What are the chances that the Pistons will win the NBA
championship?
Las Vegas oddmakers believe there's a decent chance of
that happpening. They're the fourth choice behind the
Celtics, Lakers and Spurs to win it all.
According to Bodog.com, Boston is the 3-2 choice,
followed by the Lakers at 3-1, San Antonio at 11-2
(5.5-1) and the Pistons at 13-2 (6.5-1).
It's somewhat surprising to me that the Pistons have
longer odds than the Spurs, who have a much tougher
road to make the Finals. They have to beat
fifth-choice Phoenix (8-1) just to get out of the
first round.
Other Pistons' related odds - chances of winning the
Eastern Conference title - 5-2, with Boston the 1-2
choice. Philadelphia, the Pistons' first-round
opponent, is a 50-1 proposition to reach the Finals.
The most likely outcome in their first-round series is
a 4-1 Pistons victory (5-2 odds).
Chauncey Billups is a 15-1 shot to win the Finals MVP
while Richard Hamilton is 20-1 and Rasheed Wallace is
50-1.
The Pistons practiced Friday after taking the day off
Thursday. Everybody's healthy and available for
Sunday's opener.
Flip Saunders wouldn't say who would be on the 12-man
active list for Game 1.
Cheikh Samb and Walter Herrmann will surely be
deactivated; The other will be Lindsey Hunter or Juan
Dixon.
I don't think Hunter will play much in this series;
he's a defensive specialist and the Sixers are
probably the worst offensive team in the playoff
field.