Analyzing performance against the spread (ATS) in the opening period of professional basketball games focuses on the initial 12 minutes of play. It involves comparing a team’s point differential to the point spread set by oddsmakers for only the first quarter. For example, if a team is favored by 2.5 points in the first quarter and wins that quarter by 4 points, they have covered the spread.
Tracking this metric is valuable for understanding early game performance trends and identifying teams that consistently start strong or weak. This information can provide insight into coaching strategies, player matchups, and overall team preparation. Historical data reveals that certain teams exhibit predictable patterns in their first quarter performance, making this a potentially useful tool for predictive analysis.