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The only streak NBA fans seem to care about is the Golden State Warriors' historic 18-game winning streak to start the season. The defending NBA Champions certainly have been impressive, but there are many other storylines and streaks taking place in the rest of the league, particularly losing streaks or slumps, which are always something bettors should keep an eye on. Let's open the door into the ATS vault and take a look at the teams that are struggling to cover spreads and figure out the best way to wager on them over the next few weeks.
Houston Rockets : 3-13 ATS Record
ATS losing streak : 11 straight games
Houston went from playing in the Western Conference Finals with a Coach of the Year and MVP candidate to firing Kevin McHale and seeing team superstar James Harden struggle to start off the year. The Rockets have not covered a game since early November and they currently hold an NBA-worst 11-game ATS losing streak. The squad started the season 6-10 SU and has looked like a shell of its former self. And, of course, McHale's firing won't help fix things anytime soon. The biggest problem with the Rockets is they have continued to be large favorites during this streak. Stay away from Houston or start taking the points against them.
Los Angeles Clippers : 6-11 ATS Record
ATS losing streak : 2-8 ATS over the last 10
Los Angeles is struggling any way you look at it. The team is 9-8 SU and ranked eighth in the Western Conference in points allowed, which is in the middle of the pack but far from where Los Angeles expected itself to be this season. The most troubling part for bettors, however, has been the fact that the Clippers continue to be four-point-or-better favorites, and they haven't been an underdog since the Golden State matchup two weeks ago. Doc Rivers and company may still be carrying the demons from last season's playoff collapse, and that little break in the team's over all confidence may be the cause of its recent struggles. Stay away from Los Angeles at the moment.
Los Angeles Lakers : 5-11 ATS Record
ATS losing streak : 2-6 ATS over the last seven
This one may be obvious, but the Lakers are a horrible betting option. The team has dropped five of six ATS games, with all but one of those losses being by double-digits. Overall, the team will continue to grab a lot of attention because of Kobe Bryant's recent announcement that he will retire at the end of this season, so expect bettors to continue to wager on Los Angeles. Doc's Sports bettors, however, should not fall into that trap because the Lakers are overvalued, and anyone who bets should know that. For a quick comparison, the equally-as-atrocious Philadelphia 76ers are currently 10-8 ATS, not because they are any good but because they are given large spreads on a nightly basis-which is a luxury Los Angeles doesn't receive.
Milwaukee Bucks : 7-10 ATS Record
ATS streaking : 2-6 ATS over the last eight
Many NBA experts believed 2015 would be Milwaukee's breakout year. The team has a solid coach in Jason Kidd and a host of young talent on the roster, but through the first 17 games of the season the team is struggling to get out of the gate and even reach a .500 record. The Bucks have one of the worst point differentials in the Eastern Conference, and they have dropped six of their last eight ATS games (with five of them as an underdog). They can't even manage to keep those matchups close.
Read more articles by George Monroy
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