Bet This NBA Parlay at +273 odds on Thursday
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Detroit Pistons
Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit
Odds
Tonight, Philadelphia is favored by around 10 or 11 points, depending on the sportsbook, in Detroit.
These teams last played in Detroit way earlier in the season, in the first half of November.
For that game, the 76ers were favored by 4.5
In order to bet on the 76ers, we need to find a plausible justification for favoring them by so many more points this time.
Improved Team
But I don't think it's reasonable to favor Philadelphia so heavily tonight.
Detroit is not at all the team that it was earlier in the season.
It may look bad because of its straight-up loss total.
However, especially for a team like Detroit, one needs to recognize the possibility of there easily being a large gap between its SU and ATS win probabilities.
Competitive
While Detroit regularly loses straight-up, its losses are consistently competitive.
In its last game, Detroit lost as it took a superstar-led Net squad to come from behind.
The Pistons lost that game by seven. Their previous losses were by: two, three, four, four, and the list continues.
They have not lost a game by double digits since February 11. Of course, they also won some of the games that they did not lose by double digits.
It's almost too good to be true: the Pistons are improving on the court while securing their NBA lottery draft chances.
While it's easy to be conspiratorial, it's likely true that the Pistons are a pretty good team that is simply learning how to win.
By making them double digit underdogs at home, oddsmakers imply, however, that Detroit is a horrible team, which it rather was earlier in the season.
Saddiq Bey
One reason for the improved play of Detroit is Saddiq Bey overcoming his abysmal start to the season.
After mustering 11.2 points per game in the first full month of the season, Bey has produced 17.7 points per game in March.
Bey is developing his bully ball techniques, which he can employ to overpower smaller defenders inside the arc.
He also has a mid-range step-back jumper in his arsenal that can be pretty sick.
Cade Cunningham
The most important reason for Detroit's overall improvement is the improved play of former top draft pick Cade Cunningham, who, after a slow start to his career and an injured ankle that limited him in the start of this season, is really coming into his own.
Cunningham isn't, perhaps, the most athletic guy. But he ably gets past his man en route to the basket by using a variety of deceptive techniques.
He'll execute a ball-fake, for example, or he'll act like he's stepping back in order to draw the defender closer to him so that he may more easily blow by him.
When inside the paint, he is big and strong enough to body other guards and even wings.
With a strong handle, he easily plays at his own pace.
Vulnerable Rim Protection
Cunningham's success is important to his team's overall success.
He'll succeed by ably driving to the basket where the Pistons are rather inclined to do most of their scoring.
In terms of limiting opposing attempts and opposing efficiency, Philadelphia's rim protection is mediocre.
Mediocrity, however, does not justify being favored by double digits.
Philadelphia's Share of Scoring
The 76ers love the mid-range. They try to shoot a lot from the 5-14 foot range from the basket.
In terms of opposing field goal percentage, Detroit is one of the worst teams at limiting opponents from this distance.
Specifically, Joel Embiid has been developing a mid-range component to his arsenal, which is something crafty guard Tyrese Maxey has always been known to have.
These advantages will help both teams extend their 4-1 and 8-2 "over" runs in games against each other.
Expect a high-scoring game but one that, again for Detroit, remains competitive.
Best Bet: Parlay Pistons +10.5 at -105 & Over 223 at -110 at +273 odds with BetOnline
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Detroit Pistons
Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit
Odds
Tonight, Philadelphia is favored by around 10 or 11 points, depending on the sportsbook, in Detroit.
These teams last played in Detroit way earlier in the season, in the first half of November.
For that game, the 76ers were favored by 4.5
In order to bet on the 76ers, we need to find a plausible justification for favoring them by so many more points this time.
Improved Team
But I don't think it's reasonable to favor Philadelphia so heavily tonight.
Detroit is not at all the team that it was earlier in the season.
It may look bad because of its straight-up loss total.
However, especially for a team like Detroit, one needs to recognize the possibility of there easily being a large gap between its SU and ATS win probabilities.
Competitive
While Detroit regularly loses straight-up, its losses are consistently competitive.
In its last game, Detroit lost as it took a superstar-led Net squad to come from behind.
The Pistons lost that game by seven. Their previous losses were by: two, three, four, four, and the list continues.
They have not lost a game by double digits since February 11. Of course, they also won some of the games that they did not lose by double digits.
It's almost too good to be true: the Pistons are improving on the court while securing their NBA lottery draft chances.
While it's easy to be conspiratorial, it's likely true that the Pistons are a pretty good team that is simply learning how to win.
By making them double digit underdogs at home, oddsmakers imply, however, that Detroit is a horrible team, which it rather was earlier in the season.
Saddiq Bey
One reason for the improved play of Detroit is Saddiq Bey overcoming his abysmal start to the season.
After mustering 11.2 points per game in the first full month of the season, Bey has produced 17.7 points per game in March.
Bey is developing his bully ball techniques, which he can employ to overpower smaller defenders inside the arc.
He also has a mid-range step-back jumper in his arsenal that can be pretty sick.
Cade Cunningham
The most important reason for Detroit's overall improvement is the improved play of former top draft pick Cade Cunningham, who, after a slow start to his career and an injured ankle that limited him in the start of this season, is really coming into his own.
Cunningham isn't, perhaps, the most athletic guy. But he ably gets past his man en route to the basket by using a variety of deceptive techniques.
He'll execute a ball-fake, for example, or he'll act like he's stepping back in order to draw the defender closer to him so that he may more easily blow by him.
When inside the paint, he is big and strong enough to body other guards and even wings.
With a strong handle, he easily plays at his own pace.
Vulnerable Rim Protection
Cunningham's success is important to his team's overall success.
He'll succeed by ably driving to the basket where the Pistons are rather inclined to do most of their scoring.
In terms of limiting opposing attempts and opposing efficiency, Philadelphia's rim protection is mediocre.
Mediocrity, however, does not justify being favored by double digits.
Philadelphia's Share of Scoring
The 76ers love the mid-range. They try to shoot a lot from the 5-14 foot range from the basket.
In terms of opposing field goal percentage, Detroit is one of the worst teams at limiting opponents from this distance.
Specifically, Joel Embiid has been developing a mid-range component to his arsenal, which is something crafty guard Tyrese Maxey has always been known to have.
These advantages will help both teams extend their 4-1 and 8-2 "over" runs in games against each other.
Expect a high-scoring game but one that, again for Detroit, remains competitive.
Best Bet: Parlay Pistons +10.5 at -105 & Over 223 at -110 at +273 odds with BetOnline
