The NBA: Where Zig-Zag Happens!

If I had a bookie, I’d be a couple of hundred dollars the richer after last night. All thanks to the Zig-Zag Theory of NBA Playoff Basketball. What’s the Zig-Zag theory, you say? Well, it’s only the simplest and most popular system of betting on postseason basketball. Not surprisingly, the NBA Finals have followed to the Zig-Zag to the “t”. Obviously, experienced gamblers already know all the ins-and-outs of zigging and zagging . This is a watered down version for the young gamblers of tomorrow. If the three of you reading this like it, I’ll come back and expand on the theory later For now, sit back and enjoy a From the Sidelines gambling spectacular… Alright, it’s really only a few hundred words, but still…

Try to stay with me now, the Zig-Zag has one rule: bet for the team that lost the previous game. While that’s simple enough, there are a few caveats.

For example, this only applies to the spread… not outright wins. Also, this only applies to the playoffs. Don’t go betting on November basketball. Just go ahead and check yourself into a gambling addiction clinic – it’ll save you several thousand dollars. Finally, if a team loses against the spread and loses the game outright, the power of the Zig-Zag is often enhanced. Take a look at this NBA Finals if you don’t believe me.

Game 1 @ LA, LA -6.5 (Lakers favored by six and a half points): The Lakers come out of the home gate blazing and stomp the Celtics, easily covering the six point spread.

Game 2 @ LA, LA -6 (Lakers favored by six): A proud veteran Celtics club evens the series and beats the spread, despite being a six point underdog. Why? Because they lost against the spread (and lost the game) the night before. In this game, people betting with the Zig-Zag theory (money on the Celtics) actually lowered the line a half point.

Game 3 @Boston, Boston -2.5 (Celtics favored by 2.5): The perfect Zig-Zag game. Celts lose game one and don’t cover the spread. They come back in game two to not only cover the spread, but win outright. Now, LA lost against the spread and lost outright in the previous game. What happens? LA covers the spread and wins outright.

My advice? Bet the spread according to the Zig-Zag. If a team loses both against the spread and outright AND is an underdog in the next game (see LA, Game 3), bet both the spread and the money line... You could hit it big, but if the dog wins against the spread, but loses the game… you still hedged your bets.