I'm taking Detroit up to -2 at Fanatics to secure the Pistons at normal vigorish (-110). I'm never going to endorse laying unnecessary juice for the sake of it, but for accounting purposes, this is a -1.5 selection globally.
Philadelphia certainly looks the part of a superteam. The Sixers have made plenty of noise early in the season, and with their star-studded cast, there is every reason to believe this outfit can compete for an NBA championship. That's great and all, but what about Detroit? The Pistons finished atop the Eastern Conference last season and have lost just once this campaign. Yet somehow, the home team has become something of an afterthought amid all the excitement surrounding Philadelphia. That's precisely what I want.
Detroit has been running opponents over with superb defense and the Pistons have won six consecutive meetings against the Sixers. That sample includes a convincing 106-93 victory in Philadelphia on October 25. The Sixers might look prolific on both sides of the basketball but the Pistons have already demonstrated that they can handle this outfit. We're not being asked to lay a considerable number, either. Just a basket with the home team that has consistently had Philadelphia's number. Until the Sixers prove they can beat Detroit, I'm perfectly happy siding with the chalk. Sign me up for the Pistons to spot a bucket.
Pistons vs 76ers prediction: Detroit -2 (-110) available at time of writing. Playable to the number.
