NBA Betting Update: Bucking the trend
NBA Betting Update: Bucking the trend
Not having Michael Redd around has hurt the Milwaukee Bucks no doubt, but it's actually helped bettors with even more value on their wagers. Milwaukee sits atop the ATS standings with an impreesive 11-4-1 record so far as Redd has managed to play in just four of the 16 games to date. On the opposite end of the profit spectrum are the Los Angeles Clippers who are killing their backers at 3-11 ATS.
How about those Milwaukee Bucks?
That’s something you don’t often hear in the world of mainstream basketball coverage, so you know we’re either talking about those mean three-tone retro jerseys or hoops betting.
The Bucks (7-9 SU) are easily the best bet in the NBA to start the season, with an excellent 11-4-1 record against the spread. Low public expectations usually mean high returns, and that’s exactly the case in Wisconsin.
Milwaukee has benefited from the loss of Mo Williams, who fits much better in Cleveland than he ever did with the Bucks. Luke Ridnour has been what the doctor ordered, as he has given Milwaukee a pass-first point guard that complements Michael Redd, Richard Jefferson, and the always-improving Andrew Bogut.
Thing is, Redd has only played in four games because of a badly sprained ankle, and so the Bucks have seen even more value than usual at the window in the first month. The situation could actually get better before it inevitably levels off (when the betting public figures this out), with Milwaukee playing at Atlanta and Detroit this week before returning home to host LeBron James and the Cavaliers on the weekend.
The Bucks finally seem to have the right parts in place after years of doing well in video games but almost nowhere else. They’re still not that great, but they’re a valuable wager because they’re flying under the radar in a market where the Packers reign supreme.
The opposite is true of the Lakers’ ugly sister at Staples Center. Everyone notices the Clippers (2-12 SU), and that’s why their bettors are in bigger need of a financial bailout at the moment than General Motors.
Mike Dunleavy’s Clips are a dismal 3-11 ATS this season, in large part because bettors thought the infusion of Baron Davis and Marcus Camby would bring home the bacon in Tinseltown. They thought wrong because the pair throws the L.A. defense for a loop.
Camby is a great defender, but the problem is he moves Chris Kaman to the power forward spot. Kaman can’t stop anybody in the Western Conference at that position (re: Stoudemire, Boozer, Gasol, Aldridge, Nowitzki, Duncan, you name it). Davis’ ineptitude on the defensive end is a given; he played Nellie ball in Golden State for too long. For Davis, there’s nothing a three-pointer can’t fix.
It won’t get much better for the Clippers unless they start getting so much from oddsmakers they can’t help but cover from time to time. They recently traded for Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins, which does nothing to address the current defensive issues, so gear up for more losing SU and ATS in the weeks ahead for Los Angeles.
Orlando at Philadelphia
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN
The Magic (10-4, 6-7-1 ATS) could find themselves without both members of their starting backcourt when they travel to face the 76ers (7-7, 6-8 ATS) on Wednesday.
Shooting guard Keith Bogans is out for four to six weeks with a broken left thumb, while floor general Jameer Nelson is day-to-day with a strained right groin. Even if Nelson gets the start, expect veteran backup Anthony Johnson to get the bulk of the minutes chasing Philadelphia point guard Andre Miller around the court.
Orlando defeated Philly 98-88 on November 6, as both Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu went for 20 points and eight rebounds for the Magic. Dwight Howard was held to 14 points and eight boards for Orlando, which cashed for bettors as 5-point home favorites on the betting odds.
Thaddeus Young led the way for the Sixers with 19 points, while Andre Iguodala put up 16 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. Philly outrebounded Orlando 54-46, no small feat considering Superman was under the glass and Elton Brand had a decidedly off night.
The under could be the play for sharp totals bettors eyeing this matchup. The 76ers head into the game at 4-9-1 O/U, with the under paying in 20 of Philadelphia’s last 27 home contests.
Not having Michael Redd around has hurt the Milwaukee Bucks no doubt, but it's actually helped bettors with even more value on their wagers. Milwaukee sits atop the ATS standings with an impreesive 11-4-1 record so far as Redd has managed to play in just four of the 16 games to date. On the opposite end of the profit spectrum are the Los Angeles Clippers who are killing their backers at 3-11 ATS.
How about those Milwaukee Bucks?
That’s something you don’t often hear in the world of mainstream basketball coverage, so you know we’re either talking about those mean three-tone retro jerseys or hoops betting.
The Bucks (7-9 SU) are easily the best bet in the NBA to start the season, with an excellent 11-4-1 record against the spread. Low public expectations usually mean high returns, and that’s exactly the case in Wisconsin.
Milwaukee has benefited from the loss of Mo Williams, who fits much better in Cleveland than he ever did with the Bucks. Luke Ridnour has been what the doctor ordered, as he has given Milwaukee a pass-first point guard that complements Michael Redd, Richard Jefferson, and the always-improving Andrew Bogut.
Thing is, Redd has only played in four games because of a badly sprained ankle, and so the Bucks have seen even more value than usual at the window in the first month. The situation could actually get better before it inevitably levels off (when the betting public figures this out), with Milwaukee playing at Atlanta and Detroit this week before returning home to host LeBron James and the Cavaliers on the weekend.
The Bucks finally seem to have the right parts in place after years of doing well in video games but almost nowhere else. They’re still not that great, but they’re a valuable wager because they’re flying under the radar in a market where the Packers reign supreme.
The opposite is true of the Lakers’ ugly sister at Staples Center. Everyone notices the Clippers (2-12 SU), and that’s why their bettors are in bigger need of a financial bailout at the moment than General Motors.
Mike Dunleavy’s Clips are a dismal 3-11 ATS this season, in large part because bettors thought the infusion of Baron Davis and Marcus Camby would bring home the bacon in Tinseltown. They thought wrong because the pair throws the L.A. defense for a loop.
Camby is a great defender, but the problem is he moves Chris Kaman to the power forward spot. Kaman can’t stop anybody in the Western Conference at that position (re: Stoudemire, Boozer, Gasol, Aldridge, Nowitzki, Duncan, you name it). Davis’ ineptitude on the defensive end is a given; he played Nellie ball in Golden State for too long. For Davis, there’s nothing a three-pointer can’t fix.
It won’t get much better for the Clippers unless they start getting so much from oddsmakers they can’t help but cover from time to time. They recently traded for Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins, which does nothing to address the current defensive issues, so gear up for more losing SU and ATS in the weeks ahead for Los Angeles.
Orlando at Philadelphia
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN
The Magic (10-4, 6-7-1 ATS) could find themselves without both members of their starting backcourt when they travel to face the 76ers (7-7, 6-8 ATS) on Wednesday.
Shooting guard Keith Bogans is out for four to six weeks with a broken left thumb, while floor general Jameer Nelson is day-to-day with a strained right groin. Even if Nelson gets the start, expect veteran backup Anthony Johnson to get the bulk of the minutes chasing Philadelphia point guard Andre Miller around the court.
Orlando defeated Philly 98-88 on November 6, as both Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu went for 20 points and eight rebounds for the Magic. Dwight Howard was held to 14 points and eight boards for Orlando, which cashed for bettors as 5-point home favorites on the betting odds.
Thaddeus Young led the way for the Sixers with 19 points, while Andre Iguodala put up 16 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. Philly outrebounded Orlando 54-46, no small feat considering Superman was under the glass and Elton Brand had a decidedly off night.
The under could be the play for sharp totals bettors eyeing this matchup. The 76ers head into the game at 4-9-1 O/U, with the under paying in 20 of Philadelphia’s last 27 home contests.