NBA Playoffs Handicapping the Referees - Betting Gambling in the NBA Playoffs

NBA Playoffs: Handicapping the Referees

One factor that is often overlooked in handicapping the NBA (national basketball association) playoffs is the referee factor. Often, there are certain referees that simply favor another team over another. In a more blatant effect, teams who are down by more than one game usually get the benefit of the referees’ whistles. This article will explain exactly why this occurs.

The NBA is a fan-based sport. Tons of money is spent on NBA gear, NBA game attendance, television contracts, et cetera. Hence, a longer series is more beneficial for the NBA and therefore teams who are down in a series usually get preferential treatment to try and eventually make the series longer. Fans drive this sport, and hence, the commissioner’s cronies (the referees) usually affect the outcome of some of the playoff games in order to make individual series longer.

Superstars also tend to get more of the calls than regular NBA players. In tune with the NBA’s image of selling its product to the public, superstars also generate greater revenue. For example, the league, though it may not honestly agree with the following statement would rather see a series between the Los Angeles Lakers (with Kobe Bryant) play the Denver Nuggets (with Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson) than have a series between the New Orleans Hornets (with virtually no superstars) and the Portland Trailblazers (again, with virtually no superstars). Good teams become better and bad teams usually become worse. One can also use this knowledge to bet on futures bets. Such bets are usually bad since they tie up money in the book for a long time, but given the right odds, one can make pretty profitable profit margins.

Certain players have received preferential treatment than others, these include the “King” Lebron James and Dwayne “Flash” Wade. Interestingly enough, Kobe Bryant is usually the recipient of anti preferential treatment, where Bryant usually never gets blocking fouls, but often gets called for an offensive foul.

Finally, sports bettors often complain about the officiating in sporting contests. But, as the article has already eluded to, one must also handicap the referees in order to see what to bet on. Referees can control a big part of the game; hence, one should also analyze such players.