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NBA Basketball Handicapper Bob Wingerter shares his hoops handicapping philosophy.

When comparing basketball to football, the first thing we notice is that the ball is round and its behavior is a lot easier to control. Basketball playing surfaces are different from football fields. In basketball, the floor is smooth, compared to grass and artificial surfaces of various textures. Also, in some cases, there are weather fluctuations in football. Basketball is played indoors and this makes a difference in the player's footing. There are less men on a basketball team and only 5 play at a time. In football, there are many more men on a team. A minimum of 30 men will be in a game and there are 22 men on the field at a time.

There have been some obvious trends in the NBA in recent years. The best way to keep a coaching job is to average 50 wins, but there are many reasons for the turnover. Compared with the number of teams in the early 1970s, the NBA has expanded greatly, making it all the more difficult to win a championship. The media scrutinizes the coaches and constantly puts them under pressure. Today, high-priced players are more likely to complain to the management about their coaches or threaten to become free agents if they don't get what they want. The bottom line is money. Teams pay a lot more for players than they do for coaches. It is easier to change coaches than players. Old owners paid very little for teams while new owners pay very big amounts. They want results much quicker.

Another trend is the proliferation of the 3-point shot. With its rise, the fast break and mid range jumpshot, have become lost arts. The big men who dominanted the game, back in the1970s, are almost nonexistent today. The average number of points per game has dropped dramatically, as the majority of threes still clang off the rim. The NBA originally adopted a 3-point shot before the 1979-80 season, to give the league a boost.

Basic NBA Basketball Handicapping Rules