Sports bettors and fantasy players were dealt a small victory when the NBA front office announced a new rule that would require teams to publicly reveal their starting lineups 30 minutes ahead of tipoff.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has long sought an increased level of transparency, and while teams were already required to disclose this information 10 minutes prior to the tip, this extra 20 minutes makes a world of difference for bettors holding out before locking in their wagers.
The announcement was delivered along with the commissioner’s plans to help combat tampering. Fresh off of a tumultuous free agency period that saw many backdoor deals inked long before “official” conversations were allowed to take place, most media outlets chose to focus on the new measures put in place to prevent such meddling.
The league has proposed up to a $10 million fine for teams participating in tampering, but this will only prove effective should the league decide to actually enforce the rules in a fair and honest manner themselves.
While necessary, the tampering restrictions have fewer implications on bettors and fantasy savants looking for the most up-to-date information prior to locking in their decisions.
The vote to adjust the timeframe solves more than a few issues in that it allows teams, fans and media members to prepare accordingly, all while protecting the privacy surrounding the health of the players.
Some had found issue with teams deciding to make late changes to their starting rosters moments before game time as a clever ruse to confuse or frustrate opponents.
But while league officials will cite numerous reasons for the adjustment, a few executives were a bit more direct when asked for their thoughts on the new rule.
"It's about gambling. All of it.”
With so few athletes actually seeing time on the court, a player listed as a game-time decision could easily sway the betting lines a few points in either direction depending on his status.
Betting lines are already subject to sharp moves prior to tipoff, and this extra twenty minutes can make a world of difference to those holding out for the status of a key player.
With most sports betting still taking place at brick and mortar casinos, this also works in favor of bettors dealing with long lines, as large sportsbooks could see hundreds of eager gamblers rush to place a wager as a key lineup change is confirmed.
In their official statement, the went on to clarify their intentions behind the change that was passed via an unanimous vote amongst all 30 NBA ownership groups.
“To increase transparency for teams, media and fans, the league will now require teams to submit their starting lineups 30 minutes prior to the game’s scheduled start time instead of the previous rule of 10 minutes,”
“Teams will retain the ability to amend their starting lineups prior to the beginning of the game if circumstances change. This type of change is most likely to occur if a player sustains or reaggravates an injury during pregame warm-ups.”
With the NBA Preseason less than two weeks away, take one final look at the NBA futures odds currently on offer.
Odds To Win NBA Championship Via MyBookie.ag
LOS ANGELES LAKERS +340
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS +390
MILWAUKEE BUCKS +530
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS +750
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS +900
HOUSTON ROCKETS +930
UTAH JAZZ +1400
DENVER NUGGETS +1500
BOSTON CELTICS +2500
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS +2600
INDIANA PACERS +3300
BROOKLYN NETS +5000
TORONTO RAPTORS +5500
SAN ANTONIO SPURS +8000
MIAMI HEAT +9000
DALLAS MAVERICKS +9000
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS +10000
ORLANDO MAGIC +18500
SACRAMENTO KINGS +25000
ATLANTA HAWKS +27500
DETROIT PISTONS +30000
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES +36500
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER +42000
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES +45000
CHICAGO BULLS +50000PHOENIX SUNS +56000
NEW YORK KNICKS +60000
WASHINGTON WIZARDS +80000
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS +80000
CHARLOTTE HORNETS +120000
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