Tag: NBA playoff predictions 2026

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NBA Eastern Conference Champs – Pistons +425

NBAeasternconfchamps

Our Money is on a team everyone is sleeping on…Detroit Pistons +425 to win the Eastern Conference

The Celtics are the odds on favorites to win the East and we won’t argue that as they’ve been really, really good this season and even a 70% Jayson Taytum is better than most players in the NBA. Could the Celtics win the Eastern Conference – yes absolutely but there isn’t value in their price at +160. The Cavs are next on the list at +370 but there’s no chance I’d invest in this team. Cleveland has been up and down more than a yo-yo and James Harden isn’t known for his “big game” prowess. The Knicks have a roster that could certainly challenge for the EC crown but Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns are too big of liabilities on the defensive end of the court.

That leaves us…

The Pistons won 60 games this season, yet nobody is talking about them as the potential NBA Champions or even the Eastern Conference Champ. Detroit had the 2nd best overall scoring differential at +8.2PPG and had the best record against the leagues top 10 teams with a 17-7 SU record. This team can lock teams down with the 2nd best defensive efficiency rating at 1.098-points per possession allowed. Despite Cade Cunningham missing extended time in the later part of the season, the Pistons were 20-9 SU after the All-Star break with the 6th best Net differential of +8.7. Detroit held opponents to 44.3% shooting on the season, 2nd lowest number in the league and had the best 3PT% defense at 34.5%. The Pistons had the 3rd best road record in the league at 28-13 SU with an average margin of victory of +5.8PPG so they have what it takes to win away from home. Detroit also had a 39-13 SU record against the rest of the Eastern Conference this season. Against the two other Eastern Conference challengers, the Celtics and Knicks, the Pistons were 3-1 against the Celtics, 3-0 versus the Knicks. This prediction is weighed heavily on the health of Cunningham and if he’s near 100% this team has a legitimate chance to come out of the East.

Current Eastern Conference Odds

Boston Celtics +160

Cleveland Cavaliers +370

Detroit Pistons +425

NY Knicks +500

Atlanta Hawks +2500

Charlotte Hornets +2500

Toronto Raptors +4500

Philadelphia 76ers +4500

Orlando Magic +7500

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