NBA Short Season Fatigue

For the first time in nearly 14 years, the NBA is experiencing a shortened season, thanks to the four month lockout earlier this year. With 66 games on the schedule for every team, and 42 games being player per team in the back-to-back variety, betting onlineenthusiasts can make a significant profit. The shortened season means that many teams will experience fatigue, because of the lack of depth on their benches. It also means, that if you are new to the March Madness betting tournament for college hoops, the NBA can provide a blueprint for how to make a profit.

As bettors, we are always looking for one key ingredient, to provide us an edge over the sportsbook, on the money line or spread. For all intents and purposes, thanks in large part to the shortened season, and a lack of conditioning by many veteran players, injuries has become our make or break strategy. An example of this stems in Los Angeles, as the Clippers, have played unbelievably this far into the season, despite having two key players become injured at various points. First, newly acquired star point guard Chris Paul missed a handful of games to a calf injury. During his time away from the court, March Madness betting fans were wise to fade the Clippers, as the team did not do too well. Then almost as soon as Paul returned to the lineup, the guard filling in for him, Chauncey Billups, tore his Achilles tendon, which required him to undergo season ending surgery.

While the effects of the Billups injury are serious, they haven’t been felt as immediately as the Paul injury. In essence, Billups was integral, but the Clippers are finding a way, to maintain their impressive record this season. Nevertheless, if the Clippers are unable to replace Billups, who was the team’s only combination guard, at the trade deadline, they may get eliminated in the first round. By handicapping injuries, you can turn a profit by fading certain should be good teams.

NBA Handicapping Shortened Schedule

First time March Madness betting enthusiasts looking for tips on how to handicap a shortened season, need look no further then the NBA shortened schedule. After a ridiculous near five-month layoff, the NBA came back to work on Xmas Day and have 66 games per team. As a result of the layoff, the all 30 teams have to play 42 of their 66 scheduled games on back to back nights. As college basketball betting enthusiasts will show you, the March Madness tournament is all about playing on short rest. Today we will look at how to handicap a shortened schedule.

The shortened schedule is resulting in major consequences on the betting line. Probably the biggest repercussion is the fact that every team has to play at least two weeks of the schedule, where they have three games in three nights. For some teams, they may have four games in five nights. Meaning to say, how a team performs at the start of this ridiculous schedule may not be the same as at the end. As it relates to NBA betting, handicappers may in fact be looking to take a team to cover the spread in the third game of the three in three. What the bookies have found, is that when bettors take the team to cover the spread in the third game, they have come out with a record of nine wins and seven losses, which for all intents and purposes is a very respectable record.

Another issue to take into account this season more then ever, is the depth of every team. In the past, the teams that have won the championship have relied heavily on three or four guys to carry them. Yet, this season, having all 10 to 13 guys on your roster contribute, can’t be stressed enough. Especially, with up to 42 back-to-back games, it stands to reason that a good bench can be the difference between turning a profit and losing a lot of money.

How NBA Point Spreads Are Made

Super Bowl betting enthusiasts looking to test their luck at a new sport, should look no further then the NBA, as it shares similarities with the NFL. For instance, both sports, use the point spread as their main forte for attracting new and experienced bettors to their games. As a matter of fact, one question we receive a lot at our bookie software offices, from new bettors, is how the point spread differs in the NBA from the NFL. Today we’ll answer that question.

One of the failed viewpoints regarding the point spread is that it is used to show how much better one team is from their opponent. In reality, the point spread is used to create equal money on both teams. For example, if a sportsbook sets the Clippers as a -110 favorite and the Raptors as a +330 dog, they aren’t going to create a profit for themselves, since bettors will wager different amounts. Instead, the point spread is used to put one over on the sharp bettors, as the point spread leaves the possibility that the winning team can still lose. Here is an example.

Raptors

Clippers – 3

Final Score: Raptors 88 Clippers 90

In this example, the Clippers were a favorite to win the game, and they did, however, because the NBA point spread was three and they only won by two, they technically lost. As it relates to sharp bettors, the sharps may have taken the Clippers to win the game by more then three points, but because the Raptors are better then people expected, they were able to keep the game close. For all intents and purposes, the goal of the sportsbook, is to set point spreads in such a way, that it presents the possibility that the sharps may lose.