LAS VEGAS — The system upended Fast Freddie recently. Las Vegas’s RTC network, that is. To get to the Green Valley Ranch sportsbook, he requires a bus transfer halfway from his home.
“It got there five minutes early, blew right by me,” he said. “The next one was 20 minutes late. So upsetting.”
Moreover, the post office had misplaced an expensive piece of electronic equipment he had fixed for a client. Fast Freddie arrived at the book angry and flustered. He tried to focus on the Cavaliers’ first quarter.
In Orlando, the Cavs were -2 for the opening 12 minutes. Fast Freddie had gone 16-2 the last 18 times he had bet Cleveland’s first-quarter spread.
However, that line against the Magic got sliced to 1.5 as punters took positons against Cleveland.
“Many people betting on the Magic,” Fast Freddie said. “I’m not going against that trend. Nope.”
The New York native kept blasting Vegas bus drivers and the post office as the Cavs stretched their advantage to 19-9.
“Had a terrible feeling today,” Fast Freddie said, “but that was my mood.”
The Cavs won the quarter 34-16.
“Not even close,” Fast Freddie said as he shook his head. “It was 2, 2.5 points in some places, and got bet down to 1.5. I should have continued with how I had been betting.”
Just plain life, though, had zapped Fast Freddie.
Jordan ruled
I haven’t bet the NBA since 2018. Don’t care for the product. Like many, I was spoiled by Michael Jordan, who never uttered the words “load management.” His Bulls and foes played a proper game.
No pop-a-shot mentality. No Euro step — which is traveling. To be fair, college football and hoops, NHL and Aussie sports usurp my handicapping energy and time.
To gauge their NBA interests, I contacted some of the top ’cappers I know and respect.
Doug “The Sheriff” Fitz, the former Cleveland-area police officer who provides action for free at his Systemplays site on X, is 18-9 in the NBA this season.
Chicago-born Dennis Rhinevault, who had a rewarding career in food and beverage, undertook sports betting full-time when he moved to Vegas in 2015.
I detailed his operations in a 2019 sports-gambling book, “Sports Betting for Winners.” He bets the top six NBA teams, according to ESPN’s weekly power ratings, against bottom-seven squads.
“It’s plus 2.6 units,” Rhinevault said. “Not too exciting.”
Long Island handicapper Tom Barton dabbles with it until the playoffs.
“Then I get pretty involved,” he said. “I used to play the NBA often, but once this load management started I pulled off watching superstars being sat or playing limited minutes.”
Absolutely terrible
I informed Southern California pro bettor Tommy Lorenzo that I find the association unwatchable, but also that I have no time to unearth advantages.
He told me he was going to text me those exact words, although he’s given it some attention.
“I watched the Clippers-Lakers game last night, 2½ hours of my life I will never get back,” he said. “Absolutely terrible. The first NBA game I watched this season. The college game is so much better.”
A sportsbook insider reported that his shop’s NBA handle has been decreasing each of the last three years.
Another source, in the public eye, wrote in a text, “I’m forced to follow the NBA but not too interested in it.”
Todd Fuhrman, the Chicago-born co-founder of the popular BetTheBoard podcast who also serves as a CBS Sports HQ betting analyst, barely dabbles in it.
“I think the NBA has lost some momentum with regular bettors,” he said, “largely because they don’t know who is playing on a nightly basis . . . the revolving door of guys in and out, more than most sports, with injury.
“[A lack of] transparency can make things challenging for the casual fan.”
Seeking another streak
The Cavs played at the Celtics on Feb. 28, getting a half-point for the first quarter. “The bet is in,” Fast Freddie said as he settled into a GVR cubicle among a regular crew that includes me, Saint John and Minnesota Paul.
Boston tallied 25 of the game’s first 28 points. Fast Freddie zipped to a roulette wheel. After one quarter, the Celtics led 38-26, but the Cavs roared back to win 121-114.
Tuesday, in Chicago, the Cavs were -4 in the opening quarter, which the Bulls won 29-24. However, giving 12.5 for the game, Cleveland won 139-117, sailing over a 243 total.
After that game, the Cavaliers were the NBA’s top ATS team, at 40-20-1, according to TeamRankings.com. And their games finished over at a league-high 42-20.
Anyone blind-betting those two spots, since the season tipped off, is ahead 37 units.
“I like that team,” Fast Freddie said of the Cavs. “They’re not knuckleheads. No prima donnas. They’re a team.”
Sunday, they played host to the Trail Blazers. Cleveland was -4 in the first quarter, which Portland won 27-24. Fast Freddie, though, avoided Cavs first quarters since Boston. At 16-3, he retired the play.
He felt good, as that package was found in Jersey City, 50 miles from its destination. The delivery of that $10,000 part would complete the contract for his $400 job.
“Very relieved,” he said. “And I figured the Cavs might have a letdown after that big comeback over Boston, so I didn’t push it. A good run while it lasted. I’ll look for another streak.”