What is the Best NBA Betting Strategy?

Discover the best NBA betting strategies for beginners. Learn essential tips on bankroll management, research, and understanding different betting systems to enhance your NBA wagering experience.

Alyx Tzamantanis.
A. Tzamantanis

Last Updated: 2024-10-30

James Pacheco

6 minutes read

If you love the NBA and want to start wagering on this incredible sport, you need the best NBA betting strategy.

Today, we’re going to look at some great NBA basketball betting strategies for beginners, so that you can have a great experience when you visit the best online sportsbooks in the future.

A great NBA betting site lets you wager on all the major basketball events and matches throughout the year. So if you want to bet on these tournaments successfully, sit back and relax as we let you into our NBA basketball betting system.

Let’s go! 

NBA Betting Strategies For Beginners

Entering the world of NBA betting can be both exciting and daunting for beginners. With the right NBA sports betting strategy, you can increase your chances of making profitable bets. 

Learn the basics before placing any bets, familiarise yourself with the basic aspects of NBA betting. Understand the different types of bets, such as point spreads, moneylines, and totals (over/under).

Each type of bet has its own set of rules and payout structures, so it's essential to know how they work.

Manage your bankroll

One of the most important aspects of successful betting is managing your money wisely. Set a budget for your betting activities and stick to it.

We advise to bet only a small percentage of your bankroll on any single bet, usually between 1-5%. This approach helps mitigate losses and allows you to continue betting over the long term.

Do your research

Knowledge is power in sports betting. Stay informed about team news, player injuries, and recent performance trends.

Follow expert analysis and keep an eye on stats that can influence game outcomes, such as team offensive and defensive ratings, pace of play, and head-to-head matchups.

Bet with your head, not your heart

Emotional betting can lead to poor decision making. Avoid betting on your favourite team unless you have strong, objective reasons to do so. Base your bets on logical analysis rather than personal bias or hunches.

Shop around for the best odds

Different sportsbooks may offer slightly different odds for the same bet. Take the time to compare odds across multiple platforms to ensure you get the best possible value. Even small differences in odds can significantly impact your overall profit.

How To Understand NBA Betting Systems

Understanding NBA betting systems is crucial for developing a structured approach to your betting activities. 

Flat betting system

This is one of the simplest and most straightforward systems. In flat betting, you wager the same amount on every bet, regardless of your confidence level or the odds.

This system helps manage your bankroll effectively and reduces the risk of significant losses.

Martingale system

The Martingale system involves doubling your bet after each loss, with the aim of recouping all previous losses and gaining a profit when you eventually win.

While this system can be effective in theory, it requires a substantial bankroll and can lead to significant losses if you encounter a long losing streak.

Kelly Criterion

This system involves calculating the optimal bet size based on your perceived edge over the sportsbook.

This approach aims to maximise your profits over the long term while minimising the risk of ruin. It's a more advanced system that requires accurate estimations of win probabilities.

Value betting

With value betting, you focus on identifying bets where the probability of a certain outcome is higher than implied by the odds offered by the sportsbook.

If you consistently find and bet on value bets, you can achieve long-term profitability. This requires thorough research and a deep understanding of the game and statistical analysis.

Fading the public

Also known as "contrarian betting," this system involves betting against the majority opinion. The idea is that public bettors often overvalue popular teams or overreact to recent events, leading to inflated lines. By betting against the public, you can take advantage of better odds.

Arbitrage betting

This system takes advantage of discrepancies in odds offered by different sportsbooks to guarantee a profit, regardless of the outcome.

By placing bets on all possible outcomes with different bookmakers, you can lock in a risk-free profit. However, arbitrage opportunities are rare and require quick action and significant capital.

Types of NBA Bets – What Can You Bet On?

NBA betting offers a wide variety of betting options, allowing bettors to choose the types of bets that best suit their strategies and preferences.

Let’s look at some of the most common types of NBA bets:

  1. Moneyline bets: The simplest form of betting, where you wager on which team will win the game outright.

  2. Point spread bets: In point spread betting, the sportsbook sets a margin of victory that the favoured team must cover for a bet on them to win. Conversely, the underdog must lose by less than the spread or win outright

  3. Totals (over/under) bets: This involves betting on whether the total combined score of both teams will be over or under a set number determined by the sportsbook

  4. Parlay bets: A parlay combines multiple bets into one, with the potential for higher payouts. All individual bets (legs) must win for the parlay to be successful

  5. Teaser bets: Similar to parlays, but with the ability to adjust the point spreads in your favour for multiple games

  6. Prop bets: Proposition bets, or props, are wagers on specific events within a game, such as a player scoring a certain number of points or which team will score first

  7. Futures bets: Futures involve betting on events that will be determined in the future, such as which team will win the NBA Championship or who will be named MVP

  8. Live betting: This allows you to place bets while the game is in progress. Odds change dynamically based on the action happening in real time, providing opportunities to capitalise on shifting game conditions

Best NBA Betting Strategies

By now, our NBA betting guide should have given you the confidence to get started on your bets. With that in mind, here are some betting strategies to help you on your way. 

Focus on specific teams or divisions

Specialising in a few teams or a specific division can give you a deeper understanding of those teams’ playing styles, strengths, and weaknesses. This specialisation can provide an edge over less knowledgeable bettors.

Consider scheduling and travel

The NBA schedule can be gruelling, with teams sometimes playing multiple games in different cities over a short period. Fatigue can significantly impact performance. Be aware of back-to-back games and long road trips when making your bets.

Monitor injuries and rest

Player injuries and rest days can have a major impact on a game’s outcome. Stay updated on injury reports and consider the absence of key players when placing your bets.

Bet early

Placing bets early can sometimes provide better value before the betting public moves the lines. Early betting requires confidence in your research and the ability to anticipate line movements.

Follow line movements

Sharp bettors often move lines when they place large wagers. Tracking line movements can give you insights into where the smart money is going. Sudden shifts can indicate important information that you might have missed.

Use multiple sportsbooks

Having accounts with multiple sportsbooks allows you to shop for the best lines and odds. This can maximise your potential returns and help you take advantage of discrepancies between bookmakers.

Stay informed

Follow NBA news, watch games, and keep up with expert analysis. The more information you have, the better your chances of making informed betting decisions.

For more information about betting strategies, make sure you always visit us here at SportsBoom. We keep you up to date with our news, reviews and guides.