With the 2019 NBA season getting underway, it’s time to brush up on your basketball betting knowledge. The National Basketball Association is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world with professional basketball teams in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The season starts earlier than you may think, as you have to consider the all-star break as the halfway point between the end of the previous season and the beginning of this one.
The NBA consists of a regular season (more on that below), which is followed by a series of playoff rounds. The regular season begins on October 17, 2019 and will end on April 16, 2020. So you have less than a month to get accustomed to the new year and the new basketball season. If you want to follow the action from the get-go, you can find some fantastic bookmakers that offer fantastic NBA betting markets, such as bet365.
The Regular Season: What Is It And Why Should You Care?
The regular season in the NBA is composed of a series of games each week, some home and some away, that determine who will represent the Eastern and Western Conferences in the Finals. The season is split into two phases: the “regular season” and the “playoffs”.
Let’s briefly look at how the regular season in the NBA is structured.
- There are currently 18 games on the schedule for the Eastern Conference and 18 games for the Western Conference. This number will fluctuate however, as more games are added and removed to make it as close to 22 as possible. The league’s official website lists the current schedule as of March 3, 2020.
- Each team will play four games (every other week) against each conference opponent (Eastern Conference teams will play Eastern Conference opponents, while Western Conference teams will play Western Conference opponents).
- There are no divisional games in the NBA. Instead, every team will play every other team in their conference twice, giving the season a “round robin” structure.
- The schedule is full of exciting games. You will find home games followed by away games, with multiple games every week. Unfortunately, this also makes the season more stressful as you may have to make frequent travel plans. It’s not always easy to find a babysitter for your kids in case you have to fly off for a game. Fortunately, most teams have regular-season games on Saturday or Sunday, so you may find some free time after your day of worship.
Even though the NBA is a single-season league, with no playoffs in between the regular season and the Finals, teams can achieve some remarkable accomplishments. The 2019-20 season is poised to be especially exciting as the current top three in the Eastern Conference are considered to be among the most exciting rivalries in all of sports. We will have a chance to see what these three teams can produce throughout the season and which ones will come out on top. For instance, can the Cleveland Cavaliers repeat as champions after their four-year reign? Or will the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors continue their domination of the NBA? You may want to get your pencils ready to take down some wagers on this year’s thrilling NBA season opener.
Why Are The Playoffs Important?
The playoffs in the NBA are important because they determine who will represent the Eastern and Western Conferences in the Finals. The conference semifinals are typically played outside of the league, with the first-place team in each conference advancing to the Finals. The conference finals are then played within the league, with the teams that reach this stage playing for a chance to become champions. This is the tournament format that the NBA has adopted, offering the fans a more immersive experience, with games decided in a higher percentage of shots.
It’s not just about who will win, as this is determined by the regular season. In fact, the regular season serves as a “tune-up” for the playoffs as the top teams get a head start on their opponents. This is beneficial for the teams that reach this stage, as they will have to rely on their own skill more than usual to advance to the next round. It also means that the regular season is critical in helping determine the champion, as the Finals will be staged a couple months later.
Along with the playoffs, another major event that you need to keep an eye on is the “All-Star Game”. This midseason exhibition game is held in between rounds of the NBA playoffs and is the culmination of a spectacular event, with the winning team (i.e., the one with the most points at the end of the game) awarded a trophy for the best midseason performance. This is usually the last game of the regular season and is another excellent opportunity for you to place some bets, as fans from around the world tune in to catch some of the greatest players in basketball.
Which Is The Best Betting Spot In the NBA?
The best place to bet on basketball is “over/under” (also known as “O/U”) bets. These are available on almost every game, with bookmakers offering great odds and the chance to win big. For instance, the Los Angeles Lakers are currently favored to beat the New York Knicks this year, with oddsmakers giving them a 2.5 point advantage. This means you will get 2.5 points for every dollar you bet on the Lakers to win the game. If you bet $100 on the Knicks, you will win $175, as the spread is usually much smaller than the percentage of total points scored by the two teams involved.
Basketball is one of the more popular sports around the world and it’s been around for more than a century. The 2019-20 season will see professional basketball teams in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with fans in those countries having to wait until the end of April to see which team will emerge as the champion. While it may be difficult to keep track of all the rules and regulations regarding NBA betting, at least you can be sure that the action will be fast and furious.