NBA (National Basketball Association) betting is the most widespread and popular direction of basketball betting in the world. The strongest league, which brings together the best players and world-class stars, always puts out fiery matches, attracting most of the attention and betting volume. Betting on the NBA includes the entire range of possible bets on basketball, because for this tournament, bookmakers offer the best list, with all possible outcomes, handicaps, totals and more.
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Tournament Format
There are 30 teams in the league, which are equally divided into the Western and Eastern conferences. The conference includes 3 divisions of 5 clubs. There are 82 rounds in the regular season.
The winners of divisions and 5 teams with the best percentage of wins go to the playoffs. The confrontation lasts up to 4 victories. Representatives of different conferences are divided according to the grid and will converge only in the final.
Features of betting on the NBA
There are several general patterns of betting on the NBA, inherent in most of the matches held within the championship. In particular, they include the following:
- A quarter in the NBA lasts 12 minutes, not 10. Zone defense is also prohibited, which simplifies the actions of attacking teams;
- The Basketball Association evenly supports the clubs in terms of finances. The difference in the class of favorites and outsiders is not as big as in European leagues. 30% of fights end with the victory of the underdog;
- 60% of victories are mined by the owners of the site. But do not rely on trends, because at a distance the margin will eat away part of the profit. Look for deep patterns and bet on odds;
- Total betting in the NBA is one of the most popular and potentially profitable options;
- Bookmakers provide a list of up to 15 total steps in each direction, and the margin does not exceed 4 percent;
- A month before the start of the season, clubs hold pre-season games. The team plays 6-10 games, which are designed to evaluate basketball players and tactical developments. In such matches, a game model for the upcoming season looms;
- Winning streaks rarely last longer than 10 meetings. If the bank is enough for 7-8 steps, you can try to use the catch-up strategy or its modification – win-win catch-up. Better yet, enter the game when the team has won 5-7 times in a row;
- The last team of the previous draw can take the lead in a year. Use the statistics of the current season only.
NBA Betting Tips and Patterns
Let’s also consider several patterns that reveal the features of long-term bets on basketball matches:
- Important fights are often played for total under. Not as many goals are scored in the playoffs as in the regular season. Athletes are maximally concentrated on defense and do not take risks. In the first matches of the season, the trend is identical;
- The score 0:2 in the series is a verdict. In the NHL, hockey players advance by losing two or three games in a row. But in the NBA, the team with that advantage made it to the next round 93-94% of the time;
- The teams, which have been noticeably updated in the off-season, do not show the best game in their debut matches. In basketball, teamwork is important, so newcomers need time to adapt.
NBA Winner Betting
In the tournament, 3-4 teams are superior in class to the rest of the league participants. Golden State, Cleveland and Boston are regular contenders for the title. But knockout games are unpredictable, so when predicting the winner of the tournament, consider at least 10-12 applicants.
In the entire history of the tournament, 20 teams out of 30 have won the competition. If the winner is determined in the playoffs, then the bets are like a lottery. Especially when equal rivals are fighting for championship rings. Consider betting on a conference or division leader, or simply bet that a team will make it to the playoffs.
NBA Basketball Betting Strategy
The zigzag theory is for playoff betting. Even the TOP clubs do not win constantly, which is why unexpected results happen. The essence of the system is to bet on the team that lost in the previous game. After the failure, the team analyzes the mistakes and tactics in detail, and the basketball players take the confrontation more seriously.
This factor is taken into account by bookmaker analysts. The club confidently beats opponents, but instead of increasing the handicap in the next meeting, it remains the same or decreases. In a similar situation in a regular draw, the handicap increases by 2-3 points.
The strategy works in competitive matches. Ignore events with a clear favorite, even if it is not expressed in odds. Rough bets will not be successful. The main thing is not to overestimate or underestimate the team.
Summary
In addition to unique features and patterns, betting on the NBA has advantages:
- Regularity of events – daily at the height of the season;
- Detailed painting and 3-4% margin on popular markets;
- Plenty of information and statistics to analyze.
Bookmakers carefully analyze NBA matches, so bets also have disadvantages:
- Ideal line without value coefficients;
- Trends change instantly, so there are no long-term strategies.
Consider the patterns of the tournament, stick to the chosen strategies and carefully analyze each choice. Don’t be afraid to use English-language resources. Information on them is published earlier than on Russian-language sites. This means that the quotes will not sink and the bookmaker will not have time to correct them.