NBA Playoff Totals Don’t Always Go Under in Handicapping. When you look at the totals in the NBA playoffs you will notice that the numbers are a little bit lower at the sportsbook than they were in the regular season. Just because the numbers are lower does not mean that the games always go under the online sportsbook total. That has been proven in the first couple of days in this year’s NBA playoffs.
NBA Playoff Totals
If we go back and look at the numbers we can see that the playoffs produce lower scoring games. In the last five years the average NBA game had 199.2 points per game. When you go and look at the playoffs the numbers drop. In the last five years, first round playoff games have averaged 193.1 points per game, second round games just under 194 points per game, conference finals just under 192 points per game and the NBA finals just under 191 points per game.
Eastern Conference Totals Lower
The NBA playoff totals at the online sportsbook in the Eastern Conference are lower than those in the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference has some of the best defensive teams like Chicago and Miami and some of the worst offensive teams like Indiana and Atlanta. The Western Conference has more explosive offensive teams like Oklahoma City and the Lakers so their totals are higher.
Four of the first six NBA playoff games this year have gone over the total at SBG. The oddsmakers have set some lower totals and perhaps that is one reason why some of the early games have gone over. It also appears that this year’s NBA playoffs are more balanced than in past years. Teams like Indiana and New Orleans have been competitive with the Hornets even pulling off an upset against the Lakers.
NBA Playoff Parlays
The bettors are more likely to go with a favorite and over parlay at the sportsbook but in the NBA it doesn’t always work as well. If you take a favorite like Chicago then they oftentimes have to play great defense to cover the spread so the favorite-over parlay doesn’t cash. A better option for an NBA playoff parlay might be the favorite and the under or the underdog and the over. That underdog and over parlay cashed twice on Saturday and also in the first two games on Sunday.