Danny Gets His Bag
Danny gets the Deal
Read MoreIt's Not What You Know, It's Who You Know: J.J. Redick Named Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have a new head coach. But, do they have a hope?
Read MoreGet Em Windy
Is Brian Windhorst now the most likeable national sideline reporter?
Read MoreWhat The Hell Is A Medial Retinaculum? And Why We Should Hate Them
Dr. Cal breaks down the latest Porzingis injury and it’s impact on the NBA Finals
Read MoreO Danny Boy The Pelinkas The Pelinkas are calling (UPDATED)
Danny’s Decision…
Read MoreO Danny Boy The Pelinkas The Pelinkas are calling
Say it ain’t so… Hurley to the Lakers?!
Read MoreThe Pace of the Pacers Outlasts The Nicked-Up Knicks
A look back at Sunday’s disappointing game seven and a look ahead at the Eastern Conference Finals
Read MoreAdam Silver Hates Detroit
What did Detriot ever do to Adam Silver?
Read MoreJamal Murray's Antics and the Expansion of Bench Analytics
Did Jamal Murray go too far? Or not far enough?
Read MoreCeltics' Win Overshadowed by Porzingis' Injury
How the lose of KP will impact the Celtics
Read MoreThe UNDERcomfortable Truth: UPDATE
What happens to NBA scoring in the post season?
Read MoreThe UNDERcomfortable Truth
What I am about to present to you about the NBA playoffs is both shocking and disturbing. The following blog post might make you consider me different as a sports fan, a man, and a sports entertainment enthusiast. If you are drinking a hot beverage, operating heavy machinery, or holding sharp objects, I ask you to stop reading. I would also like to ask about your blog reading routines because they sound fascinating. Okay, coffee down? Shears away? Forklift parked?
NBA Playoff unders are a red-hot trend. This postseason, the under is 9-2 through the first eleven games, 7-0 in the last seven. During the regular season, teams' offensive rating (points per 100 possessions, basically points per game) was 115.3, putting NBA regular season overall point totals at 230.6 points scored in a regular season game. Through the first eleven games of the playoffs, that number has dropped drastically by 29 points. The average points scored per game this postseason is 201.54. Why is this the case? Will this trend self-correct? And are you really asking me to take the under?! All fair questions you might be asking after the first two paragraphs.
First, the answer is pretty simple. It's the Playoffs. It means defenses ramp up, players try harder, and when the lights are a bit brighter, the rim can be a bit smaller. There are also some notable injuries to some of the league's best remaining scorers. Giannis, Zion, and Jimmy Butler have all not played in the postseason.
Betting trends can be profitable. But as they say, there's a reason they keep putting up skyscrapers in the desert. Sportsbooks are aware of these things, and while they are setting a total and a spread that could be accurate to what will happen in a game, sportsbooks are more concerned about it being attractive. With the widespread legalization of sports betting, more Americans this year will bet on the NBA postseason than ever before. Which is why I think the under train can stay on the tracks. People like points. Overs are like ice cream, Althea, or sunshine. Universally loved. The masses will continue to bet them even if they are losing because it is what they want to see.
I am not asking you to bet NBA unders. Under bets are some of the least fun sweats there are in sports betting. You never win until it's done, and you can lose at any point prior to the final whistle. It's uncomfortable, it's no fun, and that, my friends, are the elements of a good bet.