NBA Handicapping Articles

NBA Odds and Predictions: Friday, November 7 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 11/6/2014

Even though the Cleveland Cavaliers look rather disorganized right now and are sitting at 1-3, the oddsmakers haven't lost faith. Cleveland remains the +260 NBA championship favorite at Sportsbook.ag. I was in the camp that believed it would take the Cavs a full season to learn each other and that a title wasn't in the cards. Much like LeBron's first season in Miami when the Heat were dominated in the NBA Finals by Dallas.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 11/6/2014

A new NBA season got underway last week, and in an effort to prove the value of specialization as a viable betting strategy for the games, I am exclusively handicapping the Washington Wizards all season long. To further state my case, I will also be releasing weekly free picks with the use of Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System with the goal of earning a long-term profit betting Wizards’ games this year.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Thursday, November 6 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 11/5/2014

As usual, a very light Thursday schedule in the NBA. TNT likes to keep it that way -- and the NBA obliges its TV partner -- so it can have the full attention of basketball-watching fans for its weekly doubleheader night. It's a good one this week with all four teams expected to be Western Conference contenders, and the major sportsbooks will offer live betting on both. Here's a breakdown of the two games.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Wednesday, November 5 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 11/4/2014

Here's guessing there will be plenty of good seats available on Wednesday night in Philadelphia when the 76ers host the Magic in the NBA's Toilet Bowl matchup of the week. At least we know one of those two wretched teams won't start the season breaking the NBA record of 26 straight losses (overall, not to start a year). Of course, Philly tied that record last year. Here's a look at Wednesday's full schedule, with Pacers-Wizards and Clippers-Warriors having live betting at the major sportsbooks, with both on ESPN.

NBA Betting Something or Nothing: Taking a Look at Importlant Trends
by George Monroy - 11/4/2014

The NBA is only a handful of games old, but with huge injuries mounting for various teams to go along with a multiple players doing far more than what we expected, it might be time to take a look at a few early season trends and figure out if they will have a bigger impact as the year wears on in this edition of NBA something or nothing. All odds and lines come from Sportsbook.ag.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Tuesday, November 4 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 11/3/2014

I don't know about you, but I am thoroughly enjoying how bad the Los Angeles Lakers have been thus far this season. I fully expected them to be awful, but this bad? The only way they finish with a better record than horrible Philadelphia is if Kobe Bryant stays healthy all season. Not sure I believe that will happen. Here's a look at L.A.'s game on Tuesday as well as the rest of the NBA schedule.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Saturday, November 1 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 10/31/2014

Is it too early to talk about New Orleans Pelicans' third-year star Anthony Davis for NBA MVP this season? Obviously yes, but Davis was just a monster in the Pelicans' season-opening blowout of Orlando. His chances for MVP obviously increased with Kevin Durant's injury. Of course, there's still some guy named LeBron James to deal with (although LeBron didn't look MVP worthy in his first game). Here is a look at all 12 games on a busy first Saturday of the NBA season.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 10/31/2014

I just spent the entire MLB regular season handicapping the Washington Nationals as part of a betting strategy that relies on specialization through in-depth knowledge of a particular team. I also put this knowledge to the test by releasing weekly free picks with the use of Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System. While I produced a modest return of $486 on the year for $100 bettors, I am now turning my full attention to the Washington Wizards in the NBA with the goal of doubling that return, at the very least.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Thursday, October 30 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 10/29/2014

Not sure if you heard, but LeBron James was in the news a bit this summer for his decision to shift locations. His return to Cleveland on Thursday night's first TNT doubleheader game should draw some very big ratings and betting action as the Cavs host the New York Knicks. Get used to Cleveland being on national television occasionally this season. Bovada will offer live betting on Knicks-Cavaliers as well as the second TNT game, Thunder-Clippers. Here's a look at every NBA game on the schedule. Taking a rare weekday off for Friday's action but will be back at it for Saturday's games.

NBA Betting: Top Story Lines and How They Impact Bettors
by George Monroy - 10/29/2014

The NBA is back after completing one of its most intriguing and controversial seasons in recent memory. Luckily for everyone that loves basketball, the league will have no shortage of headline-grabbing storylines heading into the year, and with the return of Derrick Rose to Chicago, LeBron James to Cleveland, to go along with Kevin Durant’s foot injury, participating in next June’s NBA Finals is as wide open as ever. The season is already underway, so let’s take a closer look at the top 2014-15 NBA storylines and figure out how they will impact bettors over the course of a long year.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Wednesday, October 29 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 10/28/2014

Very interesting slew of openers on Wednesday night. I am particularly looking forward to watching the Chicago Bulls with the return of Derrick Rose. What will the Miami Heat look like without LeBron James? The Indiana Pacers without Paul George? How about the Thunder without Kevin Durant for the first six weeks at least? Could the Philadelphia 76ers be the worst team in NBA history? Here's a look at every game on the slate. Bovada will offer live betting on four: Nets-Celtics, Bulls-Knicks, Lakers-Suns and Thunder-Trail Blazers.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Tuesday, October 28 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 10/27/2014

I don't know about you, but I am downright giddy that the NBA season tips off on Tuesday night with three games, highlighted by the champion San Antonio Spurs raising a fifth championship banner to the rafters. Would have been nice to see the Cavaliers be the opponent for San Antonio, but that apparently couldn't be worked out. I will provide these opening line reports Tuesday-Saturday (most weeks), trying to get you an early betting edge and with injury updates, etc.

NBA Props Odds and Picks: Scoring, Rebounds and Assists Leaders
by Alan Matthews - 10/23/2014

I don't know about you, but I am probably more excited about this NBA season since at least LeBron James' first with the Heat when he became the league's No. 1 villain. Amazing how things have changed in four years as now James is back in Cleveland and again the NBA's most popular player. You can go home again!

2014 Houston Rockets Predictions and NBA Futures Odds
by George Monroy - 10/20/2014

The Houston Rockets believe they are a title contender and that last year’s disappointing loss during the first round of the playoffs was a temporary hiccup and not a larger indictment on the James Harden-Dwight Howard partnership. General Manger Daryl Morey has remained proactive with his team over the last two seasons and is not content on simply building a contender -- he wants to bring another title to Houston at all costs.

NBA Odds and Picks: Which Division Does Champion Come From?
by Alan Matthews - 10/18/2014

With the 2014-15 NBA season less than two weeks away -- opening night is Tuesday, Oct. 28 -- the sportsbooks are rolling out more and more season, team and individual props every day. Here I will look at which division houses the NBA champion with odds courtesy of Sportsbook.ag. I wonder why the site doesn't do this for the NFL, NHL or MLB.

NBA Handicapping: Impact of Kevin Durant Injury on Oklahoma City
by Trevor Whenham - 10/17/2014

Kevin Durant dropped a bomb on his team last weekend when he complained of an aching foot that turned out to be broken. One of the two or three best and most important players in the league was going to be out for a long period of time, and the media was obviously sent into a tizzy. I have resisted the urge to look at what it all means for bettors, though, until we knew how Durant and the team were going to deal with it.

NBA Predictions: Top and Bottom 5 ATS Teams
by Doc's Sports - 10/17/2014

The start of a new season in the NBA is right around the corner, and unfortunately we find that many sports bettors fail to take advantage of a tremendous opportunity to cash in on the games during the early part of the schedule. Given all the roster changes through free agency and new additions through a deep college draft, there are some teams poised for a fast start out of the gate. At the other end of the spectrum, there are the teams that seem destined to bring up the rear of the field.

2014 Los Angeles Clippers Predictions and NBA Futures Odds
by George Monroy - 9/16/2014

The Los Angeles Clippers ended last season amidst the Donald Sterling controversy that may have cost the team a deep playoff run. Coach Doc Rivers has since gone on record stating the toll that the remarks and subsequent outcry took on the team, which at one point was ready to boycott, toward the end of the postseason was huge. Los Angeles, however, did not lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games because it was distracted; the team lost because it simply was not ready to take the next step.

NBA Futures Odds Adjustment after Kevin Love Trade
by George Monroy - 8/28/2014

The Cleveland Cavaliers gave up the last two No. 1 overall picks in the NBA Draft for perennial all-star and one of the 10-best players in the league, Kevin Love, over the summer and instantly became the favorite to win the 2015 NBA Finals. The question of whether or not Cleveland deserves to be labeled as the favorite is yet to be seen, but in the NBA the money goes where the marquee players in the league go.

NBA Picks: What To Make Of The Pacers Without Paul George
by Alan Matthews - 8/5/2014

Unfortunately, the NBA had its Joe Theismann moment last Friday night in Las Vegas. I wouldn't say the injury suffered by Indiana Pacers star Paul George was quite that bad but it was close. He was hurt in the fourth quarter of Team USA's scrimmage and is out for the year.