Money Moves | October 20, 2026 | Hour 2

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

This is VSiN, the SportsBetting Network. This is Money Moves on VSiN, the SportsBetting Network.

Stormy Buonantony (0:19)

All right, everybody, we're kicking off our two Money Moves on VSiN, the SportsBetting Network, Stormy Buonantony, Jonathan Von Tobel with you live in downtown Las Vegas, Cirque Resort and Casino. Remember, as always, if you missed any of the show, you can always download Money Moves wherever you get your podcasts. Also, while you're there, check out Hardwood Handicappers because there's a fresh new edition out today in honor of opening day in the National Basketball Association, which JVT is going to tip off in a matter of minutes. So let's get right into it because you and I both do have bets on this first game of the season, Celtics, Pistons, Boston, Lane 1 1⁄2 on the road in Detroit. Total come down a couple points from 222 1⁄2 to 220 1⁄2.

Jonathan Von Tobel (0:54)

Yes, and by the way, we will have an episode of Hardwood Handicappers pretty much every day here as we move forward. So very much worth putting in to your feed. But like Boston, this is a flip, so it's not really that crazy to think that I'm on this side just considering where the market's at. But I think the Celtics come in to this a little undervalued into the season as a whole and into this game against the Detroit team that I think is going to be heading a little south here.

The Pistons, I think, are one of the teams that's going to be on the outside looking in in the Eastern Conference. We need to talk about how much improved this conference is as a whole. And I think the general consensus is that Boston has downgraded, not just with the loss of Jalen Brown, but with the addition of Paul George. Paul George is still a pretty good basketball player. The problem with Paul George...

Stormy Buonantony (1:34)

He's healthy right now.

Jonathan Von Tobel (1:35)

Exactly, it's his lack of availability. But we know that this team can spread it out and shoot. We know what the Pistons are, heavily reliant on Cade Cunningham to generate a ton of offense here. I think the Celtics are going to match up pretty well and be able to get this done tonight or today, actually coming up here in a couple of minutes. So really looking forward to it, but Celtics, I think, are going to be able to just win this game, which is all you're asking them to do here, laying that one and a half for a cheap money line price too.

Stormy Buonantony (1:58)

So that was something that stood out to me. Obviously, the Pistons were the top seed in the East last year, but we had the conversation I felt like throughout the season that offensively, if Cade Cunningham was having an off day, they never had that additional secondary shooter that could really help take over a game if he wasn't there. And in the off season, it doesn't seem like they really added a necessary guy to fill that role. Like, what do you think?

Jonathan Von Tobel (2:20)

No, of course. Like, that's why I think I keep bringing this up to Zach. You know, like, I would look potentially or just keep an eye on Dallas, for example. Kyrie Irving is healthy. He's 19 months off of an ACL. And that would be a name that I think the Pistons go after potentially. Or a Tyler Hero out there in Milwaukee right now. You know, the Pistons, to your point, Stormy, the way you put it is the, hey, like when you have an off night. But when these teams scheme against you and you have nobody else that is a threat to shoot the ball or create another shot, then all of a sudden your offense in a lot of these half-court situations or in the post season specifically can get really, really disjointed very quickly. And so that's gonna be the very big problem. So if you can get another secondary score, it's really gonna help them out. But for right now, there's not many on that roster that you really trust to your point.

Stormy Buonantony (3:01)

You also replaced Tobias Harris with John Collins. I don't know if that's really an upgrade. But I also, so in addition to laying it with the Celtics alongside you, I also played the under, and I know I'm getting the worst of the number here pre-tip at 220 and a half. But just looking at these two teams that were both top four in the league in defensive rating last season, the Pistons obviously the top defensive team at the Eastern Conference as well. They also really struggled to shoot the three season ago. So if all of these things come together, I think we should get one of those relatively low scoring games. Now, as we wait tip off for that, and we'll talk through some, we'll see if we get some potential live betting opportunities during the game as well.