Boston vs Detroit Prediction: Should we expect a sensation this time?

Boston is known for playing particularly well in front of their fans, but the Celtics have suffered 3 defeats in their last 4 head-to-head meetings with Detroit on their home court. Should we expect a sensation this time?

The Celtics have won 4 of their last 5 regular season games, moving into 3rd place in the Eastern Conference. First of all, Boston is good offensively, although the Celtics are traditionally regarded as a defensive specialists. Jayson Tatum has been abysmal, averaging 31.2 points and shooting nearly 50% from the field. Jaylen Brown is also good, and Malcolm Brogdon could qualify as a top-sixer if he gets more playing time. There are defensive issues at the arc, and Robert Williams would add reliability in the paint if healthy. Apparently, the club needs to come to terms with the absence of the injured Danilo Gallinari. Boston recently got the opportunity to sign another player in place of the Italian.

Joe Mazzulla's men defeated Memphis away last season, 109-106. The bench did nothing on offense that night, as four reserves, including Brogdon, scored a combined total of only 17 points. Grant Williams didn't hit a single shot from the field in 38 minutes, and the other four baseline players had to make the most of it. Tatum had no shots from beyond the arc, but still scored 39 points, and Al Horford was suddenly the leading scorer with 3 of his three 3-pointers.

The Pistons, along with the Spurs, are the worst team in the NBA's defensive rankings, and that's what's preventing them from getting results in the first place. There really aren't many skilled defenders on the team, and with the arrival of Bojan Bogdanovic, Detroit has become even more vulnerable in their own half. Admittedly, Bogdanovic's offensive line is fine, although his stats have also slipped a bit lately. Bojan remains the Pistons' leading scorer, while Saddiq Bey is unstable and trails even rookie Jaden Ivey in three-point shots. Alec Burks can still not make his Pistons debut due to injury, and his participation is currently questionable. Marvin Bagley is definitely not expected to play.

In their last regular season game, the Pistons snapped a three-game losing streak with a 112-103 home win over Oklahoma. Early in the game, Detroit took an early lead, but by halftime, they were trailing by 15 points. In the 2nd half, Dwane Casey made 6 of 14 three-pointers and improved their lead, preventing their opponent from turning around at the arc. Saddiq Bey made only 1 trey on 7 attempts, but he was effective in the paint and drew fouls. With 25 points, Bay was the highest scorer on the team.

Boston is far from perfect on defense, but they will need to transform on offense against Detroit, especially at home. The Celtics miss a lot of shots from beyond the arc, and the Pistons can take advantage of that with their good scorers. If Burks returns, it will be even easier with the three-pointers, although it is unlikely that Alec will play much. Our prediction for the Boston vs Detroit game is as follows:

• Total Over 224.5 points for 1.80;
• H2 (+11.5) for 2.12;
• Detroit win including overtime for 6.50.