NBA Handicapping Articles

NBA Odds and Predictions: Saturday, March 28 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/27/2015

I'd like to say there are some great NBA matchups opposite the NCAA Tournament's two Elite Eight games on Saturday. I'd like to tell you that. But there's only one game between teams both in the playoffs right now, and I have a feeling the visitor in that one is going to be less than full strength. Probably the biggest story line of the night is that Portland faces Denver for the first time since acquiring Arron Afflalo from the Nuggets for a bunch of garbage and a protected 2016 first-round pick at the trade deadline. Here's a look at each matchup.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 3/27/2015

I have spent the NBA regular season concentrating my handicapping efforts on the Washington Wizards in an effort to prove the value of specialization when it comes to betting on the NBA. With the use of Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System, I have also been releasing weekly free picks in an effort to return a solid profit with my unit plays. It has been a roller-coaster ride so far that has added up to an even 10-10-1 record on the year.

NBA Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Teams Against the Point Spread
by Aaron Smith - 3/27/2015

We're right in the thick of March Madness and the NCAA Tournament, but don't forget about the NBA. Things are getting interesting in the playoff races in both conferences. There are only three weeks left in the regular season. This can be a really tricky time to handicap games since there are a lot of teams pushing to improve seeding, but there are also plenty of teams ready to go home for the offseason. Motivation is a key factor the rest of the way during the regular season!

NBA Odds and Predictions: Friday, March 27 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/26/2015

The great thing about there being just the one NBA game on Thursday night is that you don't have to worry about any back-to-backs on Friday and thus possibly some guys sitting out for rest (although then some teams play again Saturday). The clear game of the night is Golden State at Memphis, although in reality it means nothing for the Warriors because they are going to clinch the top seed in the West probably by the end of the weekend. The Grizzlies perhaps need to make a statement in this one after getting routed by Cleveland on Wednesday. Here's a look at every game -- lot of home dogs.

NBA Handicapping: How to Bet the No. 1 Seeds During the Stretch Run
by Trevor Whenham - 3/26/2015

The Golden State Warriors have clinched their division — the first time they have won it since 1976. The Atlanta Hawks have clinched theirs, too. Both squads have an eight-game lead in their conference, so it will be no time at all before they have mathematically wrapped up what is already theirs — conference titles and home-court advantage through the first three rounds of the playoffs.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Wednesday, March 25 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/24/2015

Very busy NBA schedule on Wednesday because there's only one game Thursday night opposite the start of the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 (thus no opening line report NBA story previewing that day). Clearly the best NBA matchup of the night is Cleveland at Memphis in a potential NBA Finals preview. Both seem likely to finish with the No. 2 seed in their respective conferences. A Cavs-Grizzlies finals is priced as the fourth-favorite on Sportsbook.ag at +700.

NBA Handicapping: Can the OKC Thunder Succeed in the Playoffs?
by George Monroy - 3/24/2015

Russell Westbrook has been more than a MVP candidate and a triple-double machine—though he has excelled in both of those categories. He has also morphed into the most devastating one-man force in the league and put himself on top of “the most entertaining player in basketball” list during a season that has seen Stephen Curry throw up a highlight-reel play almost every night. Westbrook has been a revelation for an Oklahoma City Thunder team that needed him to be spectacular on a nightly basis in order for the squad to even remain in contention for a playoff spot.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Tuesday, March 24 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/23/2015

This is my first time writing an NBA story since hearing of the news that Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant has had a setback and now is out indefinitely as he continues to have soreness in that surgically-repaired foot. What a shame! I really wanted to see a first-round Western Conference playoff matchup between No. 1 Golden State and No. 8 Oklahoma City, with the Thunder at full health. Now I'd be shocked if Durant plays this season as there are just too many risks when dealing with that type of foot injury.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Saturday, March 21 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/20/2015

A rather bland NBA five-game schedule on Saturday as it's definitely overshadowed by the first games of the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. However, one of those NBA games I do want to see is the last of them (10:30 p.m. ET) as Utah visits Golden State. Sometimes defense can be interesting to watch, and that will be on display here. The Jazz have been by far the NBA's best defensive team since the All-Star break, while Golden State leads the NBA with a defensive efficiency rating of 97.6 points allowed per 100 possessions. Guess which way I'll be leaning on the "over/under'" in that one? Here's look at each game.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Friday, March 20 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/19/2015

The NBA is point guard-driven league these days. There will be few better individual matchups at that position than you will see Friday night at Staples Center. Washington's John Wall is generally considered the fastest point guard in the league, while the Clippers' Chris Paul is the best defensive player at that position. Those two face off for the last time this season, barring an unlikely NBA Finals matchup, in one of the better games Friday. Here's a look at every game on the schedule opposite the final first-round day in the Big Dance.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 3/19/2015

Specialization with a particular team can be a viable betting strategy, so I have spent the entire NBA regular season concentrating my handicapping efforts on the Washington Wizards. In an effort to prove the value of my efforts, I have also been releasing free weekly picks for the Wizards with the use of Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System. It has been a rocky road at times, but my current three-game winning streak has finally taken my record above .500 to 10-9-1 on the year.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Thursday, March 19 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/18/2015

With the NCAA Tournament kicking off in full on Thursday, it's a light four-game schedule in the NBA and no TNT doubleheader this week as that network is also college basketball focused for a while. The game of the night, in my opinion, is the ghastly matchup between the Knicks and Timberwolves, the teams with the worst records in the NBA. The loser could be the big winner, potentially holding a key tiebreaker by the end of the season for the most ping-pong balls in the draft lottery. Here's a look at all four games.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Wednesday, March 18 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/17/2015

One game clearly stands out above the rest on Wednesday night as Atlanta visits Golden State in a matchup of what will be the top seeds in each conference -- it will be shown on ESPN. Oddsmakers simply have little faith in Atlanta as a Hawks-Warriors Finals exact matchup is only the co-fourth favorite at +900 on Sportsbook.ag. You never know, the winner of this game could then hold the home-court tiebreaker if there is a Finals matchup. Only a half game separates the Hawks and Warriors at the moment. Here's a look at every game on Wednesday's schedule.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Tuesday, March 17 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/16/2015

Interesting schedule on Tuesday night in the NBA as there are only five games and all are matchups between Eastern and Western Conference clubs. None of the games may involve two playoff teams, although it's possible that Charlotte at the L.A. Clippers will. I guess to get my basketball fix that I'll be watching the NCAA Tournament's First Four. But here's a look at each NBA game on the schedule. Bucks-Pelicans is the only nationally televised matchup (NBA TV).

NBA Odds and Predictions: Saturday, March 14 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/13/2015

Knicks president Phil Jackson can only wonder what might have been on Saturday when his team visits Golden State. Jackson thought he had former player Steve Kerr signed, sealed and delivered to coach New York this offseason. However, the Warriors offered a better roster (obviously) and the chance for Kerr to stay near his West Coast home. It wasn't a no-brainer decision at the time -- it's the Knicks, after all -- but clearly Kerr made the right choice. Knicks-Warriors looks to be the mismatch of the night (season?) Saturday. Here's a look at every game.

Tracking the Wizards: NBA Picks and Handicapping for Washington Basketball
by Dave Schwab - 3/13/2015

I have spent the entire NBA regular season concentrating my handicapping efforts on the Washington Wizards as part of a betting strategy that relies heavily on specialization. In an effort to prove the value of taking this approach, I have been releasing free weekly picks for the Wizards with the use of Doc’s Sports Unit Betting System. A two-game winning streak has evened my record on the year to an even 9-9-1, but I am still down $400 on my unit plays.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Friday, March 13 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/12/2015

Well, here I was prepared to lead this story with how I expected the Charlotte Hornets to claim either the No. 7 or No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference playoff chase. I felt that way because the team was playing pretty well and welcomed back arguably its best player, point guard Kemba Walker, from a long injury absence on Wednesday. Then the Hornets went out and lost at home to Sacramento and may have lost their other top player, center Al Jefferson. So now I have no idea. Here's a look at Friday's schedule.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Thursday, March 12 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/11/2015

No question what the game of the night on Thursday's five-game slate is: Cleveland at San Antonio in what could well be a Finals preview. Of course, LeBron James faced the Spurs while with Miami in the past two Finals, winning the first and losing last year's. If the Spurs and Cavs don't play in June, Thursday night might be the last time that future Hall of Famers LeBron and Tim Duncan compete against one another. I fully expect Duncan to hang up the sneakers after this season. Here's a look at the entire schedule.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Wednesday, March 11 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/10/2015

At this point, I don't care which other games are on League Pass opposite Oklahoma City, even if it's my favorite team: I'm tuning in to watch Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook. His triple-double assault continues in what could be a nice matchup against the Clippers' Chris Paul -- if Paul, who is beaten up, even plays. Westbrook is averaging 34.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 11.4 assists since the All-Star break. Here's a look at that game and the rest of Wednesday's slate.

NBA Odds and Predictions: Tuesday, March 10 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/9/2015

Remember the famous Nike commercial "It's Gotta Be The Shoes" with Michael Jordan and Mars Blackmon (Spike Lee)? In one case, that's apparently correct. Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons returned to action Sunday after missing seven games due to an ankle injury. And Parsons, who has a $1 million per year endorsement deal with Chinese shoe company Anta, wore Jordan Brand sneakers with the logos covered during the game because of concerns that his Anta shoes contributed to the sprain and bone bruise to his left ankle (who checks this stuff?). Buy American folks!