Handicapping Injuries

Handicapping injuries is one of the most important things to check when you want to bet on a NBA game. While it is more important to check for injuries for star players key bench players and defensive stoppers are also very vital to a team and if they are down that team may not be a good bet.  

You have to make sure you are looking at the very latest injury report. Bigger sites such as ESPN keep them updated and it is key to find the latest news on injuries. You will have knowledge if a player is out, especially for long periods of time, but it can be tricky when they are listed as questionable. If a player is questionable look at the extent of the injury, when it happened, the player’s injury history, and if the upcoming game or games are important to that team.

By not handicapping injuries you can kick yourself if you bet on a game and a key player is out and you bet on that team. Simply do a Google search to find the most-up-to-date injury reports.

If you see that a player will not play you also have to check out whom their backup is. For example, in the 2016 NBA players the Golden State Warriors had to play a few games without MVP Stephen Curry. However, they have one of the better backups in Shawn Livingston, so Golden State still fared well. If the backup is one where the production drops significantly betting on that team may not be the best option.

You have to be aware that when injuries occur and a player misses time, or may miss time, the sportsbook are aware of this. They will move the spread, as well as total, accordingly. For example let’s say the Warriors are playing at home against the weak Lakers and Curry is out. Yeah, Golden State will still be the betting favorite, but you can be sure that the spread will not be the same as if the two-time MVP was in the lineup.

The total will also be affected by injuries and this is especially the case if a defensive stopper is out. In the 2016 season former Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol of the Grizzlies was lost for the season midway through with a knee injury. With him in the lineup the Grizzlies gave up nearly 10 fewer points per game. If a player like Gasol or New Orleans’ C and defensive stud Anthony Davis are out you can be sure that the total for the game will be on the higher side.

Handicapping injuries is one of the most important factors when you make a NBA wager.