NBA Handicapping Articles

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.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 4/23/2015

It’s playoff time in the NBA. Just as I have done all season, I will continue to handicap the Washington Wizards for as long as their run lasts as the No. 5 seed in the East. 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 the betting strategy of specialization. The results have been mixed with 12-11-2 record during the regular season, but I am also looking for a strong run in the postseason.

NBA Draft Betting Props: Odds and Predictions for the No. 1 Pick
by Raphael Esparza - 4/23/2015

The NBA Playoffs are in full effect, but half of the teams are thinking about the upcoming NBA Draft.The NBA Draft isn’t until Thursday June 25, but on May 19 the ping-pong balls will be dropped, and that is when we find out who will be picking No. 1 in the 2015 NBA Draft.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Thursday, April 23 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/22/2015

The three series that resume action in the underdog's city for Game 3 haven't been all that dramatic yet as the home team never was much in doubt of losing either of the first two games. I think it's fair to say that if the home dogs don't win Game 3 on Thursday night then we probably are looking sweeps -- especially the Celtics and Pelicans need to win Game 3 against the two best teams in the NBA. I do think the Bucks will get one game from Chicago, which just can't seem to keep everyone healthy and is dealing with yet another injury.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Wednesday, April 22 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/21/2015

It has not been a good couple of days for the Trail Blazers franchise. First there was a Game 1 loss in Memphis on Sunday, then news came out that the Blazers had what sounds like a racist laminated card in their locker room that included the phrase "We don't lose to Spanish players," presumably referring to Memphis star center Marc Gasol (apparently they do lose to Spanish players).