by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Mar 22, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Where to watch: Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Southeast-Atlanta
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Hawks -5
BetMGM: Hawks -5.5
Caesars: Hawks -5.5
Season record
Hawks: 35-36
Pistons: 19-53
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Hawks - Pistons preview and analysis
Hawks analysis
Trae Young continues to haunt the New York Knicks and man am I ever here for such destruction.
Young stuck it to the Knicks again with 45 points in a 117-111 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday, keeping Atlanta's playoff hopes ever so close to the vest. And now the Hawks are playing the second game of a back-to-back, fortunately against a lowly Detroit team that should make you want to take that 5.5 and run with it.
The Hawks aren't as good as they were last year, and let alone they're likely not making as deep of a run as they did last year. But they're going to be at least fun and watchable for as long as Young does things like this, and any time he can torch the Knicks like he did in the playoffs last year is always a good time.
"I think the swag and what we were able to do on the court tonight and the energy we had in the huddle, I knew it was just us versus everybody tonight," Young said. "And I think if we have that type of mindset each and every game, we're going to give ourselves a chance to win."
This is literally a situation where Young is carrying this team by its over-bloating corpse. This was the third time in six games Young eclipsed the 40-point mark, proving that this team may not have the capabilities to actually be a ridiculously good team as it should be. Somehow, they aren't because defense doesn't exist right now. Can you blame them? For as long as they try and turn Young into the second coming of Steph Curry and don't put the necessary pieces around him, it's not going to be a good time.
This game, for the very least, should prove fruitful.
Pistons analysis
Things continue to be on a downward spiral of all proportions when it comes to the Detroit Pistons. The equivalent would have to be the PA announcer yelling "DEEEETROIT BASKETBALLLLL" over and over again but the microphone cutting out before he could finish his sentence.
That's the best way to describe the lowly Pistons who have lost six of their last seven and are coming off a 119-115 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. Saddiq Bey finished with 25 points but was deprived of a 20th victory this season because the world does not like the Pistons.
"You can't turn the ball over 19 times for 30 points and expect to win games in this league," Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. "A lot of those were live-ball turnovers, and there's no way to defend those."
The Pistons have found ways to not defend anything this season, but much like every other young team in the NBA, there are instances where defense is optional and will not be on display for a long time. And by a long time, I mean when Gen-Z is killing it in their 40s.
You have to go back to Jan. 8 to find the last time the Pistons held a team to less than 100 points. I'm not kidding. In a 97-92 win over the Orlando Magic was the last time Detroit's defense did anything noteworthy. Ever since then, it's been one giant cluster over another with the Pistons. Good thing is Cade Cunningham is going to be the Rookie of the Year and there is at least a bright future with this group.
Prediction
Normally I'd say don't overthink it but part of me feels the Pistons are going to keep this close to cover. Defense will not exist, and if the Pistons can make a few timely buckets and have some sort of clamps on a tired Young, they're going to keep this close and good enough to cover. Atlanta might win on talent alone, but take the Pistons with the points. Hawks by 2
Betting trends
The Hawks are 42-71 ATS on the road in the past three seasons.
The Hawks are 11-21 ATS as a road favorite the past three seasons.
The Pistons are 37-30 ATS this season as an underdog.
The Pistons are 17-13 ATS as a home underdog this season.
Projected starting lineup
Hawks:
PG: Trae Young
SG: Kevin Huerter
SF: De'Andre Hunter
PF: Danilo Gallinari
C: Clint Capela
Pistons:
PG: Cory Joseph
SG: Cade Cunningham
SF: Saddiq Bey
PF: Jerami Grant
C: Isaiah Stewart
Key injuries
Hawks: Lou Williams (personal, out), John Collins (finger, out)
Pistons: Hamidou Diallo (finger, out)
Statistical leaders
Hawks:
Points: Trae Young -- 27.9
Rebounds: Clint Capela -- 11.9
Assists: Trae Young -- 9.5
Pistons:
Points: Cade Cunningham -- 17.1
Rebounds: Isaiah Stewart -- 8.6
Assists: Cade Cunningham -- 5.4
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
