NBA Handicapping Articles

NBA Basketball Betting and Handicapping: Scouting the Week Ahead
by Alan Matthews - 3/24/2014

There are two games that stand out above all the others this week, and they couldn't be for more different reasons. The first is Miami at Indiana on Wednesday night. The Pacers enter the week with a three-game lead over the Heat for the top spot in the Eastern Conference (two in the loss column). I don't think it can be overstated how important it is for Indiana to get that top seed.

NBA Odds: Tuesday, March 25, 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/24/2014

Because of the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 action, the TNT doubleheader this week is Tuesday night for your live betting pleasure at the books. The only game of the night that features two expected playoff teams is Oklahoma City at Dallas. Here's a look at all of Tuesday's games in order of tipoff.

NBA Odds: Saturday, March 22, 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/21/2014

Forecasting the Saturday NBA schedule of games is always the toughest a day ahead of time. Why? Many clubs play back-to-backs on Friday and Saturday because obviously teams draw better on weekends. Sometimes you can find great early value on these, but others you are pretty much grasping at straws in terms of possible injuries for the second of the consecutive games for teams. Here's a look at all of Saturday's games in order of tipoff.

NBA Odds: Friday, March 21, 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/20/2014

While you also watch NCAA Tournament games on Friday, wonder to yourself if the Philadelphia 76ers would even be a top seed in the 2014 Big Dance. Seriously, could they beat Florida or Arizona (I'd say yes on Wichita State and Virginia)? How about Duke, Louisville or Michigan State? I say probably not. The Sixers look to take one step closer to infamy on Friday against the Knicks. Here's a look at every Friday game in order of tipoff.

NBA Odds: Thursday, March 20, 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/19/2014

If you go looking to TNT on Thursday night for the NBA doubleheader, you will instead find NCAA Tournament games. That's probably a good thing. Each of the four NBA games looks potentially one-sided with Oklahoma City the lone road favorite of the night (or will be when line is released). Here's a look at all of Thursday's games by order of tipoff.

NBA Odds: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/18/2014

What's more fun to follow in the NBA these days: Which teams will get the top seeds in each conference or whether the Philadelphia 76ers will win again? Loss No. 22 in a row seems quite likely Wednesday night against Chicago. Here's a look at all of Wednesday's games by order of tipoff.

NBA Odds: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/18/2014

We have a rarity on Tuesday's NBA schedule as nary a nationally-televised game -- perhaps because of the start of the NCAA Tournament's First Four. The most intriguing matchup is Miami at Cleveland. It's the Heat's final visit of the season, so could the next time that LeBron plays in Cleveland be back in a Cavaliers uniform? Here's what you need to know for all of Tuesday's games, in order of tipoff.

NBA Odds: Saturday, March 15, 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/14/2014

Not a terrific schedule on Saturday with only one game likely featuring playoff teams: Brooklyn at Washington. Denver at Atlanta is the lone national TV game of the night (NBATV) if perusing live betting opportunities. Here's what you need to know for all of Saturday's games, in order of tipoff.

NBA Odds: Friday, March 14, 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/13/2014

I'm not sure what the biggest upset in the NBA has been in a single game this decade, but I'd venture to guess that if Philadelphia can beat Indiana on Friday night that would be on the short list. Here's what you need to know for all of Friday's games, in order of tipoff. Only Lakers-Spurs is on national TV (NBATV).

Handicapping the NBA Western Conference Playoff Race
by Trevor Whenham - 3/13/2014

We are in for one heck of a war in the NBA’s Western Conference between now and the end of the regular season. There are three teams worthy of making the playoffs as the seventh or eighth seed, and there are only two playoff spots for them. Memphis and Dallas are currently tied for the spots, with Phoenix just a game back. Memphis is dangerous, Phoenix is thrilling, and Dallas has long been built he right way, so it’s hard to cheer against any of them.

NBA Handicapping: Best and Worst ATS Team During Back-to-Backs
by George Monroy - 3/12/2014

The second night of a back-to-back can be a brutal spot for most teams during the already long grind of an NBA season. There are many bettors that love to take advantage of those situations and look for advantageous lines, particularly against old or inexperienced teams. The basketball regular season is nearly over, but it is never too late to look for a solid spot by betting on, or against, certain teams during back-to-back situations. Let’s take a closer look at the best and worst ATS teams when playing on consecutive nights.

NBA Odds: Thursday, March 13, 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/12/2014

Enjoy the TNT opener Thursday night between Houston and Chicago, because the other two games on the NBA schedule look rather ugly. Of course, ugly can be pretty if it results in a winning bet. Here's a look at every game in order of tipoff. The TNT doubleheader was moved up an hour.

NBA Odds: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/11/2014

Busy night in the NBA on Wednesday and there could be plenty of value to be found with several teams playing in the second of a back-to-back. Here's a quick look at the opening lines of every game or perhaps why there isn't one.

LeBron James Odds to Win NBA 2014 MVP Award with Picks & Predictions
by Aaron Smith - 3/10/2014

There aren’t many other awards in all sports that are as highly coveted as the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. LeBron James has won the MVP Award in four of the last five seasons, and he was named the league’s MVP in each of the last two seasons. Kevin Durant is considered by many to be a significant favorite in this year’s MVP race, but James isn’t about to give up on this race easily.

NBA Basketball Betting and Handicapping: Scouting the Week Ahead
by Alan Matthews - 3/10/2014

There are about 20 games left in the NBA's regular season. So which is best right now: Get some struggles out of the way because there is plenty of time left to fix things before the playoffs, or start peaking now and carry it into the postseason?

NBA Odds: Tuesday, March 11 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/10/2014

Is it time for Indiana Pacers futures backers to worry? They have lost a season-high four games in a row and have coughed up the best record in the NBA. About the only good news is that Miami has lost three straight, so the Pacers still lead the East by 1.5 games. They certainly should win Tuesday night at home against Boston. Here's a quick look at all of Tuesday's action, in order of tipoff, and their opening lines.

NBA Odds: Saturday, March 8 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/7/2014

By far the most intriguing game on the schedule Saturday night has to be Utah at Philadelphia. Of course, it involves two of the worst teams in the NBA pulling tank jobs to land a high pick in this summer's draft. But the Sixers are doing it in almost unprecedented fashion, having lost 15 straight games and showing no signs of being competitive any time soon. Bovada has a cool prop on whether the 76es win another game: yes is 1/5 and no 3/1.

Kevin Durant Odds to Win NBA 2014 MVP Award with Picks & Predictions
by Aaron Smith - 3/6/2014

The NBA Most Valuable Player Award is one of the most coveted awards in all of sports. LeBron James has won the MVP Award in back-to-back seasons, and he has won it in four of the last five years overall. King James isn’t about to give up this award easily, but Kevin Durant is putting together a season for the ages as well.

NBA Odds: Friday, March 7 2014 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/6/2014

While a potential NBA Finals preview between Miami and San Antonio highlighted the TNT national TV schedule on Thursday night, so does Indiana at Houston stand out in ESPN's doubleheader Friday night. That Finals matchup is +1700 at Sportsbook.ag. Here's a quick look at all of Friday's action, in order of tipoff.

NBA Betting Against the Spread Report Card: Grading the Phoenix Suns
by George Monroy - 3/5/2014

The Phoenix Suns have quietly been the best ATS team in the NBA for some time now. Entering the year Phoenix was expected to be one of the worst squads in the league and one of the few organizations to “tank” its season in order to get a premium spot during this summer’s NBA Draft. The Suns, however, decided to prove the experts wrong, and they are currently the eighth seed in a packed Western Conference and could move even higher up the standings before the season comes to an end.