Betting angles differ from regular season

The NBA’s second season has begun, which means playoff basketball is in full effect. This also means the next few months will be jam- packed with great opportunities to wager on exciting games. Sure, you’ll have to make these bets in Nevada or online ( betting on sports technically is illegal in California), but with the right picks and a little luck, you might win some serious coin.

As always, the key to winning is bets that offer the most value. Here are some pointers:

Defense wins championships:

Scoring is at a premium in the playoffs as most teams ratchet up their defense, which generally means lower game totals — especially when compared with the totals teams put up during the regular season. Oddsmakers know this and hang lines a bit lower. Still, for games involving the best defensive teams ( such as the Warriors), there could be value in betting the under on inflated totals.

Never underestimate homecourt advantage:

If you’re itching to pick a series upset, take into account which teams are playing where. And if you’re contemplating favorites to cover on individual games, note that it’s more likely for them to do so on their own respective floors ( unless, of course, they’re playing underdogs who don’t play great at home).

Consider the props:

With stars such as Stephen Curry, James Harden and LeBron James, this year’s postseason likely will witness stellar scoring performances. If your sports book offers proposition bets on high scorer for a game or series, consider one of these wagers as a way to diversify your action if the matchup is favorable.

Don’t discount experience:

No matter how good a team might look on paper, that team may falter if it lacks experience in big games. This is why so many bettors are sour on the Atlanta Hawks: Yes, they had a great season, but they have very little playoff experience as a unit. Sometimes the right odds can make up for a risky wager on an inexperienced team. In other instances, it might be wise to stay away.

We’d be remiss to write about the playoffs without sharing some picks, and, at the risk of sounding like total homers, we’re tabbing the Dubs to win it all. That said, look out for Chicago in the East. You can thank us in June.