Being one of the most popular sports in the USA, the NBA has always led memorable and exciting seasons. This year, the season will start on October 18, 2022, and many fans will undoubtedly stand by and follow all the games. It's safe to say it would also be as exciting for NBA bettors.
With a competitive betting market, it would be best if you're as prepared when participating in NBA betting to ensure your win. To help you get settled in, here are six tips that you should know about betting for professional basketball.
Always Check the NBA Schedule
Before you do anything else, when you're going to bet on an NBA game, you should diligently check the schedule. The NBA schedule is officially announced months before the start of the season. So, as a bettor, you must be well-prepared and find out the teams that will play.
Moreover, remember that the NBA hosts 82 games to complete the season, and they're strict in following the schedule. So, by studying the schedule, you can look into the number of back-to-back games, which can take a toll on the players. Although the association has tried its best to minimize the effect of fatigue, this is still bound to happen. So, when preparing for NBA betting, don't forget to consider the schedule.
Read About the Players
One of the preparations you must always do before the game is to check the team's condition, especially their players. One of the things you'll need to check out are the injury reports. An injury to a key player can significantly change how the game will play out.
After years of establishing the dynasty that the Golden State Warriors were, they had the worst record in the league during the 2019-2020 season. All-Stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were injured, resulting in the Golden State Warriors from being playoff contenders to becoming last place finishers.
Live Betting
Live betting is a type of wager also gaining popularity among bettors. Unlike the other kinds of bets, live betting allows bettors to place their bets after the game has started. When you participate in live betting, the odds change in real-time, and you can witness how the game will play out.
One of the most important things to remember in live betting is to be patient. In-game betting is a game of runs, and a team can easily overcome its odds. Also, there are instances when favorites start slow, and the lines can shift to the underdog. Again, nothing is sure as long as the game isn't finished.
So, rather than making rash decisions at the beginning or a few points over, it would help to wait it out for around 49 minutes. Surely, there will be at least a clear gap between the two teams, or you've assessed their performance somehow. If you're still feeling unsure, at least you now have better reasons to bet on your desired team after observing them.
Consider Home Underdogs
Almost everybody wants to root for the underdog. More so when they’re at home and playing against a lot of odds. If you plan to participate in the point spread betting line, you can consider placing stakes for home underdogs.
Since the pride of wanting to win while playing in your home court is high, it drives the players' motivation to do their best. If the spread isn’t too big of a gap, home underdogs have better chances of covering that spread. Whether they've started slow, what matters most for the players is how the game will end.
Study the Line Movements
One of the best ways to explain this tip is to understand that a significant percentage of bettors are easily influenced. Unless you're an expert, it's easy to get swayed by the public. So, before you place your bets, you must first study the line movements.
Suppose you notice changes in the line to another direction after the public bet heavily on the other team. In that case, the movement must've been caused by the betting experts who carefully assessed the whole game rather than following the opinions of most.
An example of this event is when Team A is regarded as the favorite with -6 odds. Then, just before the game started, the media shifted their interest to the underdog, Team B. The public then started betting heavily on them, and the odds of Team A were changed to -4.
However, if you notice changes with Team A's line, like rising to -5, this is probably caused by other bettors taking advantage of the public's tendency to conform to trends. If you find it suspicious, for the underdog suddenly gaining attention and a line movement like this, it would be a good idea to reconsider betting with them.
Final Thoughts
With the tips mentioned above, you must be more prepared than ever. Remember that preparation takes time, and if you want to win, you'll need to be patient. There's no real shortcut to success, but you can improve your chances. Keep all the tips above in mind, and have a good time betting!
Photo: Steve Tulevski, Pixabay