You Can Get +425 Odds on the Pistons Missing the 2019 NBA Playoffs

• The Pistons are trying to fend off challengers for a playoff spot 
• Can Orlando or Miami surge into the top eight?
• We predict the outcome for the 7-8 seeds in the East

There’s a power five in the NBA’s Eastern Conference that have basically locked down their spots for a playoff berth.

Past that? Things get a little murky, with three games separating seven from 10 in the standings. And just a week since the All-Star Game, the 2019 NBA playoffs odds have already fluctuated some.

Play your cards right, and you may just be able to cash in one team’s success or another team’s failure.

Top of mind right now? A certain Motown crew on shaky ground, offering some juicy odds for a precipitous slide as we race through the final 20+ games of the season.

Odds for Eastern Conference Teams to Make NBA Playoffs

*Odds taken on 02/27/19

Pistons Surging Behind Star Frontcourt

While Blake Griffin has moved much of his game below the rim, he’s still an All-Star in this league and has been the driving force behind the Pistons all season long.

https://twitter.com/TheRenderNBA/status/1100232547596976128

Now that he’s getting standout play from Andre Drummond, Detroit is on one of their best runs of the season, having reeled off eight wins in their last 10 games.

[NBA Highlights] Andre Drummond Full Highlights 2019.02.25 Pistons vs Pacers – 26 Pts, 16 Rebs, 3 Blks! | FreeDawkins https://t.co/NkIEWCuXXH

— NBA en español (@NBAspanish) February 26, 2019

In Tuesday’s win over the Pacers, Drummond poured in 26 points and 16 rebounds to supplement a Griffin 20-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. In his last dozen games, Drummond is averaging 22.4 points, 16 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 2.1 blocks. It couldn’t have come at a better time.

For those who still want the Pistons to tank:
1. They won't.
2. They'll likely pick 12-14 if they miss the playoffs, or 15-17 if they make the playoffs. (Oh yeah, and this draft class is top-heavy.)

— Brenden Welper (@BrendenWelper) February 25, 2019

While they are considered to have the 20th-ranked strength of schedule coming home, there’s potential value as their remaining games are dotted with enough landmines to spoil things.

On top of heavies like Golden State, Denver, Toronto, Portland (twice) and OKC, they still have a home-and-home against the Pacers, and four head-to-heads with teams in the thick of the playoff chase.

Time to Start Believing in Magic?

Steve Clifford’s crew is confounding and scary. Lately, they’ve looked like a team that’s put it together, with eight wins in their last 11 games, a few of the signature variety.

Your @OrlandoMagic DEFEAT the Milwaukee Bucks, 103-83!!! Orlando held the Bucks to 32.6% from the field and 17.1% from three!!!

Jonathan Isaac led the way for Orlando, finishing with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks!!!

pic.twitter.com/LJ5zSJAHLy

— Be Magic Or Be Gone!  (@BeORLMagic) February 10, 2019

After crushing the Giannis-less Bucks, they went into Toronto and hung a 15-point win over the Kawhi-less Raptors (a team that had won 13 of 16 without their stud in the lineup).

https://twitter.com/MusikFan4Life25/status/1099845448351780866

But there’s a reason they’re on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, because wrapped around the Toronto win are two of the most disheartening losses on the year: to the Bulls and the Knicks.

Despite those losses, this squad has solid guard/wing play and a rotating group of interior heft, led by All-Star Nikola Vucevic, to really make a run.

Tracy McGrady is convinced his Orlando Magic are making the playoffs – even if he is still a bit sour at Evan Fournier. 🤷🏻‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/16btJvlZ1q

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 27, 2019

While their offensive numbers are average at best, they are buoyed by their remaining strength of schedule (25th) and their defense. The Magic are sixth in points per game allowed, with a ninth-place defensive rating. That alone should keep them in the mix.

Who’s In and Who’s Out?

Normally, an Erik Spoelstra-led Miami Heat team in the thick of a playoff race should be a favorite, but they have lost nine of 11, punctuated with Tuesday’s loss to the Suns, who snapped a 17-game losing streak in the process.

If the nail is halfway into the coffin, it should be hammered home over their next two games against the Warriors and Rockets.

As it stands, the @MiamiHEAT have a greater chance at landing a top-four pick in the NBA Draft lottery today than making the #NBA playoffs.@5ReasonsSports pic.twitter.com/hmWaGnBnb2

— Miami Heat Beat (We Just Cover The Team) (@miaheatbeat) February 26, 2019

While the Pistons are the value bet to miss (and I don’t blame you for jumping on it), the Hornets mess everything up. The current eighth seed has the third-toughest slate coming home, with 10 games against teams locked into playoff spots, and five more with teams that are battling them in the playoff chase.

Orlando should be able to leapfrog the Hornets, and even if they are able to move to seventh, Detroit would fall comfortably to the 8-seed.