Recognizing needed postseason adjustments before oddsmakers adjust for them is the best way to find value in the NBA playoffs. After the Detroit Pistons won Game 1, the Cleveland Cavaliers need to make such an adjustment.
These Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions and same-game parlay picks for Game 2 anticipate Cleveland sitting Jarrett Allen more and more on Thursday, May 7.
Our best Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP for Game 2
SGP leg #1: Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 rebounds (-135)
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen played six minutes of the first quarter on Tuesday, failing to grab a single rebound. Meanwhile, Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren played 10 minutes and found three rebounds. That is the mismatch that Cleveland cannot survive.
Allen was ineffective out of the gates of this series, no small part of how the Cavaliers were trailing by 16 points in that opening frame.
Allen did not play a minute in the second quarter. That may have been an overreaction from Cleveland’s coaching staff, but a similar adjustment likely looms.
SGP leg #2: Jarrett Allen Under 10.5 points (+100)
Allen scored just two points in his 18 minutes in Game 1. Worse yet, he took only four shots.
Not to sound too harsh, but there may not be a purpose to playing Allen against Detroit. If he cannot rebound and he is not going to get shots up, what threat does he pose?
The Pistons’ frontcourt is simply too athletic for Allen.
SGP leg #3: Dean Wade Over 3.5 rebounds (+105)
Someone needs to play more minutes, though. And that someone seems likely to be Dean Wade.
Look at the fourth quarter on Tuesday, when Cleveland thought about making things interesting. Allen played four minutes, while Wade played nine. All of the Cavaliers’ starters played at least eight minutes except for Allen.
Expect Wade to get more run, for better or for worse.
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Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Cavaliers vs Pistons predictions for Game 2.
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