Introduction to Basketball Betting
From the star-studded NBA and WNBA to the EuroLeague, the fast-paced world of basketball provides thrilling match-ups, especially when deep into events like the NBA playoffs.
At an international level, there is the FIBA World Cup and gold medal hunts at the Olympics as big highlights. With all that action, it’s a good idea to get good working knowledge about the top basketball betting markets and strategies.
Popular Basketball Betting Markets
There’s a huge variety of basketball betting markets available, and the following is a breakdown of the most common ones:
Point Spread
The point spread in basketball betting gives a team a virtual advantage or disadvantage to try and even up the odds. A Chicago Bulls -7.5 option means they would need to win by at least 8 points.
Moneyline Bets
The moneyline is a pick of the team to win the match, regardless of the point margin. Look for basic stats such as the current form to help with selections.
Totals (Over/Under)
Totals are a big part of basketball betting, and the total match points combined from both teams can be backed or an individual team’s tally only. Totals can be focused on match quarters and halves.
Player Prop Bets
Player prop bets allow punters to focus on individual performances, like how many points, rebounds, or assists a player will rack up.
Team Prop Bets
Team prop bets can range from the team to score first to the total number of three-pointers and even races, such as the first team to reach 20 points.
Live Betting
Live betting markets provide odds based on what is happening on the court. By seeing how teams are performing, calls on in-play markets like the total points in a quarter or gauging the final result can be made.
Futures
Basketball futures are long-term options, usually placed pre-season, on markets like the NBA Champions, the season’s MVP, or Rookie of the Year.
Effective Basketball Betting Strategies
It’s worth planning basketball betting strategies to help your journey, and here are some pointers.
Research Team and Player Form
Bets should come from solid research instead of random, emotional decisions, so look into team and player statistics. Look for streaks that teams or players are riding, and don’t forget to check line-ups and injury news. The loss of a star guard player could heavily impact a team.
Home Court Advantage
Teams typically hold an advantage at home because they know the court conditions and have the bulk of crowd support. Travelling teams can spend days on the road, which increases fatigue, so look for trends in home and away records.
Matchup Analysis
Teams have different styles in offence and defence that will influence the game, and that needs to be studied along with previous head-to-head records. A team’s winning streak may have come against weaker teams, for example, and face a much tougher test in their next fixture.
Statistical Trends
Base basketball bets on statistical trends. Look at the average points per game a team is scoring, or how many rebounds they are giving up. Dig deep into stats and trends that are relevant to the market you are betting on.
Betting on Specific Quarters
Momentum shifts in matches can be targeted by betting on quarters. Maybe a team is on a streak of winning the first quarter in their last five matches, while another has shown consistent scoring form in the third quarter of matches.
Advanced Basketball Betting Strategies
Looking for advanced basketball betting strategies that can take your experience to the next level. Here are some ideas to work toward.
Value Betting
Value bets are where a bookmaker has priced a selection at longer odds than you expect to see. As odds relate to implied probability, a bookmaker may have underestimated a team’s chances of covering a -6.5 spread, for example, making that a value bet.
Situational Betting
A team’s schedule is important, as a team playing back-to-back could struggle with fitness and accuracy late on in the second fixture, for example. A team’s current form could be skewed simply because of a long spell on the road.
Game Pace and Scoring Trends
Fully understand a team’s playing style, which comes from the head coach. A team that plays a hard and fast offensive game will likely have higher point averages per game than a defensive-minded team.
Betting Exchanges
A betting exchange can be used to lay the Miami Heat in play if they are losing, having already placed a pre-match wager on them to win, to cover all outcomes. Another live betting approach is placing a total points wager midway through the first quarter after sizing up the game.
Key Factors to Consider in Basketball Betting
There are external factors that will also have a bearing on the outcome of a basketball match, so consider the following:
Coaching Strategies
A coach’s knowledge and decision-making on plays and player rotations heavily influence matches. Try to understand a coach’s particular style and decision-making trends.
Motivation and Stakes
Check motivation for games, as perhaps Fenerbahçe require a win to qualify for the EuroLeague playoffs, which means they may play with increased intensity. Assess exactly what a match means to a team, even down to simply triumphing in a big divisional rivalry match.
Referee Impact
A good referee isn’t noticed but still heavily influences a game. Their calls, depending on how strict they may be, can determine the flow of games. Check referee stats like their average foul calls per game.
Team Chemistry
Watch for body language between players and hints of mood during press conferences. You can tell when a team is aligned and there is a good feeling in the locker room, and equally important, when not. Teams need to gel to handle high-pressure situations and rely on each other.
Conclusion
By studying basketball betting strategies, you can take a steady and methodical approach to finding bets on your favourite competitions.
Along with common statistics like current form and head-to-head records, find the statistics that align with your preferred market for long-term success. Then you can look on the best sportsbook betting sites and shop around for the best prices, always remembering to gamble responsibly by balancing your betting budget.