8
Sportsbook Buster: The Pistons were 19-10 ATS in games following a SU defeat last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Detroit was 1-7 ATS when playing on three or more days rest last year
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (52-43 SU, 47-48 ATS, 42-52-1 O/U): The Cavaliers are still Batman without Robin as superstar LeBron James will have to shoulder the load if Cleveland is to return to the NBA Finals again. James (30.0 PPB, 7.9 RPG, 7.2 APG) may be the league’s most complete player but the supporting cast of Zydrunas Ilgauskas (14.1 PPG), Wally Szczerbiak (11.5 PPG), Daniel Gibson (10.4 PPG), Ben Wallace (8.4 RPG), Joe Smith (10.1 PPG) and Delonte West (8.3 PPG) offers more depth than excellence. As LeBron goes, so go the Cavaliers.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 18-20
Home Underdog: 2-6
Away Favorite: 7-7
Away Underdog: 20-14
Sportsbook Buster: The Cavaliers were 10-3 ATS during last year’s playoffs.
Sports Betting Angle: The “under” was 28-18-1 in Cleveland home games last season.
CHICAGO BULLS (33-49 SU, 36-46 ATS, 41-38-3 O/U): Coming off a disappointing season in which they slipped from 49 to 33 victories, it’s difficult to know when Chicago will be more Bulls or more bull**** this year. The talent, led by Ben Gordon (18.6 PPG), Luol Deng (17.0 PPG) is there but the team still is very young—-10 players have three years experience or less—-and it’s tough to see this outfit threatening the Pistons or Cavaliers, though a playoff berth in the weaker Eastern Conference remains a possibility.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 10-15
Home Underdog: 7-9
Away Favorite: 6-4
Away Underdog: 12-18
Sportsbook Buster: The Bulls were 4-14 ATS versus teams from the Atlantic Division last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Chicago was 19-27 as an underdog last year.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS (26-56 SU, 36-46 ATS, 46-35-1 O/U): After winning just 26 games last season new Bucks Coach Scott Skiles is looking for a quick turnaround, led by his dynamic duo of Michael Redd (22.7 PPG) and Richard Jefferson (22.6 PPG). Mo Williams (17.2 PPG) joins Redd in the backcourt while Andrew Bogut (14.3 PPG, 9.8 RPG) continues to improve in the paint. Top pick Joe Alexander will push Charlie Villanueva (11.7 PPG) for playing time up front. Milwaukee has an upside that could make the Bucks a good wagering proposition this season.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 5-11
Home Underdog: 14-10
Away Favorite: 0-2
Away Underdog: 16-22
Sportsbook Buster: The Bucks were 3-15 ATS versus teams from the Atlantic Division last season.
Sports Betting Angle: Milwaukee was 5-13 as a favorite last year.
INDIANA PACERS (36-46 SU, 38-42-2 ATS, 42-38-2 O/U): The Pacers have some talent with swingmen Danny Granger (19.6 PPG) and Mike Dunleavy (19.1 PPG) and pointguard T.J. Ford (6.1 APG) but look for rookies Roy Hibbert and Brandon Rush to get a long look-see as Indiana begins the rebuilding process in the post Jermaine O’Neal era. The Pacers should be a lot better next year than they are this year.
By the Numbers (2007/08 Season)
Home Favorite: 14-9-1
Home Underdog: 6-10
Away Favorite: 2-2
Away Underdog: 15-19-1
Sportsbook Buster: The Pacers were 21-29-1 as an underdog last season.
Sports Betting Angle: The “over” was 19-10-1 when Indiana played teams from the Western Conference last year.
