NBA

 Thumbnail image for Betting on the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery is a pretty dumb decision, but here’s a look at the odds anyway
NBA Draft Lottery Odds

Betting on the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery is a pretty dumb decision, but here’s a look at the odds anyway

May 17, 2013

The Orlando Magic had a leading scorer (Aaron Afflalo) and leading rebounder (Nikola Vucevic) that only the most passionate NBA fans could name, and they closed the regular season as an underdog in their final 24 games.

The good news: They’ll finally be favored to win something with the NBA Draft Lottery next Tuesday. The bad news: The lottery favorite—despite having a 25 percent chance—has won only twice in the past 21 years.

 Thumbnail image for Bulls’ win at Miami as 12-point underdogs is biggest NBA Playoffs upset we’ve seen since (at least) 2003
2013 NBA Playoffs

Bulls’ win at Miami as 12-point underdogs is biggest NBA Playoffs upset we’ve seen since (at least) 2003

May 7, 2013

The Miami Heat were -3000 favorites to win their second-round series against the banged-up Chicago Bulls before Monday night, so it’s a vast understatement to say that the Bulls’ Game 1 victory came as a bit of a shock.

Even more eye-opening? It was the biggest single-game upset we’ve seen in the NBA Playoffs since (at least) 2003.

 Thumbnail image for On The Ropes: Teams trailing 2-0 in NBA Playoffs series have done amazingly well ATS in Game 3
2013 NBA Playoffs

On The Ropes: Teams trailing 2-0 in NBA Playoffs series have done amazingly well ATS in Game 3

April 25, 2013

While historical results show that Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies have slim to no chance of winning their series against the Clippers, what about Game 3?

Home teams trailing 2-0 have hit at nearly 60 percent against the spread in these situations.

 Thumbnail image for How dominant can the Heat be? BetOnline sets odds at 20-to-1 for Miami to run the table in NBA Playoffs
2013 NBA Playoffs

How dominant can the Heat be? BetOnline sets odds at 20-to-1 for Miami to run the table in NBA Playoffs

April 18, 2013

It’s been at least a couple weeks since we’ve seen the Miami Heat at full strength, but they’re still the overwhelming favorites (-134 at 5Dimes) to win the 2013 NBA title. The next closest team is the Oklahoma City Thunder at +435.

If you’re not interested in laying that much juice on a team to win four series in a row, BetOnline has a prop available that could be a little more fun.

 Thumbnail image for As NBA season winds down, win totals for 8 teams, including the Thunder, remain undecided
NBA

As NBA season winds down, win totals for 8 teams, including the Thunder, remain undecided

April 15, 2013

We’ve listed each NBA team’s preseason (and midseason) win total, their current records, and also their result—either over or under—with two games left in the regular season.

As you’ll see, eight teams have still yet to be decided. The list includes the Mavericks, Pacers, Bucks, Hornets, Thunder, Blazers, Raptors and Jazz.

 Thumbnail image for Letdown Alert? After epic 27-game winning streak ends, now could be the time to fade the Miami Heat
NBA

Letdown Alert? After epic 27-game winning streak ends, now could be the time to fade the Miami Heat

March 28, 2013

If there’s ever a time to fade a team as talented as the Miami Heat, it could be now.

 Thumbnail image for Heat winning streak reaches 20 after topping 76ers, but odds firmly against them running the table
NBA

Heat winning streak reaches 20 after topping 76ers, but odds firmly against them running the table

March 14, 2013

A reporter asked Shane Battier if the Miami Heat were capable of running the table after they held off the Philadelphia 76ers 98-94 Wednesday night to extend their win streak to 20 games.

Battier responded with laughter. But should he have?

 Thumbnail image for Adjusted NBA Win Totals: Projecting final standings & playoff matchups based on oddsmakers’ numbers
NBA

Adjusted NBA Win Totals: Projecting final standings & playoff matchups based on oddsmakers’ numbers

February 18, 2013

The Spurs are at it again.

Adjusted NBA win totals are out, and San Antonio’s new number is 63.5, seven wins higher than their preseason total and far more than any other team in the league. The Heat and Thunder are the next closest, both at 59.5.

Read on for the adjusted win totals for all 30 NBA teams and a sneak peek at our Oddsmakers’ Projected Standings.

 Thumbnail image for Trap bet? In final night before All-Star break, East-leading Heat are 5.5-point underdogs at Thunder
NBA

Trap bet? In final night before All-Star break, East-leading Heat are 5.5-point underdogs at Thunder

February 14, 2013

The Heat-Thunder point spread is all the way up to OKC -5.5 despite 69 percent of the public backing the Heat as road underdogs. By now you’ve probably heard us say this before, but here it is again: “Always beware of the popular underdog, especially when the line is moving in the opposite direction.”

So, is it a trap bet? Let’s look at some facts.

 Thumbnail image for NBA Home Court Advantage: Which teams are significantly better ATS in their own arenas?
NBA

NBA Home Court Advantage: Which teams are significantly better ATS in their own arenas?

February 12, 2013

We have a good grasp of home-field advantage in football, but what about the NBA? Are there any teams that perform much better against the spread on their home court than they do on the road?