Mastering Build a Bet: Strategies for Same Game Betting this NBA Season

As the excitement builds for the upcoming NBA season, fans and bettors alike are eager to explore new ways to engage with their favourite teams and players. One of the most thrilling options available at Sportingbet is the Build a Bet feature, which allows you to create same-game bets tailored to your predictions for specific matches. Whilst similar betting options have gained popularity in recent years, mastering the strategy behind them can significantly enhance your betting experience. Let’s take a closer look at the key strategies you’ll need in order to make the most of your Build a Bet experience this NBA season.

A Build a Bet enables you to combine multiple outcomes from a single game into one wager. This means you can bet on various events, such as point totals, player performances, and even team outcomes, all within the same game. When you combine these outcomes into a Build a Bet, the odds increase significantly, resulting in much higher payouts than you would get betting on the outcomes separately. 

Let’s look at an example: you might wager on the moneyline for the Dallas Mavericks to beat the Golden State Warriors while also betting on Luka Doncic to score over 30 points and Steph Curry to make under four three-pointers. Combining these into a Build a Bet increases the odds making for a much better bet. 

While the allure of higher payouts is significant, it’s important to remember that every leg of your Build a Bet must be correct for you to win. Build a Bets are a high risk, high reward bet. This makes it essential to approach Build a Bets with a well-thought-out strategy.

When placing a Build a Bet, it's important to note that individual leg odds are not displayed on site; instead, you will only see the combined odds for all selected legs in your bet on your betslip. This means that while you can evaluate the overall potential payout for your wager, you won’t have visibility into the specific odds associated with each outcome you’ve chosen. The combined odds reflect the likelihood of all events happening together, which is generally higher than the individual odds due to the increased complexity of hitting multiple outcomes correctly. Therefore, while it can be tempting to focus solely on the combined odds, understanding how each leg interacts and contributes to the overall bet is crucial for making informed wagering decisions.

When constructing your Build a Bet, one effective strategy is to select correlated outcomes. Correlated bets are events that are likely to influence each other. For instance, if you bet on the Mavericks to win by a certain margin, it’s reasonable to assume that Luka Doncic will need to have a standout performance for them to secure that win. Therefore, pairing the Mavericks' victory with Doncic scoring over 30 points creates a logical connection.

Example:
Imagine a game where the Mavericks are facing the Warriors. You could bet on:

• Mavericks to win (+5.5)
• Luka Doncic Over 30.5 points
• Kyrie Irving Over 5.5 assists

In this case, if the Mavericks win, it’s likely that Doncic has played a key role in that victory, potentially scoring over 30 points and Irving assisting in making plays.

Before placing a Build a Bet, it's crucial to do your homework. Analyse recent team performances, player statistics, and any relevant injury reports. Look for trends in how teams play against each other, especially in high-stakes games.

Example:
If the Miami Heat are up against the Boston Celtics, research the history of their matchups. If the Celtics historically struggle against the Heat’s defence, you might consider:

• Heat to win (+3.5)
• Jimmy Butler Over 25.5 points
• Jaylen Brown Under 4.5 three-pointers

By understanding how the teams perform against each other, you can make informed choices about which outcomes are most likely.

While correlated bets can improve your chances, uncorrelated outcomes can offer longer odds and potentially higher payouts. An uncorrelated Build a Bet might include betting on the Mavericks to win by a specific margin, Luka Doncic to score under 30 points, and Steph Curry to make over four three-pointers.

Example:
In a game against the Golden State Warriors, you might bet on:

• Mavericks +4.5
• Luka Doncic Under 28.5 points
• Steph Curry Over 4.5 three-pointers

This bet is uncorrelated because the assumption that the Mavericks can win doesn’t correlate to  Doncic having a lesser scoring game, nor does it relate to Curry excelling with his shooting.

The NBA season is an exhilarating time for basketball fans and bettors, and Sportingbet's Build a Bet feature opens up a world of opportunities for same-game betting. By implementing strategies such as selecting correlated outcomes, conducting thorough research, being mindful of odds, and including uncorrelated legs, you can enhance your chances of making successful bets.