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January 28th NBA news ... Welcome to Online Basketball Gambling, the place for all of the latest basketball lines and betting information.
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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.
Latest NBA News
LeBron James Destination
2010-06-25
The LeBron Sweepstakes—Place Your Bets Now!
Maybe you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t heard, so I’ll repeat it just in case; this summer, the NBA features one of the best storylines in years. This is the Summer of LeBron. Even though such megastars as Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amar’e Stoudemire and others are free agents this summer, the big prize is LeBron James. There’s no team that wouldn’t love to get LeBron. The sad truth for 31 of those 32 teams, however, is that only one team will win the LeBron sweepstakes. LeBron hasn’t given many clues, but here are the five most likely destinations for King James this summer. And all of the NBA betting community is on the edge of their seats for this.
5. New York Knicks This has been wildly speculated for years now, as people take LeBron’s stated goal of becoming a billionaire and run with it. Let’s clear this up right now. This. Is. Not. Happening. LeBron has already become a transcendent figure in our culture, a major star in the absolutely miniscule Cleveland media market. Going to New York won’t do anything to enhance his image or his personal brand. LeBron wants to win championships—that is what he needs to approach Jordan in the basketball pantheon. Even if New York were to sign a second big name this offseason, a team with Danilo Gallinari and Chris Duhon in the starting five isn’t going anywhere, which all the keen NBA betting types know. New York doesn’t offer nearly enough upside for LeBron, and he doesn’t stand to gain anything by becoming a Knick. Don’t trust the hype. LeBron isn’t going to be a Knick any sooner than you or I.
4. New Jersey Nets Basically, this is the same situation as the Knicks, but with a few minor advantages for New Jersey. The Nets have a new owner, Russian multi-billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who is willing to re-make the entire Nets brand around James. New Jersey is also about to make a move to a brand new stadium in Brooklyn, potentially along with a new team name, logo, attitude, and roster. If that’s not enough incentive, Nets partial-owner Jay-Z is a friend of James’, and has made it clear that he’d love to team up with the King. Still, when the Nets lost the number one pick in the NBA lottery, they missed out not only on consensus-first-pick John Wall, but LeBron James, as well. The Nets don’t have the cash to put together a championship-ready team the way other teams on this list do. Without John Wall, LeBron James won’t be going to New Jersey.
3. Los Angeles Clippers This seems like a long shot to most people, but don’t count out the Clips as a viable spot for LeBron to start his career anew. The Clippers can make a strong argument for being the best spot for LeBron James. Imagine a starting five of Baron Davis, Eric Gordon (who put up close to 17 points per game last year), James, Blake Griffin, and All-Star Chris Kaman. Add in the 8th overall draft pick (perhaps Kansas’ Xavier Henry to help spell Davis and Gordon) and, and you certainly have a more intriguing roster than anything James has seen in Cleveland. The Clippers have always been at the mercy of Donald Sterling—the Al Davis of the NBA—but entertainment mogul David Geffen has expressed interest in buying the Clippers. They don’t get the attention of the Knicks or Bulls, but don’t count out the Clips. James would love the chance to match up against Kobe four times a year.
2. Chicago Bulls For whatever reason, the media has all but decided that this is going to happen, and it’s certainly a strong possibility. Chicago provides the solid roster, major market and cap space James needs, but something smells funny here. LeBron hasn’t won a championship in his first seven years as a pro, and with all the comparisons between him and Jordan, would he really want to bring the inevitable pressure upon himself by signing with Chicago? Even if the Bulls won three titles in five years with James at the helm, the people of Chicago would never embrace him the way they did Jordan, the greatest to ever play the game. The chance to play with Derrick Rose makes Chicago a strong contender, but LeBron is a savvy enough businessman to know he needs some distance between himself and Jordan to keep the mystery going.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers Other than the small market, it’s hard to find a reason why LeBron wouldn’t want to re-sign with Cleveland. Not only is it a great PR move (keeping his loyalty with the Cavs, his hometown team), but the Cavs are clearly serious about making changes to suit their superstar. With GM Danny Ferry out and college coaching legend Tom Izzo possibly on his way in to fill Mike Brown’s recently vacated head coaching position, it’s clear that Cleveland is willing to give James the keys the car. The Cavs have been contenders every year with virtually no help around LeBron, so it’s an easy sell from a front office perspective—sign with us, and we’ll get you those last few pieces of the puzzle. With all the free agents ripe for the picking, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine James and, say, Chris Bosh lining up to take small pay cuts to play together. It’s far from a done deal, but Cleveland has to have the upper hand in signing LeBron James this summer.
Where do you do your NBA betting? Get over to www.sportsbook.com the king of NBA betting.
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: Top NBA Weekend Power Trends 1/22-1/24
2010-01-22
The NBA season pushes towards the all-star break with another full weekend of games and betting opportunities. Like last weekend, to avoid any conflict with the NFL’s conference title games, most of the NBA action has been squeezed into Friday and Saturday. In fact, 23 of the 26 weekend games will be played on those two days, meaning a ton of back-to-back situations to profit from if done right. Read on I take a look at some of the feature games on tap, plus reveal a list of a few of the top StatFox Power Trends you’ll want to consider in your wagering.
On Friday, the opportunities are plentiful, with 13 games to choose from, highlighted by the ESPN doubleheader. In the first game, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, fresh off the Thursday night showdown in Cleveland, will make stop #2 on their long road trip by visiting the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York. Los Angeles is just 4-6 ATS when playing on a second consecutive night this season, while the Knicks boast a promising 8-5 ATS mark versus the West. In the late game, the Bulls also continue a lengthy road trip with a stop in Phoenix. Chicago has lost its first two games on a 6-stop Western Conference trip, and goes into this game with marks of just 4-15 on the road and 5-10 vs. the West. The Suns snapped a 4-game losing skid by whipping New Jersey on Wednesday and will look to extend their 16-4 record at home.
Elsewhere on Friday, Houston visits San Antonio in a battle of normal powers stuck in recent skids. The Rockets beat Milwaukee on Monday and haven’t played since, but will be coming into this game as losers of seven of their last eight games against the spread. The Spurs have dropped three out of four since reaching a season high 11-games over .500 last week. They shot just over 40% from the floor during the 4-game stretch after a run of shooting better than 45% in 12 of 13 games. In Boston, the Celtics will look to span a 3-game losing skid, and improve on their 6-12 ATS home record when they host Portland.
On Saturday, there are 10 games on the board, and 17 teams will be playing on a second consecutive night in the variety of scenarios. Two of them will be in the coveted home to home situation, those teams being Detroit, who hosts Portland, and Phoenix, who takes on Golden State. Six other teams will be playing their second consecutive night on the road, clearly the worse of the scheduling evils in the NBA. Those teams are Golden State, Chicago, Sacramento, Portland, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans. Of these to be road warriors, Golden State (at Pheonix) and Portland (at Detroit) boast the best marks when playing on a second straight night, each 6-3 ATS. Chicago has struggled in such situations, going 2-7 ATS this season, and figures to have its hands full in Houston, as the Rockets boast a healthy 13-5 SU & 11-7 ATS record at home. Among the other interesting games to consider, Orlando tries to snap out of a recent funk when it visits rapidly improving Charlotte, and Oklahoma City takes on Cleveland in a battle of top scorers in Kevin Durant and Lebron James.
Finally, on Sunday, the NBA weekend wraps up with three games, two of which will tip-off well before the football games get underway, as Dallas visits New York, and the Clippers are in Washington, each with a 1:05 PM ET start. The Mavericks remain one of the league’s top teams on the road, and were 9-3 SU & 8-4 ATS in the road chalk role heading into the weekend. The Clippers are one of the hottest teams in the NBA in terms of covering spreads of late, and own a 9-4-1 ATS mark vs. the East. The other game finds the Lakers in Toronto for an evening affair, and the Raptors will be looking to improve a 3-5 ATS mark as home dogs.
Now, here are those top StatFox Power Trends as promised earlier…
Friday, 01/22/2010
(811) CHARLOTTE vs. (812) ATLANTA
CHARLOTTE is 23-8 ATS (+14.2 Units) vs. up-tempo teams averaging 83 or more shots/game over the last 2 seasons. The average score was CHARLOTTE 98.8, OPPONENT 96.5 - (Rating = 2*)
(811) CHARLOTTE vs. (812) ATLANTA
ATLANTA is 25-5 UNDER (+19.5 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent of 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons. The average score was ATLANTA 91.6, OPPONENT 92.5 - (Rating = 4*)
(815) LA LAKERS vs. (816) NEW YORK
LA LAKERS are 20-6 ATS (+13.4 Units) in road games vs. up-tempo teams averaging >=83 FG Atts/G over L3 seasons. The average score was LA LAKERS 115, OPPONENT 105.4 - (Rating = 2*)
(817) INDIANA vs. (818) DETROIT
DETROIT is 6-19 ATS (-14.9 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons. The average score was DETROIT 91.9, OPPONENT 97.4 - (Rating = 2*)
(819) NEW ORLEANS vs. (820) MINNESOTA
MINNESOTA is 3-16 ATS (-14.6 Units) in home games revenging a home loss vs opponent over the last 3 seasons. The average score was MINNESOTA 91.6, OPPONENT 103 - (Rating = 2*)
Saturday, 01/23/2010
(509) OKLAHOMA CITY vs. (510) CLEVELAND
OKLAHOMA CITY is 8-0 ATS (+8 Units) in road games vs. good shooting teams making >=46% of shots this season. The average score was OKLAHOMA CITY 101, OPPONENT 97.3 - (Rating = 2*)
(515) NEW ORLEANS vs. (516) DENVER
NEW ORLEANS is 8-24 ATS (-18.4 Units) vs. explosive offensive teams - scoring 103+ PPG over the last 2 seasons. The average score was NEW ORLEANS 96.1, OPPONENT 104.1 - (Rating = 2*)
(517) GOLDEN STATE vs. (518) PHOENIX
GOLDEN STATE is 8-22 ATS (-16.2 Units) in road games vs. poor pressure teams (forcing <=14 TOs/g) over L2 seasons. The average score was GOLDEN STATE 100.3, OPPONENT 111.3 - (Rating = 2*)
(519) NEW JERSEY vs. (520) UTAH
Jerry Sloan is 44-21 ATS (+20.9 Units) vs. terrible 3PT shooting teams -making <=30% of attempts as the coach of UTAH. The average score was Sloan 99.1, OPPONENT 90.1 - (Rating = 2*)
Sunday, 01/24/2010
(801) LA CLIPPERS vs. (802) WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON is 6-19 ATS (-14.9 Units) as a home favorite over the last 2 seasons. The average score was WASHINGTON 100.1, OPPONENT 101.9 - (Rating = 2*)
(803) DALLAS vs. (804) NEW YORK
NEW YORK is 15-3 ATS (+11.7 Units) when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) over the last 2 seasons. The average score was NEW YORK 101.6, OPPONENT 102.4 - (Rating = 2*)
(805) LA LAKERS vs. (806) TORONTO
LA LAKERS are 21-7 UNDER (+13.3 Units) on Sunday games over the last 2 seasons. The average score was LA LAKERS 103.4, OPPONENT 92.8 - (Rating = 2*)
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