Los Angeles Clippers vs. Detroit Pistons Preview
Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills – Auburn Hills, Michigan
When: Friday, November 25, 2016, 7:30 PM ET
Line: Detroit Pistons (-6.5) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (+6.5); total: 201.5 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast:
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Betting on the Los Angeles Clippers (-6.5)
The Clippers are at it again. They are now at the top of the standings with a 14-2 record, while also being one of the most balanced units in the league. Through the first month of the season, the Clipps are the only team to be in the top three of both offensive and defensive ratings.
It was on full display Wednesday night, as they opened their six-game road trip with a bang. They dispatched the Mavericks with minimal effort in a 124-104 rout, so much so that the leading scorer is Austin Rivers, the leading rebounder is Mo Speights, and the player who played the most minutes is 36-year-old Jamal Crawford.
When stars Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan are playing like they are, that’s what you’ll simply do. Paul is again being the point laureate that he is, Griffin is still the point-getter (21.4 ppg), while also ranking second in assists (4.6 apg) among power forwards, and Jordan is the rebounding (12.1) and defensive anchor (1.6 bpg) that he’s always been. The trio, as usual, is the catalyst as to why the Clippers are plus 13 in points over their opponents (110.9 ppg to 97.1 ppg), along with holding them to a league-best 42.5-percent shooting.
Against the Pistons Thursday, they may play relaxed again, especially since they just thrashed them a couple of weeks ago by 32 points, 114-82.
The Clipps are perfect on the road this season (5-2 ATS).
Betting on the Detroit Pistons (+6.5)
Well, the Pistons are simply off to an underachieving start. They are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 7-9 card and a stagnant offense, as they are 26th in points per game and 21st in offensive rating.
Reggie Jackson’s absence (knee) is certainly playing a part in their struggles, but guys not stepping up to a level where they should be is also a reason. Although Andre Drummond is doing his part on the boards and on defense, he’s falling short on scoring. The projection was that he’d be in the high teens in points per game by now, and he’s still going at 14.9 ppg per night. Adding to that are his inconsistency in his field goals. He has five games this season wherein his shooting percentage are somewhere in the 30s, which is unbelievably awful for a big man.
The same goes with his teammates on the wing, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (14.3 ppg), Tobias Harris (16.3 ppg), and Marcus Morris (13.6 ppg). The scoring is there, but further improvement and assertiveness seems to be lacking.
In the blowout loss to the Clipps earlier in the month, every Piston had a quiet night, and the team only shot 36.5-percent from the field. We’ll see if they will be able shot better now that they’ll be playing at home.
The bright spot in the gloomy season is having a fourth-ranked defense. Then again, it’ll mean nothing if you can’t do something on offense.
The Pistons are 6-2 SU and ATS at home this season.
Writer’s Prediction
The Clippers (-6.5) win and showcase another defensive masterpiece.
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