NBA Handicapping Articles

Weekly Q&A with Doc's Sports Expert Handicapper Raphael Esparza
by Doc's Sports - 5/19/2015

Doc's Sports: The Golden State Warriors are listed as prohibitive favorites in their series odds price against the Houston Rockets in the NBA's Western Conference Finals. Is there any way that the Rockets have another miracle run left in them after their big comeback against the Los Angeles Clippers?

NBA Handicapping: Warriors Regular-Season Sweep Irrelevant
by Trevor Whenham - 5/19/2015

One of the factors that is getting a lot of play in the lead-in to the NBA's Western Conference Final between Golden State and Houston is that the Warriors swept the four-game series between the two squads in the regular season. Given that the Warriors are a very popular team with the betting public, and currently a strong 4/7 favorite to win the NBA Championship at Bovada, a lot of people are using this record as an indicator of the inevitability of a Golden State win.

NBA Odds: Previewing the Draft Lottery
by Alan Matthews - 5/18/2015

The 14 teams that didn't make the 2015 NBA playoffs have already been focused on next season since the end of the regular season last month. The plans of those clubs will really come into focus on Tuesday night as the NBA will hold its annual draft lottery before Game 1 of the Rockets-Warriors Western Conference Finals.

NBA Conference Finals Series Odds and Expert Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 5/18/2015

The 2015 NBA Playoffs have basically gone chalk with the top two seeds in both the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference slated to face one another in a best-of-seven clash to determine which two teams will advance to this season's NBA Finals.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Friday, May 15 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 5/14/2015

I am neither a Washington Wizards nor Atlanta Hawks fan. Don't hate them, they just don't much register with me. Blah. But I feel compelled to root for Washington on Friday night. Nope, I don't think I will bet on this one, but I certainly want a Game 7 in any series if possible. But more, I have friends in Washington who are huge fans of all the D.C. sports teams, and you rarely see a double gut-punch like what happened on Wednesday when the Wizards and Capitals games both ended with Washington losses at the buzzer off putbacks of offensive rebounds -- with the Capitals being eliminated in Game 7 by the Rangers and blowing yet another 3-1 series lead.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 5/14/2015

In an effort to take advantage of specialization as a viable NBA betting strategy, I have exclusively been handicapping the Washington Wizards all season long, and right through the playoffs. I have also been releasing free picks for their games with the use of Doc's Sports Unit Betting System in an effort to return a profit through my efforts. While my regular season results have been mixed, I have taken it on the chin with a 1-3 record in four previous postseason picks.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Thursday, May 14 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 5/13/2015

Rather interesting that the New Orleans Pelicans decided to fire Coach Monty Williams now instead of right after being swept out of the first round by Golden State. Also interesting that the team apparently didn't consult superstar Anthony Davis before making the move, and Davis apparently was a big fan of Williams'. That's going to be a coveted job simply because of Davis, whom if you go by player efficiency rating was the best player in the league this year and should only get better.

NBA Expert Handicapping: What Lies Ahead for Golden State and Atlanta
by Robert Ferringo - 5/13/2015

Two days ago the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors were on the road, on the ropes, and on the outs with the NBA betting public. But both teams tallied dominating victories in their respective playoff series and have vaulted themselves back into the pole position in the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Wednesday, May 13 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 5/12/2015

So what would be the equivalent NBA suspension that the NFL handed out to Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady on Monday for his role in "deflategate"? I guess it would be about 20 regular-season games (25 percent of the season) for Cleveland's LeBron James if we agree that Brady is the biggest star in the NFL (could make a case for Peyton Manning). Although no one wants to play with a partially deflated basketball!

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.