The NBA season is on hold for the time being and will have a unique look if play resumes in the bubble at Disney World in late July. So while we're waiting things out, we thought now would be a good time to look into each team's best season against the spread.
With the help of research from ESPN Stats & Information, we broke down the best betting campaigns for all 30 teams from the past 30 seasons.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
2007-08 Boston Celtics (52-29-1 ATS)
Boosted by the offseason acquisitions of perennial All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, the Celtics won 66 games, the third-highest total in team history and their most since 1972-73. They increased their win total by 42 games from the previous season, the largest increase from one season to the next by any team in league history (according to Elias).
2001-02 Brooklyn Nets (48-34 ATS)
The Nets franchise, at the time still in New Jersey, went 52-30,posting its best record since joining the NBA and doubling its win total from the previous season (26). The Nets would go all the way to the NBA Finals, where they were swept by the Lakers. Jason Kidd, who was acquired in an offseason trade in exchange for Stephon Marbury, was edged by Tim Duncan for league MVP. Kidd averaged 14.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG and 9.9 APG.
2002-03 New York Knicks (50-30-2 ATS)
The Knicks went 37-45 in Don Cheney's only full season as head coach for a seven-win improvement over the 2001-02 season. New York still finished five games out of a playoff spot. Allan Houston averaged a career-best 22.5 PPG for the Knicks, who lost newly-acquired Antonio McDyess for the season because of a knee injury.
2016-17 Philadelphia 76ers (48-34 ATS)
Joel Embiid averaged 20.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 2.5 BPG in 31 games in his first season as the 76ers improved by 18 games (28-54) after a 10-win campaign in 2015-16. The Process may have been slowly working in the win-loss column, but it was clearly helping against the number.
2006-07 Toronto Raptors (48-33-1 ATS)
The Raptors increased their win total from 27 in 2005-06 to 47 in 2006-07, the biggest increase (20) in the NBA. The team won its division for the first time in franchise history and snapped a five-year playoff drought. Toronto turned over its roster before this season, as only six of the 17 players to appear in a game for them were on the team the previous season. Chris Bosh was the only returnee in the top seven in minutes per game. Bosh averaged 22.6 PPG and 10.7 RPG, becoming the first and only player in Raptors history to average 20 PPG and 10 RPG in a season. He earned All-NBA honors (second team) for the only time in his career.
Central
2010-11 Chicago Bulls (50-32 ATS)
At 22 years old, Derrick Rose became the youngest player to win league MVP, leading the Bulls to 62 wins, tied for their fourth-most in a season in team history. It is the most wins by the Bulls in a season that didn't feature Michael Jordan.
2008-09 Cleveland Cavaliers (49-33 ATS)
LeBron James posted career highs in player efficiency rating (31.7) and win shares (20.3) en route to winning his first MVP for the Cavs, who won a franchise-record 66 games. The Cavs lost to Dwight Howard's Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals.
1995-96 Detroit Pistons (46-34-2 ATS)
In their first year under Doug Collins, the Pistons improved from 22nd in the league in scoring defense (105.5 PPG the season before) to second (92.9). That 12.6 PPG jump is the fourth-largest year-over-year improvement in NBA history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. In his second NBA season, Grant Hill led the NBA in triple-doubles (10) and earned second-team All-NBA honors.
1993-94 Indiana Pacers (51-29-2 ATS)
In their first year under Larry Brown, the Pacers improved from 21st to eighth in the NBA in defensive efficiency. Two of their top five scorers weren't on the team the previous season; they traded for Derrick McKey and signed Byron Scott midseason. A 47-35 record was good for fifth in the East. The Pacers came within one game of the NBA Finals, falling to the Knicks in the Eastern finals in seven games.
2009-10 Milwaukee Bucks (54-28 ATS)
The Bucks improved by 12 games in 2009-10 (46-36) from the previous season (34-48) in part due to the play of rookie Brandon Jennings. Jennings started all 82 games and averaged 15.5 PPG, the third-highest mark among rookies behind only Tyreke Evans (20.1) and Stephen Curry (17.5). Jennings' 55-point performance against the Warriors is the single-game high for any rookie since the NBA merger (1976-77). The Bucks' 101.9 defensive efficiency rating was also best in the NBA.
Southeast
2014-15 Atlanta Hawks (49-31-2 ATS)
The Hawks won a franchise-record 60 games, increasing their win total by 22 from the season before, despite having the same top-five scorers in both seasons. Atlanta ran off a franchise-best 19 straight wins and had four players (Al Horford, Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver) named to the All-Star Game.
1998-99 Charlotte Hornets (29-18-3 ATS)
The Hornets' offense was firing on all cylinders in a lockout-shortened season, as they capped off the 1998-99 campaign ranked in the top 10 in field goal percentage (45%), 3-point percentage (37%) and assists per game (22.2). However, they finished one spot out of the playoffs.
2003-04 Miami Heat (50-32 ATS)
Rookie Dwyane Wade averaged 16.2 PPG, the third-highest mark on the Heat behind Eddie Jones and Lamar Odom. This was Odom's first and only season with the Heat. He led them in rebounding (9.7 RPG). Miami won 14 of its final 17 games to finish 42-40 and make the playoffs as the No. 4 seed in the East. Pat Riley resigned before the season (Stan Van Gundy took over) but returned midway through the 2005-06 season.
2007-08 Orlando Magic (51-30-1 ATS)
In Stan Van Gundy's first season in Orlando, the Magic had their best season to date, going 52-30 for a 12-win improvement from the previous season. Billy Donovan had initially been hired to replace Brian Hill, but he opted to return to Florida. The team went on to win its first playoff series in 12 years, reaching the Eastern Conference semis. Dwight Howard (20.7 PPG, 14.2 RPG) was named an All-Star starter for the first time and won the slam dunk contest.
1990-91 Washington Wizards (42-38-2 ATS)
At age 34, Bernard King averaged 28.4 PPG, the third-highest average in the league behind only Michael Jordan (31.5) and Karl Malone (29.0) for the then Washington Bullets. Washington finished 10th in the East with a 30-52 record.
Western Conference
Northwest
2004-05/2012-13 Denver Nuggets (48-34 ATS)
The 2004-05 Nuggets started 17-25 (21-21 ATS) under Jeff Bzdelik and Michael Cooper before they hired George Karl. Under Karl, they finished 32-8 (27-13 ATS) in their final 40 games. Carmelo Anthony (20.8 PPG) led the team in scoring in his second NBA season. Offseason acquisition Kenyon Martin (15.5 PPG) was second on the team in scoring average.
The 2012-13 Nuggets went 57-25, their most wins since joining the NBA. Karl won Coach of the Year, but he was fired after the Nuggets lost a first-round series to the Warriors. A balanced team offensively, with Ty Lawson leading the team with a 16.7 PPG scoring average, the Nuggets went 38-3 at home (28-13 ATS).
2003-04 Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33 ATS)
Kevin Garnett won the 2003-04 MVP, averaging career highs in both PPG (24.2) and RPG (13.9). The Timberwolves won 58 games, their most in a season in franchise history, and won a playoff series for the first -- and only time -- in franchise history.
2019-20 Oklahoma City Thunder (39-24-1 ATS)
Chris Paul, who was acquired in exchange for Russell Westbrook, scored 144 points in clutch time (the most in the NBA that season) and shot 48.9% from the field, his best in a season since 2009-10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, acquired in the Paul George trade, increased his scoring average from 10.8 in his rookie season to 19.3. The Thunder went 29-13 in clutch time (games within five points with five minutes left), the third-best record in the NBA, behind only the Bucks and Jazz. They were 22-24 in such games the previous season.
1994-95 Utah Jazz (52-28-2 ATS)
The Jazz had their first 60-win season, going 60-22 and at the time setting the best single-season record in franchise history. Utah won a league-high 39 games by double-digits in 1994-95 and went 37-1-1 ATS in those wins. The Jazz also went 27-14 away from home, still their best road record in franchise history.
2017-18 Portland Trail Blazers (44-33-5 ATS)
Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum finished the season as the second-highest scoring duo (45.1) in the NBA, behind only behind Russell Westbrook and Paul George (45.9). the Blazers earned the No. 3 seed in the West at 49-33 but were swept in the first round by the Pelicans
Pacific
1998-99 Golden State Warriors (30-20 ATS)
The Warriors acquired Antawn Jamison during the 1998 NBA draft (they traded Vince Carter to Toronto for the pick) and also added John Starks, Chris Mills and Terry Cummings during the offseason. Jamison made the All-Rookie team, and the Warriors won two more games than they did in the 1997-98 season despite playing only 50 games due to the lockout (played 82 in 1997-98).
2000-01 LA Clippers (47-35 ATS)
The Clippers improved by 16 games from the previous season, more than doubling their win total with a 31-51 record. Second-year rising star Lamar Odom led the team in scoring (17.2 PPG) and rebounding (7.8 RPG).
2001-02 Sacramento Kings (49-32-1 ATS)
The Kings went 36-5 at home, including a 29-12 mark ATS in those games. Those 29 home covers are the most in a season by any team in the past 30 seasons. The Kings won a franchise-high 61 games and advanced to the Western finals.
1999-2000 Los Angeles Lakers (47-34-1 ATS)
This was Phil Jackson's first season with the Lakers and the first of three NBA championships in a row. Shaquille O'Neal won MVP, averaging 29.7 PPG and 13.6 RPG for a team that posted 67 wins, its most since the 1971-72 team won a franchise-record 69 games. The Lakers got off to a hot start against the spread, starting 24-11-1 ATS in their first 36 games.
1999-2000 Phoenix Suns (51-31 ATS)
Penny Hardaway, acquired from the Magic prior to the season, played in 60 games and averaged 16.9 points on 47% shooting as the Suns increased their win total by 26 games from the previous season, the third-largest increase from one season to the next in franchise history. The Suns overcame significant obstacles (they lost 269 player games due to injury and replaced coach Danny Ainge with Scott Skiles) and held opponents to 42.4% shooting from the field, the lowest allowed in a season in franchise history.
Southwest
2001-02 Dallas Mavericks (48-33-1 ATS)
The Mavericks went 57-25, at the time setting a franchise record for wins in a season before losing in the Western Conference semifinals. Dirk Nowitzki (23.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG) and Steve Nash (17.9 PPG, 7.7 APG) each made the first All-Star Game appearances of their careers.
2000-01 Houston Rockets (48-32-2 ATS)
Steve Francis had arguably his best season as he set career highs in field-goal percentage (45.1%), 3-point percentage (39.6%), player efficiency rating (21.6) and win shares (12.2). Houston had the second-best point differential in the NBA in clutch time (+61) after ranking tied for 23rd in that category the previous season (-47). (Clutch time is defined as the final five minutes with the score within five points.)
2010-11 Memphis Grizzlies (52-30 ATS)
Tony Allen was added to the team to kick off the "Grit 'n Grind" era in Memphis. The Grizzlies led the NBA in steals per game (9.4) and were seventh in blocks per game (5.4). They also improved to sixth in field-goal percentage after ranking ninth in 2009-10 and 21st in 2008-09. The Grizzlies went 46-36 to secure the No. 8 seed in the West.
2007-08 New Orleans Pelicans (51-31 ATS)
After playing their home games in Oklahoma City for two seasons due to Hurricane Katrina, the then-Hornets relocated back to New Orleans full-time for 2007-08. They went 30-11 (.732) at home that season (eighth-best in the NBA) compared to 48-34 (.585) at home the previous two seasons (17th in NBA). A 22-year-old Chris Paul had a breakout season, leading the NBA in assists per game (11.6) while earning first-team All-NBA honors.
2011-12 San Antonio Spurs (43-21-2 ATS)
Manu Ginóbili missed nearly half the season, but the bench picked up the production. The Spurs' bench averaged 41.9 PPG in 2011-12, the most in the NBA. That helped the Spurs lead the NBA in offensive efficiency for the first and only time under Gregg Popovich. Rookie Kawhi Leonard averaged 7.9 points on 49% shooting and 1.3 steals per game in 64 games.