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I still can’t tell if all the hubbub around the Manhattan’s newest Asian star is well founded, or purely based on racial biases. Either way, it’s fun and the sudden revival of New York is making Pro Basketball betting even more interesting than it has been.

Now that football is over, you can now faithfully turn your full attention to the Pro Basketball betting side of things. Lines aren’t released until within 24 hours of the matchup, so I had to go with some imaginary lines for these games, which I didn’t list because that would be cruel. Read on and you’ll get the idea. Enjoy and best of luck.

New York Knicks over MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Lin-sanity is sweeping through the entire league as the kid from Harvard who nobody thought was any good is rolling with three 20+ point performances. Is there anything more exciting about Saturday night besides Asian Jeremy Lin going up against Spanish Ricky Rubio?!

Well I would hope so, but my life sucks so this is pretty much going to make my weekend meaningful. Lin has been an absolute dynamo against guys much more athletic than him, mostly because he plays very intelligently. He’s setting great pick and rolls with Tyson Chandler and the Knicks are 3-0 SU and ATS with him starting at point.

What’s even more astonishing is that the underachieving Knicks are 4-2 SU and 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games, most of which have been without Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. Should that make you worry? Nope! In fact, it’s the opposite. The oddsmakers can’t give the Knicks a crazy line because they’re on the road, missing their two best players and featuring a relative unknown at point guard. Bet Knicks hard on Saturday night. You never go wrong with Harvard grads (and not just because this one is Asian).

ATLANTA HAWKS over Miami Heat
Everyone who has read my basketball articles knows how I feel about the Hawks. They’re built to fail. On top of that they’re streaky. Before going 1-3 SU and ATS in their last 4 games, they went 5-1 SU and 4-1-1 ATS. Not the best numbers overall, and certainly not in that order.

Despite how I feel about Atlanta, this game is about making an intelligent bet. Miami is one of the worst teams on the road in terms of sports betting, which is weird to think because they should get better lines away from home. This season, Miami is just 4-8 ATS when travelling, and are just 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS in their last 4 road trips.

You tell me which team is a better bet: the team that continually doesn’t cover on the road, or the team that’s streaky at best and just covered and won their last game. If you took the second option, you just bet on the Hawks. I know. It’s a jagged pill to swallow.

BOSTON CELTICS over Chicago Bulls
Boston is who we thought they’ve been for several years: big team in big games. They’re on a 9-1 SU tear right now, and though that’s led to a 6-4 ATS record, some of that can be explained. Cleveland (which covered twice against Boston recently) plays a lot harder than we expected them to.

Yet the Celtics almost always reserve their best for the best competition, and they don’t get more monumental than matchups with teams like Chicago. The Bulls are a solid 7-3 SU in their last 10 games and also 6-4 ATS during that run, but this is a team that is still trying to move on from a Derrick Rose first, foremost and all the time mentality.

Carlos Boozer isn’t playing like he can. Joakim Noah hasn’t been the Tasmanian Devil of high energy forwards lately. Rip Hamilton is touch-and-go, and same goes for the usually steady scorer, Luol Deng. I don’t know what to make of the Bulls from a basketball or a betting standpoint. They’re a team that wins games on the backs of one of the best players in the game.

The truth of the matter is that Rondo, KG and Allen are going to play well against what the Bulls have to offer, and Chicago has no answer for Paul Pierce, who drops in to sixth gear in games like this. Trust me, I’ve gone against Boston enough this year in the BetUS Basketball betting section of the sportsbook to know when to play them and an opponent like Chicago is right in their wheelhouse.

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Pro Basketball Betting is the Best Way to Pad That Bankroll Before the Big Game

As I’ve written for a couple weeks now, 2012 Pro Basketball betting is a fantastic way to add some cushion to your bankroll and this weekend is no exception. If you’re looking for some extra change to throw around in the Super Bowl props section of BetUS.com, the best way to do so before you dip in to your own pocket is to take a gander at these juicy NBA odds. You could have more money to play with than you expected.

That’s good news for two reasons. One is the live betting portion of the game, where you can bet on quarters, halves and a constantly moving betting line throughout the game. It’s best not to sink your entire payroll before the game, especially since that negates any possibility to hedge your bets.

The second reason is that Super Bowl betting is the busiest day of all sportsbooks. Loading up your account well beforehand means more money to play with, and the following NBA matchups have big storylines and could have even bigger payoffs.

BOSTON CELTICS over New York Knicks – Friday, February 3rd

Amar’e Stoudemire remains the $100 million man on the outside looking in. He is a go-to type of player, and has been his entire career in Phoenix playing with a point guard like Steve Nash. On top of that, he has always played with teams that emphasize scoring and don’t really harp on defense.

That’s why playing alongside Carmelo Anthony, who has returned from his assortment of joint sprains, and Tyson Chandler isn’t working. Anthony is the type of player who relies on having the ball in his hands and taking tons of shots. Chandler works best when he can influence the rest of his team to play lockdown defense.

The Knicks have been an easy stay away play, especially in big games. They’re just 6-15 ATS on the season and have picked up three easy spread victories over the hapless Pistons and Bobcats, as well as a cheap cover against a -12.0 line favoring the Heat.

Boston, meanwhile, is a big time team again after I had serious doubts, even as recently as two weeks ago. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are playing like it’s 2007 again, which is astounding because many were convinced that KG wasn’t able to jump this year. Tell that to the double-double he scored against Dwight Howard and the Magic last Thursday.

The truth is that Friday night home games are a great bet for teams like Boston because their crowd will push them over the edge. You have to be smart when picking Boston, and their 11-10 ATS record this season is proof enough to tread lightly. But the Celtics are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games and haven’t been pushed to the limit that much since they’ve had to face teams like Toronto and Cleveland (twice).

If you’re like me, then you have the Giants repeating as Super Bowl champions over the Patriots. But if you’re a Boston fan then you’re going to love the shallow line they have against the Knicks. Look for Boston to pick up a win and give their hometown fans something to cheer about before their reminded about Sunday’s matchup on the turf.

Indiana Pacers over DALLAS MAVERICKS

People in the state of Indiana haven’t had much to cheer about for the better part of six months because of Peyton Manning and Jim Irsay. But if basketball’s your game in Indiana (and it should be everyone’s game in a state like that), then the Pacers are giving you plenty of reason to smile.

Small market teams have a nightmare of a time recruiting big time free agents, so Indiana went the other way and built a contender on a perfectly balanced team of mid-carders. Their entire starting line is averaging double-digits in points, and their depth on the bench at every position has give them the ability to survive a stressful, tightly packed NBA season. They’re like the Dallas Mavericks, only quicker, smaller, faster and younger. And yes, there’s a difference between “quick” and “fast”.

A ton of people thought that Dallas was a one-and-done type of team after last year. They lost Chandler, a few key bench guys and made an old team even older by bringing in guys like Lamar Odom and Vince Carter. And do you know what’s happened? They’re the best in the Southwest (along with San Antonio) and 14-9 ATS which is the best betting record in their division.

The problem with that record is that it was built early, and in the last ten games they’ve flip-flopped against the line going 5-5 ATS while alternating wins and losses against the spread. Roulette junkies would think that means they’re due for a win since they lost their last game as -1.0 favorites against Oklahoma City.

Not true. Indiana has been doing the same song and dance as a betting team largely because they went from a sneaky, under the radar play, to a “everyone’s betting on them now” team.

On the road, they’ve actually fared very well, going 8-6 ATS and they’ll get amazing value against a Mavericks team that is defending its championship and playing at home. The Pacers are vulnerable against big name teams as has been demonstrated by losses against Orlando and Boston, but the Mavericks aren’t the type of team that can bully them with their diversity. If anything, they’re just not fast enough to keep up with the Pacers.

Indiana’s betting bandwagon is soon to turn into a pumpkin because people are catching on to how well Indiana plays. But I still love this matchup for them, and they’re bound to get favorable odds heading in to Dallas. The Mavericks are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 home games but I’m not betting against Indiana just yet.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS over Oklahoma City Thunder – Saturday

The Spurs are trying to do it again. They’re trying to play possum, squeak out wins and make the playoffs without doing too much. And it’s working. They’re not only tied for the lead in their division, they’re also a cozy 12-11 ATS, which is heaven to people who bet Spurs basketball often. Usually they’re atrocious against the line.

Manu Ginobli is still hurt, but Tim Duncan has a great matchup in this game because Oklahoma City doesn’t have anyone smart enough or talented enough to cover him proficiently. The Big Fundamental won’t drop the Dunk of the Year on Kendrick Perkins, but he’ll certainly pivot and hook his way to a good amount of points and he has the support staff to continue San Antonio’s pretty quiet 8-4 ATS record at home this season.

This is a tough matchup for me because Oklahoma City’s market has been amazing from a value standpoint. They’re 7-3 ATS in their past 10 games, but with a record of 12-9 ATS on the season I know that that means they’re streaky. It’s true. They come up big against decent teams, or dominate when the game leans in their favor.

San Antonio hasn’t let anyone sneak up on them and they’ll gameplan to frustrate Westbrook enough to take him out of his game. San Antonio will receive a generous home line considering the talent OKC boasts. Take the points for the home team. The oddsmakers will dare you to bet Thunder this Saturday.

MIAMI HEAT over Toronto Raptors – Super Bowl Sunday

If the NBA really wants viewers to tune in on a day like Super Bowl Sunday, they’re going to have to do a bit better than this. Granted, highlights of Wade and LeBron embarrassing the reeling Raptors are going to be pretty fun. Chris Bosh has to be delighted.

I’m going to make this short because it doesn’t deserve a lot of mention. You’re looking at a double-digit line. Probably -14.0, which would be comical because it happens on a Giants-Patriots Super Bowl Sunday. Don’t expect an upset here. Take the Heat. Mortgage your house if you have to. If you seriously don’t have enough money for the Super Bowl, this is the easiest way to get some.

Also, the sportsbook will likely have some fun props like “LeBron vs. The Patriots” so check out the specials in the Super Bowl props section before this game tips off at 1pm.

Memphis Grizzlies over BOSTON CELTICS – Super Bowl Sunday

A double-Boston helping on the big day? That’s ridiculous. As if the great people of Massachusetts don’t have enough to be worried about. This game absolutely depends on what happens to the Grizzlies and Hawks on Thursday night, because Memphis is a streaky team in betting terms. They went 5-0 ATS in mid-January, then 0-4 ATS to finish the month off. With a win over Denver, you’ll have to see if they can keep the momentum in their favor.

Despite what I said about Friday’s tilt against the Knicks, I’m not a huge fan of betting Boston at home. On Friday nights they usually play very well. But Boston tends to get inflated value at home. They could be spent by the time Memphis comes to town, and Boston is the kind of team that can rise up and fall flat at any moment.

The Grizzlies are young, physical and hungry and without Rajon Rondo I’m not so sure Boston can seize control of this game. I’d take Memphis as a likely road dog. Probably not the best way to get Boston area fans excited for Super Bowl Sunday. Could be a bad omen too.

Good luck this weekend, folks. Bet this weekend like it’s the most important three days of your life. Most call it Super Bowl weekend. We call it Degenerate’s Christmas. Enjoy.

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Pro Basketball Free Picks

Another incredible weekend awaits basketball betting handicappers.  The NBA will provide a ton of games for both hoops fans and hoop gamblers.  All of the major teams are in action this weekend and that’s great news to the ears of round ball fans.

The three best games on which to wager appear to be Chicago versus Miami, San Antonio versus Dallas and the other L.A. team versus Denver.  All three games will be played on Sunday, January 29.  Keep reading for a preview and free pick for all three of those games!

Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat

When:  Jan. 29 at 3:30 pm EST

Potential Betting Line:  Miami -4

Analysis:  Reigning MVP Derrick Rose is averaging 21 points, 4 boards and 9 assists per game.  He’s turning more into Magic Johnson and less into Michael Jordan every day.  That’s actually a good thing for Da Bulls since Chi-Town is one of the deepest, maybe the deepest, teams in the NBA this season.  D-Rose just laid the wood onto New Jersey with a 22 point, 8 assist game on Jan. 23.  It was his first game back since taking time off because of an injury.  The dude is back and Miami doesn’t appear to be all that much better this season than they were last season.  LeBron is still scoring 30 points per game while Bosh is dropping only 21 meaning that Miami is taking way too many jump shots.  Plus, D-Wade is questionable for the game on Jan. 25.  He may not be 100% on Sunday, but he will play, forcing the hand of the lines makers who will have no choice but to make the Heat a favorite north of 3 points in this contest.  I’m backing Chicago, Derrick, and the Bulls on Sunday. 

Pick:  Chicago Bulls

San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks

When:  Jan. 29, 6:30 pm EST

Potential Betting Line:  Even

Analysis:  Dirk is expected to miss the next Maverick game on Jan. 27 against Utah.  By the time Jan. 29 rolls around, Dirk will have not played in a game since Jan. 19.  That’s quite a bit of time to be off in the NBA.  To make matters worse, the Mavericks face the San Antonio Spurs, a team that put a 93 to 71 beat down on them on January 5th.  Dallas is 7 and 2 against the spread at home this season, but a returning to the court Dirk is not the same as a Dirk that’s been on fire.  San Antonio’s Tim Duncan was on fire in his last game, though, on Jan. 23, putting up 28 points and grabbing 7 boards.  There’s question as to whether T. Duncan can continue to be hot, however.

The Spurs will be favored, I think, depending on what Nowitzki says early Sunday morning, but my gut tells me that the Mavericks step it up.  Dallas has gone 3 and 0 in their last 3 since Jan. 19th meaning that they’ve won two in a row with Dirk on the bench.  Dallas should be very tough on Sunday at home and the line, because it will be Dirk’s first game back, will be more than fair.  I’m going with the Mavericks to turn the tables on the rival San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 29. 

Pick:  Dallas Mavericks

Los Angeles Clippers at Denver Nuggets

When:  Jan. 29 at 8:00 pm EST

Betting Line:  Denver -3.5

Analysis:  Chris Paul is expected to play against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.  Pro Basketball betting handicappers should expect CP3 to be at full strength on Sunday.  He’ll need to be if the Clippers have any hope of covering the spread, much less beating the Nuggets, on Jan. 29.  Denver is a solid squad.  They’re 12 and 5 ATS overall and 5 and 3 ATS at home this season.  The Nuggets average 106 points per game, tops in the NBA.  They’re 6 and 1 straight up in their last 7 going into their Jan. 25th game and 4 and 2 against the spread in their last 6 going into their January 25 game.  The Nuggets are going to be very tough for the Clippers to handle this Sunday.  So, I’m not going to try.  Even with CP3, Blake Griffin, and a solid overall squad, the Clippers are proving to still be the Clippers.  I’ll back the more cohesive team, the Denver Nuggets, to cover the spread in this matchup on Sunday.  

Pick:  L.A. Clippers

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Friday’s Best NBA Bets

Friday night is quickly becoming a great basketball betting night for me, and you should enjoy all the profits available on the board. Pro Basketball betting is a grinder’s game, meaning that if you’re looking to win big like the NFL, this isn’t the place to do it. Tracking teams through a shortened 66-game schedule is no easy task but here are a few matchups to flag down on your way in towards the end of the week.

As always I’m writing these previews way ahead of Friday, this time on a Wednesday morning because that’s the deadline. Without betting lines and injury reports, it’s hard to precisely measure the trends but there’s still a handful of info we can dig in to about these matchups heading in to the weekend. So let’s get to it.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS over Atlanta Hawks
The Sixers are one of those teams that sink well below the radar of normal NBA betting fans. That’s because they usually suck, but this season they’re not only ripping through with an Atlantic division best 10-3 SU record, they’re also one of the hottest bets in the league at 10-2-1 ATS. This includes a 9-1 SU and ATS record in the month of January alone, with a 79-85 loss to New York on a +3.5 betting line as the only dent in the armor.

At home, they’re flawless against the betting line and to be honest I really don’t know where all this consistency is coming from. It could be based on their matchups. It could be that Spencer Hawes is way better than anyone thought. Maybe it’s because (surprise, surprise) they have a pretty deep rotation in a shortened season.

Atlanta garners a lot of favoritism because they have a few All-Stars, though it’s a stretch for me to refer to Joe Johnson or Josh Smith as such these days (I don’t want to get in to it, plus I don’t have the space). The Hawks are decent on the road at 4-3 ATS, but you can’t expect any type of consistency without Horford. Sure, they’re 6-1 SU in their last 7 games but they’re also 3-4 ATS during that run.

Hop on the Sixers and ride them during this betting streak. It’s a secret gold mine that nobody’s playing in Pro Basketball betting. The Sixers will get a modest line at home that is worth backing no matter what.

ORLANDO MAGIC over Los Angeles Lakers
Oh, Dwight Howard. Don’t you want to go to Los Angeles, where all the players play? Well they certainly need you when playing on the road. Los Angeles suffers from being a massive public bet, and it’s shows in their numbers. The Lakers are just 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games while going 7-3 SU. They’re also 1-4 ATS when playing on the road this season.

To be honest, I’m not sure what to make of the Orlando Magic. They’re 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games and have been winning games pretty convincingly using their big man redux of Anderson, Howard and Turkoglu (Anderson used to be Rashard Lewis in this formula).

I’m almost positive with what the Lakers are this season: a good team that squashes average teams and can’t close out very good teams. Orlando is a very good team, and the Lakers are still adjusting to the combo of Kobe, Gasol and Bynum. Until Gasol plays like the monster he used to be in the paint, I’m not sold on the Lakers in big time matchups.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS over Minnesota Timberwolves
If Ricky Rubio wants to be counted amongst the point guard elite, there’s no better matchup than against Chris Paul, who should play Friday after straining his hamstring earlier in the week. If he does play, this is going to be a fast tempo game which is worth exploring the OVER because Ricky loves to run and so does Paul.

That being said, I’m going to make this easy on everyone. If Chris Paul plays, the Clippers are a no-brainer. Don’t buy in to the Timberwolves’ 4-1 ATS record on the road because that has been built on three losses to Milwaukee, Toronto and Atlanta along with a pair of wins against Washington and New Orleans. Whoop-de-doo.

If Paul doesn’t play, well, we all saw the 79-108 shellacking Utah handed Lob City on Tuesday night. That game reminded everyone that these Clippers are still the same losers without a star point guard. If Paul plays, go with the home team which will be heavily favored and willing to put memories of that Utah loss to rest. If Paul is still injured on Friday go the other way. That’s when you can bank on Minnesota’s 4-1 ATS road record because the Clippers are so terrible without Paul. It’s really that simple in this one.

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Pro Basketball Friday Picks and Game Previews

Road Teams Dominating Friday Night Betting in NBA

The betting world is focused intently on the football matchups this weekend, but there’s money to be made the night before the big games kick off on Saturday. Pro Basketball betting has been pretty par this season for one major reason: this killer 66-game schedule is the great equalizer. Let’s earmark some games to watch.

Indiana Pacers over TORONTO RAPTORS

Basketball keeners knew the Pacers were going to be good, and a 96-84 beatdown of the schizophrenic Atlanta Hawks helped march that argument forward. The harsh schedule favors teams with deep benches, and the Pacers have got length, speed, shooting and consistency in bunches.

On the other side of the court, nobody in their right mind thought the Toronto Raptors were going to be good this season and their recent skidmark of losses has removed any positivity in Raptor land. Are you really going to bet on a team that just lost to Sacramento and previously-winless Washington?

Strangely, the Raptors used to be a great Friday night bet but are recently 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 games that kick off the weekend. The favorite has been the team to rely on when these two butt heads, going 10-2 ATS in their last 12 meetings. The line on Indiana will be generous so hop on board heavily.

Chicago Bulls over BOSTON CELTICS

Boston started the season badly, went on a four-game winning streak and are now caught in a bad slide after losing to Indiana and Dallas. Things are about to get worse with Derrick Rose coming to town. The problem with the Celtics is unfortunately something you can’t fix: they’re old.

In previous years, Boston had a way of rising up to challenge young teams as the gatekeepers to contendership in the Eastern Conference. Now they’re just trying to prove they belong in the conversation, which is a sad way to see Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen spend their remaining years.

The Bulls are undefeated against the spread in their last 4 games, and are 5-0 ATS when playing a team with a losing record. Boston is 3-7 ATS when playing a team that is above .600% in the win column, and are also 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games on Fridays. I know, I have this weird thing about Friday games. It’s the crowd factor.
                                                                                                
Chicago has a lot to bank on. One of the best point men, one of the deepest starting six and they’re also top-10 in points, rebounds, assists and defense. Chicago has two weird losses to Atlanta and Golden State when travelling, but they know that this is a big statement game because it will send ripples through the East. Make a splash with the expected road favorites.

Portland Trail Blazers over SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Generally speaking, you have to worry about the Blazers when they’re playing on the road. After opening a stinker against Orlando, they managed to make the Wednesday game close losing 107-104 where they were favored by -3.0. Don’t worry too much tough, they had a sluggish 12-point deficit heading in to the half in that game.

In fact, the Spurs are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games when opponents score at least 100-points in their last game. And if that doesn’t scare you, they’re also 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a loss and are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games versus the NBA Northwest.

As I’ve harped on, this shortened schedule is killing the older teams and while the Spurs can rely on Duncan and Parker to a certain extent, they don’t have the deepest roster and their young guns, like DuJuan Blair, aren’t ready to take over games yet. The fact is that San Antonio is built around their version of the Big 3, and there’s not much else to the team.

The Blazers are really a hot bet right now in BetUS Pro Basketball Betting.Another generous road team line will be yours to profit off of with Batum and the Blazers visiting a known franchise like the Spurs, which will reduce the line since the public will be all “The Spurs! Hells yeah!” Stay smart. Bet Blazers.

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NBA Weekend Betting Preview – January 6, 2012

The NBA betting weekend is hitting us hard and fast so here are a few free picks to get your juices flowing. While most people are waiting for the BCS National Title game or the NFL Wild Card weekend to kick-off, there’s money to be made on the NBA and these are some of the big ticket games you should ear mark early on.

ORLANDO MAGIC over Chicago Bulls — Friday, January 6th
Derrick Rose should’ve probably had his ego blown out like his ankles were when he faced Chris Paul, but the reigning MVP has bounced back in a big way to keep the Bulls relevant. Chicago is a comfy 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games but have been notorious stinkers against he NBA Southeast, where they’re a horrific 0-5 ATS in their last five games.

That bodes quite well for Orlando despite their tendency to play pretty poorly against the spread on Friday nights (1-6 ATS). Dwight Howard is doing a great job of deferring hyperbole surrounding his impending trade (to the Lakers) and he has flourished alongside the revived corpse of Hedo Turkoglu and the surging Ryan Anderson. The three of them are combining for a stunning 52.8 points per game.

If you’re going to take Orlando it’s because they’re 5-2 SU and 6-1 ATS this season which is a great reason, but I hate big teams on a short rest. The Magic need the most out of their frontcourt and don’t have the depth on the bench with a guy like Brandon Bass gone. The Magic are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games with one days rest.

If Rip Hamilton was healthy, I’d have no problem backing the Bulls, but the triumvirate built around Howard in the paint is too much for Chicago to deal with. I’m not wholly convinced Chicago has the size to be truly competitive. The public will feverishly back Chicago this Friday. Be smart and go the other way with the Magic.

Friday’s NBA Free Pick – Orlando over Chicago SU

L.A. CLIPPERS over Milwaukee Bucks — Saturday, January 7th
The Bucks are actually one of my favorite cover teams in the NBA because everyone sleeps on them, but this shortened season has caused the NBA betting scene to go completely haywire. Case in point: the Bucks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.

The Clippers are a very sexy bet despite some brief struggles at the onset of the season. How can you resist Blake Griffin and Chris Paul? You can’t! Speaking of Paul, it’s obvious that he’s on a vengeful rampage this season to remind everyone just how damned good he is. Playing in a black hole like New Orleans made the majority of the public forget, as did Rose winning the MVP. Did you see what he did to Derrick Rose? Well imagine what he’s going to do to Greg Jennings.

Lob City just launched nuclear warfare on the Houston Rockets and are finding the kind of chemistry that leads to currency. If you’re not part of the Lob City population, you should be and this will be a perfect game to hop on board a team that is 2-1 ATS in their three home games this season.

Friday’s NBA Free Pick – LA Clippers over Milwaukee SU

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER over San Antonio Spurs
You have to know when to bet the Spurs, like if they’ve gone on a long road trip and you know Popovich is going to bench his best guys to give them rest. They’re a very fun team to watch as all their starters are averaging double-digits too, but Manu’s hurt and I’m out on this team as long as he is.

The oddsmakers are underestimating San Antonio for the most part because they’ve crumbled in the face of pressure for the past few years, and they’re older than most people would like. Going in to their Thursday matchup, they’re actually 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games but they’re also abysmal against the NBA Southeast division where they’re 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 games.

Everyone seems to love harping on the supposed Westbrook-Durant feud that doesn’t actually exist. If being an incredible basketball player fused with a hyper competitive spirit is wrong, then I don’t want to be right. Westbrook is both young and electric, and sometimes that boils over but he and Durant have a great thing in Oklahoma City and they both know it. Neither one of them is going to sink a ship that could be headed for a league title.

Oklahoma City is a troubling bet because everyone is watching them with eagle eyes, including the bookmakers and sharps, making them an inflation target in NBA betting terms. That doesn’t mean you should shy away from them this weekend when they battle Tim Duncan. They need to shock some people back in to believing in them, and a much needed blowout over a franchise like San Antonio is the cow bell that the doctor ordered.

Friday’s NBA Free Pick – Oklahoma City over San Antonio SU

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Pro Basketball Tip-off Brings More Magic To Christmas Day

Hoops is back and sports bettors are happy once again!  The 2011-2012 Pro Basketball Betting Season kicks off with six games scheduled on Sunday, Dec. 25.  Although it’s tempting to wager on all six games, the truth is Santa Stern, the NBA’s Commissioner, is handing out only three gifts to basketball handicappers on Christmas Day.

It just so happens that all three of the gifts occur in the three biggest games of the day: the Boston Celtics vs. the New York Knicks, the Miami Heat vs. the Dallas Mavericks and the Chicago Bulls vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.  Keep reading to find out what Santa Stern has left for sports bettors under the NBA tree!

Boston Celtics at New York Knicks

When:  Dec. 25 at 12:00 pm EST

Betting Line:  New York -1

Analysis:  Boston didn’t change all that much during the strange postseason.  The Celtics are still led by Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.  Boston historically has played well in New York, going 16 and 6 ATS in the last 22 meetings, but there’s a buzz in the Big Apple this season.  The Knicks appear loaded after adding guard Mike Bibby and center Tyson Chandler to a team with Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire.  That gives coach Mike D’Antoni four scoring options on offense and two terrific defenders, Chandler and Stoudemire, in the paint.  Chandler averaged close to 10 boards per game last year with the Mavericks.  Bibby has three targets to pass the ball to, Chandler, Stoudemire and the awesome ‘Melo Anthony.  Plus, Bibby can score if need be meaning that D’Antoni’s up and down philosophy should be on display in droves on Dec. 25.  I have to believe that Boston gets pummeled on Sunday.  As good as the Celtics are defensively, they won’t be able to keep up with the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.  I like NYK to cover by a mile.   

Pick:  New York Knicks To Cover

Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks

When:  Dec. 25, 2:30 pm EST

Betting Line:  Miami -3

Analysis:  This line is a bit strange to me.  Why the Heat is 3 point favorites on the road against the Mavericks is beyond me.  Miami hasn’t changed all that much from last season.  Yes, Shane Battier will help, but they still lack an inside game and now that LeBron is taking a back seat, the pressure will be on Dwayne Wade again.  That didn’t work out so well before LeBron showed up.  So…how exactly is it going to work out this season?  In any case, the Dallas Mavericks added one of the best defensive players in the NBA to their roster, Lamar Odom.  Shawn Marion isn’t a bad defender either meaning that the Mavericks can guard LeBron and D-Wade one-on-one, Marion on Wade and Odom on LeBron, in this contest.  One other thing to keep in mind is this:  the problem for Miami in last season’s NBA Championship Series was that they couldn’t guard Dirk Nowitzki not that LeBron couldn’t get it going.  Dirk takes the Heat to school again on Christmas Day and the Cowpokes roll to a straight-up victory. 

Pick:  Dallas Mavericks To Cover

Chicago Bulls at L.A. Lakers

When:  Dec. 25 at 5:00 pm EST

Betting Line:  L.A. Lakers -2

Analysis:  The Lakers made a move for Chris Paul and that didn’t work out.  Then, they made a move for Dwight Howard and that didn’t work out.  So, what did the Lakers do?  They traded Lamar Odom to a Western Conference rival, the Dallas Mavericks, for what amounts to free lifetime passes to the L.A. Zoo.  Hey, maybe, Kobe could use them as alimony in his divorce settlement.  Okay, that wasn’t too kind.  In any case, I have no faith that the Lakers are going to touch the Mavericks, or the Clippers for that matter, this season.  Without Odom the Lakshow D will suffer and outside of Kobe and a lackadaisical, Pau “I’m Worried About the Euro-Zone Debt Crisis” Gasol, what does L.A. really have to offer in terms of scoring magic?  Nada.  In this game, expect Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and this season’s NBA MVP (yes, I’m making my prediction now!), Derrick Rose, to make a huge Christmas Day statement.

I’m backing Da Bulls on the moneyline to put a whuppin’ on the Lakers on Sunday in Pro Basketball betting.

Pick:  Chicago Bulls

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Los Angeles Lakers…see ya!

Boston Celtics…hit the road Big Three!

That’s right…with the Celtics and Lakers now both dispatched from the postseason, the league will be crowning a new champion coming on the heels of what has been one of the most surprising postseasons in recent memory.

However, just because the ‘big name’ C’s and Lakers are gone, doesn’t mean that BetOnline basketball sportsbook gamblers should be in mourning. No, just the opposite is true.

Hardwood gamblers everywhere should be celebrating because basketball betting is heating up quicker than the coming summer temperatures as the NBA playoffs inch toward their respective conference finals.

The Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat, the two teams that dispatched the Lakers and Celtics respectively, will both be offering value-packed odds in their quests to reach the NBA Finals and stage a repeat of their 2006 Finals matchup.

Led by superstar forward Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks’ jaw-dropping accuracy from three-point distance, Dallas was extremely impressive in sweeping the Lakers and will make their conference finals debut riding an absolutely incendiary 13-0-1 ATS mark over their L/14 games.

The Miami Heat and their dynamic duo of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James were favored to win the NBA Championship this season and will continue offering great NBA Futures Odds after pulling off their huge win over the aging Celtics.

Of course, roundball bettors still have one semifinal series showdown currently taking place in each conference with the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks set for a Game 6 meeting in Atlanta on Thursday night and the Memphis Grizzlies hosting Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

League MVP Derrick Rose and the Bulls are 5-5 ATS this postseason while Jo Johnson and the Hawks are just 1-3 ATS over their last four games.

Kevin Durant and the Thunder have covered the basketball sportsboook spread in three of the last four games in their series against Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies.

Should both series’ go to a Game 7 meeting, they will both be held on Sunday with Oklahoma City hosting Memphis at 3:30 PM ET and Chicago hosting Atlanta at 8:00 PM ET.

Oh yeah, with six teams still remaining in the postseason at the time of this writing and the Conference Finals quickly approaching, BetOnline NBA betting enthusiasts still have a plethora of potential ways to strike pay dirt in the Basketball Sportsbook – even if the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers’ familiar faces aren’t around anymore.

Dirk Nowitzki showed why he’s the big man in Dallas by making the tie-breaking layup with 3.6 seconds left, and the Mavericks roared back from 15 points down with 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter to beat the Heat 95-93 on Thursday night and tie the NBA finals at one game apiece.

Capping a furious rally by scoring Dallas’ final nine points, Nowitzki’s final two baskets were left-handed—despite a torn tendon on his non-shooting hand.

Dwyane Wade had 36 points for Miami, but his desperation 3-pointer was off at the buzzer.

Teams travel to Dallas for games 3, 4 and 5 and if the stars align for Dallas they can win the NBA Championship on home court.

The updated NBA Championship odds are:

Dallas +105
Miami -135

The Mavs have gone from heavy underdogs at the beginning of the week to slight underdogs. If they win game 3 they will clear favorites to win the championship.

Series at a Glance
Dallas vs. Miami: Series tied 1-1

Game 1: at MIA DAL 84, MIA 92 – Final
Game 2: at MIA DAL 95, MIA 93 – Final
Game 3: at DAL Sun, Jun 05 – 8:00 pm EDT TV: ABC, TSN
Game 4: at DAL Tue, Jun 07 – 9:00 pm EDT TV: ABC, TSN
Game 5: at DAL Thu, Jun 09 – 9:00 pm EDT TV: ABC, TSN
*Game 6: at MIA Sun, Jun 12 – 8:00 pm EDT TV: ABC, TSN
*Game 7: at MIA Tue, Jun 14 – 9:00 pm EDT TV: ABC, TSN
* – If necessary

If the Thunder want to reach the Western Conference finals since their relocation from Seattle, they need to beat the Memphis Grizzlies tonight at Oklahoma City Arena at 9:30 PM ET.

NBA Betting Odds:
Memphis Grizzlies +6.5
Oklahoma City Thunder -6.5
O/U 197

Neither Oklahoma City nor Memphis have been able to win two games in a row in this series and both have dropped huge leads which lead to lost games.

The Thunder trailed by 18 in the first half of game 4 but then they rallied to take a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter.  OKC went on to beat Memphis 133-123 in a marathon triple overtime to tie the series 2-2.

OKC has to be worried why Russell Westbrook is taking more shots that star player Kevin Durant.  This team needs to put the ball in Durant’s hands and let him pick apart the Memphis D.

The last time this franchise went to the Western Conference finals was back in 1996 when they were the Seattle Super Sonics, beating the then two times champions Houston Rockets and losing against Michael Jordan’s Bulls in the finals.  A win tonight will be a step back to the franchise glory days in Seattle.

For Memphis the key will be controlling the pace of the game, especially considering they have put a 100+ points on every single match they have played against OKC.  This means to clock management and playing timely defense will be needed to get the W.

Consider these NBA betting trends:

MEMPHIS is:

30-13 ATS as an underdog

16-5 ATS against Northwest division opponents

7-3 ATS in all playoff games

31-12 ATS revenging a loss vs opponent

10-2 ATS off a upset loss as a favorite

9-2 ATS after a loss by 10 points or more

OKLAHOMA CITY is:

9-1 Over after a combined score of 225+ points

17-20 ATS after allowing 105 points or more

25-30 ATS versus good offensive teams – scoring 99+ points/game

Simmons’ NBA betting pick: take the Thunder to win the game but the Grizzlies will cover.