NBA: Buy or Sell on Two Central Division Teams Tonight
Other than the Cleveland Cavaliers, the rest of the Central Division is about as interesting as reading the nutritional value of Cocoa Crispies.
2009-01-23
Other than the Cleveland Cavaliers, the rest of the Central Division is about as interesting as reading the nutritional value of Cocoa Crispies. For sports bettors, this division may not the race of say the Northwest or Southwest Divisions or flat out dreadful teams as the West, but as long as they have a number posted next to their name and provide a chance for us to win that is good enough. This evening we’ll determine if Detroit or Milwaukee is a buy or sell prospect.
If you asked most NBA fans who is the coach of the Detroit Pistons (24-17), they would probably hesitate before attempting to formulate an answer. Most fans would know the Pistons are still playing good defense, ranked fourth in points allowed at 92.7 points per game and many of the main players from their most recent championship in 2004 are still there, just older. Michael Curry is the man in charge of trying to restore Detroit among the NBA elite and he has a rough job.
In many ways the Pistons are like a Ford Taurus, once very popular among the common people, but now have a few nicks and dents, the color slightly faded, as the miles are taking their toll, though it still performs a service . Familiar names like Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and Tayshaun Prince are stilling roaming the court, just not with the same speed and skill as before.
After suffering five consecutive losses, Detroit was won two in a row and will look to improve upon 13-7 home record. The Pistons have been a decrepit wager at home at 7-13 ATS, with a scoring margin differential of only +2.1 telling the story. Detroit is at their best when the defense is playing well and after surrendering just 154 total points in last two games, they are 12-1 ATS after allowing 85 points or less in consecutive contests.
Sportsbook.com has the Pistons as a standard four-point favorite with total of 182 against Dallas, who was humiliated 133-99 in Milwaukee, two nights ago. The Mavericks are .500 on the road with a 13-9 ATS record and are 11-3 ATS as a visitor after playing a game as favorite. This might be the time to “sell” on Detroit, as most NBA teams can take losing, however they don’t like being embarrassed. With the Pistons a soft home favorite all season, consider going against them on this 7 Eastern contest on ESPN.
The Milwaukee Bucks (21-24) are a little bit like Wal-Mart these days to oddsmakers, being a category-killer of sorts. Milwaukee is the fourth best bet in the NBA at 27-16-2 against the spread and they rank fifth in playing over the total in the league at 26-19.
The Bucks were unbelievable at home versus Dallas in winning by 34 points. In the middle quarters they shot 83 and 74 percent, in totaling 79 points, ending two game losing streak. Tonight they travel to Atlanta, a place where they have not had much joy lately with four losses in a row (1-3 ATS). Milwaukee does have some positives coming in, like being 12-4 ATS off a home game and 18-8 ATS after last encounter if they were in underdog role.
The Bucks are 4.5-point underdogs to Atlanta who is fighting through being down two starters in Al Horford and Marvin Williams. After losing five of seven, the Hawks have bounced back with a pair of wins and are 11-3 ATS if their opponent scored 100 or more points in last game. Milwaukee has rarely shown the ability to put two hot shooting games together with 2-11 ATS mark after a game where they made 12 or more 3-point shots. This is expected to be close call; however the “sell” seems the most appropriate investment on coach Scott Skiles Bucks tonight.
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