The rise in global interest in the NBA has been matched by the fervor to bet on NBA games and other events related to the sport. Betsafe is well aware of this demand, and is upping the ante for sports betting Canada has to offer. Our basketball offerings are expansive enough to pique the interest of bettors with varying experience and familiarity levels, which makes it a great place to centralize your hoops wagering.
NBA Overview
Basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith, born in Almonte, Ontario. His creation took many forms in the early 1900s and eventually gave rise to the National Basketball Association (NBA), which played its first season in 1949.The league has expanded tremendously during its history, as the NBA now consists of 30 teams across the United States and Canada. Every team in the NBA plays 82 regular-season games, and the top eight teams in each conference qualify for the NBA Playoffs each year. The postseason lasts for four rounds, and the team that wins four best-of-seven series takes home the NBA Championship.
NBA Odds
There are many odds variants and markets in basketball betting. Some people prefer to make future bets regarding player or team performances. Others like to look at the game or series directly ahead, and make predictions about who will win and by how much. It’s also possible to wager on player production in a particular game, which makes the viewing experience that much more thrilling.In the case of future bets, pre-game betting, or live betting, the format and meaning of the plus and minus symbols in front of certain numbers are important to understand. A minus (-) means that the outcome indicated is expected to happen, while a plus (+) means that it would be a surprise if that result took place.
For example, if the Cleveland Cavaliers were -115 against the New York Knicks, that indicates it wouldn’t be a shock if they won the game. If the Cavaliers were +250 against the Denver Nuggets, that higher number indicates it would be pretty eye-opening if they came out on top.
Upcoming Events
NBA Draft
A new crop of talent comes into the league every year, which means that NBA betting doesn’t end with the Finals. Betsafe allows bettors to get into the heads of general managers and front offices as they determine which rookie will help set a team up for success.While it appears all but assured that the San Antonio Spurs will select Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft (-10000 odds), you can bet NBA teams will think long and hard about who should get taken after that. Fans will be able to bet on the draft position of certain highly touted prospects, but not necessarily on who will take them.
For example, Amen Thompson is the favourite to be selected fourth overall, at -154. This could mean that the Houston Rockets, who currently have the fourth pick, will take Thompson. It could also mean that another team could trade up to that pick to select him, but as long as he gets picked in that slot, the bet wins.
NBA Free Agency
NBA fans can make their voices heard with their wallets when it comes to player movement in free agency. This usually begins a week after the NBA Draft, as unrestricted free agents are free to re-sign with their incumbent franchises or join up with a new club. There’s usually a lot of speculation about how teams want to shape their rosters moving forward, which might give some clues as to the type of players they might target.Every summer brings its own stories for those who want to place an NBA bet on free agency, and this one will be no different. Former All Stars like Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, and Nikola Vucevic will be on the market for any team that wants to court them. Solid complementary players such as Jerami Grant, Brook Lopez, and Austin Reaves will also be available as components who might help teams get over the hump.
There is usually a lot of speculation on social media in the days leading up to free agency, so unless you have a strong sense of where a player will land, it usually makes sense to wait until the days leading up to July 1 to make a wager.
2023-2024 NBA Rookie Of The Year
After free agency, fans will start to turn their attention to the beginning of the new season in October, with a recollection of what went down in June’s NBA Draft. This combined focus will allow bettors to take a stab at predicting who will win Rookie Of The Year in the upcoming season, which is dependent on a few different factors.It helps having the counting statistics working in a player’s favour during the chase for individual honour. For example, Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic won Rookie Of The Year in 2022–2023 with averages of 20 points, nearly seven rebounds, and nearly four assists per game. Thinking about which rookies will have the opportunity to put up monster numbers can help someone forecast the success of a player in their first year.
It can also be useful to think about players who are drafted by teams that might make a leap in the following season. For example, Keegan Murray was selected fourth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft and started 78 games for the Sacramento Kings in a resurgent campaign for the franchise.
2024 NBA Champion
Fans can also start to ponder whether the 2023 NBA champion has what it takes to defend their title next season or whether a new team will hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy in June 2024. As we’ve learned from a tumultuous 2023 postseason, a lot can happen between now and then.At the time of writing, the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, and Milwaukee Bucks are the three favourites to win the NBA title in 2024. However, we know that draft picks, free agency moves, coaching decisions, and player health will all factor into who makes a run to the Finals next season.
Betting Tips
Be Aware Of The Three
Basketball has transformed into a different sport in the last 10–15 years, thanks to the increased frequency of three-point shot attempts. For context, teams in the 1992–1993 season averaged nine shots from long range per game, but during the 2022–2023 campaign, squads attempted an astonishing 34 shots from three-point range on average each game. Those figures indicate a shift in the way the game is played and also dictate a course correction with regards to betting lines.A nine-point spread between teams used to be considered relatively large, but teams can now erase such a deficit in mere minutes, making it difficult to properly place those types of wagers.
Overs Are a Good Idea
Teams averaged over 114 points per game in 2022–2023, the highest since 1969–1970, when the league was vastly different than it is today. Players are also shooting better today, as they averaged over 47% accuracy from the field during the past season. That’s the highest since the 1989–1990 season.Players are also getting it done at the free throw line, so there’s really no room for relief from a defensive perspective. As a whole, they shot over 78% from the charity stripe, which is the most proficient mark in NBA history.
With all this being said, it’s usually a good idea to consider the "over" for points in a given game when factoring in these recent trends.
Check Inactives
While players are performing more effectively on the offensive end, they’re also missing games at a higher clip. In the 2022–2023 campaign, 10 players played in all 82 games, but 20 years ago, 46 players suited up for every regular season contest.Teams have actively decided to build rest into the regular season schedule, which means fans and bettors cannot assume that a given player will be available for any particular game. As a result, it’s important to check reliable sources before the game to confirm who’s in and who’s out, so basketball betting can be done with a complete picture in mind.