NBA Handicapping Articles

NBA Picks: 76ers at Bulls Game 2 Odds and Betting Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 4/30/2012

I know many Chicago Bulls fans and I can tell you that all made a new friend on Saturday afternoon: Guy by the name of Jack Daniels. Of course, I am referring to the fact that many a Bulls backer needed a little something to help them forget what happened Saturday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Rose went down with a little over a minute left and the game seemingly not in doubt for Chicago.

NBA Handicapping Impact of Derrick Rose Injury
by T.O. Whenham - 4/30/2012

With 1:22 left in the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bulls playoff-opening win over Philadelphia 76ers, my chances of seeing my preseason pick to win the NBA Championship come through took a serious and likely fatal blow. The game was totally under control, but oft-injured superstar Derrick Rose was still in the game, and on an innocent-looking play he tore his ACL and ended his season.

NBA Playoffs Odds and Picks: Knicks vs. Heat Series Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 4/27/2012

There are some very nice first-round NBA Playoff matchups. The Dallas Mavericks face long odds to repeat as champs and are significant underdogs in their series with Oklahoma City. How will the L.A. Lakers fare without Metta World Peace against an athletic Denver Nuggets team? The L.A. Clippers are in rare territory just being in the postseason, but they face a Memphis club that many think is a dark horse to win the West. Bulls-Sixers? Could be competitive. Celtics-Hawks? Will Ray Allen be able to play?

San Antonio Spurs Futures Odds and NBA Finals Predictions
by Aaron Smith - 4/27/2012

This wasn’t the way it was supposed to work out in the condensed NBA regular season. San Antonio locked up the top seed in the Western Conference several days before the end of the season. The Spurs were assumed out of contention for a title this season after last year’s first-round exit against the Memphis Grizzlies, and the shortened season should have hurt a veteran team that needed more time to recover between games.

NBA Playoff Preview: Clippers vs. Grizzlies Betting Trends
by David Schwab - 4/27/2012

The Los Angeles Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies tip-off their first-round, best-of-seven playoff series this Sunday with Game 1 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. The first two games will be in there before the series shifts to the Staples Center for the next two games. The series will alternate sites for the final three games in a 2-2-1-1-1 format.

Handicapping the 2012 NBA Playoffs Schedule
by Aaron Smith - 4/27/2012

The regular season has concluded and it is time for some NBA Playoff basketball. All through the condensed regular season we were telling you that the scheduling spots were one of the best angles for NBA handicappers to follow to gain an edge on the books. The NBA schedule changes definitely affected the regular season standings, but now it is time to focus on playoff scheduling.

NBA Picks for Thursday TNT: Lakers at Kings Odds and Betting Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 4/25/2012

The NBA’s scoring title could well be decided on Thursday night depending on what Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant does Wednesday night in the Thunder’s season finale and presuming the Lakers play Kobe Bryant in this game against the Kings. Oh, and it’s also possibly the final NBA game in Sacramento, meaning it should be a fired-up crowd against the Laker franchise that Kings fans love to hate.

NBA Odds and Picks: Utah Jazz at Phoenix Suns Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 4/23/2012

Barring a spectacular collapse by the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference, we know 15 of the 16 playoff teams in the NBA with the postseason set to tip off on Saturday. That lone spot left could be decided Tuesday night in what is almost a play-in game when Phoenix visits Utah.

NBA Picks for Thursday TNT: Mavericks at Heat Odds and Betting Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 4/19/2012

The late game on TNT features the L.A. Clippers at Phoenix and both still have plenty to play for. The Clips enter just a half-game behind their Staples Center co-tenant Lakers for the Pacific Division lead and the No. 3 seed in the West (Clips and Lakers tied in loss column). The Suns enter a half-game out of the No. 8 spot in the West and are in a three-way battle with Utah and Houston for that last slot. Phoenix could still rise as high as No. 6 (where Dallas is and 2.5 games ahead) in the West race or fall out entirely.

NBA Handicapping: NBA Championship Futures Odds
by T.O. Whenham - 4/19/2012

We are in the home stretch of this lockout-shortened NBA season. As we look ahead to the playoffs it’s a good time to look at the NBA Championship futures odds to see what stands out as interesting and what seems like a bad idea (all odds are from Bovada):

NBA Handicapping: NBA Championship Contenders Each Have Fatal Flaw
by T.O. Whenham - 4/18/2012

Each of these six contenders is very talented. Each team has a big flaw, though, and those flaws are more significant for some teams than others. Here’s a look at the biggest flaws of the six most likely NBA Championship winners, according to the NBA odds:

NBA Betting: Picking the Exact Finals Matchup Props
by Darin Zank - 4/15/2012

Going into this season, and right up until a couple of weeks or so ago, picking the NBA Finalists for this season didn't look like too tough a task. The NBA isn't exactly known for being kind to longshots and underdogs, so big dogs like the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference and the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers in the West seemed fairly obvious choices.

Friday NBA Betting Report: Schedule Handicapping Breakdown
by Aaron Smith - 4/12/2012

Just two weeks remain in the NBA regular season. Some teams only have six games remaining, while others have as many as 10. Jockeying for position in the standings is starting to hit high gear as the playoffs draw near. Situational betting is a good way to play the NBA all season, but it is particularly crucial near the end of the season when different teams have varying amounts of interest in the game.

NBA Handicapping: Can Clippers Make Noise in Playoffs?
by T.O. Whenham - 4/12/2012

The Los Angeles Clippers were the most hyped team in the NBA heading into the season after winning the Chris Paul lottery. They have been a very tough team to figure out, though, because their season has been like a rollercoaster. For several games in a row they’ll play like they are truly an elite team — a true title contender. But then they’ll play several games as if they might only be the third best team in California.

NBA Handicapping Impact of Derrick Rose Injury
by T.O. Whenham - 4/12/2012

Derrick Rose is making it very tough to figure out how to deal with the Chicago Bulls this year. When Rose is playing he is the best point guard in the league, and one of a very small handful of truly elite players overall. He has a team around him that is very well suited for him, too.

Bobcats vs. Heat: On Friday Will We See Largest Point Spread of Season?
by Darin Zank - 4/12/2012

Double-digit point spreads are almost an everyday occurrence in NBA betting, and even lines of 12, 13 and 14 aren't really rare. But we're poised to deal with one of the biggest point spreads posted on an NBA game this season Friday night when King James and his Miami Heat host the atrocious Charlotte Bobcats (7:30 p.m. Eastern).

NBA Picks: Mavericks at Warriors Odds and Betting Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 4/11/2012

Clearly the top game in this Thursday’s NBA on TNT doubleheader features Dallas at Golden State. It’s chock full of story lines: the reigning champion Mavs fighting for their playoff lives. And the Warriors …. Well, I got nothing there.

NBA Handicapping: Update on Back-to-Back-to-Back Betting Trends
by David Schwab - 4/11/2012

One of the unique aspects of this year’s NBA abbreviated 66-game regular season schedule, due to offseason labor issues, was the necessity to cram all these games into a very tight time-frame in order to start the playoffs by the beginning of May.

NBA Handicapping: ATS Studs and Duds
by T.O. Whenham - 4/9/2012

We are entering the home stretch of this shortened NBA season. As we get ready for the final push for the playoffs it’s a good time to look at the teams that have been very strong against the NBA odds this season, and those that have really struggled to cover spreads.

NBA Betting and Handicapping: Scouting The Week Ahead
by Alan Matthews - 4/9/2012

How could a reigning championship team with a superstar player and an owner willing to spend deep into the luxury tax zone possibly miss the playoffs? That’s exactly what might happen in Dallas as the Mavericks are fighting for their playoff lives.