It’s the most wonderful time of the year for NBA bettors as teams begin to hit the hardcourt for preseason games ahead of the new season.
With the regular season set to get underway on Oct. 21, bettors have a few weeks to learn key information about teams and their players throughout the preseason and fine-tune their betting strategies for when the games matter most throughout the winter and spring months.
Here are six NBA preseason betting tips for new basketball bettors to consider:
Sign up for accounts at new online sportsbooks
The first thing you have to decide is how and where you intend to place your basketball wagers! Online sportsbooks offer the most convenient ways to bet on games and thousands of NBA betting markets to users. They’ll also be offering new bettors lucrative sign-up offers and incentives ahead of the new NBA season, so make sure you take full advantage of those! Just remember to read all of the terms and conditions associated with any sign-up offers so that you can meet any requirements. There are dozens of sportsbooks available to Canadians to take full advantage of the NBA betting experience.
Set your bankroll and unit size for the season
It’s very important to establish what your budget is for the NBA season and what your unit size (typical bet size) will be. It’s even more important to stick to that budget, which should consist of only disposable income. Don’t be putting the rent money on the line for the Raptors spread in October! Start with a small budget and unit size until you get comfortable, and be sure to get as educated as possible with a beginner’s guide to sports betting from a trusted source.
Experiment with new bet types
Now is the perfect time to dabble in new wager types and markets ahead of the regular season. Venture out from the standard moneyline, spread, and total markets and place your first parlay, futures bet, or wager on player props. Have some fun mixing things up so you can create a plan for the season ahead. And remember to keep those bet sizes small while you experiment and learn the ropes.
Check rotations and player minutes
It’s essential to monitor the news cycle throughout the NBA preseason. Coaches sometimes reveal their plans for minute restrictions and usage of key players ahead of exhibition games, and those decisions can have a significant impact on betting lines. The preseason is also a great time for the players and coaches to experiment with new plays, rotations, and schemes, as winning the game isn’t the primary motivation during exhibition play. This philosophy often leads to the underdog in any given matchup having more value in a general sense. If you’re betting on player props, it’s even more important to have a sense of how many minutes a given player might play so you can handicap accordingly.
Watch for big line moves
Preseason games typically attract lower betting volumes than regular season games, leading to softer lines and point spreads. Oddsmakers may also not invest as much effort into setting lines for exhibition games, which creates opportunities for bettors to cash in on. It’s typical to see big line moves for preseason games, especially after coaches break news about star players sitting out or being limited in action.
Don’t put too much stock in last year’s stats
It’s a new year. Teams have made roster moves over the summer, and players need to adjust to new teammates and surroundings in some cases. Player rotations are almost always different in most cases from year to year, so last year’s stats won’t be very helpful in your handicapping process. Avoid heavy reliance on historical data and instead pay closer attention to new and developing storylines surrounding teams and players ahead of the event you intend to bet on.