NBA Handicapping Articles

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.

NBA Picks: Thursday TNT Predictions for Miami Heat at New York Knicks
by Alan Matthews - 1/27/2011

It’s always a hyped game when LeBron James visits Madison Square Garden, and other than Cleveland no city probably despises James now more than New York. And Knicks star Amare Stoudemire added a bit of bulletin-board material for tonight’s game when he said: "Nobody's afraid of the Miami Heat.”

NBA Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Teams Against the Point Spread
by Aaron Smith - 1/24/2011

The NBA hot and cold report is designed to help you stay ahead of the NBA betting landscape. This is definitely a league where teams heat up and cool down on a regular basis, which allows you to profit nicely if you are ahead of the curve. Please note that the statistics used in this report are from games played between Jan. 10 and Jan. 23.

NBA Picks: Lakers at Nuggets Predictions and Betting Odds
by Aaron Smith - 1/21/2011

The Los Angeles Lakers have been as streaky as any team in the NBA so far this year. The defending champions started the season red hot at 13-2, but they have been back and forth between hot and cold ever since. The Denver Nuggets were the Lakers top contender in the Western Conference a couple years ago, but this team is shell of its former self right now. They are still very talented, but the trade rumors and lack of team chemistry are really hurting this squad. The Nuggets have still been almost unbeatable at home, and they should be fully motivated when the Lakers come to town. This one will be broadcast on ESPN Friday night.

NBA Picks Thursday TNT: Mavericks at Bulls Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 1/20/2011

Chicago’s three-game winning streak ended on Tuesday night in a surprising home loss to Charlotte – although perhaps not that surprising considering the shorthanded Bulls were playing their fourth game in five days. Derrick Rose continued his unbelievable play with 33 points. However, he missed a shot at the buzzer as the Bulls’ eight-game home winning streak ended. It also was the Bobcats’ second win over Chicago in less than a week.

NBA Picks: Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns Odds and Predictions
by Aaron Smith - 1/14/2011

The Portland Trail Blazers are once again dealing with all kinds of injuries. Blazers fans are far too accustomed to their team never being at full strength. The latest news of Brandon Roy being out a month or two because of surgery on both knees is just like pouring salt into the wound. On the other side, the Phoenix Suns have been one of the top teams in the west over the last few years, but that is no longer the case. The Suns appear to be in rebuilding mode now, and this is a team that will likely miss the playoffs altogether this season. Both of these teams badly need a win in this matchup.

NBA Picks Thursday TNT: Heat at Nuggets Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 1/13/2011

I have to say, I had an internal debate on which game to pick for this article and my NBA picks. In thinking about it on Wednesday, do I possibly pick the Orlando-Oklahoma City game with the Magic potentially on a 10-game winning streak and with that matchup a possible NBA Finals preview? Or do I go with Miami at Denver, with the Heat possibly poised to get within one game of tying the NBA record for consecutive road wins?

NBA Futures Betting: Odds and NBA Finals Predictions
by T.O. Whenham - 1/12/2011

Betting on championship futures in the NBA is different than any other sport. In the NHL any team that makes the playoffs can win the championship, and we have often seen teams come from nowhere to hoist the Cup. In the NFL the top teams from the regular season often hit a wall when the playoffs start. In the NBA, though, upsets are very rare in the playoffs, and when a team does manage a first-round shocker it almost never carries that momentum into the next round, and surprise teams never make it to the NBA Finals.

NBA Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Teams Against the Point Spread
by Aaron Smith - 1/10/2011

This hot and cold report shows us just how quickly trends can change in the NBA. Just two weeks ago, the Rockets were covering the number better than anyone else in the league, but they now top the cold list. Bettors must do their best to stay ahead of the trends or it will be difficult to consistently turn a profit for NBA handicapping. Here is a closer look at the top hot and cold teams against the NBA point spread from the last two weeks of action. Please note statistics used are for games played between Dec. 27 and Jan. 9.

NBA Picks: Houston Rockets at Orlando Magic Odds and Predictions
by Aaron Smith - 1/7/2011

The Orlando Magic have made the most personnel moves of any team in the NBA so far this year. Orlando is looking to become a real contender in what will be an extremely difficult Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Houston Rockets had high hopes for the season, but injuries have once again derailed their plans. Rick Adelman’s teams don’t just give up though, and the Rockets still have plenty of scorers. ESPN will have the coverage of this one.

NBA Picks Thursday TNT: Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks
by Alan Matthews - 1/5/2011

I’ll be honest here: I will rarely write about a game that doesn’t already have official odds posted, but that is the case as of this writing on the opener of Thursday night’s NBA on TNT telecast between Oklahoma City and Dallas. But I’d rather write about two Western Conference contenders than the nightcap between Denver and the NBA’s worst team, Sacramento. So there you go. But of course there will be a line on the Thunder-Mavs eventually and I’ll try to predict off what I expect that to be.

NBA Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Teams Against the Point Spread
by Aaron Smith - 12/27/2010

In this report of the hot and cold NBA teams we see several of the same teams from two weeks ago, but there are also some teams that haven’t been on the report all year. This bi-weekly article series is aimed to help you catch onto trends that can make you money when betting on the NBA. Let’s take a look at the hot and cold teams from the last two weeks. Note that the statistics used are for games played between Dec. 13 and Dec. 26.

NBA Predictions: Updated Championship Futures Odds and Picks
by T.O. Whenham - 12/22/2010

We are, in round numbers, a third of the way into the NBA season. Some things have gone as expected so far, and others really haven’t. This is a good time to check in on the NBA Championship futures to see what is interesting and what isn’t. The timing is good for another reason - Miami and the Lakers are co-favorites according to the NBA odds with a fairly wide margin between them and third place Celtics, and those two teams meet on Christmas day in what could be a holiday classic. (odds are from BetUS)

NBA Picks: Heat at Knicks Odds and Betting Predictions
by Aaron Smith - 12/17/2010

The two hottest teams in the NBA will square off in New York on Friday night. It should come as no surprise that the Miami Heat are on a roll right now, but most have been caught off guard by the success of the New York Knicks. Miami has won 10 straight games, while New York has won eight of their last nine. The Knicks were edged, 118-116, by the Celtics on Wednesday night. This is the perfect chance for them to prove they are for real in front of a national television audience on ESPN.

Thursday TNT NBA Picks: San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 12/16/2010

All you have heard about so far this NBA season is the Big 3 of Miami, the great start of the Boston Celtics, the Lakers simply being the Lakers, a Knicks resurgence and maybe even a Carmelo Anthony trade rumor or seven. Unless you are a true NBA fan, really how many “column inches” (old newspaper term) have you seen dedicated to the San Antonio Spurs other than the entertainment Web sites when Eva Longoria and Tony Parker announced their divorce?

NBA Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Teams Against the Point Spread
by Aaron Smith - 12/13/2010

There are some major changes on this report versus the one from two weeks ago. The NBA is a league where you must follow the trends very closely. The goal of this bi-weekly article series is to help you catch trends and spot teams to play or go against. Let’s take a look at the hot and cold teams against the NBA odds from the last two weeks. Note that the statistics used are for games played between Nov. 29 and Dec. 12.

NBA Picks: Lakers at Bulls Predictions and Betting Odds
by Aaron Smith - 12/10/2010

The ESPN NBA lineup on Friday starts off with a terrific battle between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Bulls. Anytime the Lakers and the Bulls get together it’s a must-watch, and both of these teams are having a solid start to the season. Carlos Boozer is back in the lineup for the Bulls and Chicago has won three straight. The Lakers lost four in a row, but they have since rebounded to win their last three as well. I fully expect both teams to be extra pumped up about this matchup.