How to Handicap a NBA Game

One of the most difficult sports to handicap is basketball. There are so many variables. If you want to handicap a NBA game, follow these steps in order to make the most of your efforts.

Instructions

1. Know the sport. You have to know all about the players involved the teams, the coaches, streaks and injuries. If you do not know the latest news and trends, you cannot be successful when you handicap a NBA game.

2. Watch the games. You cannot just look at box scores and expect to understand what went on in the game. By watching the games you can know which players or teams are better than their stats, which teams do or do not give up towards the end of games. Some teams or coaches are better match-ups with some teams than others. There is an endless amount of information that is available to derive your selections from.

3. Be prepared to be wrong. You may have nailed a game and the team you picked is beating the spread easily the entire game. Then over the last minute or so the other team scores a few easy baskets and you end up missing your pick. This is going to happen, so do not let it frustrate you.

4. Look at over/under totals as well. When you handicap a NBA game, you need to look at other options other than just the point spread. When some teams get together, they are going to score a lot of points; other teams score much less.

5. Stay away from proposition bets. Bets like scores by quarter, individual player scoring and first to score are far too erratic to makes picks on. When you handicap a NBA game, do not try to project what may happen with these types of propositions.

Tips & Warnings

• Study how other handicappers make their picks. Figure out what stats or trends they rely on. If they prove to be accurate, incorporate those ideas into your handicapping process.