ASA play on UNDER 11.5 Rebounds Josh Hart – NY Knicks
Hart suffered an abdominal strain in the previous game and played just 30 minutes after logging 43+ in 3 of the first 6 games of this series. He was clearly hurt in Game 6 and this is the type of injury that can easily be aggravated. Hart’s greatest asset is his toughness and willingness to go after every loss ball or rebound. He is one of the better rebounding guards in the NBA but today we don’t see him getting to double-digit boards in what could be a limited capacity. Hart is averaging 11.4 rebounds per game in his last 10 games so slightly Under this Total and he has averaged just 7.3 RPG in the last three games of this series.
ASA play on OVER 21.5 Points Pascal Siakam – Indiana Pacers
When you talk about the Pacers, naturally the conversation revolves around Haliburton, but Siakam is the guy you can count on most for scoring in clutch situations. We know Siakam’s usage rate will be high in this elimination game and the Knicks are without their best defender in Anunoby and Josh Hart is not 100%. Siakam had his way in Game 6 with 25-points on 11 of 21 shooting but only played 30 minutes in the Pacers win. He has scored 22+ points against the Knicks in 3 of the last four games and the game he didn’t post a big scoring number was the blowout home win in Game 4 when he played just 22 minutes. Siakam will get his share of looks in this game and should see field goal attempts of 19 which will be enough to push his scoring total Over the number.
NBA Free Bet | Jazz vs Nets Prediction | December 21st 2024
ASA NBA play on Brooklyn Nets -2.5 vs. Utah Jazz, 7 :40PM ET We are going to try and beat the Jazz again tonight when they travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets. Utah is clearly one of the worst teams in the NBA this season and we are betting they don’t win two games in…
NBA Cup Finals Preview | Thunder vs Bucks | Dec 17th 2024
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Milwaukee Bucks: Betting Preview for the Emirates Cup Final Game Overview: Tonight, the much-anticipated Emirates Cup final pits the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Milwaukee Bucks at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Both teams have showcased their prowess throughout the tournament, with the Thunder leading the Western Conference and the…
NBA player prop bets | December 17th 2024 | Emirates Cup Final
ASA NBA PLAYER PROP UNDER 11.5 REBOUND GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO – MILWAUKEE BUCKS Giannis just went over his rebounding prop against the Hawks in Emirates Cup play the other nightwith 14 but Atlanta allows the most rebounds to Power Forwards in the NBA 15.4 per game. Giannis has only been over this total 2 times in…
ASA FREE play on: NY Knicks ML (-140) vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 6PM ET
The 76ers with Joel Embiid barely survived against the Heat in the Play-In game and if it weren’t for a 3-point barrage by Batum (6) they wouldn’t be here right now.
Embiid did not look good and is clearly out of shape after the long layoff from his injury. The Knicks also have the perfect team to attack Embiid who plays drop cover defensively in the pick-n-rolls as they can space the floor with effective shooters.
The home crowd will be a big factor today as the Knicks are 27-14 SU at home this season with an average +/- of +5.9PPG. Home teams in G1 are on a 55-25 SU run in the first round of the playoffs. Much has been said about the Knicks missing Julius Randall, but we don’t feel it’s a huge factor as they have two big bodies in Hartenstein and Robinson to wear down Embiid.
Another big key for New York is that they have OG Anunoby back on the court. The Knicks are 20-3 SU with Anunoby in the lineup this season. NY is 7th in offensive efficiency compared to the 76ers who sit 13th. In terms of defensive efficiency, the Knicks hold an advantage there too ranking 9th versus 11th. New York won 3 of four against the Sixers this season and we expect them to win Game 1 on Saturday.
ASA NBA play on Brooklyn Nets -2.5 vs. Utah Jazz, 7 :40PM ET We are going to try and beat the Jazz again tonight when they travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets. Utah is clearly one of the worst teams in the NBA this season and we are betting they don’t win two games in… Read more: NBA Free Bet | Jazz vs Nets Prediction | December 21st 2024
ASA NBA PLAYER PROP UNDER 11.5 REBOUND GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO – MILWAUKEE BUCKS Giannis just went over his rebounding prop against the Hawks in Emirates Cup play the other nightwith 14 but Atlanta allows the most rebounds to Power Forwards in the NBA 15.4 per game. Giannis has only been over this total 2 times in… Read more: NBA player prop bets | December 17th 2024 | Emirates Cup Final
#469/470 ASA PLAY ON Under 43 Points – Pittsburgh Steelers vs Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday at 4:25 PM ET Two high level defenses rule the day here. The Eagles lead the NFL allowing only 4.7 YPP and since their bye in week 5, they have allowed only 1.29 points per drive which is tops in the… Read more: NFL FREE BET | Steelers vs Eagles Prediction | Dec 15 2024
ASA Free NBA play on Over 233.5 Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz – Friday 9:40PM ET When these two teams have gotten together, they have scored 230+ points in 5 straight games dating back to the start of last season, including a 232 total earlier this season. The Suns just faced two top 11 defenses… Read more: NBA FREE BET | Suns vs Jazz prediction | Dec 13 2024
So, you’re thinking about a future wager on the NBA Championship and you’re not sure who to take? We can help you with some proven statistics that may accurately predict who this year’s Champion may be and rule out the most obvious media darling pretenders.
The backbone of this research is centered around efficiency ratings/rankings compiled through the regular season and is a tool I first discovered in the early 2000’s. Since then, I have seen several variations of my original work from other experts in the field, but here is the authentic version.
The average overall efficiency rating this season in the NBA was 1.153 points scored/allowed per possession. The Boston Celtics were the most efficient offense in the NBA at 1.232 points per possessions while the Minnesota Timberwolves held the best defensive efficiency rating in the league of 1.090 points allowed per/possession. If past history tells us anything, these numbers can be extremely useful in predicting this year’s eventual NBA Champion.
This trend started in 2008-09 when the Finals featured the LA Lakers with head coach Phil Jackson and HOF’er Kobe Bryant, facing the Orlando Magic and a young Dwight Howard. The Lakers won that Finals series in dominating fashion 4 games to 1. The Lakers finished the regular season ranked 3rd in offensive efficiency ratings (OEFF) and 6th in defensive efficiency (DEFF). Orlando had efficiency numbers that ranked them 12th in OEFF and 1st in DEFF. This was the beginning of the “efficiency” NBA Champions.
Below are the NBA Finals Champions and their overall efficiency rankings for the past 15 Championships.
NBA CHAMPIONS FROM 2008 on and OEFF/DEFF regular season efficiency rankings:
2008-09 LA Lakers (OEFF = 3rd, DEFF = 6th)
2009-10 LA Lakers (OEFF = 11th, DEFF = 4th)
2010-11 Dallas Mavericks (OEFF = 8th, DEFF = 7th)
2011-12 Miami Heat (OEFF = 8th, DEFF = 4th)
2012-13 Miami Heat (OEFF = 1st, DEFF = 9th)
2013-14 San Antonio Spurs (OEFF = 7th, DEFF = 3rd)
2014-15 Golden State Warriors (OEFF = 2nd, DEFF = 1st)
2016-17 Golden State Warriors (OEFF = 1st, DEFF = 2nd)
2017-18 Golden State Warriors (OEFF = 3rd, DEFF = 11th)
2018-19 Toronto Raptors (OEFF = 5th, DEFF = 5th)
2019-20 LA Lakers Covid (OEFF = 11th, DEFF = 3rd)
2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks (OEFF = 6th, DEFF = 10th)
2021-22 Golden State Warriors (OEFF = 16th, DEFF = 2nd)
2022-23 Denver Nuggets (OEFF 5th, DEFF = 13th)
EFFICIENCY RATINGS MATTER
You can see for yourself that there have only been two teams that have won a Championship in the last fifteen years that had an (offensive efficiency) OEFF or (defensive efficiency) DEFF NOT in the top 11 for that season. It has been the last two Champs in the Warriors in 21-22 and Nuggets last season. Every team that has won a Championship in the past 15 Finals has specifically had a Defensive Efficiency ranking in the top 13 at the end of the regular season.
Using this model (top 11 OEFF and top 13 in DEFF) to predict this year’s Champion we can eliminate everyone but the following teams: Celtics, Thunder, Nuggets, Knicks, Suns and Pelicans. On the outside looking in is Philadelphia who we know played a portion of the season without an MVP type player in Joel Embiid. The Sixers were 13th in OEFF and 11th in DEFF this season. Another team who we pegged prior to the start of the season at +2500 to win it all, who falls outside of this parameter, is the Mavericks. The Mavs rank 10th in OEFF on the season but don’t qualify defensively, ranking 18th in DEFF for the year. But, since the All-Star break the Mavs defense has been infinitely better, ranking 12th in defensive efficiency allowing 1.134PPP.
2023-24 Regular Season Efficiency Rankings for the Math Model “Contenders”
Boston Celtics: OEFF 1st, DEFF 3rd
Oklahoma City Thunder: OEFF 3rd, DEFF 4th
Denver Nuggets: OEFF 5th, DEFF 8th
NY Knicks: OEFF 7th, DEFF 9th
New Orleans Pelicans: OEFF 11th, DEFF 7th
Phoenix Suns: OEFF 9th, DEFF 13th
Let’s also take into consideration how these teams fared this season against the other top 16 teams in the league.
Celtics 27-14 SU
Thunder 27-18 SU
T’Wolves 26-19 SU
Nuggets 28-18 SU
Knicks 17-23
Suns 23-22
Intriguing options not on the list! – Dallas Mavericks (+1600) or Los Angeles Clippers (+1600)
As we mentioned above the Mavericks would make this list if we tabulated stats from the All-Star break on. Dallas made some moves prior to the trade deadline and brought in PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford which improved their defense dramatically. Offensively this team has two of the best players on the planet, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving who can each single-handedly take over a game on the offensive end of the court. The Clippers go as far as a healthy Kawhi Leonard can take them. Unfortunately, we don’t know Leonard’s status but “Playoff Kawhi” is as good as any player historically in the NBA in the postseason. L.A. is loaded with All-Star level talent with Paul George, James Harden, Russell Westbrook along with Leonard and it wouldn’t surprise us to see them in the Finals. The Clippers ranked 4th in Offensive Efficiency this season but were 16th defensively.
Our Money is on the favorite…BOSTON CELTICS *We had Boston prior to the start of the season at +380*
Everyone talks about a “Big 3” when it comes to NBA Super Teams, but you could argue that the Celtics have a “Big 5” with a starting lineup that includes: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. Let’s not forget to mention the Celtics bench with Sam Hauser, Al Horford, Luke Kornet and Payton Pritchard, just to name a few, who helped Boston have the best bench Net Rating in the NBA at +6.2.
As we previously mentioned, the Celtics had the best record in the NBA against the top 16 teams in the league this season at 27-14. They ranked 1st in OEFF and 3rd defensively. The Celtics had the best average Margin of Victory per game at +11.3 overall. Boston won at home by an average of +15.2PPG and had a road average differential of +7.5PPG, all best MOV’s in the league. The Celtics have the advantage of home court throughout the Playoffs where they were near unbeatable. They were 20-4 SU versus other playoff teams on their floor this season. Boston may not have to face either Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Eastern Conference Finals, and even though the Knicks qualify for an Efficiency Championship, we don’t think they are deep enough to beat the Celtics in a 7-game series.
Overall, this shapes up to be one of the best NBA playoffs in a long time and we can’t wait! Best of luck with all your wagers.
ASA NBA play on Brooklyn Nets -2.5 vs. Utah Jazz, 7 :40PM ET We are going to try and beat the Jazz again tonight when they travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets. Utah is clearly one of the worst teams in the NBA this season and we are betting they don’t win two games in… Read more: NBA Free Bet | Jazz vs Nets Prediction | December 21st 2024
ASA NBA PLAYER PROP UNDER 11.5 REBOUND GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO – MILWAUKEE BUCKS Giannis just went over his rebounding prop against the Hawks in Emirates Cup play the other nightwith 14 but Atlanta allows the most rebounds to Power Forwards in the NBA 15.4 per game. Giannis has only been over this total 2 times in… Read more: NBA player prop bets | December 17th 2024 | Emirates Cup Final
#469/470 ASA PLAY ON Under 43 Points – Pittsburgh Steelers vs Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday at 4:25 PM ET Two high level defenses rule the day here. The Eagles lead the NFL allowing only 4.7 YPP and since their bye in week 5, they have allowed only 1.29 points per drive which is tops in the… Read more: NFL FREE BET | Steelers vs Eagles Prediction | Dec 15 2024
ASA Free NBA play on Over 233.5 Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz – Friday 9:40PM ET When these two teams have gotten together, they have scored 230+ points in 5 straight games dating back to the start of last season, including a 232 total earlier this season. The Suns just faced two top 11 defenses… Read more: NBA FREE BET | Suns vs Jazz prediction | Dec 13 2024
ASA NBA free bet on Phoenix Suns (-) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 10PM ET
Scheduling has a lot to do with this NBA free prediction as the Cavs are in a tough spot here having played in Utah last night. Not only that, but the Cavaliers are playing their 3rd game in four days and 4th game in six days. The Suns are rested as their last game came on April 1st, a win in New Orleans.
Phoenix is facing a brutal 3-game stretch coming up against Western Conference contenders which makes this game extremely important.
The Suns are also 14-6 SU with an average +/- of +6.4PPG when they hold a rest advantage over their opponents. Cleveland is 5-7 ATS when playing without rest and has a negative point differential in those games of minus -3.2PPG.
When we evaluate each teams last ten games we find the Suns have a +3.0 Net differential, the Cavs are minus -5.2 AND the Suns have faced a much tougher schedule over that 10-game span. In this must-win situation we like the Suns by double-digits as this NBA free pick.
ASA NBA play on Brooklyn Nets -2.5 vs. Utah Jazz, 7 :40PM ET We are going to try and beat the Jazz again tonight when they travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets. Utah is clearly one of the worst teams in the NBA this season and we are betting they don’t win two games in a row. The Jazz have lost 14 of their last… Read more: NBA Free Bet | Jazz vs Nets Prediction | December 21st 2024
ASA NBA PLAYER PROP UNDER 11.5 REBOUND GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO – MILWAUKEE BUCKS Giannis just went over his rebounding prop against the Hawks in Emirates Cup play the other nightwith 14 but Atlanta allows the most rebounds to Power Forwards in the NBA 15.4 per game. Giannis has only been over this total 2 times in his last 10 games and OKC allows the 4th fewest… Read more: NBA player prop bets | December 17th 2024 | Emirates Cup Final
#469/470 ASA PLAY ON Under 43 Points – Pittsburgh Steelers vs Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday at 4:25 PM ET Two high level defenses rule the day here. The Eagles lead the NFL allowing only 4.7 YPP and since their bye in week 5, they have allowed only 1.29 points per drive which is tops in the NFL during that time. They also limit explosive plays giving… Read more: NFL FREE BET | Steelers vs Eagles Prediction | Dec 15 2024
ASA Free NBA play on Over 233.5 Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz – Friday 9:40PM ET When these two teams have gotten together, they have scored 230+ points in 5 straight games dating back to the start of last season, including a 232 total earlier this season. The Suns just faced two top 11 defenses in the Heat and Magic and will now take advantage… Read more: NBA FREE BET | Suns vs Jazz prediction | Dec 13 2024
ASA NBA free bet on NY Knicks -9.5 vs Detroit Pistons, 7:40PM ET The young Pistons have been competitive this season as an underdog with a 5-3-1 ATS record and an average differential of minus -2.2ppg. The Knicks though have been crushing teams of late with an overall 6-3-1 ATS record as a home favorite this season +15.2ppg. New Yorks last five home games have… Read more: NBA Free Bets today | Pistons vs Knicks Prediction | Dec 7 2024
ASA play on UNDER 223 Denver Nuggets at LA Clippers, 10PM ET The Clippers have become one of the best defensive teams in the NBA this season (hired Jeff Van Gundy as an assistant coach) as they allow the 4th fewest points per possession in the league. L.A. has held 6 of their last seven opponents to less than 100 points, which is unheard of… Read more: Nuggets vs Clippers Prediction | Dec 1 2024 | NBA Free Bet
NBA FREE BET TODAY – MAGIC vs HORNETS Prediction – November 25th 2024 We have learned our lesson of fading the Magic and will back them here against the Hornets as a road favorite. Looking at the Hornets recent schedule we see they were +2-point home dog to the Piston and +4 at home against the Bucks. Neither the Pistons or Bucks rank as high… Read more: ASA NBA free bet | Orlando Magic -5 at Charlotte Hornets | Nov 25
NFL Player Prop Bets – Free prop bets for Sunday, Nov 17th 2024 Ravens Lamar Jackson over 42.5 Rush Yards (-115) Jackson has surpassed 45 rushing yards in seven of his ten games this season. In the previous two weeks he has not needed to use his legs as much, shredding the Broncos and Bengals in the midst of throwing 7 TDs and 0 INTs.… Read more: NFL Player Prop Bets | Nov 17th 2024
ASA free bet on Cincinnati +7.5 at Iowa State – 8pm ET The Bearcats are the play here as the Cyclones have been exposed in their last two games. After starting the season 7-0, Iowa State has come back to Earth with a pair of losses to Texas Tech and Kansas. The Cyclones have a Yards Per Play differential in their last 3 games is… Read more: Cincinnati vs Iowa State Prediction | Nov 16 2024 | Free bet
ASA free NBA bet on: BOSTON CELTICS -7 1ST HALF vs ATLANTA HAWKS – 7PM ET
If you have been betting the Celtics in the 1st half this this you have basically been printing money. Boston is 52-18 ATS in the first halves of games this season
The Cetlics Average Point Differential in the 1st half is best in the NBA at +8.2PPG overall & +7.4PPG on the road.
The Hawks are decimated with injuries right now with starters Trae Young (26.4PPG) and Jalen Johnson (16.1PPG) out here.
Atlanta’s average +/- in the first half ithis season s +1.4PPG.
In two meetings this season the Celtics have led by 4-points (ATL had both Young and Johnson in the lineup) and 13 points (no Johnson) versus the Hawks at the break.
You may want to consider OVER 116 in the 1st half of this game also as a NBA bet. In two meetings they scored 138 and 125 total points and both average more than this number for the season with games involving the Celtics averaging 118.4PPG in the 1st H and games involving the Hawks average 119.4PPG.
ASA’s NBA Free prediction – BOSTON CELTICS (-7) 1st Half / BOSTON/ATLANTA OVER 116 TOTAL POINTS FIRST HALF
ASA NBA play on Brooklyn Nets -2.5 vs. Utah Jazz, 7 :40PM ET We are going to try and beat the Jazz again tonight when they travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets. Utah is clearly one of the worst teams in the NBA this season and we are betting they don’t win two games in… Read more: NBA Free Bet | Jazz vs Nets Prediction | December 21st 2024
ASA NBA PLAYER PROP UNDER 11.5 REBOUND GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO – MILWAUKEE BUCKS Giannis just went over his rebounding prop against the Hawks in Emirates Cup play the other nightwith 14 but Atlanta allows the most rebounds to Power Forwards in the NBA 15.4 per game. Giannis has only been over this total 2 times in… Read more: NBA player prop bets | December 17th 2024 | Emirates Cup Final
#469/470 ASA PLAY ON Under 43 Points – Pittsburgh Steelers vs Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday at 4:25 PM ET Two high level defenses rule the day here. The Eagles lead the NFL allowing only 4.7 YPP and since their bye in week 5, they have allowed only 1.29 points per drive which is tops in the… Read more: NFL FREE BET | Steelers vs Eagles Prediction | Dec 15 2024
ASA Free NBA play on Over 233.5 Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz – Friday 9:40PM ET When these two teams have gotten together, they have scored 230+ points in 5 straight games dating back to the start of last season, including a 232 total earlier this season. The Suns just faced two top 11 defenses… Read more: NBA FREE BET | Suns vs Jazz prediction | Dec 13 2024