Guide to Betting on NBA Games
Most handicappers think the NFL is the toughest professional league on which to make a profit because of the sharp lines and the heavy scrutiny by every wise guy out there.
If that’s true, then so is this: Betting on NBA games is a very close second.
Some would argue professional hoops is in fact the toughest game going over the long haul, due to the volatility inherent in 30 teams playing 82 games each season with tons of points being scored every night. Don’t think it’s tough? Even the best NBA cappers in the world hit between 53% to 58% in a good year; anyone who tells you otherwise either has tomorrow’s newspaper or is pulling your leg.
Despite the challenge, MalvernSports recognizes you’re going to wager on NBA spreads and totals anyway, so you need to have some guidelines to help you make some money.
First off, successful NBA bettors are selective, and manage their money effectively. This isn’t football: There can be as many NBA games in two nights as there are over two weeks of NFL action. Pick your spots, and be prepared for an element of randomness, backdoor covers in garbage time, and the fact you’re not always going to get a great number each day.
Remember that NBA betting is as much about individual matchups, situations, feel and injuries as it is about statistics, betting systems, and power ratings. This makes earning dough on the pro hardwood tougher, but also more rewarding if you know and follow a handful of teams for handicapping purposes.
Be especially careful with totals, which are harder to assess in the NBA than in any other sport at the window. The over/under is difficult to judge because of the myriad of qualitative factors listed above, the least of which is rest/fatigue. Think fresh legs means more offense and the game going over? What if a few nights off leads to a better effort on the defensive end and the teams playing under?
Account for injuries on a situational basis, and don’t worry solely about star players. You also need to adjust for injuries to role players who won’t necessarily force oddsmakers to move the line or total, but who will affect their team’s chance to cover the spread.
The good thing is that there are websites nowadays that can help you to practice betting. Casino websites like Poker Online are just some of the tools or platform that you can use to effectively bet on an NBA game.
MalvernSports.com provides in-depth analysis for every NBA game, and features live betting trends so players can bet the action on the hardwood with confidence
