How To Bet On Detroit Pistons

In the land of betting on fringe playoff teams, the Detroit Pistons reign supreme. They're an interesting case study in analyzing a team that has the potential to beat almost anyone while, at the same time, siring the uncertainty of a contingent that can be beaten by anyone. Does this scare you? It should—unless you're prepared to take a good, hard look at Detroit. However, the Pistons have a good starting lineup, both on paper and on the hardwood. [+]

But if you don't do your homework and instead choose to read too much into records and miniature hot and cold streaks, you're going to get burned.

Detroit Pistons Next Game

Here is where you can find which team the Pistons will be matching up with next. [+]

Though it's important to maintain a broad focus when betting on the NBA, it's equally imperative that you do your due diligence. This will help narrow your focus and get the necessary lowdown on Detroit's next opponent in advance of your wager.

My Team's Next MatchDetroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons Regular Season Schedule

Now, about that broad-betting focus...This is the Pistons' regular-season schedule. Study opponents and plan bets ahead of time whenever possible. Lines for games can sometimes be dropped well in advance, and the earlier you get in on them, the more money you have a chance to win.

Results / FixturesDetroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons Standings

Also be sure to bookmark the Pistons' standing within the Eastern Conference. This helps you understand how good potential opponents are playing in any given season, and it directly shapes how you should approach round-by-round playoff betting. [+]

More than that, it's never not important to know where a team you're betting on or against stands relative to the rest of its conference.

NBA
NBA
# team P W L + - %
Regular Eastern Conference
1 Milwaukee Bucks Milwaukee Bucks 82 60 22 9686 8959 0.732
2 Toronto Raptors Toronto Raptors 82 58 24 9384 8885 0.707
3 Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 76ers 82 51 31 9445 9224 0.622
4 Boston Celtics Boston Celtics 82 49 33 9216 8852 0.598
5 Indiana Pacers Indiana Pacers 82 48 34 8857 8584 0.585
6 Brooklyn Nets Brooklyn Nets 82 42 40 9204 9210 0.512
7 Orlando Magic Orlando Magic 82 42 40 8800 8742 0.512
8 Detroit Pistons Detroit Pistons 82 41 41 8778 8798 0.500
9 Charlotte Hornets Charlotte Hornets 82 39 43 9081 9171 0.476
10 Miami Heat Miami Heat 82 39 43 8668 8687 0.476
11 Washington Wizards Washington Wizards 82 32 50 9350 9588 0.390
12 Atlanta Hawks Atlanta Hawks 82 29 53 9294 9788 0.354
13 Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls 82 22 60 8605 9295 0.268
14 Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers 82 19 63 8567 9355 0.232
15 New York Knicks New York Knicks 82 17 65 8575 9330 0.207
Regular Eastern Conference Central
1 Milwaukee Bucks Milwaukee Bucks 82 60 22 9686 8959 0.732
2 Indiana Pacers Indiana Pacers 82 48 34 8857 8584 0.585
3 Detroit Pistons Detroit Pistons 82 41 41 8778 8798 0.500
4 Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls 82 22 60 8605 9295 0.268
5 Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers 82 19 63 8567 9355 0.232
Regular Eastern Conference Atlantic
1 Toronto Raptors Toronto Raptors 82 58 24 9384 8885 0.707
2 Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 76ers 82 51 31 9445 9224 0.622
3 Boston Celtics Boston Celtics 82 49 33 9216 8852 0.598
4 Brooklyn Nets Brooklyn Nets 82 42 40 9204 9210 0.512
5 New York Knicks New York Knicks 82 17 65 8575 9330 0.207
Regular Eastern Conference Southeast
1 Orlando Magic Orlando Magic 82 42 40 8800 8742 0.512
2 Charlotte Hornets Charlotte Hornets 82 39 43 9081 9171 0.476
3 Miami Heat Miami Heat 82 39 43 8668 8687 0.476
4 Washington Wizards Washington Wizards 82 32 50 9350 9588 0.390
5 Atlanta Hawks Atlanta Hawks 82 29 53 9294 9788 0.354
Regular Western Conference Northwest
1 Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets 82 54 28 9075 8751 0.659
2 Portland Trailblazers Portland Trailblazers 82 53 28 9402 9058 0.646
3 Utah Jazz Utah Jazz 82 50 32 9161 8730 0.610
4 Oklahoma City Thunder Oklahoma City Thunder 82 49 33 9387 9108 0.598
5 Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves 82 36 46 9223 9346 0.439
Regular Western Conference Pacific
1 Golden State Warriors Golden State Warriors 82 57 25 9650 9120 0.695
2 L.A. Clippers L.A. Clippers 82 48 34 9442 9372 0.585
3 Sacramento Kings Sacramento Kings 82 39 43 9363 9455 0.476
4 L.A. Lakers L.A. Lakers 82 37 45 9165 9306 0.451
5 Phoenix Suns Phoenix Suns 82 18 63 8815 9581 0.232
Regular Western Conference Southwest
1 Houston Rockets Houston Rockets 82 53 29 9341 8950 0.646
2 San Antonio Spurs San Antonio Spurs 82 48 34 9156 9018 0.585
3 New Orleans Pelicans New Orleans Pelicans 82 33 49 9466 9575 0.402
4 Dallas Mavericks Dallas Mavericks 82 33 49 8927 9032 0.402
5 Memphis Grizzlies Memphis Grizzlies 82 33 49 8490 8703 0.402
Regular Western Conference
1 Golden State Warriors Golden State Warriors 82 57 25 9650 9120 0.695
2 Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets 82 54 28 9075 8751 0.659
3 Portland Trailblazers Portland Trailblazers 82 53 28 9402 9058 0.646
4 Houston Rockets Houston Rockets 82 53 29 9341 8950 0.646
5 Utah Jazz Utah Jazz 82 50 32 9161 8730 0.610
6 Oklahoma City Thunder Oklahoma City Thunder 82 49 33 9387 9108 0.598
7 L.A. Clippers L.A. Clippers 82 48 34 9442 9372 0.585
8 San Antonio Spurs San Antonio Spurs 82 48 34 9156 9018 0.585
9 Sacramento Kings Sacramento Kings 82 39 43 9363 9455 0.476
10 L.A. Lakers L.A. Lakers 82 37 45 9165 9306 0.451
11 Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves 82 36 46 9223 9346 0.439
12 New Orleans Pelicans New Orleans Pelicans 82 33 49 9466 9575 0.402
13 Dallas Mavericks Dallas Mavericks 82 33 49 8927 9032 0.402
14 Memphis Grizzlies Memphis Grizzlies 82 33 49 8490 8703 0.402
15 Phoenix Suns Phoenix Suns 82 18 63 8815 9581 0.232

Understand the Pistons Aren't Playing for Now

It's tempting to get ambitious when betting on the Pistons. The core is there, after all. Andre Drummond, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Tobias Harris and Reggie Jackson make for one heck of a four-pronged nucleus. On top of that, Detroit's defense is solid, and its offense has the potential to be deadly.

But that doesn't overshadow the fact that these Pistons are still rebuilding. They may not even be headed for a playoff berth, let alone a multiround postseson push. They still have their offensive warts. They are still going to endure growing pains. You must keep this in perspective when looking at single-game spreads and moneylines. If a line seems too good to be true, it probably is, and you should consider betting the other way or moving on to another game.

Now, with that in mind, the Pistons remain a good team. If you're looking to place low-priced long-shot bets, they're a solid candidate in which to invest your money. They will even be more intriguing over the offseason. They have a ton of cap space and a talented foundation in place, opening up the possibility that they collect even more high-impact talent and, in the near future, emerge as the shrewd ambitious bet for which you've been looking.

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