Digging into NBA matchup stats isn't just for nerds—it's how you avoid throwing money away. Look at pace, defensive ratings, or even how teams handle back-to-backs. Last week, I skipped a bet on the Lakers because their rim protection was trash against stretch bigs like Jokic. Saved myself a headache. Surface-level "hunches" don't cut it when you're up against the book's edge. Stats tell the real story.