Some NBA teams have higher expectations than others do when it comes to winning games at home and on the road just as some of them do a better job of meeting or exceeding those expectations than others. The elite basketball teams like the Lakers, the Mavericks, and the Celtics are expected to win just about every time they take the floor and most times, they do. However, just because a basketball team is good and wins far more often than not does not mean that they do well against the spread. When betting on basketball, it is important to stay away from those elite teams that do not cut it against the point spread.
Few of us can pose a valid argument against the Lakers being considered the best basketball team in the NBA. The Lakers arguably have the best player in the league in Kobe Bryant and is surrounded by one of the best supporting casts in the league and they are coached by one of the best minds in the game. The Lakers win over 75% of their games and nearly 90% of their games that are played at home. Despite the 75% overall win rate, the Los Angeles Lakers have won less than half their games when pitted against the spread. In fact, the Lakers have won only 43% of their games against the spread and 50% ATS at home. Such a huge difference in performance suggests that teams such as the Lakers have unrealistic expectations thrust upon them by the betting public. Basketball bettors expect the Lakers to be bulletproof and bet them accordingly.
The Lakers are not alone, however. Other top tier NBA basketball betting teams such as the Mavs fall into the same boat. The Mavericks sport a 67% win rate straight up, yet they have won less than 50% of their games ATS and less than 33% of their home games ATS at home. Not far behind is the Boston Celtics, who have won over 70% of their games straight up, yet only 46% of their games ATS.
When betting powerhouse teams in the NBA, it makes sense that the betting public has unrealistic expectations on these elite teams. A person betting on the top NBA teams are best served avoiding the point spread, unless betting against them or betting the money line if you cannot seem to avoid betting on the team at all.