At the Break Numbers
By Marc Lawrence
Some say the NBA is simply an acronym for Nothing But Aggravation. Others contend it's merely a Nice Bankroll Additive. Whatever your take, there is no better time than the present - with the NBA taking a time out for the All-Star break - to examine the condition of each team in the league at this stage of the season. From the surprise teams to the disappointments, the run to the 2011 playoffs is about to take off.
For openers, what we've seen thus far is that some teams have excelled against foes that do not own a winning record, such as the 76ers (18-12 ATS) and Spurs (17-12-1 ATS), while others have struggled in games against lousy competition, such as the Thunder (4-14 ATS) and the Nets (8-20-1 ATS).
On the flip side, a handful of teams have risen to the occasion when squaring off against quality, winning opposition - teams like the Bulls (15-6 ATS), Mavericks (18-8-1 ATS), Grizzlies (18-8-1 ATS), 76ers (17-9 ATS and the Spurs (17-8-1 ATS). Meanwhile, the Magic (8-14-1 ATS) and Nuggets (9-15 ATS) are the biggest money burners in games against winning teams season to date.
FYI: Teams that have responded exceptionally well in same season revenge affairs include the Grizzlies (12-4 ATS), 76ers (12-4 ATS) and Thunder (7-3 ATS), while the teams that have struggled in these same games include the Suns (3-10 ATS) and Raptors (6-14 ATS).
Here's a quick look at some of the GOOD, BAD, and UGLY team trends on every team and how they have fared SU (Straight Up) and ATS (Against The Spread) this season in games played through the All-Star break. In addition, I also break down performance records for each team in games versus .500 or less and greater than .500 opponents this campaign.
I've done my homework. Now, you do yours and enjoy the rest of the season…
ATLANTA
Good: 5-1 ATS dog off SU and ATS loss
Bad: 4-13 ATS off DD win
Ugly: 1-9 ATS home off BB wins
Vs. .500 or less: 28-9 SU, 18-19 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 6-12 SU, 7-11 ATS
BOSTON
Good: 4-0 ATS off BB SU and ATS wins
Bad: 6-14 ATS vs opp off SU and ATS win
Ugly: 1-10 ATS vs opp off BB wins
Vs. .500 or less: 25-7 SU, 13-18-1 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 15-7 SU, 12-9-1 ATS
CHARLOTTE
Good: 9-1 ATS vs opp off DD win
Bad: 3-7 ATS vs opp off BB SU and ATS wins
Ugly: 0-3 ATS with double-plus revenge
Vs. .500 or less: 17-16 SU, 17-16 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 7-16 SU, 12-10-1 ATS
CHICAGO
Good: 6-1 SU and ATS home vs same season revenge
Bad: 1-4-1 ATS off ATS win 15 more
Ugly: 1-6 ATS off BB wins vs opp off BB losses
Vs. .500 or less: 25-8 SU, 17-15-1 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 13-8 SU, 15-6 ATS
CLEVELAND
Good: 4-0 ATS off DD loss vs opp off SU favorite loss
Bad: 5-14 ATS vs opp with no rest
Ugly: 1-7 SU and ATS fav
Vs. .500 or less: 7-21 SU, 10-17-1 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 3-25 SU, 11-14-3 ATS
DALLAS
Good: 8-0 SU and ATS off DD win vs opp off win
Bad: 1-5 ATS away off BB SU and ATS losses
Ugly: 1-6 ATS off loss vs opp off BB wins
Vs. .500 or less: 22-7 SU, 14-15 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 18-9 SU, 18-8-1 ATS
DENVER
Good: 5-1 ATS off BB SU and ATS losses
Bad: 3-7-1 ATS home off SU and ATS wins
Ugly: 1-6-1 ATS off SU favorite loss
Vs. .500 or less: 22-11 SU, 15-15-3 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 10-14 SU, 9-15 ATS
DETROIT
Good: 4-0 ATS home vs division
Bad: 2-6 ATS vs opp off SU favorite loss
Ugly: 0-5 ATS home off division
Vs. .500 or less: 15-13 SU, 16-12 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 6-23 SU, 14-14-1 ATS
GOLDEN STATE
Good: 10-2 ATS vs opp off loss more 7 points
Bad: 2-6 ATS off DD win
Ugly: 1-5 ATS odd DD win
Vs. .500 or less: 18-14 SU, 9-13 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 8-15 SU, 11-11-1 ATS
HOUSTON
Good: 5-0 ATS away vs opp off DD loss
Bad: 1-5 ATS vs con opp off SU dog win
Ugly: 1-7 ATS home vs opp off BB wins
Vs. .500 or less: 17-11 SU, 16-11-1 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 9-20 SU, 12-16-1 ATS
INDIANA
Good: 5-1-1 off BB SU and ATS losses
Bad: 1-5 ATS off BB SU and ATS wins
Ugly: 1-6 ATS with no rest off loss
Vs. .500 or less: 18-11 SU, 16-11-2 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 6-19 SU, 10-14-1 ATS
LA CLIPPERS
Good: 5-1 ATS away off DD win
Bad: 1-6 ATS dog vs opp off BB SU and ATS wins
Ugly: 0-3 ATS off 3-0 SU and ATS wins
Vs. .500 or less: 13-19 SU, 15-17 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 8-16 SU, 12-12 ATS
LA LAKERS
Good: 5-1 ATS vs opp off BB SU and ATS wins
Bad: 3-15 ATS vs opp off DD win
Ugly: 1-10 ATS home vs non division
Vs. .500 or less: 22-11 SU, 11-21-1 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 16-8 SU, 14-10 ATS
MEMPHIS
Good: 11-1 ATS vs opp with no rest
Bad: 1-5 ATS away off BB SU and ATS wins
Ugly: 0-5 ATS away off DD win
Vs. .500 or less: 19-11 SU, 17-13 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 12-15 SU, 18-8-1 ATS
MIAMI
Good: 4-0 SU and ATS away vs opp off loss more 10
Bad: 1-5 ATS off BB losses
Ugly: 1-8 ATS home off loss
Vs. .500 or less: 29-5 SU, 17-17 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 12-10 SU, 10-11-1 ATS
MILWAUKEE
Good: 6-1 ATS dog with no rest
Bad: 1-5 ATS non con fav off SU and ATS win
Ugly: 0-6 ATS home off DD win
Vs. .500 or less: 13-15 SU, 14-14 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 8-19 SU, 11-15-1 ATS
MINNESOTA
Good: 5-1 ATS DD con dog
Bad: 1-8 ATS vs opp off SU dog win
Ugly: 0-6 ATS away vs opp off BB SU and ATS wins
Vs. .500 or less: 11-17 SU, 14-14 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 2-26 SU, 11-17 ATS
NEW JERSEY
Good: 5-1 ATS dog more 10 points
Bad: 1-7-1 ATS vs division
Ugly: 0-6-1 ATS away vs opp off DD loss
Vs. .500 or less: 8-21 SU, 8-20-1 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 9-19 SU, 18-10 ATS
NEW ORLEANS
Good: 6-0 SU and ATS vs opp with 3+ days rest
Bad: 1-6 ATS con favorite vs opp off win
Ugly: 0-5 ATS favorite vs opp off BB SU and ATS losses
Vs. .500 or less: 18-11 SU, 13-15-1 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 15-14 SU, 14-13-2 ATS
NEW YORK
Good: 12-2 ATS dog off win
Bad: 1-6 ATS off SU favorite loss vs opp not off DD win
Ugly: 0-4-1 ATS off BB SU and ATS loss vs opp with rest
Vs. .500 or less: 18-12 SU, 19-11 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 10-14 SU, 14-9-1 ATS
OKLAHOMA CITY
Good: 5-0 ATS dog vs opp off DD win
Bad: 1-5 ATS fav vs opp off BB SU and ATS losses
Ugly: 0-6 ATS home off win vs greater .666 opp
Vs. .500 or less: 21-7 SU, 4-14 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 14-12 SU, 13-13 ATS
ORLANDO
Good: 5-1 ATS away vs less .333 opp
Bad: 1-5-1 ATS dog
Ugly: 0-5-1 ATS away vs opp off BB wins
Vs. .500 or less: 27-7 SU, 17-15-2 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 9-14 SU, 8-14-1 ATS
PHILADELPHIA
Good: 8-1 ATS off DD loss
Bad: 1-4 ATS fav vs opp off SU favorite loss
Ugly: 0-3 SU and ATS off 3 wins exact
Vs. .500 or less: 16-14 SU, 18-12 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 11-15 SU, 17-9 ATS
PHOENIX
Good: 5-0 ATS off division SU and ATS win
Bad: 2-7-2 ATS home vs opp with no rest
Ugly: 1-7-1 ATS away off BB losses
Vs. .500 or less: 16-13 SU, 12-17 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 11-14 SU, 9-13-3 ATS
PORTLAND
Good: 7-0 ATS road favorite off win
Bad: 1-4 ATS dog off division
Ugly: 0-4 ATS away off win vs opp off SU and ATS win
Vs. .500 or less: 24-10 SU, 18-14-2 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 21-8 SU, 15-12-2 ATS
SACRAMENTO
Good: 3-0 ATS with no rest vs opp with no rest
Bad: 2-8 ATS favorite
Ugly: 1-7 ATS off BB losses vs div opp
Vs. .500 or less: 7-17 SU, 9-15 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 6-23 SU, 13-16 ATS
SAN ANTONIO
Good: 10-1 ATS vs non division opp with no rest
Bad: 1-5 ATS off BB SU and ATS wins vs opp off BB losses
Ugly: 0-6 ATS favorite more 11 points
Vs. .500 or less: 28-2 SU, 17-12-1 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 18-8 SU, 17-8-1 ATS
TORONTO
Good: 5-1 ATS home off SU and ATS win
Bad: 1-4 ATS off division SU and ATS loss
Ugly: 0-8 SU and 1-7 ATS away with double-plus revenge
Vs. .500 or less: 10-17 SU, 10-15-2 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 5-24 SU, 14-15 ATS
UTAH
Good: 5-1 ATS off DD win vs non con opp
Bad: 1-6 ATS vs opp with no rest off win
Ugly: 1-7 ATS home vs opp off BB SU and ATS wins
Vs. .500 or less: 20-13 SU, 15-18 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 11-13 SU, 10-14 ATS
WASHINGTON
Good: 6-1 ATS DD dog off loss
Bad: 3-13 ATS vs opp off SU and ATS loss
Ugly: 1-14 ATS off win
Vs. .500 or less: 13-16 SU, 10-19 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 2-23 SU, 11-14 ATS