Basketball is among the most popular sports, with over 10 million people tuning in to watch a single NBA game. And with a packed schedule, endless options for betting, and tons of action, betting on NBA games can be exciting and profitable.
But how do you go from a betting novice to someone who makes good money betting on basketball games? Our NBA betting advice tells you everything you need to know when getting started.
Understand Pro Basketball
As excited as you may be to start your NBA betting journey, jumping right in may not be the best idea if you don’t know much about pro basketball. You should at least learn the basics before placing your first bet.
You can start by watching live games or highlights and analysis videos online. Do this long enough, and you’ll better understand the game and start noticing patterns. This will help you make better predictions, which is always a plus when betting.
However, patience is a virtue when dealing with money. Successful betting is a long process; it never hurts to consider NBA expert picks before placing a bet.
Study Injury Reports
As with any professional sport, NBA players are susceptible to injuries. Basketball demands agility and the ability to pivot quickly, opening the knees, joints, and ligaments to injuries. Studying injury reports is a great way to determine a team’s overall fitness before placing your bet.
Pay Attention to the Schedule
The NBA season is just over 80 games long and not year-round. This means teams often have to play back-to-back, sometimes for several consecutive days. Paying attention to the schedule can help you determine which team is worn out and which is playing on fresh legs.
It’s not always game-changing, but it can give a weaker and well-relaxed team the edge they need to win a game.
Understand Basic and Advanced Stats
Every beginner should know points per game (PPG) and assists per game (AST). These basic stats tell you the number of points and assists of a player per game, respectively. A player with 20PPG is quite good, while someone with 5AST won’t help you win much money.
Advanced stats give you more insight into how good a player is. They provide more details like rebounds per game, shooting percentages, steals per game, and more.
Don’t Discount the Homecourt Advantage
Statistics suggest that in the NBA, home teams win 60% of the time, while visitors win 40% of the games. This is because home teams have more fans cheering them on, while visiting teams experience increased anxiety and stress levels, which can affect how they play.
Experiment With Different Types of Bets
Moneyline bets are classic, popular, and straightforward, making it easy to calculate how much they’ll pay out. They are perfect for beginners who are still learning how to read NBA odds or just a wager between friends.
Once you’re comfortable with reading odds, you can have fun and start experimenting with other types of bets:
Parlay Bets
They combine multiple basketball bets. They allow you to parlay two or more teams across different bets, like point spreads, totals, or moneyline bets. This type of wager is high-risk but offers bigger payouts.
Prop Betting
This allows you to bet on different aspects of the game, such as team performance, player performance, and final score.
Live Betting
Here, you place a wager after the game begins. You can take advantage of the ever-changing odds, set up middling opportunities, hedge previous bets, and capitalize on the game’s volatility to make a profit.
Listen to the Experts: Get Your NBA Expert Picks Today
Online NBA betting is so accessible that placing a bet with a single keystroke is easy. Don’t forget to research about NBA expert picks online before you bet.
We hope you find our NBA betting advice helpful, and were rooting for you to find what works for you. But in the meantime, keep learning, enjoy the games, and remember to have fun. Browse our blog to find the latest news and trends in the world of sports, lifestyle, and more.
