Playoffs are here: The best long-term NBA bets to make

Every NBA season makes for a nail-biting experience because of the high-octane games filled with exciting moments. With the lengthy regular season followed by competitive Playoffs, enjoy the climax of the NBA schedule.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The NBA is a superb competition that offers a sheer number of games you can bet on across the regular season and Playoffs.
• The Playoffs is one of the most exciting parts of the betting experience as the games are high-stakes, so players are performing better.
• NBA betting markets are filled with awesome opportunities to thrive with the prizes you can win.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the world’s best basketball competition. Any budding basketball talent in the world aims to perform in the NBA, which makes their progress interesting to track. 

The best basketball players become a part of the NBA’s regular season and strive to compete in the Playoffs, which usually take place around April to May. NBA Playoffs betting means you have to consider long-term predictions while the regular season is active. Find out what to consider with these long-term bets here at Gamdom.

NBA season calendar

The NBA regular season usually starts in October and lasts until April, when the NBA Playoffs bets are often made. There is an All-Star Break to divide the season’s two halves, but you can still enjoy an exciting In-Season Tournament or NBA Cup during the early part of the season. 

All-Star Weekend is the halfway point between the season’s two halves, where certain players participate in the event. The other teams who are not part of the All-Star Weekend get some well-earned rest during the All-Star break. In April, the Playoffs start, which is the final part of the season where the season’s champion is decided.

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How to bet on NBA games at Gamdom

You can bet on NBA match-ups and outrights at Gamdom. Betting on head-to-head games means you’re considering which team has the better chance of winning the match. For outrights, your predictions involve the bigger picture of the season. This means betting on which team wins their Conference, which teams have the best chances of making it to the Playoffs, and more.

Here’s how to place your bets on the NBA at Gamdom:

1. Sign in to your Gamdom account and click on the ‘Sports betting’ tab. 
2. Browse the sportsbook section and look for the basketball icon. 
3. Once you’re on the basketball page, find the NBA league for the games you want to place bets on. If you can’t find the NBA league, search for the USA and then locate the NBA.
4. Click the games you want to bet on and find the markets you want to place a stake on. 
5. Enter the bet amount you want to place and confirm your wager by clicking on the ‘Place bet’ button.

Factors to remember for NBA bets at Gamdom

Before starting your journey at Gamdom, you must become more familiar with the factors that play a massive role in your wagers. Knowing this can go a long way for betting on NBA Playoffs games. 

Here are some factors you should consider when you place bets:

How teams are projected to perform before the season

When preparing to place bets on teams, do not settle for surface-level information and do proper research. The best way to do it is to prepare for long-term bets by looking at the projections made before the season starts. Get a good glimpse into how a certain team is set up to win games. 

Players’ health 

Another factor you must remember is that injuries happen in sports. That is undeniable, but some injuries are significant enough to leave a dent in the bets you are making. For example, if a player like Stephen Curry gets injured, that could lessen the Golden State Warriors’ odds of winning.

Coaches’ systems

Before making NBA Playoff predictions, you should be familiar with the tactical side of the sport. While the players and teams are your focus, you should never ignore the coaches’ impact on their teams. They set the table for the players by relaying their system and making the play under those tactics.

For example, a coach like Joe Mazzulla focuses on maximising his offence, so a tactic of having five shooters stretches the floor. That is important for the Boston Celtics since they have players who thrive in that kind of system. By knowing that, you learn how the Celtics play, but there are also weaknesses you can analyse and teams that have counters.

How the players performed throughout the season

When the Playoffs roll around, find out more about how the players have performed throughout the regular season. A deep dive into the players and how they have performed could go a long way for your Playoffs bets. 

Always be mindful of statistics that could impact the quality of your bet and knowledge. You might not have seen a player like Scotty Pippen Jr. contributing to the Memphis Grizzlies, but he is good enough to make a difference. 

Matchups matter

When teams play against each other, many factors could play a role, including how certain teams are structured to be a bad matchup for the other team. Think of how the Portland Trail Blazers, who are not an established Playoff team, still regularly get wins against the stacked Phoenix Suns whenever they play against each other. 

Another thing to look into is head-to-head matchups between the two teams. While you should never fully rely on match history, you should still be proactive with how you place bets depending on the knowledge you have built up.

Top bets: What is the best bet for NBA Playoffs?

Knowing about the wagers you can make during the NBA Playoffs is crucial to your success as a bettor. Here is an NBA Playoffs betting guide with some top wagers:

• Winner (Championship) - This is where you predict which team will win the championship for the upcoming or ongoing season.
• Conference Winner (Western and Eastern) - Bet on which teams will represent each conference in the NBA Finals.
• Awards - The NBA has plenty of awards, and you can predict who will win a specific award: 
  • MVP
  • Finals MVP
  • Rookie of the Year
  • Defensive Player of the Year
  • Clutch Player of the Year
  • Coach of the Year
  • Executive of the Year
• Series Outcomes - Predict how a Playoff series will pan out.
• Division Winner - Predict which team in their division will have the best record at the end of the regular season.
• To Reach the Playoffs - You are given a team, and you will predict if the team will reach the Playoffs or not.
• Regular Season Wins (per team) - You are given a specific number of wins and predict if the team’s wins are over or under that number by the end of the season.
• Number 1 Seed - Predict which team will get the first seed at the end of the regular season.

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Long-term NBA bets vs short-term bets

Your NBA betting at Gamdom can be divided into two forms: long-term and short-term bets, which both have their advantages and disadvantages. 

A long-term bet is focused on placing bets on outcomes that happen throughout the season. From the previous betting markets, think of the Winner (Championship) and Conference Winner markets as part of this. The pros of long-term bets include the higher potential payout and you are less likely to be affected by short-term injuries with your bets.

A short-term bet is mostly focused on betting on outcomes in the immediate future, and you get near-instant gratification with this. The pros of this include quick payouts and better flexibility with your predictions. For cons, you have more variance here, so unexpected events might happen, and you must always stay on top of your research.

Players to watch out for during the NBA Playoffs

By betting on the Playoffs, you should know that certain players are ceiling risers for your bets. It is important to know them as they can win you some wagers that might have been unwinnable without them. Here are some of the top players to note: 

• Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets) - The Nuggets' big man is one of the toughest players to go up against, as he can affect almost every facet of the game, as seen in his absurd stat lines.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) - An all-around titan for the Bucks, Giannis is fantastic on both ends of the floor. He is a strong option for your bets as he is influential enough to affect a team’s chances of winning.
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) - One of the most impressive offensive players in the league, you can always count on SGA to make plays and score buckets for the contending OKC Thunder.
• Luka Dončić (Los Angeles Lakers) - The Slovenian superstar is one of the most creative offensive forces in the league. That impact is special, which makes the Lakers such a big threat because of his immense skill set.
• Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) - The catalyst of a new era in Knicks history, Brunson might be a smaller player, but he is an offensive juggernaut who can carry the team from The Big Apple into title contention.

Tips for your long-term wagers at Gamdom

The NBA Playoffs decide which team takes home the season’s trophy after a gruelling regular season. Here are some NBA Playoffs betting tips to take note of:

• Favourites do not mean automatic winners - Consider how an underdog can pull off an upset, as every team has good players. Some teams might be heavy favourites, but they might have a bad day that leads to a win. Always remember that NBA teams can pull off upsets. 
• Always consider the context before betting - Before placing the bet, ensure you did your due diligence to consider every possible factor since you might miss context that could lead to the opposite result of your bet.
• Injury reports matter for your bets - Always stay up to date with the injury report, as certain players missing the game could shift the odds and make it tough.
• Adjust your bets according to the odds - Consider the NBA Playoffs betting odds as they determine how much you can win. But you can also learn how certain matchups are perceived, so use that to your advantage by researching and observing properly.

Shoot your shot with long-term NBA bets

Maximise every NBA prediction you make, as the games are packed with the most exciting outcomes with Gamdom’s betting markets. Long-term and short-term bets are available at Gamdom, so regardless of which one you prefer, you have a variety of choices with the platform!

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