NBA Handicapping Articles

NBA Handicapping: Atlanta Hawks Most Bland Team in Eastern Conference
by Trevor Whenham - 3/4/2016

Last year the Atlanta Hawks were pretty impressive. They weren't perfect, but they took massive steps forward and it seemed like they were really building towards something. This year so much of that momentum is gone. They aren't bad by any means, but they aren't exactly inspiring, either. They are just generic - like cheap vanilla ice cream. No one's going to complain about being served a bowl of vanilla ice cream, but no one would request it for their last meal, either. They have been so bland that it can be easy to forget about them.

NBA Odds: Friday, March 4, 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/3/2016

For much of this season, it looked like the Los Angeles Lakers made a mistake taking D'Angelo Russell with the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft instead of going with Jahlil Okafor and especially Kristaps Porzingis. And while I still think Porzingis will be the better pro (not sold on Okafor yet), Russell is starting to show signs of what the Lakers saw in him -- and why they should play Kobe Bryant only a few minutes a night (to let the fans see him) so Russell can be the "guy."

Handicapping the NBA Playoff Races
by Trevor Whenham - 3/3/2016

We are entering the home stretch of the NBA season. Three quarters of regular-season games have been played, the trade deadline has past, and teams are now focusing on making the playoffs and being ready to make an impact when they do so. For bettors, these playoff races are important to pay attention to. The longer playoff races remain heated, the better it is for bettors because the easier it is to know what to expect from teams. If there is no playoff race that teams need to be concerned about then you can't be sure that they will play their best on a given night because there is no reason to.

NBA Odds: Thursday, March 3 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/2/2016

Sadly, Thursday night is the final regular-season meeting between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors, who can tie the NBA record for longest home winning streak with a victory. If you are a fan of the NBA, root for the Thunder to fall to the No. 4 seed in the West by the end of the season (Clippers could pass them).

Free NBA Props Picks with Betting Odds and Expert Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 3/2/2016

The NBA enters the stretch run of the regular season, and the biggest question on many bettors' minds is if Golden State can set the single-season record for straight up wins by eclipsing the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls mark of 72-10. The Warriors are well on their way with 54 wins in their first 59 games, and most sportsbooks have them listed at even money against the field to win another NBA title.

NBA Betting Advice: How to Wager on Pro Basketball Teasers
by George Monroy - 3/2/2016

There are a million ways to skin a cat, and for sports bettors that "cat" equals profits. We all know how to wager on spreads and totals, but sometimes as bettors we need to expand our arsenal and look for other opportunities to get action on a game. One great way to accomplish that goal is by using a teaser. The wager is a combination bet similar to a parlay that allows bettors to add a certain number of points to either side of the spread. Sound fantastic? Well, it is, because a teaser can be an excellent way to find value on certain spreads if you use them the correct way. A teaser can also be a sure-fire way to dump your bankroll by getting involved with "sucker bets".

NBA Betting Advice and Handicapping: Oklahoma City Thunder ATS Report Card
by George Monroy - 3/1/2016

Bettors love the Oklahoma City Thunder. And with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook running the show, what's not to love? The team has superstar appeal, it plays a fun and up-tempo style of basketball, and most importantly, the Thunder remain one of the few teams with enough talent to challenge the Golden State Warriors for the 2016 NBA title. Yet with all that being said, Oklahoma City clocks in as one of the worst ATS teams in the entire NBA. Yes, the powerhouse Thunder, who are pace to grab another 60-win season, are a bad bet for NBA gamblers.

NBA Odds: Wednesday, March 2 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 3/1/2016

Suddenly not everything is kosher in Cleveland. J.R. Smith pushed the panic button after a recent loss, and on Monday you heard a report from Stephen A. Smith that point guard Kyrie Irving wants out of Cleveland. Does Stephen A. Smith irritate me beyond words? He does. But Smith is right more often than not when he says these things; he was the guy who first reported LeBron James would go to Miami back in 2010.

NBA Odds: Tuesday, March 1 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 2/29/2016

Have you ever seen a more entertaining regular-season NBA game than Saturday night's epic in Oklahoma City? I truly have not. How ridiculous is Steph Curry? I'm out of adjectives for the guy. He casually lofted a 32-footer with 0.6 seconds left in overtime for the win. I mean, how can you guard someone like that? Curry tied an NBA record with 12 3-pointers and broke his own season record for 3-pointers made -- and he has 24 more games to play!

NBA Odds: Saturday, February 27 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 2/26/2016

Normally, players who clear waivers and are bought out by their teams won't make any difference in terms of any team winning an NBA title. However, that could change this season with former All-Star guard Joe Johnson. He was released by Brooklyn on Thursday and has until 5 p.m. ET on Saturday to clear waivers. He absolutely will do that at his monster salary ($24.9 million this season in final year of contract). Then the Nets will give him a buyout and Johnson can sign with anyone (but Brooklyn). And reports are that Johnson is going to go title chasing with Cleveland. Certainly other contenders would want him, but San Antonio and Golden State are set at shooting guard.

NBA Betting Trends: Totals Report for Hot Over and Under Teams
by Aaron Smith - 2/26/2016

With the All Star Break in the rear view, it is time to start looking at the playoff races. Remember, in less than two months the NBA Playoffs will be here. Portland has been scorching hot in recent weeks, and the Blazers are now in the seventh spot in the Western Conference. Utah is half a game behind Houston for the No. 8 spot. In the Eastern Conference, the No. 4-ranked team in the standings (Miami) is only 3.5 games ahead of the ninth team (Detroit). The NBA Southeast Division is the only real divisional race we have right now, but playoff seeding will be vitally important.

NBA Odds: Friday, February 26, 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 2/25/2016

While it's easy for Golden State to cast a huge shadow over every other team in the NBA, there's actually other important basketball being played at times. And the game of the year in the Eastern Conference is Friday night when Cleveland visits Toronto, one of the biggest regular-season games in that city's history. The Cavs (41-15) lead the Raptors (38-18) by three games atop the conference. Oddsmakers have little faith in the Raptors winning the East as they are +700 compared to -450 for Cleveland.

NBA Betting Advice: Teams that Should be Worse Down the Stretch
by Trevor Whenham - 2/25/2016

We are getting into the stretch drive of the NBA season. For a lot of teams this is when the desperation of their situation really sinks in, and things can really go off the rails. They know they are not good and that the season has not gone according to plan, and they start to let that depressing reality further erode their level of play. Their season is hopeless, and they just give up and accept it. That is no fun for the players and the fans, but for bettors it can lead to consistent and easy profits.

NBA Betting and Handicapping: Buyouts can Help Teams Down Stretch
by Trevor Whenham - 2/25/2016

As soon as the NBA trade deadline passes, attention turns to the next way that teams can change their rosters down the stretch - buyouts. A player needs to be waived before the end of February in order for him to be able to join a new team and be eligible for the postseason, so we are in the midst of a tight window. Players will be bought out for a number of reasons - because they were throw ins to make trades work but weren't wanted on their new team, because they are aging and want a shot on a contender before their time is done, because they have unwieldy contracts that teams don't want to be weighed down by anymore, because the team was unable to trade the player, because the team needs a roster spot, and so on.

NBA Odds: Wednesday, February 24 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 2/24/2016

All of the so-called experts thought the Detroit Pistons did pretty well in last week's three-team trade with Houston and Philadelphia that landed the Pistons forward/center Donatas Motiejunas and guard Marcus Thornton from the Rockets. Houston was to get a top-eight protected 2016 draft pick from the Pistons and rights to forward Chukwudiebere Maduabum from the Sixers, who acquired center Joel Anthony in the deal.

NBA Odds: Saturday, February 20 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 2/19/2016

The trade deadline was pretty much a dud. The Chicago Bulls were rumored to be shopping All-Star Pau Gasol. Instead they traded 82-year-old backup guard Kirk Hinrich. The Houston Rockets were shopping Dwight Howard. They dealt Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton. The Atlanta Hawks surely were going to trade either Jeff Teague or Al Horford. They instead sent away Shelvin Mack. Three title contenders appeared to make solid secondary moves with Cleveland getting stretch forward Channing Frye from Orlando, Oklahoma City acquiring Randy Foye from Denver, and the LA Clippers landing Jeff Green from Memphis while dumping the headache that is known as Lance Stephenson (addition by subtraction there).

NBA Odds: Friday, February 19, 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 2/18/2016

Terrible news out of Miami this week in that All-Star forward Chris Bosh is apparently dealing with blood clot issues again, the same thing that not only cut last season short but put his life in a bit of jeopardy. It wasn't supposed to be a recurring problem but Bosh is back on blood thinners and his season likely is over -- there's also a chance his career might be.

NBA Betting Storylines for the Playoffs Stretch Run
by Chris Vasile - 2/18/2016

As the weather gets warmer and the glitz and glamour of NBA All-Star Weekend fades away into the sunset, 26 teams (better luck next year Philadelphia, Phoenix, LA Lakers and Brooklyn) will fight tooth and nail to put themselves in a position to make the playoffs and give their team a chance to contend for the Larry O'Brien trophy.

NBA Odds: Thursday, February 18 2016 Opening Line Report and Handicapping
by Alan Matthews - 2/17/2016

Thursday is one of the best days of the NBA regular season as not only does the second half tip off but it's also the day of trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET. It should be an interesting deadline because very few teams have to dump salary due to the salary cap going way up this summer thanks to the new TV deal.

NBA Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Teams Against the Point Spread
by Aaron Smith - 2/15/2016

The Western Conference beat the Eastern Conference 196-173 in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night. Yes, that was actually the score of the game. That's about the score of two NBA regular-season games combined. The 369 combined points blew away the previous record for most points scored in an NBA All-Star Game. Russell Westbrook was named the Most Valuable Player of the game. Maybe I could be called too much of a purist, but I for one will be excited to get the regular-season action back underway this week. I prefer to see both the offense and defense working hard, and there was zero defense in Sunday night's game.