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Detroit Pistons Odds to Win the 2008 NBA Finals
The Detroit Pistons have
been the most consistent team in the Eastern
Conference over the last five seasons with a
reserved spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.
But in 2006 they were taken out by the Miami
Heat and in 2007 they were defeated by the
Cleveland Cavaliers. Is Detroit's run at the top
on the decline or can the Pistons make another
run at a title this season. Get Jimmy's take
right here as he weighs the 2008 Detroit
Pistons odds to win the NBA Finals.
Bet the Detroit Pistons at 8-1 odds at BodogLife
to win the NBA Finals
Why they'll win it all:
The Detroit Pistons have been the best defensive
team in the Eastern Conference in recent history
and they are having another great season on the
defensive end. They rank second in the NBA in
points against, giving up just 90.4 ppg. They
are third in the NBA in field goal percentage
defense (44.0%), and second in three-point
percentage defense (33.7%). There's no question
that it takes good defense to win championships.
The Pistons are the most experienced playoff
team in the Eastern Conference and that
definitely plays to its advantage against some
of the younger teams they'll see in the early
rounds. The Pistons also have very good balance.
They are the NBA version of the Kansas Jayhawks
if you will. Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton,
Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Price, and Antonio
McDyess make up one of the most complete
starting lineups in the league. And Chauncey
Billups gives the Pistons a go-to player in
clutch situations who has proven himself time
and time again in the postseason.
Why they won't:
While the Pistons defensive numbers are still
good, it is obvious that their interior defense
is not what it was when big Ben Wallace was
piling up Defensive Player of the Year awards.
His presence was greatly missed in last season's
Eastern Conference Finals as Lebron James was
able to get to the basket at will. The Pistons
haven't been as good offensively as they have
been in the past. They rank 17th in the league
in points per game and just 13th in field goal
percentage. Also, the Pistons have struggled on
the defensive boards due to their lack of
interior toughness. They rank just 25th in the
league in defensive rebounding and that's not
going to get the job done. Rip Hamilton is
currently banged up. It appears he'll be alright
for the postseason, but this is not a team which
can afford an injury to any of its key guys.
Arron Afflalo and Juan Dixon have filled in for
Hamilton while he has been out but neither
player comes close to filling his shoes. The
biggest reason why they won't win it all this
season is because they likely must go through
Boston which has home court advantage.
Other odds to Win the 2008
NBA Finals:
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