Best NBA Value Bets for 2014
LAS VEGAS, NV (The Spread) – What teams offer good value to NBA bettors this season? Here are five.
View Carlos Salazar Expert Picks
I’ve been tracking the NBA for over 25 years and I’ve never seen a first half ripe with so many injuries and teams looking to tank to receive a high pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. The Eastern Conference of the NBA is an absolute disgrace, with just four teams producing a record of .500 or more. The third-place team
But in the betting world, there are some very good values this season in sides and totals with teams that are becoming very predictable. Let’s take a look at the top five values in the first half of the NBA season.
1) Detroit Pistons (16-22 SU, 28-10 O/U). This is a very perplexing team because they have talent up front led by big men Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. They added free agent Josh Smith in the offseason, who ‘s averaging 15.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. But they give up 102.6 points per game and if you’re looking for an over bet, they are a strong play. They have gone over five of their last six games as their backcourt defense led by newcomer Brandon Jennings is atrocious.
2) New York Knicks (15-22 SU, 16-21 ATS). The Knicks have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA this season, but they are getting healthier. In the awful Eastern Conference, the Knicks have moved to eighth place in the league after winning five straight. They’ve also covered in six of their last seven games. They good news is that point guard Ray Felton is finally healthy as he’s played four straight games and the Knicks have won all four straight up. Now they need center Tyson Chandler (illness) to get back in the middle and protect the rim and they’ll be fine. This should be the third-best team in the East when it’s all said and one.
3) Washington Wizards (17-19 SU, 20-16 ATS). Here’s another bizarre team from the Eastern Conference. The Wizards have won and covered four of their last five on the road, but have lost four straight at home. Washington is finally healthy as they’ve been limiting the minutes of shooting guard Brad Beal (17.3 points) and power forward Nene (13.3 points, 5.8 rebounds). On Monday night, Nene started for the first time since early December and scored 19 points in an impressive 102-88 win over Chicago, getting 2.5. Washington is a team to watch but they have to play better at home as they are just 7-9 straight up and 1-5 against the spread in their last six games.
4) Portland Trailblazers (28-9 SU, 27-10 O/U). Earlier in the season, Portland was a great value but the oddsmakers have caught up as they have only covered three of their last 10. They’ve also laid a few stinkers in their, falling at home to Philadelphia by two and at Sacramento. But one thing is certain, especially as they go on to the playoffs, is that the Trailblazers give up a lot of points. They rank 26th in the NBA in points allowed at 102.9 per game as teams are shooting 45.6 percent against them. But they rank first in the NBA in scoring, averaging 109.1 per game. Forward LaMarcus Aldridge (23.6 points, 11.0 rebounds) might be the most underrated superstar in the NBA. This is a good over team and has gone over in seven of their last 10.
5) Indiana Pacers (29-7 SU, 24-12 ATS, 12-24 O/U). As a bettor, it’s hard not to like this team that plays the right way. The Pacers have been the most consistent team in the league and they are also healthy. They rank first in the NBA in almost every defensive category including points allowed (87.9 points), field goal percentage (40.9 percent) and 3-point percentage (32.6 percent). They are a great rebounding team and due to big guys like 7-2 Roy Hibbert and 6-11 Ian Marini, who patrol the paint. The Pacers have gone under in 10 of their last 11 games.
There are several great values in the NBA at this point of the season and make sure you track them because the books will adjust their lines once patterns start developing.
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