The Cleveland Cavaliers have had some nice moments since re-tooling the team on the fly at the trading deadline, but they are far from a finished product. It remains to be seen if the Cavaliers are a true title contender, and they will aim to prove their worth down the stretch.
Cleveland has an opportunity to make a nice statement by knocking off the Detroit Pistons in an upcoming matchup. Detroit is under .500 on the season but has some talented pieces and won’t be an easy out.
The Cavaliers will be the favorite to win this game. It’s big for both teams as they are each pushing to solidify their spots in the Eastern Conference standings.
Don't miss the hardwood action from the Quicken Loans Arena at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, March 5, 2018. Catch every moment of the game live on NBATV.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Monday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Pistons are 29-32 straight up and 27-32-2 against the spread. Detroit has gone 14-13-1 against the spread on the road this season. It is 15-13-1 against the spread as the underdog on the year.
The Cavaliers are 36-24 straight up and 19-40-1 against the spread. Cleveland has done an awful job covering the spread at home this season, with a record of just 6-23-1 against the spread. The Cavaliers are 10-36-1 against the spread as the favorite.
Key Stat
3. That’s the number of games outside of the playoff race the Pistons currently sit in the Eastern Conference. A trade for Blake Griffin was made at the deadline to increase the team’s chances at qualifying for the postseason, but the team will need to play really well down the stretch.
Detroit is chasing several teams, and the closest currently is the Miami Heat. Miami has only won three of its past 10 games, opening the door for the Pistons, but they have only gained one game in that stretch as Detroit has not been much better.
The interior duo of Griffin and Andre Drummond is formidable, but the Detroit backcourt has been lacking. The team is hoping to get standout guard Reggie Jackson back in the fold soon. He would be a big boost and may be back in the middle of this month.
Player To Watch
LeBron James – NBA fans are hard-pressed to find a game where the Cavaliers’ superstar is not among the players to watch, but despite all the success he has had in previous seasons, the 33-year-old found a way to hit another gear in February. James finished last month averaging a triple-double for the first time in his career.
He averaged 27 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists in the ten games the Cavaliers played in February, shooting 54.6 percent from the field. He enters the month of March with a ton of momentum, having also just become the only player ever to reach 30,000 points and 8,000 rebounds and assists. ‘
The Cavaliers have changed all the personnel around him, but the reason they are still considered a contender is because James is still the heart and soul of the team.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Cavaliers have been up and down lately, much like it has been the entire season. They should win this game, but nothing is a given with this squad, as is clearly evident with its poor record against the spread on the season.
If Jackson was back the Pistons would have a puncher’s chance, but without him the Cavs are the pick to take care of business. The margin may be too close, which would allow Detroit to cover the spread.
NBA Odds: Cavaliers 107, Pistons 103
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