NBA weekly betting trends: The league’s surprising best bet of the first half
By Jeff Glauser
Quick: Which NBA team was the league’s best Against The Spread record of the first half?
It has to be a perennial force like the 47-9 Golden State Warriors or the 41-13 San Antonio Spurs, right?
Nah. Of course we know it’s actually those juggernauts, the Philadelphia 76ers!
Yes, those who have trusted the process as well as the odds have made out quite well this year. According to the Sportsbook Review’s NBA Forum, the Sixers lead the pack with an ATS betting record of 34-22, a stark contrast to their actual 21-35 mark straight up, currently fifth worst in the association.
And there’s Exhibit A on why point spreads exist.
On the surface, this seems like an anomaly. They are one of the youngest teams in the league. Franchise center Joel Embiid has been a revelation when on the court, but has missed nearly half the games this season, including 14 of the past 15 with a torn meniscus. Top pick Ben Simmons hasn’t even suited up yet and top free-agent acquisition Jerryd Bayless played in just three contests before going down with a season-ending injury of his own.
However, after three long years of blatantly tanking, there is clearly a new culture in Philly.
Next: Philadelphia 76ers: Jahlil Okafor will be moved by Thursday
The Sixers are on pace to win more games than the previous two seasons combined. They already have one of the better benches in the league. Dario Saric has been arguably the second-best rookie in the league behind Embiid. And with all the draft positioning that former General Manager Sam Hinkie’s “lose-to-win” strategy was centered upon, he also found two steals in undrafted free agents Robert Covington and T.J. McConnell.
The question is: Will this ATS success continue in the second half? The answer: It depends. If Embiid returns healthy, if Simmons takes the floor and shows the skills that made him the No. 1 overall selection, if they can eliminate the logjam at center by trading Jahlil Okafor and get something of value in return…this could be one of the scarier teams to go up against down the stretch.
The Sacramento Kings’ recent trade of DeMarcus Cousins also helps their cause, as the move was a clear indicator of a rebuild and the Sixers are able to swap picks with them this year, along with owning their first round pick outright in 2019. Also keep in mind that Philly gets the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round pick unless it’s in the Top 3. Right now, L.A. has the third-worst record in the league.
So if the ball bounces right, we could be looking at a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Thanks, Hinkie, wherever you are!
The Houston Rockets (33-24 ATS) and the equally-surprising Miami Heat (33-25 ATS) were also good wagers in the first half.