Pistons at 76ers Free Saturday Play

On March 12, 2016, in Free Picks, NBA, by Stephen

Pistons minus 9 1/2 at 76ers

Both teams played last night. The 76ers halted a 13-game losing streak beating the lowly Nets at home.. The Pistons were blown out on the road by the Hornets, the hottest team in the NBA.

Look for the Pistons to bounce back in big fashion today. Detroit has covered the past five times when playing with zero rest. The 76ers are 3-7 ATS the past 10 times they’ve played without rest and are 4-10 ATS following one of their rare victories.

Detroit is battling for a playoff spot. Fiery Stan Van Gundy isn’t going to have his team take the 76ers, losers of 56 of 65 games, lightly especially being on the road. The Pistons had been playing well prior to meeting up with the Hornets, winners of six in a row. Detroit was 6-2 going into last night and coming off a 20-point home victory against the Trail Blazers and a six-point road win versus the Mavericks.

The Pistons improved themselves prior to the trade deadline picking up Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris. Reggie Jackson gives the Pistons a point guard edge here against the 76ers and they have a big advantage in the middle with All-Star Andre Drummond, who should be fired up after an off-game against the Hornets in which he encountered foul trouble. Detroit also has a huge edge in bench strength as forward Anthony Tolliver and guard Stanley Johnson returned from injuries last night.

Those two aren’t aren’t exactly All-Stars, but the 76ers have one of the weakest benches in the league and lost three players in last night’s win against Brooklyn further depleting their lack of depth. Already without leading scorer center Jahlil Okafor for the season, the 76ers lost both of their starting forwards, Robert Covington and Jerami Grant – on a single play. Covington, the 76ers’ third-leading scorer, suffered a possible neck injury leaving the game by ambulance. Grant was being evaluated for a concussion. Backup forward Richaun Holmes was hurt, too, exiting with a strained right Achilles.

So not only are the 76ers in a rare letdown spot, but their focus and concentration have to be compromised, too, worried about the health of Covington and Grant. Unless they play at least a high “B” game, the 76ers can’t compete with a playoff-caliber team such as the Pistons. I see the 76ers being flat while the Pistons take care of business.

 

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