Are you new to betting on basketball? As such a fast-paced and exciting sport, basketball is great for watching and betting on. But, if you are new to this, you are going to want to learn the best ways to bet first. This is going to ensure that you avoid rookie mistakes and losing money. So, let’s take a look at some mistakes a lot of first-timers make so that you can avoid them.

Not Paying Attention to Injuries

There are always going to be breaking news stories when it comes to basketball. This is not something you want to ignore, as this news could affect the outcome of a game and a bet you have made. Mainly, we are talking about injuries. You need to pay attention and look at injuries a team suffers prior to betting on a game. For instance, if star players are not going to be featuring, this might affect the team’s chances of winning. This will disrupt the bet that you have made. If you see that good players are questionable for a match, you might want to think again before you place a bet.

Not Considering the Schedules

Let’s not forget that basketball teams play a lot of games in a season. In fact, there are 82 games to play in the NBA. Let’s not forget that there can also be preseason games and other occasions. Basketball players are human and having this type of busy schedule will affect them both physically and mentally. This is something that fans forget when the teams are playing. Before you make a bet, you need to check the team’s schedule. If they have just had a long stretch of games, the players might be fatigued. This is something you need to remember when you are enjoying online sports betting to lower your potential risk and increase your potential gain.

Forgetting about the Location

Another consideration you have to make is home-court advantage. In other words, basketball teams can perform better when they are playing in front of their own fans and on courts that they know well. This can make an average team better when they have support behind them by their fans. Often, bettors do not take this into account and it can upset the bets they have made. Thus, before you make a bet, take a look at where a team is playing and if there is an advantage.

Listening to Personal Opinions

If you are a fan of basketball, you are going to have your own personal opinions about the games. But, it is important to put these thoughts to one side when you are betting. This is because personal biases you have toward a team or player can mean that you ignore the facts when it comes to making a bet. You have to go with your head and not your heart on this one. This is why a lot of people do not bet on their favourite basketball team. It can create a false reality for who you think will win.