 This is covering the spread part of the Fandall podcast network One more day left in the NBA all-star break then beat they begin things out of the break on Thursday So one final time left to talk some futures before the second half of the season gets underway and to talk about the NBA For today is a familiar voice talking about a new sport. That's Ryan Williams We're gonna have Ryan on today talk about some NBA for the first time first of many I am sure we're talking about his NBA betting process talk about some futures coming out of the all-star break and let you know Where he sees value right now over at Fandall sportsbook This is covering the spread right here on the Fandall podcast network and Fandall research My name is Jim Sonnis I am a managing editor of digital media for Fandall research Joined here is mentioned by Ryan Williams check them out on Twitter at Ryan Alexander. I just scored w of course No, Ryan from NFL season here on it covering the spread But now talking some NBA as well Ryan It's fun to get you on the show here during the NFL all season to how you doing today. I'm doing great Jim I can't believe we still got one more day one more day before we can get back into the NBA NBA streets For for the rest of the season, but yeah, no, I'm excited to be here excited to talk to you as always It was a fun NFL season for us And why don't we just parlay that into the NBA season? Maybe baseball when that kicks off here and just over a month Which is crazy. Yeah, I should say but yeah, man We we're happy to get after it and let's let's have at it I'm not sure I'm quite ready for baseball yet Still need some like more chill time post NFL cuz like Daytona 500 week is not a rest week for me That's like a chaos week So I need a couple more like chill weeks and then I can talk I can get back into strikeout props and stuff like that for baseball So I got to get warmed up first, you know, send me at the bullpen Give me warmed up a bit that we can do that for sure, but excited to talk some NBA for you How are you killing time during the all-star break because there's no NFL right now? Not sure if you're a hockey guy, but for me, it's been a little dead in a good way Yeah, no it is and you know, it's always funny, you know, especially Jim Talking about significant other right you like wife, you know, she knows football like basketball If he's it comes around she's used to that but now it's getting into the scenarios She's like why why is NASCAR on the TV? Doing here, like are you really that big of a D gen or yes, it looks like it's the Daytona 500 Like there's literally nothing else going on. They moved it to a Monday, which was you know, even more stellar It was like let's go. Let's get after it because you're not Competing with all-star weekend and things like that. So yeah, man, it was it's it's fun You know, it's especially to dabble in the sports you know where One it's you know, I feel like NASCAR is kind of picked up steam You know, there's a way that you attack the dates on a 500 and things like that And people are getting more into it, but then you know to else It's just it's just better for the community with eyeballs just being on you know DFS in general and I just feel like, you know It's a little bit of fun to to be able to have especially when it's a sport that you don't cover Because you look at things differently Especially when you see something like a crash with you know, whatever was eight laps to go or whatever that completely changes the state Like those are the things and types of variances that I love Jim So I hated it because Ryan Blaney was in it or I'm Martin tricks junior was in it. It was the worst for me That was Don't you worry, but still like the sweat like, you know, what what kind of you know sport like that Can you have a sweat, you know all the way down to it multiple? You know lineup changes and things changing in first like I'm the type of person that I try not to watch my line ups You know until it's kind of all over NBA. You got to be paying attention, but like with Daytona It's like you could drive yourself. Oh, yeah, I'm just checking in on that lineup the whole time So got a way to win so step one is getting you to watch Daytona step two Before you know it Ryan's me grinding truck series top five bets. So just if it's around the corner I guarantee it our job for today is talk some NBA futures because big inflection point in the season as things ramp up and Team's kind of buckled down coming out the all-star break We'll talk to Ryan about the Milwaukee Bucks seeing if this is a good spot to buy low on them Or if they're just gonna keep on doing what they've been doing recently We'll talk about NBA finals markets couple divisional markets and the MVP as well But first a reminder to make sure you're subscribed to the covering the spread podcast feed wherever you get your podcast We are here every weekday Monday through Friday breaking down whatever it may be NBA NHL NASCAR formula one just around the corner EPL all right here in this exact same place So go subscribe to the covering the spread podcast feed wherever you get your podcast If you like what you hear leave us a five star rating on Apple podcast or Spotify and you can check us out on the Fandal YouTube page and Fandal TV plus if you want some PGA thoughts for this weekend You can find those by going to the number fire daily fantasy podcast the heat check podcast myself Brandy Kedula breaking out of favorite bets and daily fantasy plays for this weekend in Mexico open at Vedanta Vallarta Get buckets with your first bet on Fandal America's number one sports book because right now new customers get $150 in bonus bets with any winning $5 bet That's 150 bucks if your first bet wins bet on all your favorite NBA players and teams with quick bets live same game parlades Exclusive props and more just visit the Fandal app and shoot your shot Fandal official sportsbook partner of the NBA must be 21 plus And president select states first online real money wager only $10 first deposit required Bonus issued is now a drawable bonus bets that expire seven days after receipt state terms at sportsbook.fandal.com Fandal is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with kansas star casino llc gambling problem Call 1-800 gambler over to fandal.com slash rg in colorado iowa michigan new jersey ohio pennsylvania illinois kentucky tennessee virginia and vermont Call 1-800 next step or text next step to five three three four two an arizona 188 789 7777 Over the ccpg.org slash chat and connecticut 1-800 nine with it in indiana 1-800 522 4700 visit ks gambling health.com in kansas 1 877 770 stop in louisiana visit md gambling health.org in maryland 1-800 gambler.net in west virginia 1-800 522 4700 in wyoming hope is here visit gambling helpline ma.org or call 100 3 2 7 50 50 for 24 7 support in massachusetts or call 1 877 hoping y or text hoping y in new york Now ryan this is the first time we've had you wanted to talk nba So i want to dig into your process a bit here first before we talk about that and kind of get get your Read of you as an nba better first are you primarily a prop better because that's a lot of overlap with daily fantasy Are you checking out sides and totals? Well, what's your primary? Look when it comes to nba betting yeah, so Kind of touched on this when we were just kind of shooting the stuff Just talking about what we do in general uh in this kind of lowl time and for me it it does lean You know more more of the player props and you know getting an action on there We kind of talked about that in the nfl season as well too Like that's that's kind of my lean the market's kind of gotten sharper In the nfl on sides and totals and you can still find advantages, you know in the prop market area Especially on you know on rookies on guys who are just coming in and with nba You know, it's kind of it's it's a usage game and like this is one of the unique aspects where like it's so Individualized that that's that's where I feel like the money is on on these props You know if you can get if in the news is just carrying it all day, right? So you know first i'm looking at you know the state of the slate like the night before And like you know is is the team going to be on a back-to-back like did something happen in the game that like might Prevent somebody from playing or something like that and you try and weigh those options there And then look at the props that are being set, you know early on in the day And then if you can get you know early on news Oh, somebody's going to be sitting out and yeah people might think that that's the delay corollary Oh, who's going to be the next starter, but that actually you know, okay the erin fox is going to be Okay, like i'm looking at some bonus assist totals like immediately You know and that it thinks that nature because you want to see who the ancillary guys are It's been huge and filly right with joel and bead being out and like just hammering on to bias harris props And tyrese max's props there at the beginning like we're we're very valuable I mean even kelly uvray was stepping up to the fold and so that that's where it gets exciting for me Is to like take those pieces and it is kind of like a correlation with dfs you hit on a gem For me if I am playing dfs, it's like looking at who i'm going to be rostering And then where where are the props coming in at like where can I find advantages here? Like who are the matchups against? Oh, this is a tough defensive rating. Am I going to be getting In on some three-point props. Um, it just is so fun to be looking at it in that standpoint Very kind of nerdy analytically, but um, it's a lot more fun Then than taking the sides and totals. It's been it's been you know pretty pretty sharp and pretty tough with sides and totals, you know as of late there's there's been a lot of A lot of good teams who who've been able to cover um this year who are bottom of the barrel still but uh But yeah, I love getting on the prop side of things with when it comes to NBA Yeah with sides and totals always very liquid markets a lot of money in those markets It's gonna be tough to bet those unless you are very good at it Which is why a lot of people don't bother and I don't blame them honestly I tend to like those markets quite a bit for nfl specifically Uh, I like betting money lines for baseball, but that's my individual process I know for a lot of people there are a lot more markets you can take advantage of in the nba When it comes to player props So giving yourself more outlets where the books may make a mistake That's always what you want to do and give yourself more chances for that So I think for a lot of casual bettors or people who are just getting into this Or if you're like ryan and come from a daily fantasy background props are going to be a really good avenue for Thinking about the game in a pretty logical way But still finding some hopefully good value out there as well Now ryan, let's kick things off here by talking about your local team I know you're not a bucks fan, but you do live up in Milwaukee So let's talk about the bucks because interesting team right now things have been a little shaky since dock rivers took over They're plus 650 to win the nba finals and they're three to one to win the east Now you can pitch this two ways it could be hey, it's a good buy low spot Because they're struggling. We know the town is there, etc Or it could be Raro Things ain't great. Which side do you fall on here at the box? Is it a stay away for you buy low time? What's your read on them as things stand right now? Yeah, then the number is getting you know to the point where it is really nice This has kind of been like a stay away kind of venture for me But when we're looking at six and a half to one when you're thinking about how they open the gear With boston being being the favorite there I think it is interesting because the east is the east is wide open and you know We'll talk about that in a little bit jim, but you know with it being that wide open like yeah You have two of the top 75 players to ever play the game on your roster right now like You know damn the coach like these guys can go out there and do it just about against anybody, right? And I think that you know the thing for them is that they're going to have to stay healthy I mean they really cannot afford I'm an injury to a key piece chris middleton has been you know banged up and they're really going to need him come play Out of time like you know if anything happens to damien or are you honest to miss significant time like that That's going to be you know tough sledding for them. So I do think they need to dig deep I do think as as well that they are in a hole that they need to figure out how to dig themselves out of because the you know the The spotlight is not going to change on them. And I think they got a really nice reprieve You know they had the the Memphis fallout right before all-star break where the sky is falling and then all of a sudden You know you got Damian Lillard showing out in the all-star The all-star game the three-point contest Yanis is you know, they're right there with them Um, and it's a lot of pressure on this team a lot of pressure on Yanis You know he kind of you know Wanted wanted a change and talked about competing for championships and multiple championships And that's why I'm going to stay here. And so you know, I am You know going to want to see them kind of put it to paper now when you're talking thinking about You know people want the with the stats and this historical data and things like that Like you don't need to look any further than doc Doc Rivers resume in the playoffs like that does not give me any like credence to want to be betting on this team in any capacity when it comes to a championship Now I see you have the east conference winner odds pulled up there like three to one to win the east You know now you start to see that there is some Correlation in merit to why they are six and a half to one to to win the finals there because you know, I still think that price is fair I think that's the right price for them in the eastern conference So if I was trying to take a long shot on them, I would just I would try and just lean on the six and a half versus the three to one there To win the finals, but yeah, I think they I think they are in a little bit of predicament And they are going to have to lean on these superstars and we'll see if they can get it done But right now I feel like for me it's creeping to the point where I want to get in a sprinkle But it's been a stay away from me until they can you know, put show show me something and put it together How close is it to being a buy for you like if they were to get out to plus 750 or so Would that be a spot where you'd be willing to fire or is that still You still want to see it on the court before you officially buy in Yeah, I think 7 7 58 would definitely make me think about it for sure. Um, you know, I feel you know, I I tend to feel like Especially if they come out like here's the thing Jim It's like you're gonna have to it's chicken and egg right? So I feel like if they come out of the all-star break like right now There's all the hype if they can if they lose like one or two of those games But they're looking solid or that you know, they're getting beat at the end or whatever But that kind of changes the mood on people and we can get that seven and a half I'll be willing to take on take that on Um, you know before there is some type of like injury or something like that because you're just going to lose all that value But uh, but yeah, I'll be monitoring it for sure. Um, it it is just tough I mean, it's a tough storyline that that's been going on here But you know, they like I said, they do have perennial talents Doc rivers is that type of coats like the the playoffs are not in question necessarily It's just how far are they going to go and you know Stop throwing you guys into the bus and I don't want to see them rally around it But this is a player's league and so the players have the chance to you know Combat any issues that they are having yeah bad vibes for sure But we'll see how things turn there for the box So not quite a value to plus 650 but worth monitoring to see If things turn around or if that number does extend a bit further The Celtics current favorites to win the NBA finals They're a plus 230 fall by the nugget nuggets at plus 440 any value for you in the NBA finals market right now ryan Uh value wise just because of how wide open it is You know, we have to look at some of these other eastern conference teams And you know, the nicks have been so stellar and I feel like you know at them and it's 20 to 1 now I believe it was 18 to 1 a couple days ago if i'm not mistaken So, you know even the longer shot odds, but um jaylon brunson's been absolutely incredible and the team's been absolutely incredible Albeit with julius randall not being in the picture now You know, there's the caveat there for anybody that's followed the nicks any closely during julius randall's tender like Ten year he has not been able to show up, you know come crunch time and come playoffs And you know, I've seen the argument out there is this team a better team without julius randall I don't necessarily believe that Um, hopefully he's been you know, he's going through his recovery period and wants to get in on the action Because I feel like he's just such a vital piece for coming back in there It just makes them so much, you know, the depth there would just be incredibly insane They could possibly get og and an obi back who they you know traded for this year and and I just You know like the roster and you know, there's always that you got to have that guy Who just can show up at the end of the games and really close it out for you and that's jaylon And the rest of the team is pretty deep and they played the top teams in the east Fairly well as well too. So I I do like getting some action long shot on on the nicks, which is kind of weird to say Give him recent history, but you know, this definitely is a new look team and thibodeau has some Playoff coaching experiences as well for a long time. So he's definitely got these guys ready to go Yeah, it sounds like randall's still not clear to practice as of yet But he's getting close to that in an obi said he'll be back for the playoffs as well So tlan's playing pretty decently right now and should be getting some key pieces back for that playoff run Could potentially key them. So ryan is on the nicks at 20 to 1 to win the nba finals Let's talk about a pretty fun divisional race right now. Maybe this is selfish as a closet timber wolves fan, but uh, let's talk here about the north west division where right now the wolves are minus 125 Thunder or plus 190 nuggets are plus 380. Obviously the regular season up the biggest emphasis for the nuggets Which is why that number is a bit longer, but wolves are playing pretty well any value for you in This divisional race right now ryan Yeah, the thunder have been really, uh, you know, just an impressive story I mean just knowing where they where they were a couple years ago Compiling draft picks and and getting a roster like this and you love, you know Love how chat home grins been playing and it is unfortunate just because wimby Is just wimby, uh, and he probably has the award locked up already But um chat at five to one is still pretty interesting just with what he's been averaging over the course of the year So I do I do like the thunder Um, you know the thing about denver and I think most people will look at this and be like How are we not just slamming their odds right now at plus 380? There is a decent enough gap there and I the other thing just comes down to it is I I just don't know that um Jokic and and this team like really even they don't seem they just kind of going through the motions right now They're defending champs and like I think they know what they have and and they're fine with that Like they're they're gonna be in games, but they're also like Going to take games off and they're just like we'll just get to the postseason We know what roster we have we want to get in there healthy and we'll figure it out And so, you know, they're sitting at four right now, uh, right right behind the clippers in in the western conference in general And I think they'll kind of stay, you know, kind of stay that path But these younger teams are are really hungry you can tell I mean the timbers are just taking the they're just taking the bull by the horns They're taking the regular season so seriously I think chris pinch deserves some nods at you know, uh coach of the year If this really keeps up and anthony edwards has been great. The two bigs has been working out, which I was very, uh I was not a fan of um, but I was anybody in minnesota. Believe me. Yeah Um, and I think for me, you know, why why I still like the timber wolves, um Is the you know, even though at the end of games, I think, you know, they they have a pretty they don't have a great offensive rating You know come in the fourth quarter, but they're defensive rating like they're number two in the league They were number two in the league for the last six games going into the going into the all-star break And I think they have the number one defensive rating Um for for sometimes so that that's that's really what it comes down for me Is if they can get this offense figured out, but this is such a good team You know kindly there with the with the experience that he has go bear You know some of the experience that he has to to kind of get these younger guys and the way anthony edwards has been playing The 125 in minus 125 is favorable. I'd be willing to you know pay the pay the buck on that Yeah, where things stand right now The wolves have a one and a half game lead over the thunder in the northwest The nuggets three games backs and not a huge deficit there, but as you mentioned They have bigger goals and they're trying to gear things up for the post season. That's their big emphasis Whereas the wolves like it's been a long time since they've gotten you know Been able to Be in a good position entering the playoffs So I understand why they're going all out during the regular season as well But uh, so I interested in dynamics there as always when it comes to divisional betting But uh, ryan does think the wolves could be a value of minus 125 right now Let's wrap things up here by talking mvp We're right now. Nikola yokic is minus 125 to win the award Sga sitting a plus 210 then it dips all the way down to luka at plus 8 50 When you look at this market ryan any players you're willing to bet right now or Is is it really kind of just too dependent on how hard yokic decides to go down the stretch here? I mean, yeah yokic kind of controls his own destiny here I do think it is it is kind of funny that Embiid goes out and so we just Clearly we just make yokic the next favorite because he's the big and he's to do it I mean his his numbers have still been there But you can tell like this the you know the way this Denver team has been playing that like he's just kind of going out there You know through the motions they've had a couple like Snap foods and lapses and first halves where you know, they've kind of needed to get it together down towards the end Which and and just the nature of the award like giving yokic the award again I feel like they're gonna They're they're gonna be trying to find ways to not have this be the case And so, you know, shea if he's carrying his team strong At 2 to 2 to 1 definitely like that, you know And you're looking at the thumb the thunder to win the north we the northwest At 195 but you could get shea at plus 210 there if he's willing to you know go for the number one seed I think there has to merit luke is also interesting at at 8 and a half I mean he his team is a little bit far down there in the standing so he would need to really Get some wins piled up for for him to you know Be in that consideration But it's still 8 and a half to 1 and the numbers that he's been putting up have been Absolutely ridiculous kairi's only played in 33 games this season Like we all know that it's his team and he has to carry on this team And I feel like adding pieces like gafford and pj washington will only help to like pettus That's and actually help with the with the win totals as they create a little bit more depth there So he he is an interesting one for me as well, too I think the other yeah, I mean, I think you you know, if we're talking about the bux futures like There is some merit to consider yanis I mean he's been incredible in in these games even if they've you know losing to the memphis The numbers that he's putting up are just ridiculous if those start to translate to wins And it's because of him and they get the number one seed in the east Definitely big enough name and big enough storyline Around the bux where people just kind of pull yanis into that conversation. So that's actually, you know I'd I'd prefer getting some action on yanis and bp than any other bux bet because if they are in that conversation like it's so It is it doesn't feel like it's that wide open, but it is a wide open race right now That you know getting somebody close to 10 the one at this point is is very nice Yeah, it gets you access to the bux But also allows you to avoid any of the potential postseason dock rivers bad juju stuff So You kind of get the best of both worlds in that regard So it could make yanis pretty interesting there at nine to one to win the mvp right now at fandall sportsbook That is ryan williams as mentioned shank him out on twitter at ryan alexander underscore w ryan a lot of fun Talking to mba for you feel like I did learn something myself there Which is always a delight for sure looking forward to doing again in the very near future Yeah, I can't wait jim always good to be with you man. Why don't talk some nfl free agency nfl draft We're gonna be Knocking down the door plenty over the next couple of months looking forward to that for sure You can find ryan on twitter at ryan alexander underscore w i'm on twitter at jim sonnis You can find me on threads at jim dot sonnis and check out fandall research on twitter at fandall research Want to thank you all for tuning in for today. Good luck tea with all your bets across wednesday We'll talk to you once again tomorrow for the first slate out of the nba all star break This has been covering the spread right here on the fan dual podcast network