Trends have emerged and it is important for bettors to research and see what recent trends have formed which directly affect teams against the spread. Anyone's NBA betting picks can go awry when unexpected changes happen, especially injuries. The health of NBA teams during this time of the year is very important. The longer teams are able to play together with the same lineup leads to increased team consistency in covering the spread. When NBA teams have players moving in and out of the lineup due to health issues or inconsistent play, it will often result in a team failing to cover the spread.

For example, last years World Champion Boston Celtics have been a healthy team this year as the big three haven't missed any games except for Kevin Garnett's recent flu. The Celtics overall team health has resulted in them being one of the best teams ATS this year. Basketball is a rhythm game and teams get better the more time players get to play together as they learn each other tendencies and get in a comfort zone. Staying healthy has helped the Boston Celtics as they have covered the spread their last eight out of ten games. If there are no new injuries, the Celts are likely to continue doing well ATS, so if you need a couple winning NBA Picks, take a close look at the world champs.

On the other hand, there are teams that have had unfortunate injuries and health issues that have affected the chemistry of the team which is exhibited in their record against the spread. For example, in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Wizard may be the least healthy team in the NBA all year, with players consistently in and out of the lineup. Their all star guard, Gilbert Arenas has been out for the entire season, along with center Etan Thomas. Guard Juan Dixon is day-to-day, guard Deshawn Stevenson is day-to-day, forward Andray Blatche is expected to miss two to four weeks and center Brendan Haywood is out until late February.

As you can see from the numerous injuries, the Washington Wizards have not had any opportunity to play together with a full roster which has resulted in a 2-8 record ATS and the worst record against the spread in the NBA all season. When betting the NBA, health issues are imperative in analyzing which teams will cover the spread. The key here is to make sure your team is healthy before making your wagers.