In the pursuit of NBA betting success, it is just as important to find bad values to oppose as it is to find the top moneymakers to wager on. The NBA has a host of teams that are in free fall. Two of these teams in trouble have had recent success on the biggest of stages. To show, the Boston Celtics were the 2023 NBA champions. Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers are the defending Eastern Conference champions.
Additionally, the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks are recent playoff teams facing the prospect of lost seasons. What is fascinating about the Pels and Mavs is that they have two number one overall draft picks manning the marquee.
Celtics Brand Takes on Damage as Gamblers Flee
Last year at this time, there was online betting speculation that the Boston Celtics were on the cusp of forming an NBA dynasty. These days, there are legitimate doubts about whether the Celtics will make the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Consider that Jayson Tatum is out with an Achilles injury. Still, the team has a desperate hope that Tatum will return later in the season.
Boston stumbled out of the gate with an NBA betting record of 6-7 straight up, 5-8 against the spread, and 5-8 under the total. Despite its powerful brand, Boston provided gamblers with reliable betting value during its championship season. Now, the Celtics are in the red, a trend that began last season. And there is no indication that the Celtics will be turning things around.
Boston covered the spread in only one of its most recent six games. Although the Celtics’ defense ranks 2nd in fewest points allowed, Boston ranks 23rd in scoring offense and 25th in 3-point shooting.
Indiana on Pace for a Catastrophic Campaign
Last year, the Indiana Pacers were a great example of NBA parity. To show, the old days when only a handful of NBA teams could win a championship are thankfully over. However, the loss of Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks in the offseason and a MASH unit of current injuries have ruined the start of their season, perhaps beyond repair.
Head coach Rick Carlisle and the Pacers flopped on their faces out of the starting gate. Indiana is 1-12 straight up, 5-8 against the spread, and 4-9 under the total. Additionally, the Pacers rank 29th for scoring offense and 26th for fewest points allowed. Indiana is an abysmal 30th for 3-point shooting.
On the other hand, the Pacers could eventually be something of a contrarian value. Indiana will be getting enhanced prices from oddsmakers who need to sweeten the pot to draw action its way.
Fans and Gamblers Abandon the Dallas Mavericks
Correlate that the Dallas Mavericks met the Boston Celtics in the 2023 NBA Finals. In a case of how the mighty have fallen, Dallas stands at 3-10 straight up, 5-8 against the spread, and 5-8 under the total. Late on, the Mavs got the money in only two of their most recent seven games.
Of course, the problems began when Dallas traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of last season. It was a trade so insane that one has to wonder if the NBA ordered it to prop up what was a failing Lakers franchise. With Doncic’s departure, Dallas lost all its offense. To illuminate, the Mavs rank 27th for scoring offense and 29th for 3-point field goal percentage.
Anthony Davis, who was sent to Dallas for Doncic, has proven to be an inadequate substitute. Davis is averaging 20.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest. First overall pick Cooper Flagg is averaging a pedestrian 15.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest.
New Orleans Eats Wasted Contract on Williamson
Zion Williamson, the first overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, is eating himself out of the Association. Williamson has not kept the weight off since his arrival, which has perpetually kept him out of the lineup. So far this season, Zion has played in only five out of the Pelicans’ first 12 games.
Overall, New Orleans is 2-10 straight up, 4-6-2 against the spread, and 6-6 over and under the total.