The Pistons finished the regular season at 60-22 to earn the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. It is the third best record in franchise history. Yet they are only the fourth-best betting favorites to win the East. In fact at +2200, they are only the eighth-best favorite to win the title.
Clearly, their tough defensive style does not translate to the bettors that they are a serious threat in the playoffs. Will they use this as motivation. Or will they fold in the playoffs, which usually features more defense, which would put pressure on an already-suspect ability to make shots, especially from deep?
How far do you think the Pistons go this year?
Lose in quarters to the Orlando Magic
Lose in semi’s to either the Cavs or Raptors
Lose in ECF, probably to either Boston or NY
Win the Eastern Conference, lose to the West champ
We beat Orlando in 4/5, and I think we beat Cleveland in 7. That’ll be a tough series.
My heart says we beat Boston but my head says there’s more of a chance we lose that series. That said, I think we do have a very good realistic shot of beating Boston. I just think that expecting us to go to the Finals is setting myself up for disappointment.
If everyone stays healthy and we play anyone other than San Antonio in the Finals, we have a very real shot to win the championship. I think we could beat OKC.
I like that analysis alot. I agree SA is our kryptonite. Hopefully, Denver upsets them or gives them such a hard time that OKC is too much for them. I like our chances against the Knicks rather than Boston. In the East, not only do the Knicks have a very good shot against Boston, but the Raps have a very good shot against Cleveland. The matchups set up pretty well for us.
So I agree, we lose on the finals to SA, but beat anyone else. And we may get the Knicks rather than the Celtics in the ECF, who we will beat.
I think Denver or SA give the pistons the most trouble (Listen, Jokic is Jokic hes a demon), would say OKC vs Pistons is a toss up though in OKC’s favor slightly.
Pistons absolutely can make it to the finals, i think they beat orlando and one of Cleveland/Toronto, then its gonna be a series against the celtics. if its the Knicks, i think we are favored tbh.
I’m a Cavs fan and so I voted with you, haha. But I don’t think Cleveland is very good. They were really good for a bit but they stopped moving the ball on offense. It’s too much iso now. Defensively they give the offense anything they want. They don’t fight through screens. One screen and they auto switch allowing for a mismatch on defense. Toronto exploited this very well. Pistons have more offensive threats than Toronto did. Plus Mitchell and Harden are pretty pathetic in the playoffs.
So, entering the playoffs we were 8th best odds to win the NBA title at +2200. We now have the fourth best odds - but the odds are still pretty long – +1700. The Knicks are +850, and the Cavs are +2500. OKC and SA are favorites.
To me the Cavs are better than the Knicks (except for the last two games), but apparently few people think so.
For the Eastern Conference,
the Knicks are +110
we are +265
and the Cavs are +340.
