Betting On The NBA Playoffs

Content curated from and authored by Clear Data Sports

After 82 games that seem to stretch over the course of nine months, the gambling calendar turns over to the six months of NBA Playoffs. (Stated time periods are just an estimate.)

This is, of course, when the true superstars are crowned. It was in the playoffs, and the NBA Finals specifically, where the legend of Michael Jordan was born and lives on to this day. It’s where the Golden State Warriors established themselves as a dynasty. It’s where LeBron James has played 239 games, or almost three additional seasons of professional basketball, cementing his legend as one of the great ironmen of the NBA.

It’s also where you’ll find the very best in NBA wagering.

Game Bets

As you place your individual game bets, it’s important to keep in mind that in the early stages of the playoffs, point spreads and moneylines are influenced a great deal by regular-season play. But considering that some teams and players treat the regular season as a tune-up, and not everyone might have played in the regular season head-to-heads, value can be found.

It’s also important to remember that while favorites do tend to prevail in most playoff series, upsets in individual games do happen in almost every series. If you can dial in on when that is most likely to happen, you’ll have the advantage.

Series Bets

Betting on the winner of an early-round playoff series or the NBA Finals is also a very popular way to wager. And the most common of these bets is to just put money down on the winner of the series. But if you want to mix it up and increase your payouts, there are other options available.

You can bet on the exact score of the series, like 4-2 as an example. Calling the winner and putting money down on them to win in six games offers better odds, bigger payoffs, and more interesting cheering. The team you pick to ultimately win must also lose the number of games you say they will.

You can also bet on the over/under on total games in the series. The first round often produces short series, while the average NBA Finals goes six games. Figuring out where the sweeps will be, and which series will go to a final and deciding game can lead to big money.

Prop Bets

You may have a hard time finding a lot of prop bets in the early rounds of the playoffs, but by the time the NBA Finals tip off, there will be a lot of options to bet. NBA Finals MVP? Will there be a buzzer-beater? Will someone be ejected? Over/under on total fouls?

All of that and more is available for betting.

Study the Specifics

No sport is influenced by an individual player like basketball. Know who is hurt, or hurting. The depth of each team. Which superstars elevate their game in the playoffs. Who hits their free throws. Which teams move the ball, and which players go one-on-one. Who is clutch, and who isn’t.

There is a lot to consider for each bet in the NBA Playoffs. But if you do your research, you’ll make the smart play.