How Important Is A Good Shooting Guard To NBA Success?

The first round of the NBA playoffs is coming to an end, and by now most sportsbook handicappers have found their edge for the next round. Similar to baseball, many basketball handicappers will base their systems on a single player or position. For instance, the sports betting online sites base a lot of their trends on how good the point guard on every team is, as they are the court general for their team. At the same time, many sportsbooks disregard the success of a shooting guard, despite the fact they are the ones taking the important shots.

There isn’t a more important shooting guard in the NBA then Los Angeles Lakers franchise star Kobe Bryant. After spending the better part of a decade with Derek Fisher as his point guard, it became clear, that Bryant was the true court general for his team, as the Lakers didn’t lose a step when Fisher was traded to the Rockets, and Ramon Sessions was brought in. As Kobe goes, so too do the Lakers, as they have relied on him to carry the load for basically his entire career. By having the greatest shooting guard of the modern era, the Lakers have been able to ride Kobe’s coattails to four NBA titles.

On the other hand, sometimes a good shooting guard isn’t necessary at all to a team’s success. For example, while the Lakers base their offense on shooting guard Kobe Bryant, the LA Clippers went the majority of the season playing without a shooting guard. After trading away Eric Gordon as part of the Chris Paul package, the Clippers relied on two point guards to play in the starting rotation. It wasn’t ultimately until they acquired Nick Young, that the Clippers required depth at the shooting guard position for an extended playoff run.

How A Good Point Guard Affects A Teams NBA Title Hopes

When it comes to sports betting on the NBA, no individual position can convey the fortune of a team like the point guard position. Often called the quarterback of the hardwood, the point guard is basically the on court coach, as they direct the other four players to the basket, and offer advice on who to defend. Without a good point guard, many teams see their odds of making the playoffs decrease dramatically. It also means, that if a terrible team upgrades at the point guard position, they can go from terrible to NBA champion pretty quickly.

Due to the lockout shortened offseason, several teams across the league had to make a slew of trades in a hurry to contend this season. As a result, several teams with incredibly long shots to make the playoffs let alone win the NBA title have the potential to make handicappers a lot of money this year. With that in mind, we will look at a team today, who if they win the NBA Championship, will put a few sportsbooks out of business. Here is a look at the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Los Angeles Clippers have never had a sellout season in franchise history heading into this year. Often disregarded like a distant cousin at a family function, the Clippers were known as a circus act, as they led the league in slam dunks entering the season. Then out of nowhere, the Clippers, who were 50 to one dogs to make the playoffs, went out and acquired Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets, and everything changed. Paul, who is considered by many analysts to be the best point guard in the game, was a huge upgrade from Mo Williams and Baron Davis a season ago. Now, the Clippers are 25 to one favorites to win the NBA title, they are playing in front of their first ever sell out season, and they may have home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

NBA Finals Prediction

Annually, as the regular season ends in a professional sports league, fans, media, and Bodog handicappers alike all look to focus on a couple of teams they believe are built for a deep playoff run. With only two weeks remaining in the NBA season, we are at that point, as everyone is looking for a couple of teams to get behind for deep runs. As it stands right now, the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder are two teams destined for a collision course in June. Today, we will look at why the Heat and Thunder have the best odds to make it to the NBA finals.

The Miami Heat are a lock to make the NBA Finals, for the simple reason that they have the best player since Michael Jordan on their roster, in LeBron James. A season ago, the Heat reaped the rewards of having LeBron on their team, as he helped guide them to the NBA finals for the second time in his career. At the time, everyone and their uncle wanted to see LeBron lose, because he and Dwayne Wade joined forces. But the Heat didn’t lose to the Mavericks because the Mavericks were the better team, they lost, because LeBron ran out of gas, and the Heat’s weaknesses were easily exploited.

This season, if the NBA finals brings Miami and Oklahoma City together, the Heat will lose with arguably the best all around team in the league. Wade has been injured for the past few weeks, Bosh is proving he’s a complimentary piece and not a franchise guy, and James is once again doing his thing, shouldering the load. On the other hand, while Kevin Durant is far and away the star of the Thunder, on any given night, it is Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins, and James Harden who can also close out games. With the amount of depth on the Thunder, they should decimate the Heat in the NBA finals.

NBA Trade Deadline Recap

It has been a little over 13 days since the NBA trade deadline helped many teams increase their odds for both the playoffs and a lottery position in this year’s draft. As we edge closer to the playoffs, it is important for handicappers, to understand which moves appear to have paid off, and which perhaps shouldn’t have been made at all. With March Madness betting lines set to close next Monday, the NBA will be our main focus. Here is a recap of the deadline.

What’s Going On In Los Angeles?

In the lockout-shortened season, the battle of Los Angeles has basically saved the season from being one lacking intriguing storylines. During the offseason, the Clippers made it clear they wanted to contend now for the NBA title, by swooping in and stealing point guard Chris Paul from the Hornets. We say stealing, because apparently the Lakers had a deal for Paul in place, but it was foiled by the league’s high demands. With the Lakers needing an upgrade at point guard, they had to wait until the trade deadline to attempt to do so. Meanwhile, the Clippers needed an upgrade at shooting guard, after Chauncey Billups ruptured his Achilles tendon.

On trade deadline day, the Lakers traded sparingly used small forward Luke Walton and a first round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers for point guard Ramon Sessions. Then, the Lakers traded long time but aging guard Derek Fisher to the Houston Rockets. Sessions gives the Lakers a youthful guard entering the prime of his career, to be mentored by Kobe Bryant. Which is what they really needed.

On the contrary, the Clippers finally addressed their need at shooting guard, by acquiring Nick Young from the Washington Wizards. Young is a very raw shooting guard, with low risk and high reward potential. Basically, if he fails as a starting guard with the Clippers, his contract expires at the end of the season. On the other hand, if Young can show that he can play for a contender, he may be resigned next season.

NBA Finals Prediction

With the NBA trade deadline right around the corner, and the second half of the season underway, it is once again that time of year to make your NBA finals prediction! If the playoffs were to start today, many of the league’s powerhouses, would once again make the playoffs. At the same time, the NBA version of a March Madness betting Cinderella team or three would also make the big dance. Here is an NBA Finals prediction.

For all intents and purposes, after the summer they had, the Los Angeles Clippers should be one of the two remaining teams to battle it out for the NBA Title. This offseason, the Clippers came out of nowhere to steal the thunder of arch rival the Lakers, as they swooped in and acquired point guard Chris Paul from New Orleans, for Chris Kaman, Al Aminu, Eric Gordon and a 2012 first round pick.  As a result of the trade, the Clippers went from being one of the worst teams in the NBA, to one that could very well be a sports betting steal by June. Along with Paul, the Clippers core features Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Caron Butler.

As sports betting enthusiasts we want to see the Clippers face one of the best teams from the Eastern Conference, and not just another team that caught lightning in a bottle as the season wound down. In our opinion, the best team to face the Clippers, would be the Chicago Bulls. Led by Derrick Rose, the Bulls have sat atop the Eastern Conference standings for a couple of years, only to falter in the playoffs. In our opinion, this year is the year the Bulls finally take the next step and go to the finals. Since the Clippers have one of the weaker benches in the NBA, the Bulls should be able to win the NBA Title in five games.

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.

Will Shorter NBA Season Effect Betting Profits

When the NBA returned from a near five-month lockout, the sports betting world was a buzz, as many sportsbooks and hardcore hoops handicappers akin believed that the shortened season would ultimately effect how much profit was to be made. Many people we included felt that the 66 game season would cheat us out of the profit we could have made with a full 82 game schedule. Instead, with 42 games per team being played on a back to back, the profits for the average bookie software site, may increase dramatically.

For the reason that the NBA schedule for this season is more grueling then ever before, there stands to be a ton of money made by you the average bettor. Essentially, this year more then ever, the effects of a daunting schedule will take a toll on star players bodies. Since basketball is like football, in that one to two players per team dictate how each team will fair, there will be plenty of lines that provide excellent value for the bettor. An example of this is with the Chicago Bulls, who after the first month of the season, are already without reigning MVP and point guard Derrick Rose. Rose sustained an ankle injury, and the lines on Bulls games have been lower than when he has been in the games.

On the other hand, the Miami Heat are also without one of their stars, as Dwayne Wade also has an ankle injury. Nevertheless, the Heat lines are remaining the same at most sportsbooks, because the team also has Chris Bosh and LeBron James on the team. Meaning to say, the loss of Wade isn’t felt as much as the loss of Rose, because there is enough overall franchise talent on the Heat, to allow them to continue to play strong.

Why You Should Avoid NBA Teasers

When it comes to sports betting on basketball, one of the wagers we recommend you stay away from is called the teaser bet. In this wager, the bettor combines the point spread with a parlay. That is to say, the bookie software agent will give you odds that allow you to put the point spread either in favor or against one of the teams you are expecting win within your parlay. In order for your wager to be successful, not only does the NBA team have to win the game, but also they have to cover the number on the point spread. Here is a guide to why teasers are a terrible wager.

In a teaser bet, the sportsbook makes plenty of profit off of casual or inexperienced bettors. Essentially, as we noted above, the teaser allows for the bettor to move the point spread in their favor. However, what we didn’t point out is that you need to include more teams in your wager then what you normally would for a parlay. For example, most people starting out in exotic wagers, will combine two or three teams into one parlay bet, as the odds of three teams winning is more likely then the odds of a person picking 15 of the correct selections.

With that in mind, the teaser is a bad wager, because it asks you to not only put your own personal touch on the point spread, but also include up to 10 or 11 teams in your bet. When it comes to the NBA, we recommend avoiding teasers like the plague, as basketball games have much higher point totals then a football game. Meaning to say, if you have each of your teams winning by four points in a football game, it can happen because of a touchdown. Meanwhile, if you make the same bet in basketball, the difference can be made up or nullified, depending on the amount of baskets the other team scores.

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