The NBA’s restart of the 2019-2020 season is slated to commence on July 31st. Many avid fans and bettors have waited for over three months after the season was halted because of the coronavirus pandemic. And on July 31st, they get to watch exciting games to make bets and win money once again.

These are unusual times, as games will be played in one location, there will be no live fans in attendance, and only 22 teams will play in a different seeding format which will determine which teams will qualify for the playoffs. Although such is the case, the league will resume and so will the betting public. Since there are changes in the format of the season, there are also shifts in the betting scene as well.

As part of the betting public, you have to make adjustments in your strategy to adapt to these changes. To assist in making these adjustments, this article will provide you with an NBA season restart betting guide that includes tips on how to approach betting with the new format, and other important stuff that you should know. Once you know what it is you are doing, you are going to need to find a site to place your bets on — you can click here to discover some the best online sports books in the US!

Restart Betting Tips

Accordingly, if you are a fan of Online sports betting, here are some tips that might help you when placing bets once the NBA season resumes:

• Do not rely on past statistics

Stats and data are key in making good decisions in sports betting. As the old adage goes: “Numbers do not lie,” and indeed that is the case in basketball. But after that long time-off and this new format, this may as well be a brand new season. It is better to rely on what will happen in the games from July 31st and onwards than to base your decisions on the numbers before the season was postponed. You will be tempted by most online betting websites, as all the stats and data from previous games will be available, but it is better if you just focus on what is currently on the site that you are betting on such as the Philippine sportsbook.

• Bet the under

This is another tip that factors in the long time-off. If you are a longtime fan, then you know nothing can replicate the fitness of playing a real competitive game than all the things the players did to simulate it. It will only be natural that most of the players that will be playing will be rusty. They will be trying to get their groove back at least in the first couple of games, so it will be wise to consider betting the under.

• Past favorites will have less of an advantage

A hiatus can also make or break the situation of the competing teams. All teams are well-rested, but the groups that the lower-seeded teams will benefit from it the most, because not only did they have some rest, but they also get to refocus and recharge mentally. Teams who were winning and had momentum when the season got postponed might not be as sharp as they were.

• No home court advantage means games will be tougher to predict

Now all the teams are competing on a leveled playing field. There is no home-court advantage to feed off from. It is natural for bettors to favor those who have the home-court advantage, but not with this restart format. Under these current circumstances, the underdog will become the more appealing bet, but always think and analyze before placing yours on them.

8th Seed Contenders

Now we talk about the popular NBA wagers, and we will begin with who will qualify in the playoffs as the 8th seed each conference. According to the simulated numbers by Numberfire that were based on the odds put in place by FanDuel, the Orlando Magic (-125) and the Memphis Grizzlies (-160) will likely be claiming the 8th seed and move on to the playoffs.

Eastern Conference Champions

The heavy favorites to win the Eastern Conference and play in the NBA Finals are still the number one team on it, the Milwaukee Bucks. The defending champions Toronto Raptors are next in line to likely conquer the East, with their simulated percentage going up 3% higher than before the break.

Western Conference Champions

The price that FanDuel put on two teams to likely win the West was identical. Both Los Angeles teams are favored to come out on top of the West, but it’s the Clippers that have a higher chance of winning over the Lakers, according to Numberfire’s simulation.

Finals Matchup

The Milwaukee Bucks facing the Los Angeles Lakers are listed at a 25% probability as the top possible finals matchup. Other matchups with positive value are Bucks vs. Dallas Mavericks and the Raptors vs. the Lakers.

Wrapping Up

Wherever you will be betting, keep in mind to always think carefully before putting your money at stake. It may be a restart, and things are different, but the betting game still works the same. The better the strategy you have, the better chances you have of winning.