Big D – NBA’s Hottest ‘Under’ Teams

The NBA sports betting season has reached the All Star break, and the following teams have been solid investments for NBA Hottest ‘Under’ bettors at BetOnline Sportsbook throughout the first half of the season:

(RANK) (TEAM) (SU RECORD) (O/U RECORD) (O/U RECORD L/5 +$$)

1) Philadelphia 76ers (27-24) (20-29 O/U) (3-7 O/U L/5 +$370): A coaching change in the City of Brotherly Love changed the Sixers fortunes around in the W/L department, but the lone constant in Philly’s 2008-09 regular season campaign has been its ability to cash ‘under’ bettors tickets. Andre Miller and company struggle to put points up on the offensive end of the court evidenced by their #23 ranking good for 96.6 points per game, but they can flat out ball on the defensive end of the court. The defense currently ranks 9th in the league in points per game allowed (95.4), and it ranks 8th in FG% limiting foes to 45.1% from the field. The Sixers ineptitude at the free throw line (#25 @ 74.7%) has also helped it become the most lucrative ‘under’ bet in the NBA throughout the first half of the season.

2) Orlando Magic (38-13) (23-28 O/U) (4-6 O/U L/10 +$160): As good as the Magic’s been on the offensive end of the court this season, they’ve been even better defensively. Heading into the break, they currently rank 5th in the league allowing opponents an average of 94.1 PPG and they’re the best defensive rebounding team in the league that hauls down an average of 33.1 boards per game. They’ve also been nasty in the FG% department allowing foes to convert at a 43% clip from the field (#3) and a 33.5% clip from beyond the arc (#1). When you add it all up, the Magic’s 8th ranked offense and 5th ranked defense are the main reason they hold a 7.5-game lead in the Southeast Division heading into the break.

3) Boston Celtics (43-11) (25-28 O/U) (7-3 O/U L/10 -$470): The defending champs managed to hoist the hardware last season mostly due to its defense that saw ‘under’ bettors cash their tickets in 45 of the Celtics 82 regular season games. Head Coach Doc Rivers’ club has continued to excel on the defensive end of the court this year currently ranked second overall allowing opponents an average of 92 points per game. Oh yeah, they also rank 1st in FG% (42.6%), and 4th in both 3-point FG% (33.8%) and defensive rebounds per game (31.9). Boston’s a veteran group with its youth readily able to contribute on any given night. Look for the “big three” to continue to wreak havoc in the East throughout the second half of the season, and cash quite a few more ‘under’ bets along the way.

4) Cleveland Cavaliers (40-11) (23-28 O/U) (5-5 O/U L/10 -$50) Along with being one of the most successful ATS investments of the first half of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have also been getting it done in the under department for ‘total’ bettors. They were a decent defensive basketball club a year ago, but now sit #1 in the league surrendering an average of just 91.1 points per game; they’re also 2nd in defensive FG% allowed (42.8%) and 3rd in 3-point FG% allowed (33.7%). Unfortunately, another reason they’ve been an ‘under’ team is the fact that they shoot at a 75% clip from the charity stripe; good for the 24th worst mark in the league. The Cavs have come a long way since the arrival of King James, and they’ll continue to be a $$$-maker for ‘under’ bettors in the second half of the season as long as they stick to playing lock down defense.

And the rest…..

5) New Jersey Nets (24-29) (25-28 O/U) (3-7 O/U L/10 +$370)

6) Detroit Pistons (27-24) (22-28 O/U) (7-3 O/U L/10 -$470)

7) Charlotte Bobcats (21-31) (23-27 O/U) (6-4 O/U L/10 -$260)