The Pistons have become one of the worst teams in the NBA since point guard Reggie Jackson suffered an ankle injury. They've gone 3-12 following Jackson's injury and have lost eight in a row.

Detroit's latest defeat came to Cleveland, 121-104, as 7 1/2-point road underdogs two days ago. Now look at the spread. It's much lower. Detroit's home-court advantage isn't nearly worth that. The Pistons have lost and failed to cover during their past five games at Little Caesars Arena, losing to three Eastern Conference teams worse than the Cavaliers during this span.

Cleveland has now beaten the Pistons in its last three meetings, winning those games by an average of 25.7 points per game.

The Cavaliers are playing better with two straight victories.

If newly acquired Blake Griffin doesn't play, the Cavaliers will have the four best players on the court.

The big news is the Pistons acquired Griffin on Monday. Detroit gave up its two leading scorers, Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley, as part of the cost to get Griffin. Bradley is a premier defensive guard. We don't know yet if Griffin will suit up. We do know Harris and Bradley won't be playing for Detroit. So the Pistons could be short-handed in a major way.