The 3 Wildest Spread Trends Of The 2019-20 NBA Season

Quick-Hitters

• This past NBA season was certainly one of the more unorthodox in recent history.

• LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers held an impressive record as underdogs.

• The New Orleans Pelicans had surprising success as road favorites.

• The Oklahoma City Thunder may be the most underrated team in the NBA.

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Road Underdog Lakers

It’s surprising to think LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have been listed as road underdogs nine times this season by oddsmakers. In these nine contests, the Lakers earned an 8-1 (88.8 percent) record against the spread (ATS), better than any other team in the league as an underdog. The two-headed monster of James and Anthony Davis have been nothing short of dominant this season. The Lakers rank third in defensive efficiency with a mark of 106.1 and the second-best average scoring margin of 6.2. Next season, if we see this Lakers squad listed as an underdog, pounce on the spread instantly.

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Pelicans As Road Favorites

This past season, the New Orleans Pelicans were an average team at best; however, the improvements from Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, coupled with the presence of Zion Williamson, made them an electric team to watch. In the 2019-20 season, the Pelicans were listed as road favorites eight times in total. In those eight games, the Pelicans managed a 7-1 (87.5 percent) record ATS. New Orleans' strengths came from their young core. This allowed them to lead the league in possessions per game with 108.0, including leading in pace of play.

Thunder As Underdogs

This trend is the most wild due to the sheer volume of opportunities. The Oklahoma City Thunder were set as underdogs ATS in 45 games this past season. Yes, for more than half of the season, the fifth-seed in the west was an underdog in a majority of their games. However, in these 45 games, the Thunder held an absurd 31-14 (68.8 percent) against the spread. A consistent $100 bettor who wagered on Chris Paul and the Thunder when underdogs ATS would profit approximately $1,417.90 (average odds -110). This is more profit than the previous two mentioned trends combined!