Betting on the Worst NBA Teams

When it comes to NBA betting there is an important factor to consider that the average sports fan often overlooks. That factor is the ATS record. Just because a team has a super straight up record does not mean they will have a good record against the spread. Conversely, just because a team has a poor record straight up does not necessarily mean they will struggle against the spread.

Let's look at some examples of exactly what I am talking about. The Miami Heat with Shaquille O'Neal and Dwayne Wade are definite threats to win any game on the schedule, but that does not mean they will cover the spread. The Heat are definitely a public team and that means the NBA betting line is almost always inflated in favor of the Heat. That presents bettors a real problem when looking to back Miami. The Heat very often will win games and not cover the spread. They might be 20-10 straight up but be 13-17 against the spread. This is not an uncommon occurrence. On the flip side of this equation is a team like Atlanta. The Hawks have been perennially poor straight up but that does not mean they are not worth a look against the spread. In fact, the Hawks have traditionally been a decent bet at home when they are almost always getting points. The team plays hard, the games are usually close, and Atlanta usually covers. Just because the straight up record is poor, does not mean a team can't be a good play for the sharp NBA bettor.

What about some other teams that fit into this equation when it comes to NBA betting? The Charlotte Bobcats are not a very good team straight up but are a decent proposition against the number. The Bobcats are young and inexperienced, but that usually means they play hard throughout the game. That can be very important late in a game where you are often getting double-digit points. You can also apply this on the reverse angle to a team like the Los Angeles Lakers. Whenever a team has a star player like Kobe Bryant they are almost always overvalued. The Lakers have been about a .500 team the past few years, but they still get the betting respect of the public because they are the Lakers. If you are looking to bet on Los Angeles you are almost always taking the worst of the number. Conversely, if you like to buck the trend and go against the popular teams like the Lakers, you almost always get a little extra line value.

When betting the NBA you want to remember to look past the straight up record of a team. Bad straight up teams can be good bets against the spread, while good straight up teams can be bad bets. Always keep this fact in mind when you are looking to make that next NBA wager.