Even Online Belmont betting players will have one eye on the NBA Finals, and it’s one of the more intriguing matchups in a few years as Dallas and Miami met in a highly controversial Finals in 2006, and many feel the Heat were gifted a title due to officiating. However, the Mavericks have looked like the best team in the playoffs, so it’s going to be a great matchup when it tips off on Tuesday in Miami

Mavericks Heat Betting – Tuesday, 9:00 PM ET

In their 2006 matchup, in which the Heat won the last four games of the series, Miami went 4-2 SU and 2-4 ATS in six games, with four of those games going under the posted total. However, since then it’s been all Dallas as the Mavericks 10-0 SU and 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings against the Heat, with six games going over the posted total.

Dallas is 12-3 SU in the playoffs so far, along with a 12-2-1 ATS mark, and nine of those games have gone over the posted total. Miami is also 12-3 SU in the postseason with a 10-5 ATS mark, and again, nine of their games have gone over the posted total, so this is going to be a tough matchup for NBA betting players. The early lines have Miami as a -180 favorite, while Dallas is rated at +160 to keep the title in the West after the Lakers won it two
years in a row. This is going to be a difficult matchup to pick in your sports betting book.

Even Kentucky Derby betting players will looking at past trends to try and give them an edge in the big race, and NBA betting players will be doing the same as the second round of the playoffs is almost underway (Oklahoma City is waiting for the winner of San Antonio-Memphis).

Heat Celtics Betting (Sunday, 3:30 PM ET)

The Celtics should be the favorites in the first game of a series that everyone has been waiting for, and it has the potential to be the best of the entire postseason. Boston has won 10 in a row at home against the Heat, and two straight since Miami put together their version of the “Big Three”. In those 10 meetings, Boston is 7-3 ATS and have covered the last five games.

Hawks Bulls Betting (Monday, 8:00 PM ET)

The Bulls definitely be favored in their series opener against the Hawks on Monday night, but Atlanta is actually 3-2 SU and ATS in their last five trips to the United Center. They were one of five teams to beat the Bulls in Chicago this season, so they’re definitely capable of pulling off an upset, especially as they’re confident after getting rid of their playoff nemesis from Orlando.

Mavericks Lakers Betting (Monday, 10:30 PM ET)

The Lakers will be favored at home against the Mavericks as they’re 8-2 SU in their last 10 at the Staples Center against Dallas, who are 6-4 ATS. The Mavericks tailored their team to compete with the Lakers, so be very wary of any long lines at your sports betting sites.

Even MLB betting players will have one eye on the NBA scores during the playoffs, and they may even be encouraged to lay a little action on the hoops game. The two-time defending champions are favored to complete the three-peat, but they’ll have to go through a young up-and-coming team looking to restore the city to past glories.

Chicago (+270) finished with the best record in the league, and they’ll likely have the MVP in Derrick Rose, the hometown kid who has powered the Bulls to their best time since the days of Michael Jordan. Miami (+300) comes in next in the East with their superstar trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but they don’t have much else. Don’t forget about the old vets from Boston (+550), who have been inconsistent all season, but it’s playoff time now.

In the West, the reigning champions from Los Angeles (+270) lead the way, and even though they’ve been up and down like Boston, they’re built for the playoffs, although another injury to

Andrew Bynum’s knee is worrying. San Antonio (+475) was the best team in the conference all season, but Manu Ginobili begins the playoffs on the disabled list. Oklahoma City (+1200) is definitely an intriguing bet because they picked up Kenrick Perkins from Boston, and he gives the Thunder the size they need to compete with the Lakers. A win for Oklahoma City wouldn’t be that big of a surprise, and they could be worth a darkhorse sports bet in your book.

Those who bet on March Madness will remember Carmelo Anthony carrying Syracuse to the 2003 title before he made the leap to the NBA, and Knicks fans will be hoping for more of that magic as Anthony will lead the team into a pair of big matchups against Eastern Conference rivals in next week’s NBA action.

Celtics Knicks Betting (Monday, 7:30 PM ET)

The Knicks should be a slight, slight favorite at home, but the Celtics are 3-2 SU in their last five trips to Madison Square Garden, although they’re also 1-4 ATS. This will be a matchup of Boston’s tremendous defense against New York’s run-and-gun offense, and we know the Celtics always get up for big games, which is why we would take them on the road as Boston will make a couple stops when it counts.

Magic Knicks Betting (Wednesday, 8:00 PM ET)

The Knicks should be a bigger favorite on Wednesday, although it won’t be by much more. The Magic are 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five visits to New York, and the talk leading up to this game will be around Dwight Howard possibly going to the Knicks in two years (which he vehemently denies). The Magic have already beaten the new-look Knicks 116-110 at home at the beginning of the month, and we’re looking at New York to get their revenge. Go with the Knicks when you make an online sports bet on Wednesday night.

Super Bowl betting lines will be on fire this weekend as the NFL season wraps up in Dallas, but there are a few hoops matchups to check out this weekend, especially on the dayof the big game.

Lakers Hornets Betting – Saturday, 8:00 PM ET

The Hornets should be favored at home, but the Lakers could be as they’re a heavy public team who gets by on being the Lakers. Los Angeles is 3-2 SU and ATS in their last five trips to New Orleans, where the Hornets are 13-12 ATS, while the Lakers are 11-12 ATS away from the Staples Center.

Clippers Heat Betting – Sunday, 12:00 PM ET

The Heat will definitely be the NBA betting favorites in this contest, but they’re only 3-2 SU in their last five at home against the Clippers, sporting a 2-3 ATS mark as well. All five of those games have gone over the posted total, and it could once again as these teams are explosive with the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Blake Griffin running up and down the floor. The Heat are 8-14-1 ATS at home, while the Clippers are 8-9-1 ATS on the road.

Magic Celtics Betting – Sunday, 2:30 PM ET

The Celtics will be the home favorites in this East showdown, and they’re 3-2 SU at home in their last five meetings with the Magic, with a 2-2-1 ATS record in that time. The Celtics are 10-13-2 ATS at TD Banknorth Garden, while Orlando is 9-15-1 ATS on the road, so this could be a tough pick when

you go to your favorite online betting sites.

Sports betting players will anxiously check NBA scores constantly as they wait to see how their picks will turn out, but there is a couple of things you can do before making your selection, and here are some tips to help you out.

Head-To-Head History

Head-to-head history should have a big role in how you make your NBA picks, as some teams just have the number of another team. It could be matchup problems, it could be the fact that one team is just better than the other, it could be coaching styles. You don’t have to go back that far, just check how the last 5-10 games have gone.

Scheduling

Scheduling is playing an increased part in how you should make your NBA picks, as teams have to travel a lot now while playing on back-to-back nights.Some say it doesn’t matter much as teams are flying in private jets and staying in nice hotels, but it definitely plays a role in how teams prepare.Also, when it comes to back-to-back games, check out how a team’s bench is playing, because the subs will have an effect in the second half.

Look At The Names

You can find some great value when looking at names, because some teams are going to be favored regardless of how they’re playing. The Lakers are a prime example of this, as they have been an underdog in only one game this season, yet they haven’t played at all like back-to-back champions. Don’t be afraid to bet against the big names in your sports betting book.

While Super Bowl betting players will be busy this weekend with playoff action, there are a couple of NBA betting matchups to keep an eye on in your online sportsbook.

Heat Bulls Betting – Saturday, 8:00 PM ET

The Bulls should be home favorites in this clash, as they’re 17-3 SU and 12-7-1 ATS at the United Center this season, and they could even face the Heat without LeBron James, who missed Thursday’s loss at Denver with an ankle injury. Miami is 2-3 SU and ATS in their last five trips to Chicago, but you may not want to put much stock in that as the Heat are obviously a different team now. Chicago is 8-3 SU on the season in the second half of back-to-back games, so Friday night’s game in Indiana may not be a big deal.

Lakers Clippers Betting – Sunday, 3:30 PM ET

The Lakers will be favored “on the road” on Sunday afternoon, but even though they also play in the Staples Center, they’re 2-3 SU in their last five against the Clippers as the road team, while coming in 5-0 SU in their last five as the home team when facing their city rivals. The Lakers are still 4-1 ATS as a visitor at the Staples Center, and they pulled out a one-point win back in November. The Clippers are no longer a team you can just steamroll with Blake Griffin in the lineup, but the Lakers are still the team to beat when you’re betting online.

Those betting on NFL odds are seeing their season come to an end, but things are just heating up in the NBA, where the favorites are separating themselves, and a couple of darkhorses are gaining steam.

The Favorites

The Lakers and Miami are the favorites at +175 and +275, respectively, and the Heat are starting to figure out how to play as a team, which doesn’t bode well for the rest of the East. The Lakers went through a mini-slump, but they’re not going anywhere. Boston is probably the team to beat in the East at +300, while Orlando at +500 has yet to put it all together, and San Antonio at +800 is definitely a factor in the West.

The Rest

Two darkhorses to watch are Dallas at +1800, and Chicago at +2000. The Mavericks have won 11 in a row right now, even though they seem to do this early in the season every year, but they’ve got a deep bench that will help them as the season goes along, meaning they don’t have to depend on Dirk Nowitzki so much. In Chicago, the Bulls are assembling a team for the future, and they could be this year’s version of Oklahoma City. Derrick Rose is taking the step that Kevin Durant took last year, and Carlos Boozer is finally healthy and working himself into game shape, which gives the Bulls a double-double threat down low. If the Bulls can get it together, they could be worth a sports bet.

I wonder what the sports betting odds were on how long it would take Allen Iverson to return to the NBA. “The Answer” made his return to the team that drafted him, the Philadelphia 76ers in a 93-83 loss to Denver, where Iverson was traded to last year from Detroit. Iverson played 38 minutes, going 4-of-11 from the floor for 11 points, while adding six assists and five boards for the 76ers. Quite frankly, this is the best scenario for Iverson, and for the 76ers’ NBA betting odds.

First, Philadelphia fans LOVE Iverson. I mean, the last time they were good, he was the reason for it. They’ll follow that dude through a fire if they have to. Second, Iverson seems to realize that it’s Andre Igoudala’s team, as Iggy had 31 against the 76ers. Now, I have no problem with Iverson playing major minutes….as long as he understands that he’s no longer a superstar and starts jacking up 30 shots a game. Iverson is an excellent complementary piece if he keeps his head together, and you never know: the 76ers could be an NBA betting darkhorse in your sportsbook if Iverson sticks to the script.

Cleveland is finally playing like the sportsbook favorites we allkknew they were, and they played very well in a 111-104 win over Miami on the road, their third straight win away from home. But that’s neither here nor there. I’m wonder if the kids still hang up posters on their wall, because THIS is the epitome of a posterization:

AND THEN…..he goes back to walk over him, Allen Iverson-Tyronn Lue style:

This has no bearing on either team’s online betting odds, but you may look back on this later in the season, and I’m willing to bet you won’t see a better posterization than that. Then, Anderson Varejao (Sideshow Bob) had the nerve to try and talk smack to D-Wade after the play was done. He got a technical foul for his efforts. You know, he’s a talented player, but someone needs to tell Bob to shut up sometimes. Actin’ like you’re worth $10-12 mil a season,  you know what that gets:

My pick for Saturday’s Pacquiao Cotto odds: Miguel will give him a run, but he doesn’t have the patience to hang with Manny, who will frustrate him into making a mistake.