We’re just past the halfway point in the NBA season and it looks like the NBA is being turned upside down. The hottest teams in the league for the first three months of the season, Miami and Dallas, are now some of the coldest.  Here’s a look at teams that could have value in the coming weeks and also a look at a couple teams you might want to avoid when handicapping the NBA odds.

Hot

New Orleans Hornets
Having won nine consecutive games, the New Orleans Hornets have vaulted into the discussion of contenders in the Western Conference. Even though they are riding a nine-game winning streak, it’s not too late to hop on their bandwagon. Their best basketball may still be ahead of them. The Hornets have not just been winning lately, but winning in style. New Orleans is 3-1 ATS in its last four games. It won those four games by an average of 19 points. The Hornets now plays seven of their next 12 games on the road where they are 8-0 ATS over the past three weeks.

Milwaukee Bucks
At 17-26 SU and 19-22-2 ATS, the Bucks are not particularly good at anything, but lately they have enjoyed some success against the Eastern Conference and when they are playing after one day of rest. Milwaukee is 7-1 ATS in its last eight Eastern Conference games and they are 6-1 ATS in its last seven games playing on one day’s rest. The Bucks have 11 games before the All-Star break. Of those 11 games, all but one are against either the Eastern Conference or on one day of rest.

Cold

Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have opened a 13-game lead in the Central Division, the largest in the NBA. They have won eight of 10 and three in a row. The Bulls are the only unbeaten team in division play in the league and they are an incredible 21-4 at home. All that will mean nothing when they hit the road for a five-game road swing starting on Wednesday Feb. 2 when they visit the Clippers. The road trip also brings the Bulls to Golden State, Portland, Utah and New Orleans. Chicago is 4-7 ATS in its last 11 road games.

Toronto Raptors
The weather north of the border is not the only thing that is cold. The Raptors appear headed towards yet another lottery pick after their latest eight-game slide that dropped them into a tie for last place with the New Jersey Nets. Despite Toronto’s awful 13-33 SU record, the Raptors are a respectable 21-23-2 ATS. But since forward Reggie Evans suffered a fractured right foot two months ago, Toronto is 12-18 ATS. Evans is anticipating a return to the lineup on Feb. 16 against the Miami Heat, but that is nine games away and in the mean time expect more struggles from the Raptors.