NBA Handicapping Articles

Betting Odds and Free Picks for NBA Props for Tuesday
by Dave Schwab - 4/21/2015

When it comes to wagering on the NBA, there is nothing better than the playoffs. Each game can be a make-or-break situation as far as advancing to the next round, and one of the best ways to add even more action is betting on individual player props based on their performance in that particular night’s contest.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Tuesday, April 21 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/20/2015

I love the NBA playoffs, but I think it's fair to say that the opening weekend of the postseason was a bit of a bore (other than Raptors GM Masai Ujiri dropping another profane bomb in public and earning a hefty fine from the league again). The only road team to win was Washington in overtime at Toronto; otherwise the home teams won pretty comfortably. That's no fun. I only give Washington a shot for a road team to win among Tuesday's three games as well. Here's a look at each with odds from BetOnline.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Sunday, April 19 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/16/2015

The eight playoff teams that didn't open their first-round series on Saturday will Sunday. It's fitting that Cleveland opens against Boston as LeBron James' last game with the Cavaliers before leaving for Miami was a Game 6 defeat to the Celtics in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals. Had the Cavs won that series, perhaps LeBron stays put.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Saturday, April 18 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/16/2015

My favorite playoffs of the year tip off Saturday as the Sweet 16 of the NBA begins. Do I agree that the league should alter the playoff format to a true 1-16 bracket and simply take the best 16 teams regardless of conference? I do. The Celtics (40-42) and Nets (38-44) don't belong in the postseason over Oklahoma City (45-37). But even if you want to the true best 16, there still would be at least one team under .500 this season, so perhaps there's no perfect fix.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Wednesday, April 15 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/14/2015

Wednesday has to be considered one of the worst days of the year. Why? Well, you have better paid your income taxes by the end of the day. And to make matters worse, it's also the last day of the NBA's regular season. I suppose from a glass half-full perspective that simply means more important basketball is right around the corner with the start of the playoffs this weekend. Some games Wednesday -- only the Clippers and Suns don't play -- have some playoff relevance. Here's a look. Hornets-Raptors and Pacers-Grizzlies will be shown on ESPN. A lot of TBAs because some teams might rest key guys.

NBA Zig-Zag Betting Theory: How to Wager on Playoff Games
by George Monroy - 4/14/2015

NBA betting theories come and go with the changing of the wind. Bettors may find an edge over the sportsbooks, but then the sportsbooks will adjust their lines and that edge will disappear, leaving bettors to look for a new one. The system is that cyclical. However, that does not mean certain theories and ideas cannot be revisited over time and used or at least referenced when handicapping a basketball game. The zig-zag theory happens to be one of those interesting sports betting concepts that played well for a time, earned bettors some money (mainly during the 90s) and flamed out once the theory became too popular.

Golden State Warriors Odds to Win NBA Championship with Betting Picks
by Trevor Whenham - 4/14/2015

It has been, by every measure, a dream season for the Golden State Warriors. They are running away with the race for the top record in the league and will have home-court advantage as long as they want it. They are the favorites to win the NBA title. Their star is all but a lock to win the MVP. They unquestionably hired the right coach in the offseason, and they upgraded dramatically as a result. Everything is coming up roses. Impressive in almost every way.

NBA Playoffs Handicapping: Teams with the Best and Worst ATS Records
by George Monroy - 4/14/2015

The NBA playoffs are set to begin on Saturday, April 18, with a full slate of first-round matchups. The seedings will not be finalized until the final game of the regular season as there are still two teams in each conference fighting for their playoffs lives, while five squads in the in the West still have a chance at moving up or down in the playoff bracket. Before the postseason begins, let’s take a closer look at the best and worst ATS records for certain playoff teams and figure out which have the potential to make bettors some money over the next few weeks of basketball.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Tuesday, April 14 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/13/2015

It's the penultimate day of the 2014-15 NBA regular season on Tuesday, and all three games on the schedule have some sort of playoff relevance. Washington at Indiana and the L.A. Clippers at Phoenix both are on TNT and will be offered for live betting at Bovada and other sportsbooks. The Suns are the only one of the six clubs in action with nothing to play for other than it's the team's season finale -- it is for the Clippers as well, although their season isn't over. Every other team closes its regular season Wednesday.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 4/13/2015

Specialization on just one team can be a viable betting strategy in the NBA, 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 their games with the use of Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System to put some money behind this theory. The results have been mixed with 12-10-2 record on the year with a slight profit of $70.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Saturday, April 11 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/10/2015

The Hawks aren't on Saturday's schedule, but I want to address some bad news that could affect them in the playoffs. Swingman Thabo Sefolosha isn't a starter and only plays about 19 minutes per night, but he's a hustle guy and a terrific defender. Sefolosha has the best defensive rating on the team by a wide margin and ranks sixth out of 86 qualified small forwards in defensive real plus-minus.

NBA Handicapping: Warriors and Rockets Chances for Western Conference Finals
by George Monroy - 4/10/2015

For all the talk about the loaded Western Conference, a few teams have begun to separate themselves from the rest of the pack—namely the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets. The squads are on course to enter the postseason as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, and each can probably lay a clam to having the best player in the conference. Stephen Curry and James Harden have been the Top 2 candidates in the MVP race for most of the year, and both are putting the finishing touches on fantastic seasons that saw one put up a highlight-reel play nearly every night with the other controlling his offense like a conductor leading a symphony.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Friday, April 10 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/9/2015

Here's a statistic for Oklahoma City going into its game on Friday night: the team doesn't control its playoff destiny for the first time this late in the year since moving from Seattle. When it secured the eighth seed during the 2009-10 season, OKC clinched the postseason berth on April 3. OKC hasn’t finished lower than fourth since. Of the Thunder’s entire 15-man roster, only center Enes Kanter has still been in a playoff race this late into a season (with Utah in 2011-12).

NBA Odds and Predictions: Thursday, April 9 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/8/2015

Hard as it is to believe, this Thursday is the final one of the 2014-15 NBA regular season, and the lone two matchups are on TNT as usual. You are really going to see teams benching their key guys for the final six days of the regular season, at least those that don't have anything to play for. The Bulls largely don't on Thursday night -- they are going to be the No. 3 or 4 seed -- and the Warriors definitely don't.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Wednesday, April 8 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/7/2015

I'm definitely not a fan of the Indiana Pacers, but as someone who loves the NBA Playoffs I was glad to see Pacers superstar Paul George make his return from that gruesome broken leg suffered this summer on Sunday against Miami. George had 13 points and clearly fired up his teammates. If the Pacers can sneak into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, I could absolutely see them upsetting Atlanta in the first round with George now playing.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 4/7/2015

All season long I have been exclusively handicapping the Washington Wizards as part of a NBA betting strategy that relies heavily on specialization on one team. I have also been releasing free picks for their games with the use of Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System to help prove the point. The results have been mixed with an overall record of 11-10-2, but I am getting closer to my goal of producing a profit for the year.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Tuesday, April 7 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/6/2015

So you are the Golden State Warriors. You have nothing whatsoever to play for on Tuesday night in New Orleans. Do you rest some guys and "let" the Pelicans beat you to improve their chances of winning the No. 8 seed in the West? Maybe the Warriors would prefer to face New Orleans in the first round of the playoffs instead of having to deal with Oklahoma City and Russell Westbrook. I would think that's the Warriors would much prefer the inexperienced Pelicans. We shall see. Here's a look at every game on Tuesday.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Saturday, April 4 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/3/2015

Unlike Friday's schedule, there are some pretty good NBA matchups on Saturday night featuring likely playoff teams. There are few bigger fans of the Association than I, but I'll certainly be watching the Final Four instead of the professionals on Saturday night. But, hey, there are always potential NCAA/NBA parlay options. Here's a look at every game on the penultimate Saturday of the 2014-15 NBA regular season.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Friday, April 3 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 4/2/2015

Somewhat of an unusual schedule on a pretty busy Friday as only one game features two teams that for sure will make the playoffs: Thunder at Grizzlies in the first game of ESPN's doubleheader. The Thunder haven't clinched a spot yet, but it's probably only a matter of time -- although New Orleans still might have something to say about that. Memphis entered play Thursday tied with Houston (which was in Dallas on Thursday night) for the Southwest Division lead, and the winner of that probably gets the No. 2 seed in the West. Here's a look at every game Friday, with Blazers-Lakers also on ESPN.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 4/2/2015

The NBA regular season continues to wind down with the start of the playoffs right around the corner. All year long I have been handicapping the Washington Wizards in an effort to demonstrate the value of specialization when it comes to betting on the NBA. I have also been releasing free picks with the use of Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System for select games to help prove the point. It has been a roller-coaster ride so far that has added up to an 11-10-1 record on the year.