While the Mavericks are the most depressing NBA storyline this season, the Pistons have become perhaps the single most pleasant surprise. After winning a league-low 14 games last year, Detroit is 35-27 and headed toward one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history.
The betting market has not fully adjusted. The Pistons are 35-25-2 against the point spread (ATS), which ranks fourth best. That includes an 8-1 ATS run in their past nine games, and I don’t see any reason to think they slow down.
Detroit visits the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday as a small favorite. I am backing the Pistons, hoping to build on my 30-16 ATS record in The Post’s sports section.
The Clippers are spiraling, having lost six of their past seven games after Tuesday’s road loss to the Phoenix Suns. Compounding this is Norm Powell and Derrick Jones Jr. battling injuries that have forced them to miss action. Powell is unlikely to face the Pistons, while Jones is questionable. Additionally, health prevents Kawhi Leonard from playing on consecutive nights so he won’t play either.
This all leaves the Clippers as an average team, at best. James Harden is their main offensive weapon and he is as unreliable as they come. Center Ivica Zubac is solid and underrated, while role players Kris Dunn, Nicolas Batum, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Amir Coffey are all skilled but have low ceilings.
Meanwhile, this Pistons team is far more talented than casual fans realize. Rising star Cade Cunningham will be the best player on the court, and all the pieces fit extremely well around him. Additionally, the bench has been bolstered throughout the season and is no longer a weakness.
Betting on the NBA?
The Pistons have scored at least 112 points in 15 of their past 16 games. The outlier was a home game against the Clippers, who have a stout defense and rank fourth in efficiency. However, Detroit ranks ninth and the gap in offensive efficiency rankings heavily favors the Pistons. That’s the difference for me, especially with L.A. playing on consecutive nights and having to travel.
The play: Pistons -1.5 (-110, DraftKings)
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