When it comes to sports betting, few leagues are as difficult to master as NBA basketball. With all the different variables that can affect the game and the unpredictability of the game itself, new bettors often make some predictable mistakes that could easily be avoided. Here are some of the most common mistakes casual bettors make when betting on NBA games.
Being Star Struck
We all know that the NBA is a star driven league. But ironically, there aren’t many major sports where individual stars have less of an impact on the entire team. But most casual bettors aren’t aware of that fact and will have a tendency to put their money on the team with the most star-studded line-up. They don’t pay attention to individual matchups, coaching, defensive vs offensive styles, and other things that may affect the outcome of the game. Oddsmakers know this all too well and will adjust the lines accordingly. It’s up to you as a bettor to go into the matchups more in-depth and to get a deeper understanding of the game before you even think about betting.
Assuming Fireworks All the Time
Another mistake people make when betting on NBA games is betting for teams with the most exciting play style. And it’s also because of the way the NBA is marketed. It’s all about big moments, clutch shots, close games, flashy passes and over the top dunks. But at the end of the day, the team or players who are the flashiest aren’t always the most efficient.
It’s easy to assume for a casual bettor that a team like Thunder will win against a team with great fundamentals and coaching like the Spurs or Celtics all the time, but those in the know understand that they usually won’t be able to rack up huge numbers against these types of teams. So, don’t make that mistake and try to get as many opinions as you can on each team to see who people are favouring to win and why.
Assuming the NBA is an Easy League to Bet on
For some reason, a lot of people seem to think that the NBA is easy to bet on. This ties in with what we said earlier about the league revolving around stars. Since they assume that the team with the biggest stars are always favourites, they think that they can just bet based on this factor alone. But in reality, the NBA is one of the most difficult leagues to make consistent gains on, especially if you’re thinking of betting on the point spread.
If you’re interested in betting on basketball, you should consider trying your hand at some other leagues. Sites like https://www.toals.com/ offer bets on Australian, Filipino and WNBA teams as well. You should do your homework on some of these teams and see if any of these leagues would be more advantageous for you.
Betting on basketball games can be loads of fun, but don’t assume it’ll be a walk in the park. Make sure that you do your research and test the waters with a small roll before you go all in.
