Smarter basketball bets image of a man holding an old basketball

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Want to start making smarter basketball bets? We hear you. We all love the thrill of basketball better but turning that excitement into more consistent wins requires strategy.

Now, having said that, there are no guarantees in the world of betting. But these tips can help make your basketball bets consistently smarter and give you the best chance of getting a good return.

Understand the basics

Firstly, grasp the basics. Moneylines, Point Spreads and Totals are all bet types you know about. And you should also know the basics about basketball too. For instances, getting to grips with basketball’s history as well as terms like field goal percentage and turnovers will help form the foundation of your knowledge.

Analyze teams and players

Secondly, evaluate performances of some of the biggest teams like the Lakers. Are they on a winning streak? Or have them been losing a lot recently? Then you should assess individual players. Maybe a star player is injured or a rookie is showing promise? These factors all influence game outcomes.

Study recent match history

Also consider recent head-to-heads between the teams in question. Sometimes lower-ranked teams consistently outperform specific higher-ranked opponents. If you find patterns like that, you can get invaluable insights for your next bet.

Factor in home advantage

Home advantage is real. Typically, teams perform better on their home turf. So when in doubt, it can pay to lean towards the home team.

Check the schedule

Next up, take a look at the team’s schedule. Have they played a good few games in quick succession? Then fatigue might come into play. Conversely, a well-rested team might have sharper edge.

Monitor player trades and transfers

Who’s actually going to be on the court? Has the team make up changed since they last faced off against this opponent? If your team has lost a key player or gained a new star, their chances have been shaken up.

Don’t bet on every game

All this sounds like a lot of work, right? Well it will be. So for that reason, don’t attempt to do this for every single game. Make smarter basketball bets by simply betting on fewer games but thoroughly researching the games you do wager on.

Manage that bankroll wisely

The smartest thing you can do for your gambling is set a budget and stick to it. It’s tempting to chase losses with bigger bets, but discipline pays off. Trust us.

Stay up-to-date

Make all this research a hell of a lot easier by staying up to date with basketball news. An unexpected event like a coaching change can impact game outcomes. Therefore, staying in the loop gives you an edge for those smarter basketball bets.

Explore advanced statistics

Once you’ve mastered the basics, delve into advanced stats. Metrics like player efficiency rating or true shooting percentages can offer deeper insights. And that means you can further refine your betting choices.

Join betting forums

It can be great to join betting forums and get to know your fellow basketball fans. Not only is it fun, they can share tips and insights you might not have thought of. Having said that, they also might be spouting a lot of hot air. So it pays off to take forum advice with a pinch of salt!

Take advantage of promotions

All good online sportsbooks have a bunch of sports promotions on at any given time. And in the run up to big basketball events, you can bet they’ll have some particularly good ones. And if you’re looking for a brand new sportsbook, you can use this bet365 bonus code to get an amazing sign up offer too!