The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Team Trends
By Marc Lawrence
Some say the NBA is simply an acronym for ‘Nothing But Aggravation’. Others insist 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 2012 playoffs is about to take off.
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.
ATLANTA
Good: 8-1 ATS with no rest
Bad: 2-9 ATS off BB wins
Ugly: 0-5 ATS off BB SUATS wins
Vs. .500 or less: 13-3 SU, 8-8 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 7-11 SU, 8-10 ATS
BOSTON
Good: 5-1 ATS vs. .333 or less opp
Bad: 1-4 ATS vs. opp with no rest
Ugly: 0-4 ATS w/revenge vs. opp with no rest
Vs. .500 or less: 10-7 SU, 7-10 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 5-10 SU, 6-9 ATS
CHARLOTTE
Good: 4-1 ATS away vs. opp off BB wins
Bad: 1-7 ATS off division game
Ugly: 0-6 ATS off SUATS division loss
Vs. .500 or less: 4-11 SU, 6-9 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 0-19 SU, 6-13 ATS
CHICAGO
Good: 7-1 ATS after allow 100 or more points
Bad: 1-4 ATS off BB wins vs, winning opp
Ugly: 0-3 ATS off BB SUATS wins vs, winning opp
Vs. .500 or less: 23-3 SU, 17-9 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 4-5 SU, 4-5 ATS
CLEVELAND
Good: 5-1 ATS Off BB losses
Bad: 2-6 ATS as favorites
Ugly: 0-4 ATS as favorites vs. greater than .250
Vs. .500 or less: 10-7 SU, 10-7 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 3-1 SU, 6-8 ATS
DALLAS
Good: 6-1-1 ATS vs. opp off BB wins
Bad: 1-3 ATS vs. division
Ugly: 0-3 ATS off division win
Vs. .500 or less: 12-6 SU, 11-7 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 9-7 SU, 8-7-1 ATS
DENVER
Good: 9-3 ATS road dogs
Bad: 1-7 ATS home off loss
Ugly: 0-6 ATS home off loss vs. opp off loss
Vs. .500 or less: 12-4 SU, 10-6 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 6-13 SU, 10-9 ATS
DETROIT
Good: 8-2 ATS home vs. .475 or greater opp
Bad: 6-11 ATS away
Ugly: 0-5 ATS double-digit road dogs
Vs. .500 or less: 6-15 SU, 9-12 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 5-9 SU, 8-6 ATS
GOLDEN STATE
Good: 8-2 ATS off BB losses
Bad: 1-7 ATS vs. less than .333 opp
Ugly: 0-6 ATS w/revenge vs. less than .333 opp
Vs. .500 or less: 5-7 SU, 5-7 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 8-10 SU, 10-8 ATS
HOUSTON
Good: 8-0 ATS home off loss
Bad: 2-6 ATS road dogs less than 7
Ugly: 0-5 ATS away w/revenge
Vs. .500 or less: 10-10 SU, 9-11 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 10-4 SU, 11-3 ATS
INDIANA
Good: 4-0 ATS away off SU favorite loss
Bad: 4-10 ATS off SUATS win
Ugly: 0-4 ATS off BB SUATS wins
Vs. .500 or less: 13-5 SU, 8-10 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 8-7 SU, 7-8 ATS
LA CLIPPERS
Good: 7-2 ATS vs. opp with no rest
Bad: 2-7-1 ATS off BB wins
Ugly: 0-4 ATS away off BB wins
Vs. .500 or less: 8-3 SU, 7-4 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 12-8 SU, 10-9-1 ATS
LA LAKERS
Good: 11-5 ATS home
Bad: 5-13 ATS away
Ugly: 0-5 ATS away vs. opp off loss
Vs. .500 or less: 11-6 SU, 9-8 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 9-8 SU, 7-10 ATS
MEMPHIS
Good: 7-2 ATS non con games
Bad: 3-8 ATS vs. opp with no rest
Ugly: 0-4 ATS vs. opp off loss with no rest
Vs. .500 or less: 10-3 SU, 8-5 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 9-12 SU, 8-13 ATS
MIAMI
Good: 4-1 ATS vs. opp with no rest
Bad: 6-10 ATS vs. opp off loss
Ugly: 1-7 ATS favorite more than 8 vs. non-div favorite opp off loss
Vs. .500 or less: 16-3 SU, 9-10 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 11-4 SU, 9-6 ATS
MILWAUKEE
Good: 3-0 ATS home vs. opp off BB losses
Bad: 2-8 ATS vs. opp with no rest
Ugly: 0-5 ATS home vs. opp with no rest
Vs. .500 or less: 8-7 SU, 6-9 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 5-13 SU, 7-11 ATS
MINNESOTA
Good: 11-3 ATS away
Bad: 2-7 ATS home vs. opp with no rest
Ugly: 0-6 ATS home favorite 2 or more vs. opp with no rest
Vs. .500 or less: 9-6 SU, 8-7 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 8-11 SU, 12-7 ATS
NEW JERSEY
Good: 5-0 ATS away vs. opp off DD win
Bad: 3-13 ATS home
Ugly: 0-7 ATS home off win
Vs. .500 or less: 8-10 SU, 7-11 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 2-15 SU, 7-10 ATS
NEW ORLEANS
Good: 11-5 ATS away
Bad: 5-12 ATS home
Ugly: 1-7 ATS home off SUATS loss
Vs. .500 or less: 5-12 SU, 8-9 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 3-13 SU, 8-8 ATS
NEW YORK
Good: 4-1 ATS as favorites 4 or less
Bad: 1-6 ATS favorites off SUATS win
Ugly: 0-5 ATS favorites off SUATS win vs. 333 or less opp
Vs. .500 or less: 12-10- SU, 8-14 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 5-8 SU, 8-5 ATS
OKLAHOMA CITY
Good: 6-1 ATS off loss
Bad: 3-6 ATS vs. opp with no rest
Ugly: 0-4 ATS away vs. opp with no rest
Vs. .500 or less: 18-3 SU, 12-9 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 9-4 SU, 7-6 ATS
ORLANDO
Good: 9-2 ATS off SUATS loss
Bad: 4-8 ATS off win more than 8
Ugly: 1-7 ATS off ATS win more than 8
Vs. .500 or less: 16-5 SU, 13-8 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 6-8 SU, 7-7 ATS
PHILADELPHIA
Good: 6-0 ATS favorites with no rest
Bad: 4-8 ATS vs. opp off win
Ugly: 1-5 ATS away vs. opp off win
Vs. .500 or less: 13-4 SU, 13-4 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 7-10 SU, 6-11 ATS
PHOENIX
Good: 4-2 ATS vs. opp off DD win
Bad: 3-7 ATS favorites
Ugly: 0-4 ATS favorites off SUATS loss
Vs. .500 or less: 9-8 SU, 8-9 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 5-12 SU, 6-11 ATS
PORTLAND
Good: 7-1 ATS home off SUATS loss
Bad: 6-10 ATS away
Ugly: 1-8 ATS away off win
Vs. .500 or less: 8-7 SU, 7-8 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 10-9 SU, 11-8 ATS
SACRAMENTO
Good: 10-5 ATS off BB losses
Bad: 5-8 ATS with double revenge
Ugly: 1-6 ATS odd DD loss with double revenge
Vs. .500 or less: 6-11 SU, 9-8 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 5-11 SU, 8-8 ATS
SAN ANTONIO
Good: 8-2 ATS home off win
Bad: 1-3 ATS vs. opp off SUATS win
Ugly: 0-5 ATS off win 14 or more
Vs. .500 or less: 13-5 SU, 8-9-1 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 11-5 SU, 12-4 ATS
TORONTO
Good: 10-4 ATS off SUATS win
Bad: 4-8 ATS vs. opp off SUATS loss
Ugly: 1-5 ATS vs. 333 or less opp off SUATS loss
Vs. .500 or less: 7-10 SU / 9-8 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 3-13 SU, 9-6-1 ATS
UTAH
Good: 11-7 ATS home
Bad: 5-9 ATS away
Ugly: 1-5 ATS away vs. opp off SUATS loss
Vs. .500 or less: 10-6 SU, 9-7 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 5-11 SU, 7-9 ATS
WASHINGTON
Good: 3-1 ATS off BB losses vs. opp off BB wins
Bad: 7-19 ATS dogs
Ugly: 1-10 ATS dogs vs. opp off SUATS loss
Vs. .500 or less: 5-13 SU, 6-12 ATS
Vs. winning opp: 2-13 SU, 4-11 ATS
Little did Charlotte realize that its 96-95 loss to Miami on Dec 28 would be the closest it would come to defeating a winning team this season. On the flip side, Golden State, Memphis and New Jersey can take pride in knowing they’ve been the only teams in the loop with a losing record that have managed to slay the Bulls.
FYI: teams that have responded exceptionally well in same season revenge affairs this season include the Trailblazers (5-1 SU and ATS) and the Lakers (3-0 SU and ATS), while the teams that have struggled in these same payback situations include the Bobcats (0-10 SU and 2-8 ATS), the Bucks (0-6 SU and ATS) and the Wizards (1-9 SU and 2-8 ATS).
I’ve done my homework. Now, you do yours and we’ll both enjoy the 2nd half of the season.