It's Game 7, and we have a bet locked in as the Cavaliers and legacies are on the line against the Pistons

The NBA takes a batch of flak for having meaningless games, and I tin decidedly recognize it, watching connected a random Wednesday successful January. However, the playoffs person delivered implicit and implicit to viewers and rewarded america for putting up with garbage regular-season games.

This volition beryllium the 4th Game 7 of the playoffs. Three bid person been sweeps, and the different 3 person been six games. That shows competitory hoops. Now, however bash we stake this Game 7 successful the Eastern Conference?

The Cleveland Cavaliers blew it. After not winning a roadworthy crippled each postseason, they took Game 5 successful astonishing fashion. It looked similar they were going to triumph successful six games. After all, they hadn't mislaid a crippled astatine location successful the postseason.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Instead, Detroit came retired and blitzed the Cavs, ne'er giving them a accidental to get their footing. They mislaid successful an disfigured manner and present person to fig retired a mode to triumph a crippled connected the road.

Cleveland Cavaliers defender James Harden drives to the handbasket against the Detroit Pistons during the 2nd fractional of Game 5 successful the second-round NBA playoffs successful Detroit connected May 13, 2026. (Duane Burleson/AP)

It isn't conscionable the Cavs' destiny that rests successful this game. It is besides the bequest of James Harden and, to a lesser extent, Donovan Mitchell.

We cognize that Mitchell is simply a precise bully player, but helium isn't regarded arsenic 1 of the champion players ever. Harden is. Unfortunately, Harden has struggled successful Game 7s. He's averaged 19.1 points, 7.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds. That's not terrible, but looking astatine his shooting percentages, helium is astatine 35.3% and 22.2% successful those games. He really is 4-4 wide successful the games, but successful his past three, helium has scored a combined 34 points implicit 113 minutes.

The Detroit Pistons look to similar playing with their backs against the wall. They are a gritty team, truthful I accidental it makes sense.

Detroit Pistons' Jalen Duren reacts aft allowing a walk to spell retired of bounds successful the 2nd fractional of Game 4 of the second-round NBA playoff bid against the Cleveland Cavaliers successful Cleveland connected May 11, 2026. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

Cade Cunningham continues to present for the team, and helium yet got immoderate assistance successful Game 6 from Jalen Duren. This was ne'er going to beryllium an casual bid for Duren, but it feels similar helium is taking much clip to mature than others. He decidedly improved this year, but the consistency they request from him conscionable isn't determination yet.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Now arsenic the squad goes location they volition request Duren to beryllium a beast connected the glass. If helium tin support the Pistons successful the rebounding battle, they should triumph this crippled with ease. They won Game 6 by conscionable 3 rebounds, but that takes distant a large magnitude of what Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley bash for the Cavs. It isn't everything, though, arsenic the Pistons won the rebounding conflict successful some losses successful Cleveland.

I don't spot this being a runaway crippled for the Pistons. Mitchell and Cunningham apt volition cancel each different retired with scoring. Harden needs to found himself arsenic the third-best subordinate connected the floor. I haven't seen him bash that successful the postseason, yet.

Cleveland Cavaliers All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and James Harden speech during Game 2 successful the archetypal circular of the 2026 NBA Playoffs vs. the Toronto Raptors astatine Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse successful Ohio. (David Dermer/Imagn Images)

This is the 2nd Game 7 of the playoffs for some of the clubs, truthful it isn't similar either volition beryllium caught disconnected defender astir what this entails.

If I look astatine it objectively, I deliberation the Cavs person the amended players. However, the Pistons person looked importantly amended this season, and decidedly successful the playoffs overall. Both are prone to issues and slipping. The Cavs shouldn't beryllium arsenic they are a seasoned team.

This crippled has to beryllium won by Cleveland, though. There is excessively overmuch riding connected the franchise and legacies of guys for them to not hole decently for it. Maybe that's anemic analysis, but I'm taking the Cavs with the points and I bash deliberation they triumph outright. I expect a monster crippled from Mitchell, and Harden should get 10+ assists.

Either way, whoever wins volition suffer to the New York Knicks.

For much sports betting accusation and plays, travel David connected X/Twitter: @futureprez2024