Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons Free NBA ATS Spread Prediction, 2–23–2018
Free NBA Pick by Kurt T. Poway of Oddsboard.com
Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons
Friday, February 23rd, 7:00 pm EST
NBA Betting Prediction and Odds
NBA Odds: Pistons +1, O/U 205
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics embraced the NBA All-Star break with open arms. Despite losing three straight games heading into the break, the Celtics are currently positioned in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference playoff standings. Boston sits 2.0 games behind the Raptors in the NBA Atlantic Division and the overall playoff standings.
The Celtics’ dominant start to the season was built largely on the back of a league-best defense. However, in recent weeks their performance at that end of the floor has waned significantly. Their defensive rating for the season is still 2nd best in the league at 99.6, but in the past 15 games it is 104.3, in the last ten games it is 106.1. The Celtics are not an offensive powerhouse (103.1 PPG) so their biggest asset is stingy defense and their lack of defense has been a cause for concern in recent weeks.
All-Star PG Kyrie Irving leads the team with 24.7 points and five assists per game in his first year with the team. Al Horford will be a key player to this game matching up with Pistons’ PF Blake Griffin.
Celtics Betting Trends
- Celtics are 4–1 ATS in their last 5 road games
- Celtics are 34–16–2 ATS in their last 52 road games vs. a team with a winning home record
- Celtics are 1–4 ATS in their last 5 games overall
Detroit Pistons
Detroit snapped a three game slide by beating the Hawks at home before the All-Star break. The Pistons have some work to do in order to get back in the playoff picture: they enter this one 1.5 games behind the Heat for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons made a serious splash when they acquired Blake Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers leading up to the trade deadline and ushering out one of the top front courts in the NBA.
Andre Drummond (15 PPG, 15 RPG) and Blake Griffen (20 PPG, 8 RPG) lead this Detroit team on the offensive end. Defensively, the Pistons rank 8th in the league allowing 103.5 PPG. Blake Griffin will help this team with offensive production, which has been mediocre scoring on average 103.4 PPG.
Pistons Betting Trends
- Pistons are 10–1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600
- Pistons are 8–20 ATS in their last 28 games overall
- Pistons are 9–3 ATS in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600
Celtics vs Pistons Betting Prediction
These two teams are both playoff caliber basketball teams so expect a playoff-type atmosphere. This will be a closely fought game but Boston may not have the bigs to compete with Griffin and Drummond, just as Detroit will not have a counter to Kyrie Erving. Boston’s defense is not what it was earlier in the season, and though the Pistons are far from the most potent offensive unit in the league, they are looking solid at that end of the floor since the acquisition of Griffin. I think this Pistons team will begin to make a run towards the playoffs and it begins tonight.
Celtics vs Pistons Free NBA Pick: Pistons +1
