September 20, 2024
Do you have your favorite player in this NBA season?
Last year, we kicked off our Courtside Chronicles basketball series at ChampionBet Ghana. In the first three parts, we covered the history, rules, and key players of the NBA. Now, we’re diving into NBA betting, a discipline that’s a bit different from football betting. The 78th season of the American NBA is in full swing, with the Minnesota Timberwolves leading in the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference is dominated by the Boston Celtics. Let’s explore the basic bets and get to know the whole world of NBA betting…
Moneyline betting is the simplest way to bet. You bet on which team will win the game. The score difference doesn’t matter; you’re just picking the winner. The odds in a moneyline bet show the team’s chances of winning. Lower odds mean a favorite, while higher odds point to an underdog.
Choose the team you believe will win and place your bet. If they win, you win, based on the odds you got.
Handicap betting, or spread betting in basketball, levels the playing field between two teams of different strengths. This is done with a “handicap” assigned to both teams, showing the gap in their abilities.
If a team is a strong favorite, it gets a negative handicap. It means they need to win by more than a certain number of points to cover the spread. For instance, the Los Angeles Lakers might have a -5.5 point handicap, so they need to win by over 5.5 points.
Conversely, a team like the Phoenix Suns might get a positive handicap as the underdog. If they have a +5.5 point handicap, they can lose by up to 5 points or win the game and still cover the spread.
The odds in a spread bet are usually standard, but the handicap number is what’s important. Understanding and using this number right is key to winning NBA bets.
A Total bet in the NBA basketball is all about the combined score of both teams at the end of the game, no matter who wins. Bookmakers set a number, like 226,5 points, as the expected total score. You bet on whether the real score will be “over” or “under” this number.
When you decide whether the score will be higher or lower, look closely at both teams – their scoring and defense. Consider things like the average points they score and their current form against similar teams.
The total bet is really popular with fans who love digging into NBA stats and team performances. It adds another layer to betting beyond just picking who wins, making the game even more thrilling.
In our next part, we’ll dive into odds and how they change. After all, you can’t cover everything about NBA betting in just one piece. Keep following our ChampionBet blog to learn more!
