This Week's Best NBA Bets
Covers.com
Each week, we look back on the NBA betting scene and give you the best - and worst - basketball bets, as well as some spots to keep an eye on with the upcoming schedule.
For the week of March 31-April 6.
Hottest ATS - Chicago Bulls (4-0 SU, 4-0 ATS)
The third seed in the Eastern Conference is still up for grabs, and the Bulls have staked their claim to the spot with a five-game winning streak that has them tied with the Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Raptors. Chicago is firing on all cylinders as the regular season winds down, winning all four of its games this week by at least 12 points and capping it with an 18-point drubbing of the host Washington Wizards to improve to 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven. Chicago winds down its schedule with games against Minnesota, Detroit, New York, Orlando and Charlotte.
Coldest ATS - Indiana Pacers (0-4 SU, 0-4 ATS)
The Pacers are imploding like few top-tier teams before them, and oddsmakers are scrambling to keep up with the descent. The Pacers are 0-9 ATS in their last nine games, including last week's four-game stretch that saw them get trounced by 26 against San Antonio, squeak out a narrow win over a subpar Detroit team and follow that up with losses to Toronto and Atlanta. The one-sided defeat to the Hawks was so bad, center Roy Hibbert tapped out after just nine minutes and didn't play at all in the second half.
Best Over play - Detroit Pistons (2-2 SU, 4-0 O/U)
You have to give it to the Pistons, who are finishing out their disappointing season the same way they started it: with a high-octane offense and a virtually non-existent defense. Detroit extended its streak of "over" results to five last week, earning a 116-111 win over Milwaukee and a 115-111 triumph over Boston with losses to the Pacers and Brooklyn Nets in between. No team has paid off "over" bettors as well as Detroit, which goes into the final stretch of the season with an absurd 52-25-0 O/U mark.
Best Under play - Sacramento Kings (2-2 SU, 1-3 O/U)
No team played a perfect "under" week, but the Kings came about as close as anyone. Sacramento opened with a 102-97 win over New Orleans - a game that went just 2.5 points over the total - before defeating the Lakers and dropping decisions to Golden State and Dallas. The absence of electrifying point guard Isaiah Thomas has played a part in the muted Sacramento offense - particularly since, beyond Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins, the Kings don't have any reliable scoring options.
Surveying the schedule
The Phoenix Suns come into the week clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, and have a difficult road ahead. The Suns open the week with the first of a three-game road trip in New Orleans - led by shot-blocking phenom Anthony Davis - and follow that up with a tough Texas two-step against the red-hot San Antonio Spurs and seventh-place Dallas Mavericks. Phoenix closes out the sked with a difficult home game against Memphis and a road finale in Sacramento.
This Week's Best NBA Spot Bet Opportunities
By Steve Merril
Covers.com
Spot bets are classic handicapping practices that have proven profitable no matter what sport you’re betting. Whether it’s a team looking past this week’s opponent, one coming off a hard-fought victory, or a rough patch of schedule, bettors can find value picking their spots.
Letdown spot
Miami has a tough schedule this week that includes four games against playoff-caliber teams. The Heat open things at home on Tuesday night against Brooklyn, and then travel for a game on Wednesday night in Memphis. Their showdown game against Indiana comes on Friday night before concluding the week in Atlanta on Saturday.
The Heat will be looking to avenge an 84-83 loss to the Pacers on Friday night. If Miami is successful in doing so, then their game the very next night in Atlanta will be a certified letdown spot. Miami will also be playing their fourth game in five nights, so their game against the Hawks also comes in a difficult scheduling spot.
Look-ahead spot
The San Antonio Spurs have three games this week with two on the road and one at home. The Spurs will play in Minnesota on Tuesday night and in Dallas on Thursday. San Antonio then returns home to host Phoenix on Friday night.
San Antonio beat both the Timberwolves and Mavericks the last time they played, but they got blown out by 21 points (106-85) in Phoenix. San Antonio only has two losses over their last 25 games coming into Tuesday’s game, and the rematch game versus the Suns is one the Spurs have circled. San Antonio will be looking to atone for that loss to Phoenix, so they may lack focus the night before in Dallas.
Schedule spot
The Houston Rockets will play four games this week with three of those games on the road. They open the week on Tuesday night in Los Angeles against the Lakers, and then play the next night in Denver. The Rockets play in Minnesota on Friday night before finishing the week at home on Saturday night against New Orleans.
Houston’s trouble spot comes in that Saturday night home game versus the Pelicans. The Rockets will be playing on a back-to-back set and it will also be their third game in four nights and their fourth game in five nights overall. Houston will likely go thru the motions against New Orleans on Saturday night.
NBA Betting News: Updated Playoff Picture
Sportsmemo.com
Here's a quick breakdown of teams that have yet to officially clinch a playoff berth.
Atlanta (34-43) - Currently the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. Following last night's loss to Detroit, the Hawks' led over the New York Knicks is 1.5 games. Atlanta plays host to Boston tonight.
New York (33-45) - After winning four of five, lost back-to-back games to Washington and Miami. Don't play until Friday. Close with Toronto twice, Chicago, and Brooklyn.
Golden State (48-29) - Currently the 6th seed in the Western Conference but yet to officially clinch. One game lead over seventh seed Dallas. Favorable schedule down the stretch: vs. Denver, at LA Lakers, at Portland, vs. Minnesota, at Denver.
Dallas (48-31) - One game behind Golden State, one game ahead of Phoenix. Winners of four straight road games. Close the season vs. San Antonio, vs. Phoenix, and at Memphis.
Phoenix (46-31) - One game behind Dallas but only one game ahead of Memphis. Currently on a 10-3 SU, 9-4 ATS run heading into tonight's game vs. New Orleans. Five games left -- four of which are on the road.
Memphis (45-32) - One game behind Phoenix. Just finished playing six of seven on the road (3-4 SU, 0-7 ATS). Five games left starting with home tilt vs. Miami tonight.