Free NBA Playoff Pick: Detroit Pistons -5.0 (-110)
Thu May 1 ‘08 8:00p - Click Here for NBA Playoff Betting Odds
The Detroit Pistons have brought their “A” game vs. the Philadelphia 76ers since the second half of Game 4, and we look for them to wrap things up vs. the pesky Sixers with a handy win tonight. The Pistons overcame a 10-point halftime deficit here in Philadelphia by outscoring the 76ers 57-38 in the second half of Game 4, and they followed that up with a 17-point home win in Game 5. Detroit has a huge advantage in playoff experience here and they have won many road playoff games in the past, so look for their smothering defense to propel them to the next round here. The Sixers took Detroit by surprise in Game 1 and again in the first game in Philadelphia, but even with those two victories, they are still only averaging 87.6 points per game in this series. Furthermore, their scoring output has decreased as the Pistons have turned up the Heat, as they scored a series-low 81 points on Tuesday. Philadelphia may be hard-pressed to reach just 80 points tonight, paving the way for a Pistons matchup with the Orlando Magic in the Conference Semifinals.NBA Free Pick: Pistons -5 - Click Here to Buy LT Profits Expert NBA Basketball Picks

Free NBA Pick: Detroit Pistons -5.5
Thu May 1 ‘08 8:00p
The Pistons faced two closeout situations on the road in the playoffs last year. In the first round, they swept the Magic out of the playoffs, winning Game 4 on the road. In the second round, after failing to sweep Chicago after taking a 3-0 series lead, letting the Bulls get back into it with a Game 4 win and a Game 5 upset in Detroit, the Pistons went back to Chi-town and beat up the Bulls in Game 6, again winning their closeout game on the highway.

In ’06, Detroit closed out on the road in their first round series against Milwaukee, notching a ten point win at the Bradley Center. They also won a crucial Game 6 at Cleveland after trailing that series 3-2. In ’05, after losing a home game and one at Indiana, the Pistons finished the series with three straight wins, including a Game 6 closeout at Indy. After trailing the Heat in the second round by a 3-2 margin, they won the last two in the series, including a closeout Game 7 win on the road at Miami. In the Finals, trailing 3-2, they won Game 6 at San Antonio and nearly pulled off the Game 7 road upset in Larry Brown’s last game with the team. I think you get my point. The veteran Pistons, with essentially the same cast of characters as they’ve had in each of those previous playoff series, have repeatedly and consistently closed out series in Game 6 on the highway. When Detroit is clicking, their defense is championship caliber. They don’t give up open looks on the perimeter. They don’t give up anything in the paint, and don’t allow opposing point guards to drive and dish to open shooters. They dominate the defensive glass and don’t allow second chance opportunities. They don’t give up easy buckets in transition.

Offensively, when the Pistons are clicking, their ball movement is phenomenal, as is their balance, with everybody chipping in. Flip Saunders has painstakingly developed a tremendous bench throughout the season, and you don’t see any significant drop-off on either end of the court with the reserves in action. Put it all together and we can expect Detroit to close out this series in pointspread covering fashion tonight. Take the Pistons. - Courtesy of Ted Sevransky - Visit Touthouse.com to Buy Teddy Cover’s Expert Picks