Basic NBA Betting Tips

Want to profit throughout the long NBA season? Then follow these 10 steps:

1)    Bet against public teams
Certain teams are always getting treated like champions, even when their playing doesn’t necessarily reflect it. The Lakers are a great example of this — yes, Kobe Byrant is a great player, but one great player doesn’t always legitimize paying a premium when wagering.

2)    Look at the player prop bets
This is a good spot to find some value, specifically with a superstar receiving an unusually high or low number. Review the player’s average stats per game and peruse the statistics for his performance against individual teams in the past. Ensure that you’re confident with your bet in these situations, as these wagers come with inflated juice.

3)    Play the Over/Under
The totals wager can be very valuable if you’ve done your homework. Things to look for are high-scoring teams at home, teams with high shooting percentages and, of course, teams that don’t play defense. However, be cautious of playing Overs early in the season; wait for shooters to get hot and for the defenses to ease up.

4)    Pay attention to halftime lines
Be sure to watch the first half of a game that you’re planning to wager on — observe who’s hot, who’s fouling, see what’s going on. From here, check the second-half lines and wager from an advantageous position if you feel that some good value on your bet becomes available.

5)    Don’t neglect futures bets
If you happen to have a good line on how you think a team might fare, don’t be scared to lay some money on it. Of course, only bet money that you don’t mind having tied up all season.

6)    Shop around for the best value
This is relatively easy to do with the Internet. Open multiple accounts and avoid overpaying for a wager. One point may not seem like much, but over the course of a season it really adds up.

7)    Do your homework
Watch as many games as time will permit, study box scores, peruse injury reports and browse sites of the local papers of the teams you are following. Becoming a successful gambler is about taking advantage of every tiny thing you can find; the more you know, the less chance you have of making a mistake. Keep in mind, however, that the people creating lines will probably know more than you do. Try to close the gap as much as possible.

8)    Stay responsible
Quite obviously, don’t bet money you cannot afford to lose. Be sure to utilize proper money management and set a small percentage of your bankroll to be available for each individual bet. This mitigates devastating losses while increasing the amount of your wagers as your bankroll increases.

9)    Stay smart
Some of the most important decisions you make will be choosing who not to bet on. One of your only advantages as an individual gambler is the ability to choose which games to bet on and which to pass on.

10)     Maintain a steady pace
The basketball season is a long one; there will be ups and downs throughout. Stay focused as the season progresses and don’t get loose with your money after a lost wager.

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