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May 18th NBA news ... Welcome to Online Basketball Gambling, the place for all of the latest basketball lines and betting information.
Welcome to Online Basketball Gambling, the place for all of the latest basketball lines and betting information.
This site was created in assisting the basketball bettor in taking down the house. Whether you prefer betting on college or the pros, this site will provide you with daily information during the hardwood season.
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Statement on offensive comments
2012-02-20
At ESPN we are aware of three offensive and inappropriate comments made on ESPN outlets during our coverage of Jeremy Lin.
ESPN Statement On Lin Comments
ESPN issues statement apologizing for inappropriate comments made on ESPN outlets during coverage of Jeremy Lin and details disciplinary action. Watch
Saturday we apologized for two references. We have since learned of a similar reference Friday on ESPN Radio New York. The incidents were separate and different. We have engaged in a thorough review of all three and have taken the following action:
• The ESPN employee responsible for our Mobile headline has been dismissed.
• The ESPNEWS anchor has been suspended for 30 days.
• The radio commentator is not an ESPN employee.
We again apologize, especially to Mr. Lin. His accomplishments are a source of great pride to the Asian-American community, including the Asian-American employees at ESPN. Through self-examination, improved editorial practices and controls, and response to constructive criticism, we will be better in the future.
NBA: L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City 9:30E ESPN
2010-04-30
The people of the United States are known for their short attention spans and ever increasing shorter memories. In this celebrity-status world, it’s easy to jump on the latest fad and forget about what is tried and true. Such was demonstrated on Wednesday night in Los Angeles when the Lakers easily turned back the hard charging, public beloved Thunder. Game 6 of the first round series is set for Friday in Oklahoma City with L.A. having a chance to close it out. The hosts are 1.5-point favorite though according to Sportsbook.com.
The basketball world has become infatuated with latest new kids on the block, the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are young, talented, and fearless and their youth doesn’t allow them to be discouraged for long.
The eminent demise of the Los Angeles Lakers has been discussed from coast to coast on talk radio and every chatroom and blog one could stumble upon. The world had lost track of just how good the Lakers can be last playing a complete basketball game on Mar. 12 in Phoenix, 21 games ago or a lifetime in today’s hectic world.
But the Lakers came prepared, executed their game plan Tuesday evening, integrating all the parts of the triangle offense to perfection and showed why gold and purple still matters. L.A. is 26-15 ATS after failing to cover three of their last four.
Oklahoma City gladly returns home, even faced with elimination and is a 1.5-point favorite with total of 194.5. The Thunder is thunderous 15-5 ATS off a road loss and uncanny 27-8 ATS after failing to cover the number. OKC is 13-3 UNDER at the Ford Center after wearing the visiting blue togs. The Lakers will seek to deliver the knockout blow, but are 1-9 ATS off a cover. Kobe and company are 22-8 UNDER with two days’ rest.
Obviously plenty of powerful StatFox Trends accompany this game. In case you’re still up in the air, the StatFox Game Estimator projects a 102-97 OKC win.
NBA: NBA Top Weekend Power Trends 4/9-4/11
2010-04-09
The final full regular season weekend of the 2009-10 NBA schedule is upon us and there is still plenty of sorting out to do yet before the playoffs commence next week. The seeding beyond the #2 spot in the East is still to be determined and in fact, the #8 seed is still up for grabs between Toronto and Chicago, who go into the weekend in a virtual tie with four games remaining. In the West, the eight playoff teams have already been determined for awhile, but the seeding of #2 through #8 is a complete mess. Four teams are separated by a single game for the #2 seed, while three others are tied for the #6. It would be impossible at this point to project the eventual playoff matchups. As such, let’s go through this weekend’s games and see if we can help clear up the picture a bit. Of course, we’ll also reveal the list of Top StatFox Power Trends that you’ll want to consider as you handicap the action.
The Friday schedule of 13 games is absolutely loaded with key playoff implicating contests. In fact, in 11 of the games, at least one of the teams is hoping to either improve or maintain its playoff standing. In three of the games, both teams have a lot on the line. Let’s go through those. In Atlanta, the Raptors and Hawks will meet. Toronto is of course, tied with Chicago for the final East playoff spot. The Raptors have struggled on the road this season, going 14-25 SU & 17-21-1 ATS and will be matched against one of the league’s toughest hosts. The Hawks are 32-7 SU & 24-15 ATS at home but will be looking to snap a four game ATS winless skid. In Oklahoma City, the Thunder host the Suns. Phoenix is in the race for the #2 spot out West and comes in hot, having won 11 of 12 games. OKC might be wilting under the pressure of the playoff hunt, with just a 7-6 record in its L13 games. The Thunder still hope to avoid the #8 spot and a matchup with the Lakers. Finally, in Portland, the Mavericks are in town. The Blazers are another team that seems to have gotten hot at the right time, with an 11-2 mark in their L13 games. They’ve won six straight games at home. Dallas is headed the opposite direction, with a 6-6 mark in its L12, and opening a 3-game road swing here.
On Saturday, the schedule lightens a bit with just eight games on tap, but two will figure prominently in the eventual final standings in each conference. In the East, the Celtics visit the Bucks in a potential first round playoff preview. If the playoffs started today, that would be the matchup. In fact, the teams still play each other one more time in the regular season, that being on the final day, Wednesday. Milwaukee won the most recent matchup between the teams, 86-84 in early March, but that was with Andrew Bogut in the lineup. The Bucks are still getting used to life without him since his horrific elbow injury but have still won three straight games in his absence headed into the weekend. With a current 7-game ATS winning streak, Milwaukee owns the best overall mark in the league at 50-26-2 ATS. Out West, the big game puts San Antonio in Denver. The Nuggets came up with a big win at home on Thursday vs. the Lakers to retake the lead for the #2 spot in the playoff race. If they win out in their final three games, they’ll clinch the spot. The Spurs have not given up on a Top 4 seed and home court for the first round yet, but will need to win out and get help to accomplish that goal. The return of PG Tony Parker this past week should give them a lift.
On Sunday, there are seven games, and all but one will affect the playoff chase. The ABC doubleheader pits Orlando and Cleveland followed by Portland and the Lakers. Unfortunately for the network, the two host clubs have little to play for this next week and in fact, in their outings on Thursday night, stars LeBron James and Kobe Bryant actually sat out for rest. Of the four teams, the game means most to Portland, who hopes to win while avoiding looking ahead to a Monday game at home vs. Oklahoma City. A win could also help the Blazers avoid a potential first round rematch with the Lakers in the playoffs. Perhaps the biggest game on Sunday is one that would have normally flown under the radar, a 6:00 PM ET start between Chicago and Toronto. With the teams having gone into the weekend in a tie for the #8 spot, the game is crucial to each club’s playoff hopes. It is most critical for the Bulls though, as the Raptors own the tiebreakers between the teams by virtue of two head-to-head wins early in the season. On top of that, the Raptors face Detroit and New York in their final two games while the Bulls have the Celtics and Bobcats yet to play.
With so much big-time action on tap for the weekend, you’ll want to get to your handicapping early. Hopefully these Top StatFox Power Trends help do the trick:
Friday, 04/09/2010
(703) NEW YORK vs. (704) ORLANDO
NEW YORK is 20-7 ATS (+12.3 Units) when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) over the last 2 seasons. The average score was NEW YORK 101.1, OPPONENT 105.1 - (Rating = 2*)
(705) WASHINGTON vs. (706) BOSTON
BOSTON is 4-17 ATS (-14.7 Units) as a favorite of 10 or more points this season. The average score was BOSTON 101, OPPONENT 93.1 - (Rating = 3*)
(705) WASHINGTON vs. (706) BOSTON
WASHINGTON is 14-2 UNDER (+11.8 Units) when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) this season. The average score was WASHINGTON 92.4, OPPONENT 98.6 - (Rating = 3*)
(715) LA LAKERS vs. (716) MINNESOTA
MINNESOTA is 11-30 ATS (-22 Units) at home against teams with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. The average score was MINNESOTA 94.8, OPPONENT 105.4 - (Rating = 3*)
(719) UTAH vs. (720) NEW ORLEANS
UTAH is 32-10 ATS (+21 Units) versus poor pressure defensive teams - forcing <=14 turnovers/game this season. The average score was UTAH 105.7, OPPONENT 97.1 - (Rating = 4*)
Saturday, 04/10/2010
(501) NEW JERSEY vs. (502) INDIANA
NEW JERSEY is 14-2 UNDER (+11.8 Units) revenging 2 straight losses where opp scored 100 or more points this season. The average score was NEW JERSEY 87.1, OPPONENT 101.4 - (Rating = 3*)
(509) BOSTON vs. (510) MILWAUKEE
MILWAUKEE is 10-1 ATS (+8.9 Units) vs good shooting teams making >=46% of FG atts in 2nd half of this season. The average score was MILWAUKEE 100.3, OPPONENT 97.7 - (Rating = 2*)
(511) SAN ANTONIO vs. (512) DENVER
DENVER is 2-11 ATS (-10.1 Units) when the line is +3 to -3 this season. The average score was DENVER 98, OPPONENT 104.2 - (Rating = 2*)
(515) GOLDEN STATE vs. (516) LA CLIPPERS
GOLDEN STATE is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) versus poor teams - outscored by their opponents by 3+ PPG this season. The average score was GOLDEN STATE 111.5, OPPONENT 103.5 - (Rating = 2*)
Sunday, 04/11/2010
(701) ORLANDO vs. (702) CLEVELAND
CLEVELAND is 20-6 UNDER (+13.4 Units) on Sunday games over the last 2 seasons. The average score was CLEVELAND 97.8, OPPONENT 87.6 - (Rating = 3*)
(705) MIAMI vs. (706) NEW YORK
MIAMI is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) when playing against a bad team (Win Pct. 25% to 40%) this season. The average score was MIAMI 103.4, OPPONENT 88.4 - (Rating = 2*)
(709) MINNESOTA vs. (710) NEW ORLEANS
NEW ORLEANS is 7-24 ATS (-19.4 Units) vs poor defensive teams - shooting pct defense of >=46% this season. The average score was NEW ORLEANS 103.1, OPPONENT 105.9 - (Rating = 4*)
NBA: Orlando still favored, just by less in Game 4
2009-06-11
The NBA Playoffs offer so much insight into the teams, coaches and players, one can’t help but be excited about all the strategy changes and maneuvering if you are true basketball fan and wagering on games. Speaking of which, Thursday’s Game 4 brings a bit lower pointspread (Orlando -3) and a bit higher total (201). See how bettors have reacted to these oddsmakers adjustments on the BETTING TRENDS page.
Sometimes the boxscore’s paint a picture and other times they don’t, just like Game 3. Would it seem possible Orlando would take nine fewer three-point tries than the Lakers, convert three less than Los Angeles and still come out on top? The high quality adjustment made by Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, having his squad push the ball at every opportunity, before the slow-reacting Lakers defenders reacted, helped Orlando shoot 62.5 percent, yet the Magic had the same number of fast break points as L.A. (10)
This all adds to tremendous intrigue for Game 4. It is the Lakers turn to adjust, having to win one of the next two contests in Central Florida, really placing the pressure on Orlando to win twice on the Left Coast. Oddsmakers in part see Los Angeles making the right moves, as Sportsbook.com has them as 2.5-point underdogs, down from 4.5 in last contest. The Lakers are 10-2 ATS as an underdog this season and many people can’t foresee them being so off-kilter a second game in a row.
Los Angeles defenders took almost every fake, reacted poorly on defensive rotations, seldom getting a hand in the face of shooter or giving them clear path to the goal, like the Magic had free pass. L.A. shot free throws, well like Dwight Howard used to, converting on 16 of 26. At various points, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum played like some of the Seven Dwarfs (feel free to make this interactive article, by filling in your own matching dwarf with player performance). Kobe Bryant didn’t look like Kobe at crunch time and they will need him to have reversal of fortune quickly or this series will be 2-2.
For Los Angeles to improve on 14-6 ATS record as road underdog of 4.5 or less points, Lakers guards have to do better job feeding the post to Pau Gasol and Odom and they need to be more alert and ready. Hustle back on defense and be ready to defend the entire shot clock time, not just the parts that fit into schedule. Offensively, a more conventional return to triangle offensive, since isolation and top of the key screen and rolls were well defended by Orlando and might have contributed to Bryant appearing so fatigued late in the contest.
Orlando didn’t cover, but won the game. They are well-suited 20-6 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 this season. The Magic played at tempo more suitable to players like Rafer Alston and Dwight Howard in Game 3. Alston’s ability to push the ball led to more open shots, (which he made) and Howard’s skill as athlete showed thru, as he also ran the floor and made hard cuts to the hoop.
Hedu Turkoglu was a dominant contributor, even making just one three-pointer, dishing the ball for seven assists, while converting 7 of 12 shots. Mickael Pietrus toasted L.A. for 18 points and played physical with Kobe and the Magic double-teams were better timed, making Bryant less effective.
Game 3’s total was Over and oddsmakers adjusted upward, raising the figure to 201.5. This is potentially swell news for Orlando backers, with the Magic 12-3 ATS at home game when the total is between 200 and 204.5 points. Van Gundy’s team needs to set the tempo and they are 12-4 UNDER at Amway Arena after a combined score of 205 points or more this season. The Lakers like-wise have to bring aggressiveness shown in four prior games, to first conflict in Orlando and are 13-3 UNDER off a road loss this year, winning by an average of over eight points per contest.
Game 4 will come down to adjustments and execution, though bettors might just want to ride the tide with underdog 7-1 ATS and the OVER 6-0 in Florida when these two clubs meet.
NBA: Wild West set for Wild Finish
2009-04-07
After taking a complete day off, the NBA regular season resumes Tuesday with nine days left. With Dallas all but finishing off Phoenix on Sunday, the eight teams that will be in the playoffs are set. However, the order of how the competition will match up is as up for grabs as next year’s Clippers roster. Every night the rest of the way will feature intriguing betting opportunities. Be sure to stay on top of the LIVE ODDS, BETTING TRENDS, and GAME MATCHUP pages for all the latest key game info.
Four teams are legitimately still vying for second position in the Western Conference behind the Los Angeles Lakers. Western teams presently in slots four-thru-eight could be potentially reversed by the end of April 15. If the Kentucky Derby ends up having this sort of a finish in about a month, it should be quite a race.
The Mavericks (46-31, 37-40 ATS) will have a legitimate chance to avoid the Lakers in the first round. Dallas is 28-9 at home (16-21 ATS) and will host Utah and New Orleans in next two contests. The Jazz have been off-key most of the season on the road and the Hornets have injury issues that just won’t go away. The very next contest is return engagement at New Orleans, which is the Mavs last road encounter of the season. With aforementioned teams directly in front of them in the standings, a 3-0 start moves Dallas up with Minnesota and Houston due to come to American Airlines Arena.
Utah (47-30, 38-39 ATS) may have gained some confidence on the road with its win 108-94 win at New Orleans. That was just their second win in last eight road games, who have covered a mere three of last 13. Utah is not out of the woods by any stretch having road encounters with Dallas, San Antonio and the Lakers to close the season. They will have a couple of very winnable home games with Golden State and the Clippers, but how they perform on the road will determine their fate.
New Orleans (47-29, 33-42-1 ATS) has been a bad wager all year and it’s not about to get easier. Center Tyson Chandler hopes his left ankle will allow him to play next week and forward James Posey will be evaluated later for his bad elbow. Peja Stojakovic has been coming off the bench the last couple of games and could return to starting lineup after missing 15 games with bad back. That means Chris Paul and David West are playing 40+ minutes a game, being able to rest by not practicing. The Hornets still have six games left on the regular season docket and trail the division-leading Spurs by just two. They will need wins in next two tilts, at Miami and home to Phoenix. If that works out, they will have home and home with Dallas and road games against Houston and San Antonio. Not a very good situation for a team that is 14-22-1 ATS in the visitor’s uniforms.
The Portland Trailblazers (48-28, 40-35-1 ATS) have clinched their first playoff berth in six years and still could move up, however time is not on there side. Portland is pursuing Denver, trailing them by two games in the loss column. The Blazers have won seven of last 10, covering the spread eight times. Unfortunately, they are chasing Denver, who has won nine of 10. Portland has six games left on the schedule, compared to the Nuggets who have just four. The Blazers can’t make-up those games. Their best hope is to look to surpass Houston and gain the fourth seed, thus assuring home court for the first round. Portland stands at 31-7 and 23-14-1 ATS at the Rose Garden and has three home games and three road games remaining.
This year’s Denver (52-26, 44-33-1 ATS) squad is hardly recognizable. The Nuggets have never merited many points on the toughness scale. Always strong at home and weak to fair on the road, Denver was good enough to make the playoffs and not move forward. After losing five of first six in March, a familiar tone was being set, but quicker than a snow covered Rocky Mountain avalanche, coach George Karl’s club got white hot. The Nuggets have been punishing teams in being victorious 12 of 13 (9-4 ATS) times, winning nine times by 10 or more points. They will have two winnable home games to lock up the second seed, with difficult matches against the Lakers and Portland on the road.
San Antonio (49-27, 37-37-2 ATS) has done remarkably well to stay atop the Southwest Division. Tim Duncan battling achy knees and Manu Ginobili fighting the injury bug all season, but now is being shut down after doctor’s found stress fracture in the ankle. Somehow coach Greg Popovich and Tony Parker have kept them afloat all season. The Spurs will be playing a great deal of basketball trying to lock up the division and finish no worse than a third seed. They have six games remaining and should either be favored in all six or the slightest of underdogs on the road. How they react with the news about Ginobili is anybody’s guess.
Houston’s quest to find a way to win division continues, with the Rockets (49-28, 37-39-1 ATS) having five contests remaining. They should take down Sacramento and Golden State on the road, but it will be how they play at home against Orlando and New Orleans that will help determined what spot they have in the playoffs.
NBA bettors are going to have to make some very interesting decisions to finish the regular season, in choosing the teams out west.
NBA: Detroit rising underdog to Boston (8:00 PM ET, ESPN)
2009-01-30
If the Detroit Pistons were a pinball game, they would be on “tilt” based on their performance this year. These Pistons are much like the Detroit auto industry, they look old fashion, seem to make few correct decisions and are just biding their time under the illusion something good will come their way. This weekend, reality pays a call with two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, Boston and Cleveland, pays a call to the Motor City. Can the Pistons pull out either game as a home dog, or have they slipped from the East’s elite? Put your money where your thoughts after examining the LIVE ODDS & BETTING TRENDS on these key games.
Since Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined Paul Pierce in Boston, The Celtics are 8-3 SU and ATS over Detroit, including taking them out in six games in the playoffs last spring.
At 25-19 (19-25 ATS), the Pistons have all the signs of an older model car who has been thru one too many Midwestern winters, as rust spots are starting to emerge. Detroit has won three times in last 10 games, yet like a Detroit automaker CEO, defiant to the end. In being asked about this weekend’s matchups, Rasheed Wallace had this to say, “We're ready for the challenge, though it may not look like it from what our record states,".
The Pistons' veterans are loathe to speak of regular-season contests as statement games but they certainly have something to prove this weekend. They can send a message to both teams that they're still a viable contender. Wallace added, “…..Like I said, it’s determination. We’re determined and we definitely have to put our foot on the gas coming into All-Star break and we’re just going to have to drive forward.”
Where NBA sports bettors have doubts is looking at Detroit’s home record, which shows a pedestrian 13-9 mark and just 7-15 spread record. The Pistons have outscored their opponents by less than a point (0.8) at The Palace at Auburn Hills and are 1-5 ATS in last six home tilts. Considering tonight’s opponent is Boston, those wagering saw the Celtics favored by five points at Sportsbook.com and other wagering outlets and pounded them up to present 6.5.
Boston (38-9, 27-20 ATS) is back on track, seeking a 10th straight victory. Since losing seven of nine after unprecedented start, even for this franchise, the Celtics have won nine in a row (8-1 ATS) by an average of 16.5 points per game. They are 45-26 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last two seasons.
The Celtics are brimming with confidence, having beaten Dallas by 24 and Sacramento by 19, shooting over 54 percent and scoring a total of 243 points. They are 20-11 ATS after two or more consecutive wins this season and 30-11 ATS after a game where they made 12 or more three-point shots.
Detroit doesn’t have the firepower to play in a high scoring affair. With the total set at 180 by the oddsmakers, this would suggest Detroit should at least have a chance to cover the spread since they are 9-1 UNDER revenging a loss vs opponent, with the average scoring margin almost even. Of course Boston has no problem playing this style and is 10-2 UNDER in road games after playing a home game this season, though the winning margin is only 2.5-points per game.
This is the opener for Friday’s ESPN doubleheader, which starts at 7 Eastern and Boston, is 20-6 ATS versus defensive teams forcing 14 or less turnovers a game this season.
StatFox Power Line – Boston by 11