NBA Handicapping Articles

NBA Handicapping for Best ATS Marks in Playoffs
by George Monroy - 5/12/2015

If you are an NBA bettor looking to get a little “bang for your buck” with entertaining matchups to wager on, then this past weekend was a 10 on the charts with three game-winning shots from three of the biggest names in the NBA. Paul Pierce nailed a ridiculous game-winning bank shot during Game 3 of the Washington versus Atlanta series that saw a call back to the days when “The Truth” ruled the playoffs with the Boston Celtics.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 5/12/2015

Specialization on one team when it comes to wagering on the NBA can be a viable betting strategy, and to help prove this point I have been exclusively handicapping the Washington Wizards all season long. I have also been releasing free picks for select games with the use of Doc's Sports Unit Betting System. My year-to-date results have been mixed, and heading into Wednesday night's game I find myself in a -$470 hole in my first three postseason picks.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Tuesday, May 12 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 5/11/2015

Just like the L.A. Clippers and San Antonio Spurs should have never had to face off in the first round of the playoffs. the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls should not be meeting before the Eastern Conference Finals. But this is the format we have right now. Great weekend of basketball in Chicago as both Games 3 and 4 were won by each team's best player on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer: the Bulls' Derrick Rose in Game 3 and then the Cavs' LeBron James on Sunday.

Betting Odds and Free Picks for NBA Player Props for Monday
by Dave Schwab - 5/11/2015

There are two games on Monday night's schedule in the NBA, and both have some major ramifications for the top seed in each conference if they can't come away with a win on the road. Both of these teams trail in their best-of-seven conference semifinal matchups 2-1, and in the East Atlanta is on the road as a 4.5-point favorite against Washington, while out in the Western Conference Golden State is a four-point road favorite against Memphis.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Saturday, May 9 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 5/8/2015

I don't know about you, but I can't remember an NBA playoffs where injuries have been such a factor. The Cavaliers, of course, are without Kevin Love. The Hawks lost a key bench player when he was hurt while being arrested before the playoffs (he'll be suing the NYPD). The Grizzlies lost the heart and soul of their team for a while. Ditto the Clippers. The Pelicans occasionally had their starting point guard. The Raptors' best player, Kyle Lowry, played at clearly less than 100 percent.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 5/8/2015

All season long and into the playoffs I have exclusively been handicapping the Washington Wizardsas part of a NBA betting strategy that relies heavily on specialization. To back this project up with some betting action, I have also been releasing free picks for their games with the use of Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System. My year-to-date results have been mixed, and with the wrong call in my last pick I am currently down -$30 in the postseason.

NBA Playoffs Betting: Lessons we have Learned
by Trevor Whenham - 5/8/2015

It’s a good time to be looking at what we have learned so far from the NBA playoffs. Yesterday was an off day for all eight teams remaining, and all four series are tied at 1-1. That means that essentially we have four best-of-five series to decide who will contest the conference championship.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Friday, May 8 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 5/7/2015

This doesn't exactly rank up there with gutsy predictions like Babe Ruth calling his shot in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series at Wrigley Field against the Cubs or the Jets' Joe Namath guaranteeing victory for his Jets over the heavily-favored Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl III. But I'm going to guarantee this: there will be a lead change in Game 3 of the Cavaliers-Bulls series on Friday night. Rather amazingly, there hasn't been one yet, and thus it has been a rather drab first two games with big early leads in each.

NBA Series Odds: Updated Prices Heading into Game 3s with Expert Predictions
by George Monroy - 5/7/2015

After an uneventful first round (excluding that legendary Los Angeles versus San Antonio series), the NBA playoffs are finally beginning to heat up. Three of the four series underdogs managed to snag Game 1 on the road, while the other managed to win Game 2, and now all four are heading into their home portions of the postseason tied at one game apiece.

NBA Playoffs Odds: Clippers Climbing up Futures Boards
by George Monroy - 5/6/2015

With one shot late in the fourth quarter of the first round, Chris Paul may have changed the Los Angeles Clippers destiny. He may have completed the transformation from bottom-feeder, to perennial underachiever, to NBA champion with a gutsy Game 7 performance that was considered to be the most important game in the organization’s history. With one acrobatic layup over two defenders, Paul may have finally exorcised the demons that followed the Clippers for decades and turned the team into a legitimate championship contender instead of a paper one.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Wednesday, May 6 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 5/5/2015

And just like that, the teams that stole home-court advantage in Monday's series openers have become the favorites in those respective series (at least in terms of Bovada odds to win the conference but not on BetOnline). Chicago beat a LeBron James team for the third straight time in a Game 1 on Monday. Don't get too excited Bulls fans as they then lost the next four games in both series.

NBA MVP Stats: Will Curry Lead Golden State to the Title?
by George Monroy - 5/5/2015

On an early Monday afternoon Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry stepped up to the podium in downtown Oakland and accepted his Most Valuable Player award. Curry, the affable, spectacular, humble yet extremely confident superstar, chronicled his journey from son of an NBA star to barely-recruited college player to the face of the NBA and incumbent MVP.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Tuesday, May 5 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 5/4/2015

In what can't be considered surprising, Golden State's Stephen Curry was officially named the NBA's Most Valuable Player on Monday. I personally thought it should have been Houston's James Harden as he had to carry his team more than Curry did is because Rockets center Dwight Howard missed so much time due to injury.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 5/4/2015

I have been exclusively handicapping the Washington Wizards all season long as part of a NBA betting strategy that relies heavily on specialization. I have also been releasing free picks for their games with the use of Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System to put some money behind my efforts. With the correct 3-Unit play in my last free pick, I have been able to turn the corner with a profitable return on my year-to-date results.

Betting Odds and Free Picks for NBA Player Props for Monday
by Dave Schwab - 5/4/2015

The NBA Playoffs have moved onto the conference semifinals, so every game from here on in can have an impact on which two teams ultimately make it all the way to the 2015 NBA Finals. This is also the time of the year when the top players in the NBA tend to play their best basketball under the pressure of these win-or-go-home, best-of-seven series. Betting the NBA odds that are released for some individual player props is a great way to add some solid value to the games.

NBA Odds: Conference Semifinals Game 1 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 5/1/2015

Two of the four conference semifinals in the NBA begin on Sunday and Monday, and it will be total chalk as West No. 5 Memphis (but had first-round home-court advantage) will visit top-seeded Golden State on Sunday and East No. 3 Chicago is at No. 2 Cleveland on Monday. That Bulls-Cavaliers matchup is probably the most anticipated series of any possible matchup before the NBA Finals.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Thursday, April 30 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/29/2015

The NHL gave us two Game 7s in the first round of that league's playoffs. Come on NBA, give us at least one. However, if the sportsbooks are to be believed, both series that resume on Thursday night are going to end in Game 6 in favor of Chicago and San Antonio. It would certainly benefit both to get things completed. Obviously no one wants a Game 7, but both the Bulls' and Spurs' (assuming they win) conference finals opponents already are through and enjoying the extra rest.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Wednesday, April 29 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/28/2015

So now that we know what's going on with Cleveland's Kevin Love (out for probably the rest of the playoffs) and J.R. Smith (suspended for the first two games for the conference finals), has that changed the Cavs' futures odds? Slightly. Maybe more if the Bulls didn't look terrible on Monday night and could have closed out Milwaukee instead of having to play a Game 6 back in Wisconsin on Thursday. The Cavs are now 12/5 second favorites to the Warriors for the NBA title and 1/2 favorites to win the East. Do I think the Bulls could beat them without Love? I do. The Bucks can't. Here's a look at Wednesday's action.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Saturday, April 25 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/24/2015

The NCAA Tournament the NBA playoffs are not. Remember the first day of the 2015 Big Dance with all those upsets (things were mostly chalk after that)? Well, that can happen in a single-game elimination format but not in a best-of-seven series. Three teams now hold a 3-0 lead in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and four more teams have the chance to grab a 3-0 lead starting Friday. This could be the most lopsided first round since 1983-84, when the NBA moved to a 16-team playoff format.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Friday, April 24 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/23/2015

Obviously the Oklahoma City Thunder aren't in the playoffs, but I do want to touch on the team firing Coach Scott Brooks on Wednesday. I'm assuming the Thunder checked with Kevin Durant before doing so because Durant, a free agent after next season, always has backed Brooks. Seems a bit harsh to dump Brooks considering how many injuries he had to deal with, but presumably the Thunder have a plan in place and reports are the team will target either UConn coach Kevin Ollie, a good friend and former teammate of Durant's, or Florida's Billy Donovan.