2008 NBA Basketball Article Archive
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Below is a listing of articles appearing on Doc’s site sorted by date.
Around the NBA in 24 Seconds
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 12/29/2008
Home cooking plays a major role in the NBA when it comes to wins and losses. Home favorites are winning straight up at a nearly 70-percent clip, because obviously the hookers and the chronic that you get in your own crib are going to beat what you have to score on the road. That, and NBA players are huge egomaniacs who thrive on energy, passion, and fulfilled need for acceptance that they get from the home crowd.
Read more about NBA Betting.
Playing the NBA Stock Market: Buy or Sell
by Josh Nagel - 12/29/2008
It's hard to believe that the NBA regular season is nearly half over already. Then again, it's hard to believe that 2008 is almost over, too.
Read more about NBA Stock Market.
Around the NBA in 24 Seconds
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 12/24/2008
It's almost Christmas and we in the NBA World know that a lot of the most watched, most bet, and most memorable games of the year are on Christmas Day. In honor of that we are going to do our first mock playoff bracket:
Read more about NBA Betting.
NBA Finals Rematch on Christmas Day
by Todd Lepow - 12/24/2008
Christmas brings us a highly anticipated rematch of last season's riveting NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Both teams have started off the 2008-09 season red hot as the Celtics head to LA with a franchise record 19-game winning streak and a 27-2 start to the season.
Read more about NBA Finals Rematch.
Around the NBA in 24 Seconds
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 12/15/2008
Starbury has had one of the most star-crossed careers in the NBA over the last 15 years. And there are still chapters to be written. He is currently estranged from the team that owns his contract and no one can be sure if he will be traded, bought out, or left on the shelf.
Read more about NBA Betting.
Playing the NBA Stock Market: Buy or Sell
by Josh Nagel - 12/15/2008
A little more than a quarter way through the NBA season, some teams are just starting to hit their stride while others are cooling off after a hot start. For the most part, the early-season guesswork has given way to fairly clear picture of each team's potential. But fortunes have a way of changing quickly in the NBA, so it's never a bad idea to take stock of which teams might have momentum on their side and others that look poised for a downturn.
Read more about NBA Stock Market Buy Or Sell.
NBA Betting: ATS Duds
by Trevor Whenham - 12/12/2008
In the NBA, teams aren't able to remain profitable for an extended period of time. We're only a quarter of the way through the season, and already there are only seven teams that are profitable, and two of those just barely qualify. That leaves 23 teams that would have cost loyal bettors money on the season. There are varying degrees of long-term failure, though. Some teams come close to breaking even, while others just put their backers' money in a pile and light it on fire.
Read more about NBA ATS Duds.
Around the NBA in 24 Seconds
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 12/09/2008
We all know what the Detroit Pistons have done with the Allen Iverson trade. You know, dismantling a dynasty with one swift and crucial decapitating blow. But here is exactly what the Pistons should have done prior to the Allen Iverson/Chauncey Billups trade:
Read more about NBA Betting.
NBA Teasers: Stay Far Away
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 12/08/2008
Compared to scoring in football, points in the NBA light up the scoreboard at a much-higher pace. Teams routinely combine to score much more than 200 points in games while NFL totals generally hover around the lower forties. But oddly enough, the books in Vegas seem to value points more in pro basketball when it comes to NBA teasers.
Read more about NBA Teasers.
Thursday NBA on TNT Preview: Spurs at Nuggets
by Matt Severance - 12/04/2008
This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Denver Nuggets - after all, they gave away one of their best players, Marcus Camby, to the Clippers for next to nothing in the offseason. And it looked like it would be a long year in the Mile High City before the big trade that jettisoned Allen Iverson to Detroit and brought Chauncey Billups back home.
Read more about Thursday NBA on TNT Preview.
NBA Betting: Best Teams ATS
by Trevor Whenham - 12/03/2008
It seems hard to believe, but we are already more than 20 percent into the NBA season. Some things have turned out exactly like we expected, some teams are much better than we thought, some have disappointed, and there have been a few real surprises. There are all sorts of things we could talk about, but really only one thing matters - making money.
Read more about NBA Best ATS.
Around the NBA in 24 Seconds
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 12/01/2008
Right now the Utah Jazz are THE team that no one wants to see when they are fully healthy. But the question is, will this team ever get healthy?
Read more about NBA Betting.
Playing the NBA Stock Market: Buy or Sell
by Josh Nagel - 12/01/2008
Black Friday was a buyer's market if you were one of the millions who braved the frigid November cold for hours on end in hopes of getting first selection and prime value out of your holiday shopping.
Read more about NBA Stock Market.
NBA Betting: Nuggets Better Off Without Iverson
by Trevor Whenham - 11/26/2008
I'm a big Allen Iverson fan so I hate to admit this, but the Nuggets really seem better off without "The Answer" on the court. Denver has won eight of 10 since acquiring Chauncey Billups from Denver for Iverson. The only two losses have been totally acceptable, too - on the road to the equally hot Cavs and Lakers. They are 6-3-1 ATS in this new era. This streak has them precariously perched atop the Northwest Division and, for now anyway, comfortably in a playoff spot.
Read more about Denver Nuggets.
Around the NBA in 24 Seconds
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 11/24/2008
The sun has set on the fourth week of the NBA season and the cream is already rising to the top. The Lakers and the Celtics are starting to prove to the rest of the NBA that if anyone wants to get to the Finals they need to knock off the defending Eastern and Western Conference champs. Boston and L.A. are a combined 23-3 straight up after their first 26 games and both teams are in first in their respective conferences.
Read more about NBA Betting.
Improved Heat Lacking in the Middle
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 11/24/2008
Last season's 15-67 record for the Miami Heat was so mind-numbingly bad, people are still having trouble trying to figure out how a team with Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neil for most of the season just refused to win games. The Heat are assured to be one of the most improved teams this year just for the simple fact that anything is an improvement over 15 wins. This season after 13 games, the Heat are almost halfway there with a 7-6 straight up record.
Read more about Miami Heat.
NBA Trading Rules
by Todd Lepow - 11/21/2008
The NBA trade deadline always brings excitement each year as teams try to gauge which piece of the puzzle they need to add to the mix to reach the goal of NBA Champion.
Read more about NBA Trading Rules.
NBA Playoff Rules
by Todd Lepow - 11/21/2008
During each NBA season teams battle through a rough and rigid 82 game regular season to earn the right to play in the 16-team playoff tournament for the NBA Championship.
Read more about NBA Playoff Rules.
NBA Betting: Public Teams
by Trevor Whenham - 11/19/2008
With the NBA back in full swing, now is a good time to spend a bit of time thinking about public teams. Public teams - those which the public is likely to support regardless of who or how they are playing - are more of a factor in the NBA than they are in some sports because more people take just a passing interest in the NBA than in other sports. That means that people pay attention to the big stars and their teams, but don't necessarily study teams closely.
Read more about NBA Public Teams.
Handicapping New NBA Coaches
by Trevor Whenham - 11/19/2008
The NBA's coaching ranks are a perpetual revolving door. Each year recently somewhere around a quarter of teams in the league have welcomed a new coach. Early in the season, those new coaches represent a handicapping challenge. New coaches bring in new systems and philosophies. Some teams have the right talent and attitude, and the transition is easy.
Read more about Handicapping NBA Coaches.
Timberwolves Shouldn't Be This Bad
by Trevor Whenham - 11/19/2008
The Timberwolves were supposed to be one of the good stories this year. They were coming off a 22-win season last year in which they had to learn how to live without Kevin Garnett and watch him win a title elsewhere, but they had lots of young talent and there was a bit of hope. Not tons, mind you - this clearly was not going to be a playoff team. It looked, though, like it could take a significant step forward - maybe 32 wins instead of 22.
Read more about Minnesota Timberwolves.
NBA Betting: Early Season Cellar Dwellers
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 11/18/2008
Ready to write off teams like the Washington Wizards, Minnesota Timberwolves, L.A. Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder? As Lee Corso might say, "not so fast, my friend."
Read more about NBA Last Place Teams.
NBA Facts
by Trevor Whenham - 11/18/2008
Now that the NBA season is underway, this is a good time to bone up on your NBA facts and trivia. That way, you can amaze and astound your friends the next time you are watching a ball game. Just don't be too obnoxious about it - nobody likes a smarty-pants. Test yourself with all of these facts:
Read more about NBA Facts.
Around the NBA in 24 Seconds
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 11/17/2008
Week No. 3 has come to a close in the NBA and you can shut the door on teams going 82-0 as the Hawks and Lakers saw their perfection come to a close.
Read more about NBA Betting.
Playing the NBA Stock Market: Buy or Sell
by Josh Nagel - 11/17/2008
Sometimes, betting on the NBA can be a lot like buying and selling in the stock market. If you're not careful, it can have dire consequences, but if you look carefully and do your homework, you can be handsomely rewarded.
Read more about NBA Stock Market.
NBA Violence
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 11/17/2008
The NHL, the NFL, the NBA and MLB are the main draws for professional sport leagues in the U.S. and with the four different leagues you have four different definitions of violence. Fighting is completely acceptable in the NHL with fines hardly ever being imposed as referees regulate the carnage; the league advertises it and fans cheer for it.
Read more about NBA Violence.
NBA Betting: Hawks Look Like Real Deal
by Trevor Whenham - 11/14/2008
The Atlanta Hawks have been the doormats of the NBA for about as long as there has been an NBA. They didn't finish anywhere close to .500 last year, but they still squeaked into the playoffs in the top-heavy East. Once there, they were the only team that was able to give Boston a scare, eventually losing in Game 7. That was certainly a step forward for the franchise, but it gave us no hint of what was to come at the start of this year.
Read more about Atlanta Hawks.
NBA Betting: Lakers a Team Worthy of 'Public' Status
by Trevor Whenham - 11/14/2008
Last year's season for the Lakers ended with a frustrating, embarrassing loss to the Celtics in the NBA Finals. That was a long time ago, but the Lakers clearly haven't forgotten about it, and they obviously want to do something about it. The team is the only undefeated squad remaining, and they have been spectacular.
Read more about Los Angeles Lakers.
Around the NBA in 24 Seconds
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 11/12/2008
The first couple of weeks are in the books in the NBA and I can say that while there have been some interesting storylines; there isn't anything that I've seen to this point that is altogether stunning. Well, that is other than the fact that the quality of play has been much, much worse than I was expecting.
Read more about NBA Betting.
Early NBA Betting Lessons
by Trevor Whenham - 11/12/2008
The NBA season is only a couple of weeks old, but already it has been educational. As any sports bettor knows, success comes from a combination of advanced preparation and the ability to adjust expectations based on what happens on the court, field, or ice. A whole lot of interesting things have happened this year - some that have gone as expected, and others that certainly haven't. Here's a look at five lessons that bettors have learned so far in this young NBA season.
Read more about NBA Betting Lessons.
Age May Be Catching Up With the Spurs
by Trevor Whenham - 11/06/2008
Considering the team only started 0-3, and is now 1-3, there sure is a lot of panic surrounding the San Antonio Spurs. By now you have probably heard that this was the first time that the team started 0-3 since before Tim Duncan was born - 1973, to be precise. It hardly means that the apocalypse is upon us, but the signs of mortality are strange for this team. They have won at least 65 percent of their games in each of the last 11 seasons, and they have four titles over that stretch. They may be the most boring, personality-challenged team in the league, but they are truly masterful at quietly winning a lot of games.
Read more about San Antonio Spurs.
Allen Iverson Trade: What It Means to Bettors
by Trevor Whenham - 11/04/2008
Joe Dumars, the main man in the front office of the Detroit Pistons, can be called a lot of things, but a coward certainly isn't one of them. The guy is fearless when it comes to making big trades, and he was at it again on Monday. He sent his starting point guard, Chauncey Billups, and top-class bench depth in Antonio McDyess to the Nuggets in exchange for Allen Iverson, the controversial pure scorer.
Read more about Allen Iverson Trade.
NBA Up-And-Comers That Could Hold Early Value
by Trevor Whenham - 10/31/2008
Now that the NBA season is finally under way, this is a good time to look for teams that present some potential value early in the season. Every year there are teams that the public is down on, but which aren't as bad as people think. Other teams are just flying completely under the radar. In both cases, there can be good value for bettors in early games before the public, and therefore the oddsmakers, adjust their expectations for the teams. Here are five teams that could fit into one of the under-valued categories:
Read more about Potential NBA Value Teams.
How Will NBA Best and Worst ATS Fare This Season?
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 10/30/2008
Will the top five moneymakers from 2007-08 in the NBA continue to produce this year and will the team's that struggled at the pay window last season have better luck against the number this season? Here is a look at the top five teams from last season against the spread and the worst five teams ATS.
Read more about NBA Best and Worst ATS.
NBA Western Conference Betting Preview: Pacific Division Predictions
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 10/27/2008
Make no mistake: The Pacific Division is the express domain of the Los Angeles Lakers. They have more than three times as many division titles (19) as the next closest franchise (Phoenix, six). And the irony of both the 2007-08 and the 2008-09 seasons is that the player that is recently responsible for Laker dominance is now seemingly responsible for Phoenix's collapse.
Read more about NBA Pacific Division Predictions.
NBA Western Conference Betting Preview: Southwest Division Predictions
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 10/27/2008
When one thinks of the Southwest Division they could compare it to the NFC East in Football, or the A.L. East in baseball. Out of the five teams in the division four of them finished at least 20 games over .500. That is insane! How in the world do you win a game when every other game you play not only a division rival, but a legit NBA Title contender?
Read more about NBA Southwest Division Predictions.
NBA Western Conference Betting Preview: Northwest Division Predictions
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 10/27/2008
The Utah Jazz and the Denver Nuggets are the only two teams in the Northwest that finished over .500 last season. Bottom dwellers Minnesota and The Artist Formerly Known As Seattle had two of the worst three records in the NBA. But last year's loser could be this year's flavor. Things can change in the blink of an eye or a bounce of ball in the NBA, and I see some serious potential on the clubs that were hanging onto the bottom rung last year.
Read more about NBA Northwest Division Predictions.
NBA Futures
by Spencer Patton - 10/27/2008
When wagering futures, "value" in a line can go up in flames faster than the Cub's bullpen does in the clutch. A blown-up knee (Tom Brady) or simply buying into a preseason hype-fest (Cleveland Browns) are examples of the potential value-busters that can sink even seasoned bettors. Season win totals in the NFL, championship wagers in the NBA, and NHL player point totals are some of my favorite futures bets.
Read more about NBA Futures.
NBA Eastern Conference Betting Preview: Atlantic Division Predictions
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 10/24/2008
"Wait, you mean we have to do it again?" That's kind of the general sense I get about the attitude of the Boston Celtics. After their triumphant return to glory and basketball relevance in 2007-08 the Celtics will be back this year trying to defend their world championship. Last year's Celtics club was absolutely dominating in the postseason (well, except for that bizarre Hawks series).
Read more about NBA Atlantic Division Predictions.
NBA Eastern Conference Betting Preview: Central Division Predictions
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 10/24/2008
The NBA Central was the home of three playoff teams in the 2006-2007 season, including the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference (Detroit and Cleveland), and was the rising force in a league that seemed to be shifting power from west to east. Then in 2007-08 the bottom fell out faster than it did in the Bush Administration.
Read more about NBA Central Division Predictions.
NBA Eastern Conference Betting Preview: Southeast Division Predictions
by Robert Ferringo and Nolan Sinclair - 10/24/2008
The NBA's Southeast Division reminds me of my Monday night TV schedule: just too many options for me to enjoy. And just like my DVR has trouble making room for them all, I get the sense that the NBA playoff field is going to be without a quality team from this division as these teams cannibalize one another throughout the regular season.
Read more about NBA Southeast Division Predictions.
2008-2009 NBA Western Conference Season Win Totals Predictions
by Todd Lepow - 10/24/2008
Yesterday we offered some season win totals predictions for the NBA's Eastern Conference for 2008-09. Now we will head out west where the competition is fierce and some very solid squads will likely be left out of the playoffs. All odds are from Sportsbook.com.
Read more about Western Conference Win Totals.
2008-2009 NBA Eastern Conference Season Win Totals Predictions
by Todd Lepow - 10/23/2008
What surprises do we have in store in the upcoming NBA season? Will a team be able to match the Celtics unbelievable 42-win turnaround of last season? Will a team like the Trail Blazers take the Western Conference by storm? Will the Suns maintain their dominance or will father time finally catch up? Find out all the off-season moves and my thoughts on each team's posted win totals. This article will cover the Eastern Conference season win totals and look out for the Western Conference predictions tomorrow.
Read more about Eastern Conference Win Totals.
2008 NBA Draft Grades
by Trevor Whenham - 06/27/2008
The NBA Draft has ended and the dust has mostly settled. And there was a whole lot of dust, too - tons of trades, a few surprise picks, and the odd head scratcher. It's several years too early to know how this draft class will turn out (though I am optimistic), but we can look at first impressions. Here, then, are my 2008 NBA Draft grades.
Read more about 2008 NBA Draft Grades.
2008 NBA Mock Draft
by Robert Ferringo - Updated 06/19/2008
It's June 26 and this is what I picture: Danny Ainge is naked draped in the Boston Celtics' recent championship banner. He's sleeping on a mountain of Bolivian bam-bam, surrounded by Asian hookers and Twizzlers. He wakes up around 8:30 p.m., and realizes that the C's actually have to participate in the 2008 NBA Draft. The perplexed - and incredibly wasted - Mormon tries to snap out of his three-week bender, but instead just rolls back over onto Wang-Li and dreams about K.G. rocking one on the dome of Pau Gasol in the Garden as the bloodthirsty crowd chants Danny's name.
Read more about NBA Mock Draft.
2008 NBA Finals Preview
by Trevor Whenham - 06/04/2008
By now you've heard the typical stories about the finals a million times - Kobe Bryant is pretty good, Kevin Garnett has never before been successful in the playoffs, the Celtics and the Lakers used to be major rivals, and the like. In providing an NBA Finals preview I could just mail it in and cover all of that same tired ground again, but there's no fun in that. Instead, let's look at six factors beyond the headlines that could be significant in the series which gets underway Thursday night in Boston.
Read more about NBA Finals Preview.
NBA Finals Facts
by Trevor Whenham - 06/03/2008
There are a few days to kill before the NBA Finals get under way. Instead of just staring at the clock waiting for the action to start, fill your mind with these NBA Finals facts. You'll amaze your friends with your knowledge, and chicks dig guys with ridiculous amounts of geeky knowledge stored in their noggins.
Read more about NBA Finals Facts.
2008 NBA Finals Schedule
If you have reached this page you are likely looking for the 2008 NBA Finals Schedule. below is the current NBA Finals schedule and all games will be televised on ABC. Doc's has gained NBA picks clients +65 units this season and we are offering picks for the entire NBA Finals for only $49.
Read more about 2008 NBA Finals Schedule.
Potential NBA Draft Sleepers
by Robert Ferringo - 05/30/2008
Rodney Stuckey. Raise your hand if you knew whom Rodney Stuckey was coming out of college. Now raise your hands if you had any idea who this guy was prior to the NBA playoffs.
Read more about NBA Draft Sleepers.
Potential NBA Finals Matchups
by Trevor Whenham - 05/29/2008
As the conference finals have progressed in the NBA it has seemed more and more likely that the Celtics and the Lakers will meet for the big prize. That seems like a blast from the past, and it's a marketing dream for the league, but is it the best possible outcome for bettors? Here's a look at the four possible NBA finals matchups to see which you should be cheering for if you are hoping to make some money in the first couple of weeks in June.
Read more about NBA Finals Matchups.
NBA Playoffs Betting Lessons
by Trevor Whenham - 05/22/2008
The NBA playoffs are into the third round, so this is as good a time as any to look back on what we have seen so far to see what we have learned as bettors. The fianl two rounds of the playoffs this year set up to be as interesting as they can possibly be. All four teams are talented, they all have proven veteran talent, and they all could conceivably be the last team standing. None of them are perfect, however - each has faults that the other teams could potentially exploit. To help figure out who will be the exploiters and the exploited, here are four interesting trends that have emerged up to this point:
Read more about NBA Playoffs Betting.
Home Court Huge in This NBA Playoffs
by Trevor Whenham - 05/14/2008
I know that home court advantage is supposed to be significant in the NBA, but this is getting just plain ridiculous. As of Tuesday night there have been 18 games played in the second round of the playoffs. The home team has won 17 of them. Detroit is the only team to take a game on the road, and they won't get a chance to win another in the round because the one road win was enough for them to win the series against Orlando in five games. Seventeen of 18 - I would argue that such a lopsided result would be impossible, except it's happening.
Read more about Home Court NBA Playoffs.
How Important are Free Throws in the NBA Playoffs?
by Trevor Whenham - 05/07/2008
We hear time and time again that the ability to hit free throws is crucial in post-season basketball. Futility from the line was why Memphis was supposed to be unable to beat Texas or UCLA, and it contributed to their loss to Kansas. The same common wisdom is held in the NBA - teams can't win if they can't score the free points. As a sports bettor I am naturally skeptical, and I don't like to trust common wisdom without verifying it first. With that in mind, then, here's a look at how well free throws have converted into wins in the playoffs this year.
Read more about Free Throws in the NBA Playoffs.
Will U.S. Win Gold in China? Don't Bet On It
by Trevor Whenham - 05/01/2008
It seems hard to believe, but the Olympics are just over three months away. For the most part I don't get too excited by two weeks of water polo, kayaking, and pole vault, and I am dreading all of the protesting and turmoil we will see from Beijing. I'm all in favor of anything I can bet on, though, so men's basketball has captured my imagination. The schedule isn't set yet because the last of the teams have yet to qualify. That means that we can start to look at the first props available on the tournament with at least a reasonable amount of logic.
Read more about US Olympics Basketball Team.
Why the Celtics are Favored To Win It All
by Trevor Whenham - 04/24/2008
There seems to be a strong and growing sentiment that the Boston Celtics are going to cruise through the Eastern Conference and make the finals. That sentiment certainly gained steam when Boston dealt with Atlanta easily in their first playoff game, while Detroit, Boston's biggest impediment along the way to the Eastern championship, blew a 15-point second quarter lead and lost to Philadelphia (order was restored in the second game when Detroit dominated. The odds also suggest this sentiment to be strong - Boston is at 3/2 to win the NBA championship.
Read more about Celtics Favored.
Western Conference Series Odds and Predictions
by Vegas Sports Informer - 04/18/2008
The first round of the NBA Playoffs start on Saturday and the series prices are now available to bet against. The odds are pretty tight throughout the NBA playoff bracket out West. The first round of the Western Conference will be exciting and should have at least one or two upsets, so pop some corn and get tons of beer because I wouldn't be surprised to see all four matchups to go seven games. No matter what, the NBA Playoffs are here and we are ready to make some cash on these series.
Read more about Western Conference Series Odds.
Eastern Conference Series Odds and Predictions
by Vegas Sports Informer - 04/18/2008
The first round of the Eastern Conference NBA playoffs start Saturday and the series prices are up and we do have some shocking numbers. In the East, besides one matchup (Washington versus Cleveland), there are some lopsided lines. Everybody knows the Boston Celtics or Detroit Pistons will be in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Orlando Magic could be the sleeper in the Eastern Conference and I wouldn't be surprised to see them advance to the second round. No matter what, the NBA Playoffs are here and we are ready to make some cash.
Read more about Eastern Conference Series Odds.
2008 NBA Playoffs Preview
by Trevor Whenham - 04/17/2008
The NBA playoffs are here, and it is time to look at the series one-by-one. As I take a look at what is in store, I break them into four different groups - the locks, the potential upsets, the deserved favorites, and the wide-open contests. Here's a look at how I split the different series up (all odds are from Bodog):
Read more about 2008 NBA Playoffs Preview.
Betting on the NBA MVP
by Trevor Whenham - 04/16/2008
The NBA season ends today, so it is time to make the final predictions for the MVP race. Unfortunately, it isn't turning out to be much of a race. It's not that there aren't a lot of deserving players who have had good years. It's just that the powers that be seem to be entirely focused on two players, and one of them seems to have a clear edge. That doesn't mean that the situation has been entirely robbed of betting potential, though.
Read more about Betting on the NBA MVP.
Celtics Should Be In Great Shape for Playoffs
by Trevor Whenham - 04/09/2008
The Boston Celtics clinched the top spot in the East heading into the playoffs last week. Given their recent play, and their play all season for that matter, it was inevitable far before that. They have won eight out of every 10 games they have played, and they have fared about as well against top teams as they have against the weaklings in the league. Given that they have their position sewn up, and that their opponent is likely set as the Hawks, and given that there isn't much else to think about regarding this team at this point, one has to wonder whether this long, anticlimactic wait for the playoffs will adversely affect their focus and preparation. There will be three weeks between the official clinching of first place and the start of the playoffs, so a team that was inclined to could become lethargic and undisciplined in that time. Will the Celtics?
Read more about Boston Celtics.
NBA Handicapping - Bouncing Back from Blowouts
by Trevor Whenham - 03/13/2008
I must not like myself very much because I keep finding new ways to make myself go blind staring at stats. My latest area of interest was to look back to see how NBA teams have been doing this year when they try to bounce back from a blowout loss. I was curious because I regularly come across people with two different approaches. Some people say that a team bouncing back from a loss is worth a bet because they will be hungry to erase the embarrassment and because the public will be down on the team, which will create value in the lines. Others argue that the teams are not a good bet because a blowout is a sign of problems that can't be erased in just one game. Both obviously can't be true, and the only way to find out which is closer to accurate this year is by testing.
Read more about Bouncing Back.
NBA Teams That Have Given Up
by Trevor Whenham - 03/13/2008
Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, L.A. Clippers, Seattle Sonics, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves. What do those seven NBA teams have in common? A few things. All of them are truly terrible. The season is lost for all of them. And they are all playing like they know it. This pathetic band of losers has amassed a pitiful 14-56 combined record over their last 10 games. Their 24-46 ATS mark over that time is slightly better but still sad and costly for bettors. It gets worse - five of the games the teams covered were against other teams on this list, so the record against other teams drops to 19-41 ATS. Ouch.
Read more about NBA Teams that have Given Up.
Handicapping Houston without Yao
by Trevor Whenham - 03/06/2008
The instant panic that arose when Yao Ming went down with an injury was so strong and fearful that I could smell it three thousand miles away from Houston. The Rockets were incredibly hot and increasingly legitimate, but the loss of their star center would seem to be an instant downer. It got worse when word came out that the injury was a stress fracture in his foot, that Yao had opted for surgery, and that the season was over for him.
Read more about Houston without Yao.
Handicapping Long NBA Road Trips
by Trevor Whenham - 02/29/2008
Road trips, and particularly long ones, can be a handicapping challenge in the NBA. It can be very difficult to know how a team is going to respond on a long trip. If things go well, teams can really gel and put together an impressive run. If a trip starts off poorly, though, it can end up as a disaster. Handicapping teams on road trips is one of the many cases where a sports bettor needs to be part psychologist to make a guess on how teams are thinking.
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NBA Handicapping: Back-to-Back Games
by Trevor Whenham - 02/28/2008
Teams play games on back-to-back days occasionally in the NHL, but it isn't nearly as common as it is in the NBA. Basketball teams play on consecutive nights very frequently. In fact, teams have played two nights in a row a total of 404 times as I write this, and every team has played on consecutive nights at least 11 times. Given that this situation comes up so often during the course of the season, it seems like it is worth a bit of study.
Read more about NBA Back-to-Back.
2008 NBA Trade Deadline: Gambling Perspective
by Vegas Sports Informer - 02/19/2008
Thursday is the NBA trade deadline and so far we've had some huge NBA blockbuster trades. But for some odd reason I do believe we could see two or three more trades that could affect playoff seeding and gambling trends. Let's face it, I'm looking at all of these trades, NBA rumors, and shop talk and I'm wondering how will this affect my NBA betting and handicapping.
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NBA Championship Odds for Futures Betting
by Trevor Whenham - 02/15/2008
As we head into the NBA All-Star break it is a good time to look at ahead at the playoffs. A lot will change between now and then, but we can look at the NBA Championship odds that are being offered at different books to see if any offer value based on what we have seen so far. Here's a look at the NBA Championship odds for every team with a brief look at the value (all odds are from Bodog):
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How Shaq Improves Suns
by Trevor Whenham - 02/14/2008
Stop me if you have heard this recently - we need to examine the impact of trade in the NBA that brings a superstar from a terrible Eastern Conference team to an elite team in the West. Last week this article was about Pau Gasol and the Lakers. This week I will look at Shaquille O'Neal and the Phoenix Suns. Who will it be next week?
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NBA Teams To Watch After All-Star Break
by Trevor Whenham - 02/12/2008
As we head into the All-Star break in the NBA it feels like we have a pretty good handle on which teams are competitive and which ones are just playing out the string. Every year, though, we see teams that quietly improve their performance against the spread after the break. They usually aren't great teams in the first half of the season, and they likely won't be particularly relevant by the time the season ends, but they have the elements that make them a much more profitable, and therefore enjoyable, bet later in the season than they were at the start. This can be caused by players returning by injury, young players coming into their own, a change in coaching or personnel, or a system finally taking hold and making sense.
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How Will Pau Gasol Trade Affect Lakers Lines?
by Trevor Whenham - 02/06/2008
The Pau Gasol era started on Tuesday night for the Lakers, and the rest of the teams in the West must be terrified. Kobe Bryant had as bad a game as he has had in months - just six points, and he suffered a banged up finger to boot. In past days that would have been disastrous for the Lakers. Now, though, it wasn't seen as that big of a deal. Gasol stepped up with 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the Lakers rolled to an easy 15-point victory. Gasol seemed to have no problems fitting in, and, though it's probably a coincidence, Derek Fisher had his best scoring night of the year. The Lakers should be fine until Andrew Bynum returns to action, and they have a chance to be special when he comes back.
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Flu Bug Overrated in NBA Handicapping
by Trevor Whenham - 02/05/2008
Having the flu isn't a lot of fun. You probably know that from first hand experience. So do a surprising number of NBA players. Over the last couple of weeks the list of players who have missed time thanks to the flu is long and reasonably distinguished. Just take a look - Dwyane Wade didn't travel to play Orlando, Tracy McGrady didn't play Golden State, Yao Ming couldn't play Utah, Ray Allen missed a game against Miami, Corey Maggette has missed four in a row so far. That's not an all-star roster, but it could be.
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Are Balanced NBA Teams Better ATS?
by Trevor Whenham - 01/24/2008
When it comes to the NBA, the thing I am fascinated by more than anything else is how teams score points. I am always interested to see if a team relies on a single player to drive the offense (Cleveland, Miami, Lakers), whether it is shared between two stars (Detroit, Denver, Houston), or if scoring is done by committee (Boston, Orlando, San Antonio). There isn't one particular approach that is correct, but each one creates a very different style of team, and each therefore requires a different approach to handicapping.
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Chicago Bulls = Betting Disaster
by Trevor Whenham - 01/18/2008
The Bulls are truly a disaster. There is really no way to be nicer about this mess of a team than that. It wasn't supposed to go this way. They had improved significantly each of the last two years, they have a young and impressive roster with solid veterans at the core, they had a solid draft and a coach who was fiery and controversial but talented, and a had a boatload of buzz coming into the season - they had the world on a string. It hasn't worked out quite like it was supposed to. Their record is in the tank, the roster is under-performing from top to bottom, the top draft pick is the lead actor in a ridiculous soap opera, the coach is long gone, and the team is a punch line.
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What NBA Teams Need for Road Success
by Trevor Whenham - 01/17/2008
As we have talked about before, the NBA home court advantage is one of the strongest of any sport. All things being equal, the home team wins more than its share of games. The public is generally aware of this trend, and they love few things more than betting on the home team. That means that there is real value in finding and betting on teams that excel away from the friendly confines of home.
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NBA: 5 Worst Teams in the League
by Vegas Sports Informer - 01/16/2008
So far this NBA season has been about the Boston Celtics, the surprising Portland Blazers, and Kobe Bryant; who is surprisingly still a Laker and has received some help from his supporting cast to impress in the West. However, on the other end of the spectrum, this season has had some HUGE basketball betting disappointments and these teams have actually made me some good hard cold cash. Not only are these teams horrible on the road but they are just as bad at home. These bottom five teams are going to have a long season and I don't see anything making these teams any better. At least the 2008 NBA Draft could be a good one because these teams need a lot of help.
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NBA Betting: Correlation Between Stats and ATS Records
by Trevor Whenham - 01/11/2008
When we are handicapping the NBA we spend a lot of time looking at, and talking about, offensive and defensive statistics, and we spend all of our time obsessing about how teams perform against the spread. Now that we are over a third of the way into the NBA season, I figured that it would be interesting and perhaps valuable to see how one thing is relating to the other. With that in mind, then, here's a look at how teams that are performing well in different statistical categories are doing ATS. It's just a hunch until I do the work, but I guess that some statistical categories will correlate very strongly, while others will hardly relate to betting success at all. Let's see if I'm right:
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NBA Home Court Advantage
by Trevor Whenham - 01/11/2008
Two days after the lowly Charlotte Bobcats went into Boston and handily beat the Celtics probably isn't the best time to talk about the home court advantage in the NBA, but let's do it anyway. The perception among many sports bettors is that the NBA has a particularly strong home court advantage. Statistically, the numbers show that they aren't entirely wrong. The home teams won 60.4 percent of the games played in 2005-2006, and 59.1 percent last season. Twenty eight of the 30 teams in the league last year had a better record at home than on the road, and Boston had the same bad record home and away.
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Tips for Betting on Basketball
by Jason Shimberg - 01/09/2008
Basketball betting can be exhilarating and lucrative if you follow some fundamental strategies. In hoops, point spreads are used to handicap the favorite and underdog for each game. The over and under for total points scored by both teams is a very popular gamble. Here are some tips for betting on basketball from the experts.
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Portland Getting It Done on Court, at Window
by T.O Whenham - 01/04/2008
If you had somehow been able to predict that the Portland Trail Blazers would get as hot as they have before the season started you would be a very rich person today. Not just because they have gone a ridiculous 14-2 ATS in their last 16 games, but also because people would have thought you were an idiot and would have lined up to bet you that you were wrong. The Blazers are the youngest team in the league, and they suffered what should have been a crippling blow before the season even started when Greg Oden was knocked out for the year, yet somehow they are sitting in a playoff spot, and they seem to be virtually unbeatable.
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Five NBA Disappointments
by Trevor Whenham - 01/04/2008
We are about 40 percent of the way into the NBA season. That's not long enough to know which team is going to be standing when the dust settles in the playoffs, but it is more than long enough to know which teams have been disgustingly disappointing. I have kept my frustration to myself up to this point, but that ends here. There are five teams that have been incredibly disappointing and frustrating compared to the expectations I had for them coming into the season. Read 'em and weep:
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