NBA Handicapping Articles

NBA Odds: Friday, March 11, 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/10/2016

And now we start to see Operation Tank Mode across the NBA. The Philadelphia 76ers almost surely were going to finish with the NBA's worst record regardless, but they pretty much would assure that by shutting down top rookie Jahlil Okafor for the season. He has missed the past five games with soreness in his right knee, and the team may just end his year. At this point, might as well.

NBA Handicapping: Is San Antonio vs. Golden State WCF Matchup Inevitable?
by Trevor Whenham - 3/9/2016

Anything can happen in sports. That doesn't mean that there aren't some things that feel inevitable, though. The last couple of Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cups have felt that way. So did the last Yankee World Series. A couple of Alabama's national titles have felt very inevitable. More inevitable than all of those, though - and perhaps more inevitable than anything we've seen in awhile - is the looming showdown between Golden State and San Antonio in the Western Conference final.

NBA Odds: Thursday, March 10 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/9/2016

LeBron James could sit out Thursday's nationally-televised game in Los Angeles because it's the second of a back-to-back for his Cleveland Cavaliers. Kobe Bryant could sit out because, well, he's like 90 and has a bum shoulder that essentially makes him questionable for the rest of the regular season.

NBA Odds: Wednesday, March 9 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/8/2016

The amazing Golden State Warriors shrugged off that shocking loss at the Lakers with a win over the Magic on Monday night to set an NBA record with their 45th straight home win, breaking a tie with the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls. It's very easy to see the Warriors going 41-0 at home this season. Can't see them losing there Wednesday night against Utah, which is 10-21 away from home.

NBA Odds: Tuesday, March 8 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/7/2016

I'd be wary of backing the Brooklyn Nets the rest of this season -- not that you probably would, but just in case. I bring this up because the Nets are in a weird spot. Normally a club in Brooklyn's position would essentially tank the rest of the way to improve its chances at winning the lottery and the chance to take LSU freshman Ben Simmons.

NBA Betting Trends: Top Totals Wagering Teams for Over and Under This Season
by Trevor Whenham - 3/7/2016

We are, incredibly, already three-quarters of the way through the NBA season. The playoffs are just around the corner. This is as good a time as any to take a look at which teams have been making money for totals bettors so far this year. The sample size is large enough now that there is a decent chance that teams that have generated profits up to this point could keep generating them down the stretch.

NBA Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Teams Against the Point Spread
by Aaron Smith - 3/4/2016

Now is a good time to start watching the playoff standings in the NBA. Most teams only have a little bit more than 20 games left in the regular season. Every year we see some teams catch fire this time of the year and springboard themselves into the playoffs. Of course, there will some cases on the other side, where teams who currently look like contenders fall apart down the stretch. The bottom of the Eastern Conference is jammed up with all kinds of possible playoff teams. That will take some major sorting out in the coming weeks.

NBA Handicapping: Portland Trail Blazers a Boon for Bettors
by Trevor Whenham - 3/4/2016

There must be something new in the water in Portland or something, because the Trail Blazers have been playing like a whole new team since Jan. 10. On that day they were 15-24, and it looked like it was going to be yet another wasted season in the Pacific Northwest. Since then, though, they are an incredible 18-5 and have climbed right back into the playoff hunt. If the playoffs started now they would be the seventh seed, and they would likely have to play worse than they did in the first half of the season to fall out of the playoffs entirely.

NBA Odds: Saturday, March 5 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/4/2016

How well do you remember the 2008 NBA Draft? There were two clear favorites to go No. 1 overall that year: Memphis freshman point guard Derrick Rose and Kansas State freshman forward Michael Beasley. You have to remember, big men were still somewhat preferred then with all things being equal. And some scouts definitely would have taken Beasley No. 1. But the Chicago Bulls improbably won the lottery and didn't think twice about taking the hometown Rose. Sadly, it looks like neither player's career will live up to expectations.

NBA Handicapping: Injuries not Only Reason for Bulls Struggles
by Trevor Whenham - 3/4/2016

A disaster. That's really all you can say about it. This is a Bulls season that every Bulls fan will want to forget about immediately. It was not long ago that the Bulls were the only team in the East that seemed capable of testing the Heat. When the epicenter of the conference moved to Cleveland, the Bulls should have moved right along with them. Instead, they are at real risk of missing the playoffs entirely. There is basically nothing positive about the team at this point. So, what are the issues? And what does it mean for bettors? Here are five factors to consider when pondering those questions:

NBA Handicapping: Atlanta Hawks Most Bland Team in Eastern Conference
by Trevor Whenham - 3/4/2016

Last year the Atlanta Hawks were pretty impressive. They weren't perfect, but they took massive steps forward and it seemed like they were really building towards something. This year so much of that momentum is gone. They aren't bad by any means, but they aren't exactly inspiring, either. They are just generic - like cheap vanilla ice cream. No one's going to complain about being served a bowl of vanilla ice cream, but no one would request it for their last meal, either. They have been so bland that it can be easy to forget about them.

NBA Odds: Friday, March 4, 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/3/2016

For much of this season, it looked like the Los Angeles Lakers made a mistake taking D'Angelo Russell with the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft instead of going with Jahlil Okafor and especially Kristaps Porzingis. And while I still think Porzingis will be the better pro (not sold on Okafor yet), Russell is starting to show signs of what the Lakers saw in him -- and why they should play Kobe Bryant only a few minutes a night (to let the fans see him) so Russell can be the "guy."

Handicapping the NBA Playoff Races
by Trevor Whenham - 3/3/2016

We are entering the home stretch of the NBA season. Three quarters of regular-season games have been played, the trade deadline has past, and teams are now focusing on making the playoffs and being ready to make an impact when they do so. For bettors, these playoff races are important to pay attention to. The longer playoff races remain heated, the better it is for bettors because the easier it is to know what to expect from teams. If there is no playoff race that teams need to be concerned about then you can't be sure that they will play their best on a given night because there is no reason to.

NBA Odds: Thursday, March 3 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/2/2016

Sadly, Thursday night is the final regular-season meeting between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors, who can tie the NBA record for longest home winning streak with a victory. If you are a fan of the NBA, root for the Thunder to fall to the No. 4 seed in the West by the end of the season (Clippers could pass them).

Free NBA Props Picks with Betting Odds and Expert Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 3/2/2016

The NBA enters the stretch run of the regular season, and the biggest question on many bettors' minds is if Golden State can set the single-season record for straight up wins by eclipsing the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls mark of 72-10. The Warriors are well on their way with 54 wins in their first 59 games, and most sportsbooks have them listed at even money against the field to win another NBA title.

NBA Betting Advice: How to Wager on Pro Basketball Teasers
by George Monroy - 3/2/2016

There are a million ways to skin a cat, and for sports bettors that "cat" equals profits. We all know how to wager on spreads and totals, but sometimes as bettors we need to expand our arsenal and look for other opportunities to get action on a game. One great way to accomplish that goal is by using a teaser. The wager is a combination bet similar to a parlay that allows bettors to add a certain number of points to either side of the spread. Sound fantastic? Well, it is, because a teaser can be an excellent way to find value on certain spreads if you use them the correct way. A teaser can also be a sure-fire way to dump your bankroll by getting involved with "sucker bets".

NBA Betting Advice and Handicapping: Oklahoma City Thunder ATS Report Card
by George Monroy - 3/1/2016

Bettors love the Oklahoma City Thunder. And with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook running the show, what's not to love? The team has superstar appeal, it plays a fun and up-tempo style of basketball, and most importantly, the Thunder remain one of the few teams with enough talent to challenge the Golden State Warriors for the 2016 NBA title. Yet with all that being said, Oklahoma City clocks in as one of the worst ATS teams in the entire NBA. Yes, the powerhouse Thunder, who are pace to grab another 60-win season, are a bad bet for NBA gamblers.

NBA Odds: Wednesday, March 2 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/1/2016

Suddenly not everything is kosher in Cleveland. J.R. Smith pushed the panic button after a recent loss, and on Monday you heard a report from Stephen A. Smith that point guard Kyrie Irving wants out of Cleveland. Does Stephen A. Smith irritate me beyond words? He does. But Smith is right more often than not when he says these things; he was the guy who first reported LeBron James would go to Miami back in 2010.

NBA Odds: Tuesday, March 1 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 2/29/2016

Have you ever seen a more entertaining regular-season NBA game than Saturday night's epic in Oklahoma City? I truly have not. How ridiculous is Steph Curry? I'm out of adjectives for the guy. He casually lofted a 32-footer with 0.6 seconds left in overtime for the win. I mean, how can you guard someone like that? Curry tied an NBA record with 12 3-pointers and broke his own season record for 3-pointers made -- and he has 24 more games to play!

NBA Odds: Saturday, February 27 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 2/26/2016

Normally, players who clear waivers and are bought out by their teams won't make any difference in terms of any team winning an NBA title. However, that could change this season with former All-Star guard Joe Johnson. He was released by Brooklyn on Thursday and has until 5 p.m. ET on Saturday to clear waivers. He absolutely will do that at his monster salary ($24.9 million this season in final year of contract). Then the Nets will give him a buyout and Johnson can sign with anyone (but Brooklyn). And reports are that Johnson is going to go title chasing with Cleveland. Certainly other contenders would want him, but San Antonio and Golden State are set at shooting guard.