The quest for The NBA Finals begins next Saturday, as 16 teams attempt to hold up the hardware come the end of June. Not like other sports, pro basketball usually doesn’t see many upsets come the postseason. In large part, it’s hard enough to beat a better team once, but four times just doesn’t happen too often. When the NBA had a best-of-five during the first round, you would definitely see a lower seed prevail and advance but not anymore.
Our friends at Sportsbook.com have tabbed Detroit as 1-2 favorite (Bet $200 to win $100) and it’s hard not to argue against the Pistons. Laying $100 to win $50 doesn’t seem like a logical bet at this time, considering injuries can happen throughout the playoffs and no matter how you put it, 16 victories is 16 victories.

Still, did you know Detroit has only lost back-to-back game just one time over the course of the season? It’s true and the second loss came against Atlanta (99-98), thanks to Joe Johnson’s jumper with a few ticks left.

Right now, I believe the playoffs will be a three-horse race between the Pistons from the East and the winner of the Spurs-Mavericks second round matchup advancing from the Western Conference.

Unfortunately, the NBA doesn’t reseed in the second round and that’s why one of the top-two teams in the West will be going home when San Antonio and Dallas meet. Barring injuries to Tim Duncan or Dirk Nowitzki, you’ll see a team from Texas in the finals. The Spurs are listed as an even money (Bet $100 to win $100) to capture the West, while the Mavs are plus-200 (Bet $100 to win $200).

The key to winning in the NBA is still about defense and these three teams all love to buckle down. The Spurs (88.8 points per game) and Pistons (89.7 PPG) are ranked second and third respectively behind Memphis (88.4 PPG), while Dallas (92.5 PPG) holds the seventh spot in the league.

New Jersey (6) and Indiana (5), along with the Grizzlies are the only playoffs contenders to be listed in the top-10 defensively.

Despite the efforts from the league offices to increase scoring and excitement on the hardwood, it goes to show that a team’s best offense is their defense.

I’m not really going out on a limb here, but I did pick Dallas prior to the start of the season in an earlier column along with some other tidbits that deserve a few pats.

Enough of the forecasting, let’s break down the second game of tonight’s TNT doubleheader.

**Dallas at Phoenix**

-- This will be the fourth and final meeting between Phoenix and Dallas on Thursday. The Mavericks have won two of three, including a 111-108 overtime victory as a two-point road favorite on opening night. The ‘over’ has prevailed to a 2-1 mark.

-- Dallas (59-19 SU, 38-38 ATS) is still in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, plus an outside shot of claiming homecourt throughout the playoffs.

-- The Mavs will be playing the second end of back-to-back games after facing Golden State on Wednesday from The Arena in Oakland.

-- Avery Johnson’s team is 11-7 SU and 6-10-2 ATS when playing on no day’s rest. The ‘under’ is 11-7.

-- Dallas has been finishing the season strong, going 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS. Defense has been the key to the Mavs’ success this year and nothing has changed. Three of the last five opponents have been held under 80 points.

-- The Mavs push for the coveted one-seed wraps up with a pair of home games against Utah and the L.A. Clippers starting Sunday.

-- The Suns (51-26 SU, 42-35 ATS) have already clinched the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference by winning the Pacific Division. Currently, Phoenix would face either the L.A. Lakers or Sacramento in the first round.

-- Mike D’Antonio and company probably doesn’t have a preference, but his team is 3-0 both SU and ATS versus the Lakers this year, with one game pending, while going 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS against the Kings.

-- One of the triumphs against Sacramento came Tuesday, when the Suns rallied from a 17-point (68-51) halftime deficit for an eye opening 123-110 victory. Phoenix quietly put up 72 points in the final 24 minutes.

-- Tuesday’s victory was just what Phoenix needed after going 1-3 both SU and ATS in its last four games.

-- The Suns are 29-10 SU and 20-19 ATS at home this year, with the ‘over’ notching a 21-17 mark.

-- This will be the first of back-to-back tilts for Phoenix with a trip to Golden State on deck for Friday.

-- Tip off for this contest is slated for 10:30 p.m. EST.