NBA Betting Look-Ahead Spots
LAS VEGAS, NV (The Spread) – Which teams could be caught looking ahead this week in the NBA? Let’s take a look.
View Freddy Wills’ Expert Picks
Last time we did our NBA look-ahead schedule of games to fade we came away going 2-1 ATS with some easy covers. I’m tweaking this article again and basing my rankings on a confidence scale from 1-3*’s. There are a lot of playoff implications and schedule advantages that each NBA team is looking at and others are circling games where they can recover before the final stretch of the season. I have circled 4 games where I feel this could be happening for the rest of March. These games are not as sexy as March Madness, but they should bring you a return on your investment.
3/27/14 – Portland Blazers @ Atlanta Hawks (Play against the Hawks) FADE RANKING = 1*
I’m not actually saying to actually bet against the Hawks it’s really too early to tell, but they are clearly in a look ahead spot despite playing a quality team in Portland. The Hawks will go on the road on 3/29 to face the Washington Wizards who they trail by 4.5 games. At this point in the season I doubt the Hawks are looking ahead against anyone as they are only 2.5 games up on the New York Knicks who everyone would rather see in the playoffs. Atlanta however are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games overall so they should be good fade material in any spot.
3/28/14 – Charlotte @ Orlando Magic (Play against the Bobcats) FADE RANKING = 3*
The Bobcats are in better shape than the Blazers, but they went to earn a spot at #6 in the playoffs to avoid having to play the Pacers or the Heat. They will visit the Magic who are one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. Their next game is against Washington at home so I expect them to look past the Magic a bit here since they would like to leap frog the Wizards into the #6 playoff spot. The problem with that is the Magic have not been that bad at home. The Magic have really no way of improving or falling closer to the basement of the East so they should get a kick out of beating the Bobcats.
3/29/14 – Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings (Play against the Mavericks) FADE Ranking = 3*
The Mavericks have been one of the hotter NBA teams, but are still tied for the #8 spot in the Western Conference. Their schedule does not get any easier, but if they are to circle a game where they can take a deep breath this will be it. They play the Clippers on 3/27 two days prior and then following the “lay up” against the Kings will have to face the Warriors and Clippers again in back to back games. The Mavericks will be close to double digit favorites for this game and I would fade them because of the tough road they have ahead.
3/30/14 – Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Utah Jazz (Play against the Thunder) FADE Ranking = 1*
The Thunder trail the Spurs by two games for home court advantage in the West and they can achieve it by beating the Spurs who they will play following a game with the Jazz who they are likely to be heavy favorites against. The Thunder also have to face the Rockets the night after facing the Spurs so they will likely use this game as a so called practice.
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