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 Pro Basketball 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 playoffs is about to take off.

What we've seen thus far is some teams have excelled against foes that do not own a winning record, such as the Hawks (18-8 ATS) and the Kings (17-9-1 ATS), while others have struggled in games against lousy competition, such as the Mavericks (9-17 ATS), the Nets (8-16-1 ATS) and the Hornets (8-18 ATS).

On the flip, a handful of teams have risen to the occasion when squaring off against quality, winning opposition - teams like the Cavaliers (21-4 SU and 16-7-2 ATS), the Hornets 18-9 ATS) and the Thunder (19-9 ATS).  The Wizards are biggest money burner in games against winning teams (7-14 ATS), season to date.   

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. Do your homework now, and enjoy the rest of the season...

 

ATLANTA

Good: 12-2 ATS vs. .375 or less opp

Bad: 1-4 ATS as dog less than five points

Ugly: 0-3 ATS with no rest vs. division

Vs. .500 or less: 19-7 SU, 18-8 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 15-10 SU, 14-11 ATS

 

BOSTON

Good: 6-1-1 ATS pick or favorite 4 or less points

Bad: 1-7 ATS favorites 12 or more points

Ugly: 1-11 ATS home off loss

Vs. .500 or less: 23-6 SU, 10-19 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 9-12 SU, 9-11-1 ATS

 

CHICAGO

Good: 5-0-1 ATS vs. division opp off loss

Bad: 3-9 ATS away off SU and ATS loss

Ugly: 1-5 ATS off SU favorite loss

Vs. .500 or less: 13-12 SU, 10-13-2 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 12-14 SU, 14-12 ATS

 

CLEVELAND

Good: 8-0 SU and ATS vs. .750 or greater opp

Bad: 1-4 ATS home with no rest

Ugly: 0-3 SU and ATS vs. opp with 3+ days rest

Vs. .500 or less: 20-6 SU, 10-16 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 21-4 SU, 16-7-2 ATS

 

DALLAS

Good: 7-1 ATS away off loss

Bad: 3-16 ATS home vs. non-division opp

Ugly: 0-4 ATS off BB SU and ATS losses

Vs. .500 or less: 18-8 SU, 9-17 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 14-12 SU, 12-14 ATS

 

DENVER

Good: 7-0-1 ATS home vs opp off double-digit win

Bad: 1-6 ATS off SU dog win

Ugly: 0-4 ATS away vs. opp off SU dog win

Vs. .500 or less: 11-18 SU, 11-16-2 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 6-16 SU, 10-11-1 ATS

 

DETROIT

Good: 4-1-1 ATS vs. .250 or less opp

Bad: 4-14-2 ATS off ATS loss 4 or more points

Ugly: 0-5-1 ATS fav off SU and ATS loss

Vs. .500 or less: 11-18 SU, 11-16-2 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 6-16 SU, 10-11-1 ATS

 

GOLDEN STATE

Good: 7-1 ATS dog vs. unrested opp

Bad: 2-6 SU and ATS fav less 6 points

Ugly: 1-5 ATS off loss vs. opp of SU dog win

Vs. .500 or less: 10-15, 12-12-1 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 4-22 SU, 16-10 ATS

 

HOUSTON

Good: 3-0 ATS vs. opp with 3 more days rest

Bad: 2-9 ATS fav with revenge

Ugly: 0-5 ATS vs. non div opp off SU dog win

Vs. .500 or less: 18-8, 13-13 ATS

Vs. winning opp:  9-16 SU, 11-14 ATS

 

INDIANA

Good: 5-0 ATS double-digit dog

Bad: 1-5 ATS off loss vs div opp

Ugly: 1-7 ATS dog 3 less points

Vs. .500 or less: 14-16 SU, 13-17 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 4-18 SU, 9-13 ATS

 

LA CLIPPERS

Good: 5-1-1 ATS fav vs Eastern Conference

Bad: 1-6 ATS dog vs opp off double-digit win

Ugly: 0-7 ATS with rest vs. con opp off BB SU and ATS losses

Vs. .500 or less: 14-15 SU, 13-15-1 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 7-16 SU, 11-12 ATS

 

LA LAKERS

Good: 6-1 ATS away vs. opp off double-digit loss

Bad: 2-7-1 ATS fav 5 less points

Ugly: 1-6 ATS av vs opp off BB SU and ATS wins

Vs. .500 or less: 23-3 SU, 14-12 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 18-10 SU, 11-15-2 ATS

 

MEMPHIS

Good: 12-1 ATS off win vs. opp of loss

Bad: 3-8 ATS away off loss

Ugly: 0-5 ATS off loss vs opp off SU and ATS win

Vs. .500 or less: 12-7 SU, 11-7-1 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 14-18 SU, 16-16 ATS

 

MIAMI

Good: 10-2 ATS vs. less .400 opp

Bad: 1-5 ATS vs. opp off SU dog win

Ugly: 0-3 SU and ATS off 3 wins

Vs. .500 or less: 16-10 SU, 14-12 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 10-17 SU, 12-14-1 ATS

 

MILWAUKEE

Good: 7-1 ATS no rest vs unrested opp

Bad: 1-5 ATS off SU dog win vs. opp off win

Ugly: 0-3 ATS off 3-0 SU and ATS

Vs. .500 or less: 19-11 SU, 19-11 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 5-16 SU, 12-9 ATS

 

MINNESOTA

Good: 9-0 ATS dog less 4 points

Bad: 4-11 ATS off BB losses vs opp off loss

Ugly: 0-5 ATS vs unrested con opp

Vs. .500 or less: 8-20 SU, 15-13 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 5-20 SU, 13-12 ATS

 

NEW JERSEY

Good: 4-0 ATS double-digit div dog

Bad: 12-27-2 ATS vs. non div opp

Ugly: 0-3 SU and ATS fav

Vs. .500 or less: 4-21 SU, 8-16-1 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 0-27 SU, 11-15-1 ATS

 

NEW ORLEANS

Good: 10-2 ATS dog more 7 points

Bad: 2-10 ATS fav off win

Ugly: 0-9 ATS vs. less .300 opp

Vs. .500 or less: 15-11 SU, 8-18 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 13-14 SU, 18-9 ATS

 

NEW YORK

Good: 8-1 ATS off loss 14 more points

Bad: 1-5 ATS off double-digit win

Ugly: 1-6 ATS away with no rest

Vs. .500 or less: 14-18 SU, 14-17-1 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 5-14 SU, 9-10 ATS

 

OKLAHOMA CITY

Good: 14-1 ATS off SU and ATS loss

Bad: 2-6 ATS vs unrested opp

Ugly: 1-6 ATS off double-digit ATS win vs opp off BB wins

Vs. .500 or less: 16-7 SU, 13-10 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 14-14 SU, 19-9 ATS

 

ORLANDO

Good: 8-0 ATS vs. unrested opp off win

Bad: 1-5 ATS vs opp off BB SU and ATS losses

Ugly: 1-7 ATS home off SU and ATS win

Vs. .500 or less: 22-7 SU, 15-12-2 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 14-11 SU, 9-13-3 ATS

 

PHILADELPHIA

Good: 5-0 ATS dog more 10 points

Bad: 7-18 ATS home

Ugly: 1-8 ATS home dog

Vs. .500 or less: 13-17 SU, 12-18 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 7-15 SU, 11-11 ATS

 

PHOENIX

Good: 4-0 ATS away vs opp off BB SU and ATS losses

Bad: 2-7 ATS off win 18 more points

Ugly: 0-5-1 ATS with revenge vs. unrested opp

Vs. .500 or less: 17-9 SU, 13-13 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 14-13 SU, 14-12-1 ATS

 

PORTLAND

Good: 5-0 ATS no rest vs. opp of loss

Bad: 2-6-1 ATS off SU and ATS loss vs. opp off SU and ATS win

Ugly: 0-4 ATS off win vs. unrested opp

Vs. .500 or less: 18-9 SU, 14-12-1 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 13-15 SU, 15-12-1 ATS

 

SACRAMENTO

Good: 8-1 double-digit dog

Bad: 3-9 ATS vs. Eastern Conference opp off win

Ugly: 0-5 ATS away vs. opp off SU favorite loss

Vs. .500 or less: 15-12 SU, 17-9-1 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 3-22 SU, 10-14-1 ATS

 

SAN ANTONIO

Good: 5-1 ATS off double-digit win vs opp off BB wins

Bad: 2-5 ATS dog 2 more points

Ugly: 1-8 ATS off division

Vs. .500 or less: 20-8 SU, 15-13 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 10-13 SU, 10-13 ATS

 

TORONTO

Good: 8-2 ATS vs unrested opp

Bad: 3-9 ATS with no rest

Ugly: 1-7 ATS away off loss vs. non div opp

Vs. .500 or less: 21-10 SU, 17-14 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 8-13 SU, 10-11 ATS

 

UTAH

Good: 9-0 SU and ATS home vs unrested opp

Bad: 2-5 ATS vs. div opp off loss

Ugly: 0-5 ATS vav more 7 points vs div opp off loss

Vs. .500 or less: 17-7 SU, 14-10 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 15-12 SU, 17-8-2 ATS

 

WASHINGTON

Good: 4-1 ATS off win less 4 points

Bad: 1-6 ATS vs. .750 greater opp

Ugly: 1-10 ATS fav more 2 points

Vs. .500 or less: 11-18 SU, 11-15-3 ATS

Vs. winning opp: 6-15 SU, 7-14 ATS