Mastering The Game
Basketball point spreads bring balance to the game, and even when one team is dominant, the game becomes more interesting for the bookmaker. It is therefore important to come to an understanding of what the spread means in the
NBA in order to make good decisions. Understand what goes into reading basketball spreads and discover strategies and tactics for approaching NBA spreads to aid in your NBA picks. The information presented here will be useful for improving the experience of betting on NBA games and for increasing the likelihood of success in the sphere of NBA betting.
How do basketball point spreads work?
The point spread is one of the most used methods of
Nba odds and betting lines since it cancels out the difference in the strengths of the two teams in any game. There are several elements that the bookmakers use when determining the point spread values for NBA betting. The strength of the teams is very important; those teams that have displayed good performances in the last games and those with a good composition of players are expected to have a larger point spread than the weaker teams that are expected to have few points. It also depicts that home field advantage also plays a crucial role, which delivers one or two points for the home side. Losing important players can greatly impact point spreads as functioning at suboptimal capacity or being entirely absent can shift the balance to the other team. Furthermore, a team’s performance in its last few games, including the wins and losses and the score difference, also affects the spread. Another factor is the past matches, especially if one side has proved to be superior in the clashes between them. Other elements which may influence point spreads include the specific game situations like the matchup, back-to-back games or the travel schedules of the teams involved. Lastly, coaching strategies especially in the final moments of the game can influence the spread since there are some coaches who have a unique ability of handling pressure.
Understanding basketball spreads
In basketball, each point spread is made up of two teams where one is the favorite and the other is the underdog. The favorite is shown with a minus (-) in front of the spread and the bettor to win the wager, the favorite must win the game by more than the stated points. For instance, if the New York Knicks are the favorite at -2. This means that the Texans are 5 against the spread, this means the Texans have to win by at least three points for the spread bet to be effective. However, the underdog is indicated by a positive value (+). This team can either win the game with the spread or lose the game but with a margin that is less than the spread in order to win the bet. For instance, if the Boston Celtics are the underdog with the point spread at +2.5, they can either win or lose the game but lose by two points or less in order to get their money back for the bet.
Vig or juice: The expense of placing a bet
Another important factor is the multiple sets of odds that are found in point spread odds and these are called the vig or the juice, which are the costs of the bet. For instance, if the
Celtics have a point spread of +2. 5 with a vig of -110 this means for one to win $100 he/she has to place a bet of $110. However, when the vig is a positive number, this means that the bettor will be in a better position to gain more profit from the same wager. For instance, if the vig were +110, this would mean that a bettor would get $110 for every $100 they have bet. This other set of odds is very important when it comes to determining the real value of the bet and how much one can actually make.
Several point spread betting tips and strategies to consider
Now that you have some background knowledge on how NBA spreads function, here are some point spread betting tips and strategies that you should know. First, try to overcome the closing figure. NBA odds are usually released one day prior to the game but it can be released even on the same day of the game. It is advisable to place your bets early because there is often value in the market before the numbers kick in and hence, it is advisable to use an odds comparison tool. However, one cannot forget about the form of the team on the court in the current season. Basketball is a game where players go on the run and sometimes they can score a lot of points in a short period of time and at other times they cannot score at all. View the performance of our NBA teams page to look for possible value bets for further betting activities. Another factor that must be considered always is the matchup in the NBA, that is, comparing the merits and demerits of the two teams as well as the right strategies that would give each team an edge over the other. Lastly, record the injuries and the load management. The long 82-game season may be a factor in the team’s performance and betting odds especially when the superstars are in the mix. It is therefore important to get updates on the availability of players and make the right betting choices.
