NBA Betting Strategies

NBA is one of my favourite sports when it comes to betting because the possibilities are endless. General tips will help you when you're starting to ensure you get an idea, but you need NBA betting strategies when the going gets serious.

Don't worry. The topic isn't technical enough to fly over your head. The strategies I am talking about are the types of bets you can place in an NBA game. Most newcomers only know one or two types of bets; hence I want to address them in this blog to help you get better acquainted.

It is customary to distribute your wager between a few bets to increase your chances of winning, so make sure you understand their dynamics.

NBA Betting Strategies

Following are the key NBA betting strategies you can use to make an earning:

Moneyline betting is the most straightforward bet you can place since it is the best to determine the winner of the game. The bookmaker will collect the bets at the beginning of the game and give the winnings once the game ends.

Although this bet looks simple, it is complex given the amount of research and consideration required. The outcome for some games is obvious due to differences in team skills, but evenly matched teams attract the most crowds. Depending on how risk-averse you are, you can choose which game to bet on.

Point spread betting is more technical, and where the system starts to get interesting. This bet evens the skill difference between the two teams by calculating the handicap one team has against the competitor and incorporating it in the bet.

The bookmaker will consider injuries, skill difference, venue advantage, etc., to get an objective value or points and assign a negative value to the team with an advantage.

For example, Phoenix’s 2.75 advantage will become a -2.75 for them. That means the team will have to win by 3 or more points for the bettors to be considered winners. Conversely, the other team will need to win or lose by two points or less for their bettors to be considered the winners.

The point spread is my favourite because it keeps everyone hooked to the game till the last minute most of the time.

In the over/under bet, the bookmaker considers that the two teams assess their proficiency, strengths, offence, defence, etc. Based on the evaluation, they predict the game's total score and open it to betting.

A bettor can then bet whether the actual score will be under or over the predicted amount. There are further niches in this betting strategy where bettors can define the estimated difference. However, the more niche the category, the higher the stakes, so consider when placing your bet.

Prop bet is another interesting betting style that is popular for its relative flexibility. This type of bet allows you to bet on any aspect of the game you want to. You can bet on which team will be the first to qualify for the semi-finals or which team will drop out of the running first. You can also bet on which player will get the most baskets and who will get injured in the game.

However, prop bets are subject to the bookmaker you are dealing with. Each has a range of bets they include in their portfolio, and you can choose from the available ones to place your bet.

Parlays are combination bets and allow you to combine various bets. The idea is to multiply the winnings, and the strategising is unbelievably exciting. However, they are also highly risky, so I recommend you try parlays after extensive experience with the others.

For example, if you're betting on the Lakers in a game against the Cavaliers, you will have the option of adding a point spread to the mix. If Lakers have a – 6 point spread and manage to win by 7 or more points, your payout will include winnings from the money line and point spread.

Futures odds are bets that spread over the series and predict the final results. They include bets about the winners of the final series, the highest match score, the player with the best performance, etc.

When making such bets, always look for odds to increase your chances of winning and read daily updates on the latest NBA picks. You can also engage in live betting, in which the odds will change as the series progresses, and the stakes will increase.

I hope this blog helped you understand NBA betting strategies to some extent, and you'll use the knowledge to take your betting to the next level.

Gamble responsibly. Contact the Gambling Helpline for free and confidential support, information and counselling on 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au.