NBA 3-Point Contest: How to spot value
The NBA is heading into its All-Star Weekend and on Saturday night the annual three-point contest will take place. Is there any value on the board for bettors?
Let’s start off with the rules.
The three-point contest is a two-round, timed competition in which five shooting locations are positioned around the three-point arc. Each contestant will have four racks that contain four orange balls that are each worth one point. There’s also one multi-colored “money” ball that is worth two points. On the fifth rack that contestants can place at any of the five shooting locations. On that rack are all multi-colored balls and thus, is a “money ball” rack (worth two points each). Contestants have one minute to shoot as many of the 25 balls as they can, with the three competitors with the highest scores in first round advancing to the second or “championship” round.
So who’s favored?
Steph Curry of the Warriors has the best odds at EVEN according to oddsmakers from online sports book RealBet.eu. His teammate Klay Thompson is 3/1, while Devin Booker of the Suns and JJ Redick of the Clippers are both 9/2, respectively. The long shots to win the three-point contest are James Harden of the Rockets (9/1), Kyle Lowry of the Raptors (9/1), Khris Middleton of the Bucks (15/1), and Chris Bosh of the Heat (45/1).
2016 NBA All-Star Game Start Time & TV Viewing Guide
Is there value on the board?
This article by the Washington Post offers what could be a great edge for bettors looking to make a wager on the three-point contest. There’s a stat for 3-pointers called “Catch and Shoot,” which is essentially what contestants are doing in the three-point contest since they’re simply taking the ball off the rack and shooting from a stationary position. Curry has made 46.9-percent of his “Catch and Shoot” three-pointers this season while Thompson has connected on 44.8-percent of his shots. The only player in this contest with a better catch-and-shoot percentage is Redick at 48.8-percent.
This, if you’re looking for an edge and some value as a better, Redick is the play at 9/2. Or, if you want to take a flier on a long-shot, Lowry has the second-best catch-and-shoot percentage in the field at 48-percent, and he’s 9/1 (meaning you win $900.00 for every $100.00 that you wager).
Bet on the NBA 3-Point Contest
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