NBA Handicapping Articles

NBA Picks: Magic at Hawks Odds and Betting Predictions
by Aaron Smith - 3/30/2011

The Magic will take on the Hawks in Atlanta on Wednesday night in what should be an entertaining game. These teams should get accustomed to seeing a lot of each other, since it appears they are on a collision course for a first-round playoff series matchup. The Magic have had a better season and they would have home court advantage, but the Hawks have won two of the three meetings thus far this season. Both of these teams will be looking to gain some much-needed momentum as they finish out the last eight games of their regular season.

NBA Picks: Suns at Lakers Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 3/22/2011

Once again because the NCAA Tournament dominates the Thursday night basketball landscape, there is no NBA on TNT doubleheader this Thursday. But there is one tonight. This game is important for both teams. The Lakers enter with a one-game lead over Dallas for the No. 2 seed and potential home-court advantage in the conference semifinals – their game next Thursday could be the decider. Phoenix, meanwhile, is 2.5 games out of the No. 8 spot in the West so the urgency is now to put together a nice run.

NBA Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Teams Against the Point Spread
by Aaron Smith - 3/21/2011

The maneuvering for a playoff spot is really kicking into high gear across the NBA right now. Most teams only have about a dozen games left on their regular season schedule. Which teams are playing their best basketball as the season winds down? Which teams are playing like they are ready for the offseason? Here’s a look at the hot and cold teams in the NBA from the last two weeks. Please note that all statistics used are for games played between March 7 and March 20.

Miami Heat No Longer Favorites for NBA Title
by T.O. Whenham - 3/10/2011

Like many people -- perhaps a majority of the sports fans in the country -- I am not particularly sad that the Miami Heat are struggling right now. They are losers of five straight as I write this. In fact, I am taking a whole lot of pleasure that fact. I have never been much of a fan of the team, but The Decision and the subsequent fallout put another giant nail in their coffin in my eyes.

NBA Picks: Lakers at Heat Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 3/10/2011

When the Miami Heat visited Staples Center to face the Lakers in the Christmas Day showcase, it was billed as a likely NBA Finals preview between the two goliaths in the Association. Miami made a statement that day with an easy win. But tonight’s game is much more fascinating because the Heat seem to be imploding (and crying) while the Lakers have looked like the NBA’s best team since the All-Star Break. By the way, L.A. now has shorter odds to win the NBA title than Miami does.

NBA Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Teams Against the Point Spread
by Aaron Smith - 3/7/2011

Which teams came out of the all-star break on fire? Which teams are playing like they are still on a break? It’s time to take our bi-weekly look at the hot and cold teams in the NBA. These trends can be extremely useful when considering your next NBA wager. Please note the statistics used are for games played between Feb. 22 and March 6.

NBA Picks: Chicago Bulls at Orlando Magic Odds and Predictions
by Aaron Smith - 3/4/2011

The Orlando Magic pulled off one of the best comeback victories you will ever see last night in Miami. The Magic trailed by 24 points in the third quarter, but they went on a 40-9 run and ended up beating the Miami Heat, 99-96. The Magic will look to keep that momentum going against another one of the league’s best teams, the Chicago Bulls, tonight. The Bulls blew a 20-point first half lead on Wednesday night in Atlanta, so they’ll be looking to bounce back from that disappointing loss.

NBA Picks: Magic at Heat Predictions and Odds
by Alan Matthews - 3/3/2011

It’s a bit of a statement game tonight for the Florida teams when the Magic visit South Florida for the fourth and final meeting between the Sunshine State rivals. Miami hasn’t been very successful against the NBA’s top teams, while Orlando can’t seem to find any consistency. But with the Magic just 4.5 games behind Miami in the Southeast Division, a win here could make that race a little more interesting.

NBA Picks Thursday TNT: Heat at Bulls Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 2/24/2011

The Chicago Bulls entered the All-Star Break with a very impressive home win over the San Antonio Spurs, the team with the best record in the NBA. Now Chicago is featured again with a matchup against the Miami Heat, the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference and, no offense to San Antonio, the likely team to beat come June and the NBA Finals.

NBA Betting Trends: First Half ATS Trends And NBA Futures Odds
by Alan Matthews - 2/22/2011

To say the NBA’s All-Star Game is the midseason point of the season is not accurate, considering every team in the Association has less than 30 games remaining in their 82-game regular season. But it’s the only break the league gets, so let’s take a look at some pre-break trends as well as what futures options might be your best value bet going forward.

NBA Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Teams Against the Point Spread
by Aaron Smith - 2/21/2011

The NBA All-Star Game is out of the way now, and it is time to start the second half of the season. Most teams still have plenty to play for and I think the race for playoff spots and seeding will really heat up over the next couple months. Which teams went into the break red-hot? Here’s our bi-weekly look at the hottest and coldest teams in the league:

NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest Odds and Predictions
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 2/18/2011

The much hyped and heralded Slam Dunk Contest is undeniably the highlight of the NBA all-star week. Much like baseball’s Home Run Derby, the NBA Slam Dunk Contest generates more attention, hype and usually controversy than the All-Star Game itself.

NBA Picks Thursday TNT: Spurs at Bulls Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 2/17/2011

It’s funny, if you take a look at the papers (well, the Web sites of said papers) in both San Antonio and Chicago for tonight’s Spurs at Bulls game, both papers tout this matchup as a statement game. That’s rather odd considering that San Antonio has by far the best record in the league as well as the best road record. And Chicago is third in the East and has the second-best home record in basketball. This could well be an NBA Finals preview, yet both teams think they have something to prove. It should be an interesting matchup.

NBA Odds: When Will the Cleveland Cavaliers Get a Win?
by T.O. Whenham - 2/11/2011

You would have to be a totally reprehensible human being to not feel at least a little bit bad for the Cleveland Cavaliers this year. With a loss to Detroit last time out their losing streak stretched to 26 games. To say that no one reading this has ever seen a worse losing streak in any sport isn’t even an exaggeration -- with their next loss they will set the all time, all sport records for consecutive losses to go with their current NBA record. The only two teams to match the Cavs at 26 straight losses are the 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and baseball’s Louisville Colonels in 1889.

NBA Picks: Lakers at Knicks Odds and Predictions
by Aaron Smith - 2/11/2011

The Lakers got revenge on the Boston Celtics Thursday in Boston, and now they look to stretch their current winning streak to four games in New York. The Lakers haven’t played up to expectations most of the year, and fans have become a little worried.

NBA Picks for TNT Thursday: Lakers at Celtics Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 2/10/2011

It’s a no-brainer choice for the top game on the NBA on TNT doubleheader on Thursday night as the Lakers – in their second straight big Thursday TNT game – visit the Boston Celtics for the first time since Game 5 of the NBA Finals in June.

NBA Picks: Los Angeles Clippers at Orlando Magic Betting Odds
by Darin Zank - 2/8/2011

As the Staples Center gets ready to host the Grammy Awards this Sunday and the circus that comes with the NBA All-Star game the following week, the Los Angeles Clippers are on the road for an extended excursion. This doesn't bode well for the Clips, who are not exactly known as being road warriors. That does not, however, mean they can't make someone a little money.

NBA Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Teams Against the Point Spread
by Aaron Smith - 2/7/2011

On the day after Super Bowl Sunday, it’s time to get our focus back on the NBA. Since trends are important when betting on the NBA, we take a look at the hot and cold teams right now to see if there is a way to get an edge on the books. Please note the statistics used in this report are from games played between Jan.24 and Feb. 6.

Free NBA Picks Thursday TNT Spurs at Lakers Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 2/3/2011

It’s probably the best Thursday NBA on TNT night of the season thus far, as it could easily be a preview of the two conference finals when the Miami Heat visit the Orlando Magic and the San Antonio Spurs are at the L.A. Lakers. I went with Spurs-Lakers really by the flip of a coin, but it’s also still rather amazing how good San Antonio has been this year and how little attention the team gets.

Best and Worst Teams Against the NBA Odds
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 1/28/2011

We’re just past the halfway point in the NBA season and it looks like the NBA is being turned upside down. The hottest teams in the league for the first three months of the season, Miami and Dallas, are now some of the coldest. Here’s a look at teams that could have value in the coming weeks and also a look at a couple teams you might want to avoid when handicapping the NBA odds.