Are You Ready to Ball (and bet on the NBA Postseason)?
It's not the best of the many basketball slogans and taglines you can find with a simple Google search. But it was short enough to use as a title, and it gets the point across. The NBA's "second season" is already underway and ready for bettors to enjoy.
No more meaningless games or terrible matchups that can be frustrating to bet on. From here on out, every game should be competitive. Some will not be, of course. But, in theory, every game should be competitive since only the best teams remain.
Hoops not your game? No worries, you've got options. The march to the Stanley Cup Final has begun, the XFL regular season ends this weekend, and there's Week 2 of the USFL season, MLB, and so much more.
So—let's get right to it. Time to talk about sports betting!
NBA Postseason
The NBA Playoffs are long enough to be dubbed the "second season," and it's something that I have come to appreciate. Why? Because when all is said and done, and only two teams remain, more often than not, it is the two best teams in the NBA.
You could say that's true because they are the last two left, but can we honestly say the last two NFL teams left standing are the best that season had to offer year in and year out? I'm a diehard football fan, and I'd say no.
Now, the best two NBA teams are not always the ones that make it to the NBA Finals. But while luck and a single win can put a lesser team in the Super Bowl, it would take an incredible amount of luck for an inferior NBA team to make it to the Finals. But I digress…
We'll be doing our best to cover postseason games. So, check back with our website, GamingToday.com, for previews of upcoming games. Here's some of the NBA Playoff content we have posted as of early Thursday afternoon:
Kings vs. Warriors Predictions, Odds, Props: Draymond Green's Suspension Impacts Game 3
NBA Finals MVP Odds: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum Sit as Co-Favorites
NBA Playoff Picks & Parlays: How To Bet 76ers vs. Nets, Kings vs. Warriors, and Suns vs. Clippers
As always, you can see the latest NBA Championship odds on our dedicated page, and betting lines for upcoming games on our NBA Odds page.
Stanley Cup Playoffs
Growing up in Texas, it was all about football. But I've picked up a few things by watching awesome hockey movies like Slap Shot, Mystery, Alaska, and Miracle. I do have enough self-awareness to know that I don't know enough to sound like I know what I'm talking about regarding hockey games. So, I'll just recommend you read the content our writers have generated this week.
Like the NBA postseason, we'll be covering games throughout the week. So, check our website daily to see if a game got covered. Here is some of the NHL content posted at GamingToday.com as of Thursday afternoon:
Jets vs. Golden Knights Predictions, Odds, Props: Series Price, Game 2 Betting Line
Lightning vs. Maple Leafs Predictions, Odds, Props: Updated Series Price, Game 2 Betting Line
As always, you can see the latest Stanley Cup Odds on our dedicated page and betting lines for upcoming games on our NHL Odds page.
Elsewhere In The Wide World Of Sports Betting…
The NHL and NBA playoffs are the focus of the sports betting world at the moment, but we are doing our best to generate content related to other sports, too. Because we know you guys have other interests...
I'll have the latest on the XFL posted to GamingToday.com later today — and hope to have something on Week 2 of the USFL season by tomorrow at the latest.
NFL Draft Odds 2023: Bryce Young Heavy Favorite To Go No. 1; Texans May Surprise Fans at No. 2
For the latest on World Series odds, check out our dedicated page.
For betting lines on upcoming MLB games, check out our MLB Odds page.
Also, for the soccer fans out there, check our site on game day to see if we've covered your game. We've been covering more futbol of late.
This Week On The Sports Betting Legal/Business Landscape…
Our writers have covered several interesting topics this week involving aspects of the sports betting legal/business landscape. For example, Brant James explored how a return to DC for the Washington Commanders could shake up the DC sports betting industry.
Have you ever wondered why some states are so reluctant to jump on the sports betting bandwagon? What state doesn't need more money for its budget? It looks like Missouri doesn't.
In other news, the Australian-based company PlayUp will not be playing in Ohio for a few years. Do all the ads that flood game broadcasts bug you? A coalition comprising most major North American professional sports leagues and two media giants has heard your cries for help and issued some guidelines for sports betting advertising in the US.
Sportsbook Promotions: April 20, 2023
Do you enjoy betting on sports? Do your friends sound interested when you talk about your latest win? Get them to sign up, and most sportsbooks will throw in a bonus for you and them!
DraftKings: Refer a Friend—get a bonus bet of up to $100!
FanDuel: Refer a Friend-- Your friends will get $50, and you'll get $100 in Bonus Bets when they join using your referral link!
BetMGM: Earn a $50 bonus for each friend you refer (up to 20).
Caesars: Refer your friends and get a $100 bonus bet if they sign up.
As with all sportsbook promotions, terms and conditions apply. You and your friends should check them out to make sure you have your bases covered. Check out our promo page for the best sign-up offers sportsbook apps have to offer.
Fun With Futures: NBA Finals MVP
If you've been reading the GTP for the last year, you've heard me talk about betting on the Super Bowl MVP. The concepts that made betting on that market early in the postseason apply to betting on an NBA Finals MVP, too.
What am I talking about? If you bet on an NBA Finals MVP early in the playoffs, their odds will be longer now than when there’s only two teams left standing. Of course, in doing so, you are taking a significant risk. What if your player's team doesn't make it?
That is a distinct possibility. But let me ask this question—what if his team does make the NBA Finals? Would you rather bet on Giannis Antetokounmpo now at +320 (via DraftKings) or prior to Game 1 of the NBA Finals, when he'll likely have minus-money odds?
Kevin Durant's current odds are +700, Devin Booker's +1600, and Nikola Jokic's +900. If you believe in the Kings, De'Aaron Fox has +4000 odds. But their odds will get much shorter as they advance through the postseason.
I'm not saying you should bet the house on De'Aaron Fox or even Giannis. But it may not hurt to skip Starbucks for a few days and put $10 down. I'm just saying...
Newsletter is over, Drake.
I have never liked that guy…
That's it for this edition of the Gaming Today Playbook. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much or more as I enjoyed writing it. As much as I enjoyed being off last week, I missed you guys. If you have any questions or want to request a topic to get covered in a future newsletter, you can reach me via email at travis.pulver@catenamedia.com or via Twitter at @FatManWriting.
Bet wisely, my friends.
Until Next Week,
Travis Pulver, Sports Betting Writer
