NBA Playoffs - Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons

Many NBA betting fans who follow pro hoops have written off the Detroit Pistons completely. On Friday night the Pistons will try to avoid falling behind 3-0 in their series with the Cleveland Cavaliers when the two teams meet in NBA pro basketball playoff betting action that is set to tip off at 7 PM ET at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

BetUS NBA Basketball Odds: CLEVELAND -5, Total 178

Here are some of the NBA betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* CLEV has covered its last six games
* CLEV has won seven of its last eight games SU
* CLEV has played four of its last six games OVER the total
* CLEV has won six of its last eight road games SU
* CLEV has played six of its last seven road games OVER the total
* DET has lost its last five games SU
* DET is 0-6 ATS in its last six games
* DET has played four of its last six games OVER the total
* DET has covered seven of its last 25 home games
* DET has played five of its last seven home games OVER the total

Also...

* CLEV has covered four of the last five meetings
* CLEV has won the last five meetings SU
* Nine of the last ten meetings have gone UNDER the total
* CLEV has covered six of the last nine meetings as the road team
* DET has won 18 of the last 23 meetings SU as the home team
* Seven of the last eight meetings in Auburn Hills have gone UNDER the total
* CLEV has had the shooting edge in each of the last five meetings
* CLEV has had the rebounding edge in four of the last six meetings
* CLEV has made more three-pointers in five of the last six meetings

The Pistons were beaten pretty steadily all the way in Game 1 of this series, but in Game 2, even though the margin wasn't as big, it was really no contest - for three quarters that is. Cleveland took a 77-50 lead into the final stanza and had increased that margin to 29, when Detroit mounted a furious comeback behind its second unit players, closing the lead to just seven points with just under four minutes to go. Then the Cavs brought LeBron James back in and closed things out the right way. There was maybe a little carelessness on the part of the Cavs, and let's assume that won't happen again. Let's also assume that if Cleveland kept an intensity level up throughout the full 48 minutes, Detroit may have had around 70 points.

As it is, the Pistons have scored 85 points or less in eight of their last nine encounters with the Cavs, so we can also assume there isn't a whole lot Detroit is going to be able to do to solve the riddle that is the Cleveland defense. In Game 2 there was 39.5% shooting, and 49 points from the starting lineup. The starting front line of Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and Tayshawn Prince had seven field goals between them. The Cavs' bench was only 2-for-11, but I wouldn’t count on that happening again.

I'd like to think the Pistons could get things together and put forth a big effort tonight to make this series a little more competitive, but I don't think this is the spot where Cleveland has a letdown. That little fourth quarter wake-up call the other night took care of that. Since the Pistons have some pride, they could get something going in Game 4, but there is a chasm between these clubs that is too great at the moment, including a 29-game difference in terms of the won-lost record. Cleveland got 41 points from its starting backcourt of Mo Williams Delonte West in Game 2 (on 15-for-25 shooting) and we just know Detroit is going to have to do a great defensive job, because they simply are not going to score many points.

The over/under figure here is competitive, but we're going to move with the Cleveland side in this one, laying five points in the BetUS Sportsbook.

PICK: CLEVELAND -5

Charles Jay makes his share of shots from the top of the key as a contributor to the BetUS Locker Room. Check out BetUS for all the latest NBA betting news, odds and expert analysis.