Tag: Warriors

NBA Betting: Elite Teams Struggling as Playoffs Loom

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

There is now less than a month until the end of the regular season and the league’s elite teams have started playing a long game. This has seen the likes of the Golden State Warriors, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Washington Wizards all suffer a slump as they surrender to fatigue and complacency. They already have one eye on the playoffs and are trying to ensure they are in ship shape come mid-April, so now can be a good time to bet against them covering the spread.

Top Teams Struggling

No top team is in a greater period of malaise than Golden State, hit by injury to Kevin Durant and enduring its worst spell since Steve Kell took over as head coach in 2014. The Warriors lost three times in a row – against the Celtics, Timberwolves and Spurs – and then, as we predicted last week, failed to cover the spread against Philadelphia. Golden State has since bounced back with heavy wins over Orlando and Milwaukee, but it could be worth opposing them in spread betting over the next couple of weeks. Ditto the Cavs, who have regularly failed to cover the spread of late. The Wizards have also lost focus and dropped against teams with losing marks.

Teams Finding Form

As the elite teams have suffered, some teams further down the conferences are finding their feet and making a late push for the playoffs. In the east, it is Miami and Milwaukee. At 7-3 and 8-2 respectively, they have the best recent records in the conference and both look set for the postseason. Milwaukee is really one to watch, driven by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is on course to be the first player ever to finish the regular season in the top 20 for points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. In the west, the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers are both 7-3 in 10, and only the San Antonio Spurs can match that.

Futures Update

The recent struggles of Golden State have opened the door for the in-form Spurs. They have a head-to-head advantage over the Warriors and look set to steal top seed in the west if things continue as they are, so the 4/1 Ladbrokes is offering on them winning the east looks interesting. The Cavs’ inconsistency and the Wizards’ recent woes have left the Boston Celtics as the form team of the east and the 7/1 at Sky Bet on them taking that conference is another intriguing option.

Upcoming Games

Golden State travel to Dallas to face the Mavericks on Wednesday, and Dallas is the league’s fifth-best team for covering the spread, so that looks a great bet. Antetokounmpo’s in-form Bucks play the Kings in Sacramento on Thursday and should win that outright, and cover a modest spread. The Nuggets look a great bet to cover the spread against the Cavs that day too, while on Friday a Spurs-Celtics-Trail Blazers outright treble looks a good option as all three are playing well.

NBA betting becomes more interesting as Golden State Warriors implode

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Golden State Warriors are going through their worst spell in years as they are 5-5 in their past 10 games and on a three-game losing streak. After going 146 games without suffering back-to-back defeats, it has happened twice this month. The downturn in form has coincided with the loss of Kevin Durant to injury, and suddenly the Warriors have gone from near certainties to win the NBA Championships to a team in real trouble. It has blown the battle to win the Western Conference wide open and the NBA is looking more unpredictable and exciting than it has all season.

Western Conference

Golden State finished the 2015 regular season with a win percentage of .817, the seventh best record in NBA history. Last season they finished on .890, breaking the Chicago Bulls’ 20-year record to post the best regular season stats of all time. They looked like putting in another record-shattering season this time around, but the wheels have really come off this month. They are now down at .788, well below their levels of the previous two years, as they have lost half of their last 10 games. That seemed unthinkable a few weeks ago, and it shows how much they have relied on Durant this season.

As the Warriors have faltered, the San Antonio Spurs have continued to be sensational. They are 9-1 in their last 10 games, they are now .785 and if they win their game in hand they will have an identical record to Golden State. The momentum is with them and they are now likely to claim top seed in the west. The 4/1 Paddy Power and 888 Sport are offering on the Spurs to win the Western Conference suddenly looks really interesting. It could even open the door for the Houston Rockets (12/1 with William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral), who are led by MVP frontrunner James Harden, scoring of 30-plus points in three of his last four games.

NBA Championships

Golden State seemed invincible, but their recent struggles have made things a lot more interesting in futures betting. They have gone out to 5/6, and interest is building on the Cleveland Cavaliers (14/5 with Bet365) and the Spurs (7/1 with 888 Sport). The Cavs are defending champions but have lost three straight too and have been horribly inconsistent all season. They have the best record in the east, at .672, but that record would leave them down in fourth if they were in the west, below the Warriors, Spurs and Rockets. They may be saving themselves for the playoffs, but these are worrying signs.

An interesting long shot from the east could be the Washington Wizards. They are 7-3 in their last 10 and on a five-game winning streak. They are second in the standings and could soon overhaul the Cavs for top seed if things continue in this vein. They have all the momentum after starting the season at 2-8 and turning it around to leave them 42-24. It has been a remarkable improvement, and they are in with a chance, so 33/1 at Bet Victor, Paddy Power and Boyle Sports looks great.

Upcoming Games

On Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers travel to California to face an out of sorts Golden State. Philadelphia has the best record in spread betting this season, and backing them to beat the spread here looks a good idea. On Thursday, the Spurs host in-form Portland and should put an end to the Trail Blazers’ streak by winning comfortably. On Friday, the Wizards host the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics are in Brooklyn to play the Nets. Boston and Washington are the form teams of the east and should both win against poor opposition, so that might make a nice double.

San Antonio Spurs Threaten to Usurp Warriors After Durant Injury

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

With less than six weeks until the playoffs, an injury to star player Kevin Durant has threatened to derail the chances of NBA Championships favourites the Golden State Warriors. Without him, the Warriors have lost twice in a row and the supremely consistent San Antonio Spurs are now hot on their heels in the race to emerge as the top seed in the Western Conference. The Warriors are now no longer a sure thing in the west, and that has blown the race to the Finals wide open, making the season more exciting than ever.

Western Conference

Durant sprained his knee in a freak accident that occurred when teammate Zaza Pachulia backed into him while fighting for a rebound. The team initially feared he would miss the rest of the season, but the prognosis now looks a little more positive as he might make it back in time for the playoffs. But by that time, Golden State could have been overtaken by San Antonio as the number one seed in the west. After losing Durant they suffered back-to-back defeats to the Wizards and Bulls, the first time in 146 games they had lost twice in a row – an NBA record. They missed his ability to stretch the court, and the Golden State offence has looked out of sync as opposing teams have crowded Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Meanwhile, the Spurs are 9-1 in their last 10, the best record in the league, and are on a seven-game winning streak. They are now just three wins behind Golden State and are driven by the constantly improving offensive prowess of Kawhi Leonard. This has pushed Golden State out to 2/5 with Betfred for the west, while San Antonio is now 9/2 with William Hill, which looks a very interesting bet. Even if Durant makes it back in time for the playoffs he could be carrying an injury still, and suddenly the Warriors do not look quite as invincible.

Eastern Conference

The Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards have been putting pressure on the Cleveland Cavaliers for top seed in the Eastern Conference for some time and that has continued. At 7-3 in their last 10, the Wizards have the best recent form in the east, which makes the 12/1 888Sport is offering on them to win it look an intriguing option. But the Cavs look back in business now that LeBron James is strapped up and ready for the home straight and the team has been bolstered by Deron Williams and Andrew Bogut and most of the action is likely to go on Cleveland, who are 4/11 with Sky Bet, William Hill and Boyle Sports.

MVP Race

Despite topping most player power rankings since Christmas, James Harden has failed to pull away from Russell Westbrook in the betting for regular season MVP. With just six weeks to go, Harden is evens with William Hill, while Westbrook is 6/4 with Bet Victor. What counts against Westbrook, however, is that the Thunder are not a great team and a lot of his hard work goes unnoticed. Harden’s Rockets are a genuine threat to Golden State and San Antonio in the west and he has emerged as the best point guard in the league this season with the stats to back it up, so even money at William Hill looks great right now.

Upcoming Games

A huge game that could help decide the ultimate Western Conference table sees Harden’s Rockets travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs. It should be close, but recent form points to a San Antonio win and the 3/5 at Bet365 looks good. On Wednesday the in-form Wizards are at the Phoenix Suns and should cover a heavy spread against a team committing 15.1 turnovers per game. On Thursday, Celtics v Warriors looks too close to call, but a treble of the Spurs to beat the Kings, the Wizards to beat the Nuggets and the Atlanta Hawks to beat the Brooklyn Nets looks great.

NBA betting: Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets killing the spreads

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are once again leading their respective NBA conference tables by some distance, but when it comes to spread betting they are way down the list. The all-conquering Warriors are sitting pretty on 49-9, but they are a mere 28-26-2 against the spread, so if you backed them to cover the spread every week you would be down overall. The Cavs are 40-17 atop the Eastern Conference, but have fared even worse against the spread: LeBron James and co are 26-27-2. So which teams have made their backers the most money, and which have fared the worst?

Top Teams for Spread Betting

An unlikely champion has emerged when it comes to defying the spread so far his season. The Philadelphia 76ers are 22-36 this season and 13th out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference, with virtually no chance of reaching the playoffs. But they are faring far better than they did last season when they slumped to a dismal 10-76. Having already doubled last season’s win total with a promising young team led by Rookie of the Year favourite Joel Embiid, the 76ers have consistently defied bookmakers’ expectations. They are 35-21-1 against the spread this season, so if you had been backing them throughout you would have made a nice profit. In the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets are the best team against the spread, with a record of 33-25. That is not a huge margin, which shows just how canny the oddsmakers are when setting spreads.

Worst Teams

If you have been regularly backing the Portland Trail Blazers or the Milwaukee Bucks to cover the spread this season, you will be cursing your decisions. Both teams have covered the spread just 22 times, the worst records in the league. Backing the Cavs and Warriors on the road would have hurt you too as Cleveland is 11-15 on the road, while Golden State is 13-15-1.

Futures Update

The Eastern Conference looks like turning into a three-way fight between the Cavs, the Washington Wizards and the Boston Celtics. They are the top three teams in the conference and are heading towards securing the top three seeded places as they are in the best form right now: the Cavs and Wizards are 8-2 in their last 10, while the Celtics are 7-3. The bookmakers expect the Cavs to cruise to another conference win and William Hill has made Cleveland the 4/11 favourite. The odds have been pushed out, however, thanks to the form of the Celtics, the Wizards and the Toronto Raptors. The Celtics are 7/1 second favourites, but Boston’s refusal to dip into its war chest before the trade deadline could hurt it, while two straight defeats do not inspire confidence. The Raptors are 10/1 with William Hill, Bet Victor and Ladbrokes, but a better bet could be the Wizards at 12/1 with Boyle Sports. After the Warriors, they have the league’s best record in 2017 and bolstered their bench with Bojan Bogdanovic.

Covering the Cavs at 4/11 and Wizards at 12/1 could pay dividends. The Warriors are likely to run away with the Western Conference once again and are just 3/10 with Sky Bet. The Spurs have been in excellent form and the Rockets are on a roll, but the Warriors just look too strong now. Still, the Warriors’ James Harden should be named regular season MVP (10/11 with Paddy Power), which would be a good consolation prize for The Beard.

Upcoming Games

The 76ers are in action on Tuesday, when they host the Warriors in Philly. They are 9/1 underdogs with Betfred and Paddy Power, while Stephen Curry and co are just 1/20. But spread betting is where it really gets interesting. At Paddy Power, you can get 10/11 on the 76ers +13.5 and – given that Philadelphia is the best at covering spreads this season and Golden State is poor at doing so on the road – that looks a good bet. Two in-form teams meet in Boston on the same day when the Hawks play the Celtics, and Boston should win that at 20/37 with Bet365.

Long Shots for NBA Championship Gaining Momentum at Crucial Time

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

We have entered the final third of the NBA regular season and the playoff picture is becoming clearer. In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are flying and should be joined in the playoffs by the Houston Rockets, LA Clippers and Utah Jazz. Over in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers have finally found consistency and are in pole position to finish the regular season at the top to earn the number one seed status, with the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards hot on their heels. Below them, the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks are both looking good for a playoff place. But in both conferences, the remaining places are very much up for grabs. It is interesting to take a look at the teams that are hitting form at just the right time and could offer interesting long-shot options when predicting who will win the Conferences and the 2017 NBA Championship.

Western Conference

The Warriors are looking immense at present and are naturally favourites to win the NBA Championship. Paddy Power is offering the best price at 8/11, and they are also heavy favourites to win the Western Conference, with 888 Sport offering a market leading 6/17. They have won it for the last two years in a row, and look just as brilliant this time around, with Kevin Durant bolstering an already exceptional team. But they will not have it all their own way. At 5/1 with Sky Bet, Bet365 and Betfred, the Spurs are an interesting choice to win the Western Conference. They have the second-best record in the league, way better than the Cavs, and they welcome back Pau Gasol after the All-Star break. Then there is the Houston Rockets at 16/1 with Ladbrokes, led by MVP frontrunner James Harden (now 10/11 with Paddy Power). And for a real long-shot, how about the Memphis Grizzlies at 50/1 with William Hill and Coral? They are 7-3 in their last 10 games and have really found their rhythm, with Marc Gasol the driving force. If they could steal fourth seed from the Clippers they would have a good shot.

Eastern Conference

Things get really interesting in the Eastern Conference thanks to the form of the Wizards and the Celtics. The Wizards have the best record in the east in 2017 and have now achieved as strong a record as the Cavs and Celtics at home. They have just scored 100-plus points for the 22nd straight game, something only 10 teams have achieved since 2000. They are 9-1 in their last 10, the best record in the league at the moment. They have the momentum and can be a real threat in the playoffs. At Boston, Isaiah Thomas is breaking records left, right and centre, and they would also be 9-1 in their last 10 were it not for a controversial defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bulls. Their 8-2 is nevertheless impressive and they are another that could run Cleveland and LeBron James close. The Cavs are just 2/5 with Betfred, which does not offer much value, so the 15/2 at Sky Bet on Boston looks good, as does the 12/1 Boyle Sports is offering on the Celtics. Another team building up a head of steam is Miami, currently 10th in the east but 8-2 in 10 and looking like muscling into playoff contention thanks to their stellar defence. Sky Bet and William Hill are offering 150/1.

Upcoming Games

Friday sees Harden and the Rockets travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans, who are 14-15 at home this season. On the road, Houston is 19-11, and while it should be a tight game Houston can sneak this one to consolidate their third position in the Western Conference, and Paddy Power had good odds on a straight win for the Rockets at 5/6. The LA Clippers have found form of late, winning four in a row, but it is unlikely to count for much on the road against the Warriors on Friday. The point spread looks pretty ambitious, however, and Clippers +13 looks good at 10/11 with Paddy Power.

LA Clippers offer value ahead of NBA trade deadline

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The February 23 NBA trade deadline is looming and the futures odds are likely to fluctuate heavily depending on what happens. Now is the time to study the rumour mill and figure out which teams are likely to bolster their ranks before the deadline and get a good price on them before the odds tumble.

Western Conference

The Golden State Warriors have been the best team in the NBA once again this season, but they are not guaranteed to win it. Only three times in the last 17 seasons have the number one seeds in both the Western and Eastern Conferences met in the finals, so history suggests either the Warriors or the Cleveland Cavaliers are likely to miss out. Right now the Cavs are wildly inconsistent and look the most likely to stumble, but the Warriors face tough competition in their Conference. They are just 2/7 to win it with Bet365, and 6/17 with 888 Sport, which does not offer a great deal of value. The 5/1 on offer at Sky Bet on the San Antonio Spurs looks tempting as they have been the NBA’s second best team this season, better than the Cavs, and have a very strong defence, which could trouble the Warriors. The Houston Rockets (16/1 at Ladbrokes) and Oklahoma City Thunder (66/1 at Sky Bet) will be dangerous as they are led by MVP frontrunners James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

But arguably the most interesting long shot right now is the LA Clippers. That sounds like madness as they are 4-6 in their last 10 and well below the Warriors. But now could be a great time to get on them. They have struggled in the absence of Chris Paul, but he will be back after the All-Star Game. They are also expected to be buyers before the deadline. So you would imagine their odds would tumble after Paul returns and their ranks are swelled via trades in time for the playoffs, so now is the time to get on them. They are as low as 11/1 with some bookmakers, but William Hill and Ladbrokes are offering a very generous 20/1.

Eastern Conference

This looks really interesting thanks to the Cavs’ inconsistency. The Eastern Conference leaders would only be fourth in the Western Conference with their .698 record, below the Warriors, Spurs and Rockets. In the Eastern Conference, genuine contenders have emerged: the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards are both 9-1 in their last 10 games. Keep an eye on the trades as there are whispers of the Celtics cashing in on star man Isaiah Thomas while he is at the peak of his powers. If they do that, their season will likely plummet as he has made the difference in a series of narrow victories. But if either of these teams strengthens significantly, they could really push the Cavs, and right now both look interesting as the Celtics are 12/1 with 888 Sport and the Wizards are 18/1 with Bet Victor, offering far more value than an unpredictable Cleveland, who are just 4/11 with Ladbrokes.

Upcoming Games

On Tuesday Westbrook’s Thunder travel to Washington to face the in-form Wizards in what promises to be a fantastic clash. The Wizards have been supreme in front of their home fans lately, while the Thunder have travelled badly and are 12-16 on the road, so the Wizards should win this one. The Celtics travel to another in-form team, the Dallas Mavericks, but should be too strong for them, so a Celtics-Wizards Tuesday double looks a good bet. On Thursday the Celtics should cover a heavy spread against the Philadelphia 76ers, who are 7-18 on the road and in dire form. The Spurs are in Orlando to play the Magic, and should also cover a heavy spread there, making that another interesting potential double.