NBA Schedule and Betting on Basketball

The 2008-09 NBA betting schedule has been released and it's going to be one of the best campaigns online sports betting fans have ever seen. The regular season tips off on Tuesday, Oct. 28 with a doubleheader that can be seen on TNT beginning at 8:00pm EST.

First, the defending champion Boston Celtics, who finished last season with an NBA-best SU (straight up) record of 66-16, will unveil their 17th championship banner prior to taking the floor at the TD Banknorth Garden against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen contributed to an ATS (against the spread) record of 52-28-2, which was also an NBA-best. The Celtics second-strongest defense of last year will have the daunting task of shutting down James who was last season's scoring king. His 30 points per game was key to the Cavs' 45-37 SU and 37-45 ATS record.

Boston last defeated the Cavs in a seven-game quarter-final series in last year's postseason, but Cleveland covered the spread in six of those contests. During the regular season the two split four games SU with Cleveland taking the cash in three.

The second game at 10:30pm EST features the visiting Portland Trail Blazers and reigning MVP Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. This will mark the regular season debut of Portland center Greg Oden, who was the top overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft but missed his entire rookie year after undergoing knee surgery last September.

Oden's return should help the Blazers improve on last season's 41-41 SU and 43-39 ATS mark. The Blazers, who are on the road for 16 of their first 24 games, play 10 of their 14 Western Conference opponents four times each in 2008-09 and would love to start off the season with a victory against the Lakers, who went 57-25 SU and 47-33-1 ATS last regular season.

The first full slate of online NBA betting takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 29 with 12 games, including the NBA’s return to Oklahoma City, when the former Seattle franchise welcomes the Milwaukee Bucks to the Ford Center at 8:00pm EST. On the same evening, ESPN’s game coverage begins with a doubleheader, starting at 8:00pm EST as Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs host the Phoenix Suns Shaquille O’Neal. The nightcap features an intra-city battle as the revamped Los Angeles Clippers host the Lakers at 10:30pm EST.

A date you will want to circle on your calendar is Thursday, Nov. 6, as former Rookies of the Year, Elton Brand leads the new-look Philadelphia 76ers into Orlando to take on Dwight Howard’s Magic at 8:00pm EST on TNT. The Magic also are scheduled for a Thanksgiving Day game, again on national television, at Washington. Orlando reached the second round of the playoffs and won 50 games for the first time in 12 years last season.

For the first time ever, NBA bettors will be treated to five nationally televised games on Christmas. The Christmas excitement begins on ESPN at Noon EST when the Magic play host to the Hornets, who were among the league’s best road teams last season. That game will be followed by the Suns hosting the Spurs at 2:30pm EST and the Celtics renewing their rivalry against the Lakers at 5:00pm EST, both on ABC. At 8:00pm EST, James and the Cavs host Gilbert Arenas and the Wizards on TNT, who will also serve up a nightcap between hosting Portland and Dirk Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks.