NBA – Latest Betting News and Tips February 3rd
Charlotte, not terrible? Milwaukee wants to trade Giannis? NBA players not giving their best effort? (OK, that one you heard before.) We talk about all this, with new betting material and a look ahead at all the televised games you can wager on.
NBA Players and Coaches Bashed From the Inside
For those who wager but don’t watch much NBA basketball during the regular season, you largely are better off. This past week, ESPN analysts said what many are thinking. – The NBA product is bad.
From Charles Barkley and the old TNT crew, now on ESPN, along with Tim Legler on the same network, they are
complaining about the lack of effort across the board in pro basketball.
Turn on highlights any night in the NBA, showing spectacular dunks. If you are paying attention, it looks more like a layup line, because the dunks are largely uncontested. Or a team dribbles up the floor, makes two quick passes, and the shooter does not have anyone with five feet of him, draining an open three-pointer. The guy who makes the shot goes down on defense and watches the guy he’s supposed to guard make a head fake and blow by him for a dunk.
Yes, it’s annoying that the NBA is on so many networks today, but with increased viewing potential, this is more exposure to the teams and players who don’t appear to care. At least half the games nightly are like this, which is frustrating for basketball fans. This feeds the narrative of more casual fans who say – “I only watch the playoffs”.
Fortunately, the NBA is more numbers-driven for betting purposes, but for those who like to do a little “scouting”, not much to learn except from a handful of teams by viewing.
Giannis Madness Running Rampant
It’s a foregone conclusion Giannis Antetokounmpo will be traded by Milwaukee by the trade deadline or in the off-season. Antetokounmpo will be out close to a month with his calf injury, making the trade harder to close. The most serious suitors are Golden State, New York, Miami, and Minnesota. With trades being bandied about, no team is ready-made to win a title with Giannis.
With Giannis out of the Milwaukee lineup, betting against the Bucks is a sound strategy. You might not win every time, but you have to check the numbers for a possible wager.
The NBA is famous for teams trading their best players, and this will be the latest example.
What? The Charlotte Hornets Might Be Good Enough to Make the Playoffs?
Think of this season, Oklahoma City had an epic start. Detroit is the best team in the East Conference. The most talked about team in the league a week ago was the L.A. Clippers, who had just climbed into the Play-In picture. And this week, the Charlotte Hornets are all the buzz.
Charlotte has won seven in a row and 10 of 13 (8-5 ATS). The Hornets are on the cusp of being a Play-In team with this burst. Even
though Charlotte is only the #11 record in the East, their point differential is positive at +1.8, which is ahead of Toronto and Philadelphia, who are in the Top 6 of the Eastern Conference.
What’s different? The Hornets have the best offense in the league over the last month and the second-best since Dec. 1. Consider, in the last few weeks, this team beaten the Jazz by 55, the Lakers by 18, the Nuggets by 23, the Magic by 27 and the Sixers by 37.
The key veteran, Miles Bridges, is 27, making this loaded young squad that is contrary to what we talked about, who is playing hard. The laughingstock years might be over with the Hornets #14 in scoring, but most importantly, #12 in points allowed.
NBA Leaders in Home & Away ATS Records:
HOME:
Suns: 17-6
Knicks: 17-8
Blazers: 15-9
Pacers: 16-10
AWAY:
76ers: 14-5-1
Nuggets: 17-9
Heat: 15-10
Celtics: 15-10
Top Games to Watch (Follow) or Bet the Rest of the Week
Tuesday
NBC – Boston at Dallas
NBC – Phoenix at Portland
Dallas at least competes at home with a .500 record and could make it interesting (from a spread perspective) against the Celtics. Portland has lost five in a row and faces a good Phoenix team that plays defense.
Wednesday
ESPN – Denver at New York
ESPN – Oklahoma City at San Antonio
Two good games on Hump Day. Denver has Jokic back and wants to reclaim the #2 slot in the West. New York is a different team since their team meeting and is playing hard all 94 feet again.
Thursday
PRIME – Chicago at Toronto
PRIME – Golden State at Phoenix
In the opener, if the Bulls decide to give a defensive effort, they can make life hard for Toronto. If not, the Raptors roll. Golden State wants Giannis badly to give Steph Curry a purpose in his later years.
Friday
PRIME – New York at Detroit
PRIME – L.A. Clippers at Sacramento
An excellent opening contest with Detroit looking to establish itself as the Beast of the East. The Clippers are fighting for .500, with Kawhi Leonard the best player in the league the last 5-plus weeks.
Saturday
ABC – Houston at Oklahoma City
PRIME – Dallas at San Antonio
ABC – Golden State at L.A. Lakers
The Rockets and Thunder have been lackluster for over a month. Not bad, but hardly great. A win for either outfit might get them back on course. Spurs seeking consistent efforts after big games. Another classic rivalry between two teams that were previously great.
Sunday
ABC – New York at Boston
ESPN – L.A. Clippers at Minnesota
With the Super Bowl, earlier starts for both battles. Can the Knicks and Clippers stay hot on the road?
Get more NBA betting advice from Doug Upstone here and purchase Doug’s Premium picks here.
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