Category Archives: NBA

NBA Western Conference odds: Warriors leading rockets

Everyone presumed that the Golden State Warriors would win the Western Conference for a fourth straight season come April and then beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth consecutive NBA Finals matchup between the teams. The Warriors took two of the first three, including last summer’s series.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Oddsmakers haven’t changed their mind on the Warriors, who again have four All-Stars this season in Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green – the Dubs became the first team in NBA history to have four All-Stars in consecutive years.

Golden State is the -300 favorite in the conference. And why not? The team is loaded and coming out of the All-Star break leading the NBA in scoring, field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage, free throw percentage, assists per game and blocks per game.

Rockets pass the Cavaliers on NBA Championship odds board

The Houston Rockets (42-13) headed into Tuesday’s NBA action just one game behind the defending champion Golden State Warriors (44-13). The Rockets are also one of just two teams in the league to beat the Warriors twice this season. So it makes perfect sense then that Houston is the +400 second choice to win their third NBA championship this year behind heavily favored Golden State.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The Warriors are listed at -180 to win their third NBA title in four seasons, and they seem to be on a collision course to meet the Rockets in the Western Conference Finals for the second time in four years.

Both teams have made significant changes since they met in the 2015 Western Conference Finals, with Golden State adding Kevin Durant prior to last season’s championship run and Houston picking up Chris Paul this past offseason. The Rockets also hired a new head coach last year in Mike D’Antoni who has helped transform James Harden into a top MVP contender.

NBA, MLB insist on 1% cut of sports betting handle

The National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball continue to press their demand for a 1% cut of legal sports betting handle, despite nearly every other stakeholder deriding the plan as unworkable.

Monday brought committee hearings into West Virginia legislators’ plans to be ready in case the US Supreme Court strikes down the federal sports betting prohibition. Legislators are considering a bill that would allow the state’s five casino operators to offer sports betting under the oversight of the West Virginia Lottery Commission.

The legislation could come up for a floor vote on Friday, but the NBA and MLB are doing their best to derail the vote, based on the leagues’ belief that they deserve a 1% cut of all wagers placed on their respective sports. This ‘integrity fee’ has been widely slammed as an overly generous slice of what is an extremely low-margin business.

Speaking at Monday’s hearing on behalf of both the NBA and MLB, attorney Scott Ward claimed the leagues would use their slice of betting handle to monitor for betting activity for suspicious patterns and to enforce bans on their players making wagers. The leagues also want to require betting operators to use league-provided data for live betting.

Iowa sports betting bill draws NBA, MLB ire

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) aren’t happy with the latest sports betting measure in Iowa.

The Des Moines Register reported that the NBA and MLB opposed a bill seeking to legalize sports betting in Iowa in the event the Supreme Court declares the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) unconstitutional.

The major sports leagues aren’t actually opposing the bid of the state to legalize sports betting, per se. The problem lies with so-called “integrity fee” provision of the bill.

The NBA and the MLB both pointed out that the House Study Bill 592 fell short on safety nets that will protect the integrity of sports betting. Reading between lines, the Iowa Gaming Association said that the NBA and the MLB are demanding for major league sports fees.

New York senate explores legal sports betting possibilities

New York state senators heard from sports betting stakeholders on how the state should best pursue a legal sports betting market.

Wednesday saw the New York Senate Standing Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering hold an informational hearing into “the potential of sports betting in New York State.”

States like New York are frantically trying to prepare the ground in case the US Supreme Court chooses to overturn the federal sports betting prohibition, while other stakeholders are keen to ensure they have a seat at the table when legal sports betting commences.

NBA SAYS ‘F**K YOU, PAY US’

Limited contenders favor fourth straight Cavs-Warriors finals

No matter what other teams besides the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers do this season, they remain strong favorites to meet in the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive time this June and will continue to stay that way barring injuries.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The defending NBA champion Warriors have already seen top scorers Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry miss time this year, yet they are -300 chalk to advance from the Western Conference without much competition.

The Houston Rockets look to be their biggest threat as the +375 second choice in the West, but they have also dealt with injuries to their two best players in Chris Paul and James Harden. Behind the Rockets are another injury-plagued team in the San Antonio Spurs at +700, as head coach Gregg Popovich’s squad has been playing recently without Kawhi Leonard, Rudy Gay, Tony Parker and Danny Green.

Indiana bill would give sports leagues 1% of betting handle

A new sports betting bill in Indiana is proof that (a) politicians are clueless about gambling, and (b) sports leagues are evil.

Monday saw Indiana Rep. Alan Morrison make good on last week’s promise to introduce legislation to legalize sports betting – including online and mobile wagering – by the state’s licensed gaming operators, provided the US Supreme Court takes a knife to the federal prohibition on single-game wagering outside Nevada.

However, ESPN’s David Purdum reported that Morrison’s HB 1325 contains an “integrity fee” of 1% of total betting handle, in addition to the 9.25% tax on sportsbook revenue. (A companion bill in the state senate contains the same tax rate but makes no mention of the integrity fee.)

The 1% fee would go to ‘sports governing bodies,’ an apparent reference to the professional sports leagues on whose product the books would be taking action. The fee is supposedly intended to assist these bodies in combatting the alleged onslaught of match-fixing that anti-gambling killjoys claim will follow betting legalization.

Warriors-Cavaliers rematch highlights five-game NBA Christmas slate

How valuable is leading scorer Stephen Curry to the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors? Bettors will find out on Christmas Day when the Warriors host the Cleveland Cavaliers in an NBA Finals rematch. Golden State and Cleveland have met in each of the last three league championship series, with the former winning twice.

Warriors-Cavaliers will be the second game to tip off on Christmas, preceded by the Philadelphia 76ers visiting the New York Knicks in an Atlantic Division clash. Later in the day, the Boston Celtics will host the Washington Wizards, the Houston Rockets will visit the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers in a prime-time matchup to close out the action.

Curry (26.3 points per game) has been sidelined with an ankle injury since early December, but Golden State has not missed a beat in his absence, reeling off six straight wins heading into Friday’s nationally televised meeting with the Lakers.  The Warriors have won 10 of the past 13 regular-season games against the Cavs, who have covered five of the last eight after going 0-8 against the spread in the previous eight.

Surprisingly, the 76ers and Knicks will be squaring off for the first time this season. The teams split four meetings a year ago that were decided by a combined six points, with Philly going 4-0 ATS. The home team won all four, with the under cashing three times.

Rockets see odds continue to improve after 11-game winning streak

How good are the Houston Rockets, and are they a legitimate threat to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference? Those questions will be answered in the upcoming four months, but for now the Rockets have put together a season-best 11-game winning streak to move up to +700 odds to win the 2018 NBA championship.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Houston currently owns the best record in the league at 22-4, although the Boston Celtics have two more wins and sit at 24-6 to lead the Eastern Conference. The Rockets are the third choice to win the title behind the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, who have met in the NBA Finals each of the previous three years.

Golden State remains the overwhelming favorite to win back-to-back championships this season at -175 while Cleveland is much further behind as the +475 second choice. The Warriors have won two of the three head-to-head matchups with the Cavs for the title, but they may face one of their biggest challenges in the West this year. Golden State lost its season opener to Houston at home, and the teams do not square off again until January 4. The Rockets then host the Warriors again two weeks later.

Cavaliers favored to win NBA Eastern Conference despite early struggles

Even a 16-game winning streak for the Boston Celtics that ended on Wednesday has not changed the minds of oddsmakers, who still believe the Cleveland Cavaliers are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The Cavaliers have been playing well lately, currently riding a six-game winning streak and sitting as -125 favorites to advance to the NBA Finals out of the East for the fourth straight year.

Cleveland’s LeBron James has made it to the championship round of the playoffs each of the previous seven years, going 3-4 between playing for the Cavs and Miami Heat. The presence of James – who many believe to be the best player in the league since Michael Jordan and arguably the greatest of all-time – has made it hard to bet against his team until at least the NBA Finals.

Celtics NBA title odds suffer with likely loss of Hayward for season

The Boston Celtics appeared to be a legitimate threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers this season with the addition of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward in the offseason.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

However, Hayward was able to play about five minutes in Tuesday’s regular-season opener between the teams before suffering a dislocated ankle and fractured tibia that will likely keep him out the entire year.

Boston is now a smaller threat to win its 18th NBA championship at +1200 odds, up from +800 earlier.

Warriors set to enter season as clear NBA Championship favorites

The Golden State Warriors are set at a line of -160 to take home their third Larry O’Brien Trophy in four years, which makes them the clear betting favorite on the NBA championship odds with the start of the regular season fast approaching.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

However, the Warriors losing either Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant to injury would most likely put them behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are listed as the +450 second choice on those futures to earn their second title in three years behind LeBron James.

In what could again be the last year for James in Cleveland before he possibly bolts for another team like the much-rumored Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, the Cavaliers are an intriguing possibility considering they still have the best player in the league.

Celtics, Rockets, Thunder make moves to challenge on NBA futures

The defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors are -150 favorites to repeat in 2018 and take home their third title in four years.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

With that out of the way, who will challenge the Warriors next season besides the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are listed as the +400 second choice? Cleveland is hoping to return to the NBA Finals for a fourth straight championship matchup with Golden State.

The Cavaliers might not have much competition in the Eastern Conference, but the Boston Celtics are undoubtedly the team with the most potential to upset them. The Celtics signed prized free agent Gordon Hayward away from the Utah Jazz and Miami Heat on Tuesday, improving their odds to win their 18th NBA title next year.

2017 NBA Draft: Betting props roundup and analysis

College freshmen could be selected with each of the first 10 picks in the 2017 NBA Draft on Thursday – if not more. The Over/Under on freshmen being picked in the first round is listed at 16.5, and the early part of the draft will likely determine if there are more or less than that number when the Utah Jazz make the 30th and final selection.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Leading the way are Washington’s Markelle Fultz and UCLA’s Lonzo Ball, who are expected to go 1-2 to the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. The 76ers acquired the top overall selection from the Boston Celtics, who now own the third pick. After Fultz and Ball are chosen, it’s a toss-up regarding who will go next to the Celtics and Phoenix Suns, who have the fourth pick.

Boston could use some frontcourt help, so Duke’s Jayson Tatum makes a lot of sense. Tatum is listed at -140 to go UNDER 4 while former Kansas standout Josh Jackson is an even bigger favorite at -175 to go UNDER 3.5. Both are freshmen like Fultz and Ball, and so is Florida State’s Jonathan Isaac, who is -140 to be picked UNDER 6. Isaac could go to the Suns or Sacramento Kings with the fifth pick.

Warriors Open as favorites over Cavaliers on 2018 NBA title odds

Having met in the NBA Finals in each of the past three seasons it’s no wonder that the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers are well ahead of the pack on the opening odds to win the 2018 NBA championship. And it’s Golden State that is pegged as the favorite.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The Warriors are set as the -175 favorites on the early odds to win the 2018 NBA championship, after they dispatched the Cavaliers in just five games in the NBA Finals this spring. Golden State has now topped Cleveland twice in the NBA Finals, beating them for the championship both this past year and in 2015. The Cavaliers won the championship in 2016.

That 2016 victory for Cleveland was notable in that they came back from a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals to claim the title. The Warriors then proceeded to bulk up in the offseason, adding superstar Kevin Durant to the roster. Durant was named the 2017 NBA Finals MVP.

Cavaliers home underdogs for game 3 of NBA finals on Wednesday

The dominant play of the Golden State Warriors in the first two games of the 2017 NBA Finals has made them 3.5-point road favorites for Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night as the scene shifts to Quicken Loans Arena.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The Warriors beat the Cavaliers by an average of more than 20 points in Games 1 and 2 at home and now will be looking to take a commanding 3-0 series lead if they can win again on the road on Wednesday.

Golden State has been perfect so far this postseason, going 14-0 straight up and 10-4 against the spread. The two-time defending Western Conference champions have covered the spread in five straight games during their current run as the series shifts to Cleveland.

NBA betting odds: Underdog Cavs out to prove NBA 2017 finals win is no fluke

Remarkable sports stories that turn into legends often happen in trilogies.

The late Muhammad Ali possibly would never have been known as the World’s Greatest to a world of fans today if he turned down a final meeting with his ultimate rival Joe Frazier in the 70’s.

“Thrilla in Manila” – the third and final clash of the two heavyweight fighters – will soon go down in history as the greatest world title fight of all.

In basketball, who will ever forget the 80’s finals rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson which ended after their third meeting in a championship series?

Warriors tip off as favorites against Cavaliers in 2017 NBA finals

The 2017 NBA Finals tip off this Thursday with Game 1 in Oakland, a familiar site for the annual championship series as the favored Golden State Warriors have home-court advantage against the underdog Cleveland Cavaliers for the third consecutive year.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Last year, the Cavs rallied back from a 3-1 deficit to stun the Warriors and win their first-ever NBA title. This year, Cleveland is again listed as a dog to win the NBA Finals at +200 (bet $100 to win $200) while Golden State is -240 chalk (bet $240 to win $100).

The big difference this time around obviously is that the Cavs are the defending champs, with the Warriors countering their title by adding Kevin Durant last offseason. Golden State beat Cleveland in six games two years ago for the title, although the Cavs lost point guard Kyrie Irving at the end of Game 1 and did not get much from anyone but LeBron James the rest of the way.

Celtics favored at home over Wizards in pivotal game 5 on Wednesday

With the Golden State Warriors sweeping the Utah Jazz on Monday only one NBA playoff game is scheduled for Wednesday, and it is Game 5 between the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards in a series that could very well go the distance.

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

The home team has won and covered the spread in each of the first four games, with the Celtics losing the last two at Washington by a combined 46 points.

Boston won the first two games at home by double digits and heads into Game 5 as a 4.5-point favorite. The question is, will bettors finally see a close matchup, or will the blowout trend continue? To be fair, Game 2 was competitive until overtime, when the Celtics pulled away and ended up winning 129-119 behind 53 points from point guard Isaiah Thomas.

17 of the 30 NBA teams commit to NBA 2K eLeague project

The world of sport continues to evolve with the news that 17 of the 30 teams that make up the National Basketball Association in America have committed to join the NBA 2K eLeague in 2018.

I’m a little man.

I loved my football as a kid, but people told me I was too small to make it professionally. They were wrong. Sizeism isn’t prevalent within the hierarchy of football.

Diego Maradona, anyone?