Sportsbooks will have NBA odds on the board this week and the good news is that the regular referees will be working the games. The referees had been locked out but a new contract agreement with the NBA was worked out and the referees will be back this week. That is good news for everyone that follows the NBA at the offshore sportsbook.
Sportsbooks had the 57 referees ratifying the two-year contract. The refs had been locked out since Sept. 18th. The votes were not announced by it was approved by the majority. “We are pleased to reach this agreement,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said, “The negotiations extended further than either side had hoped, but when our regular season tips off on Tuesday we’ll have the best referees in the world officiating our games. We appreciate the job done by our replacement officials during the preseason.” Sportsbooks notes had the referees holding a short training camp over the weekend so they would be ready for this week’s regular season action.
NBA results at sportsbooks can be influenced by the calls of the officials and the league did not want any scrutiny so it was only a matter of time before a deal was reached. Many of the coaches and players were saying that having the regular refs for the season was a must. With revenue down, the NBA could not afford anyone questioning the results so a deal had to be reached with the referees.
Sportsbooks have opening night odds for the regular season on the board right now. The NBA regular season begins on Tuesday with sportsbooks numbers on all four games. Two of the sports betting games are on TNT as Boston is at Cleveland while the Clippers are at the Lakers. The Cavaliers are 4.5 point home online betting favorites at sportsbooks while the Lakers are 10 point sports betting favorites at the offshore sportsbook.
The other two games on the offshore sportsbook board for Tuesday night have Washington at Dallas and Houston at Portland. The Mavericks are 8.5 point home favorites at the offshore sportsbook while Portland is a 9.5 point home choice. Not to be left out in NBA betting is a full slate of games on Wednesday when 12 games are on the board including an ESPN doubleheader as San Antonio host New Orleans while the Denver Nuggets host the Utah Jazz.