Atlantic Division (NBA)
| Conference | Eastern Conference |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Inaugural season | 1970–71 season |
| Teams | |
| No. of teams | 5 |
| Championships | |
| Most recent Atlantic Division champion(s) |
Toronto Raptors (4th title) |
| Most Atlantic Division titles |
Boston Celtics (21 titles) |
The Atlantic Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams, the Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets, the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors. All teams, except the Raptors, are located on the East Coast of the United States. However, Toronto sports teams have over the years enjoyed rivalries with teams in the Northeastern United States (particularly, Toronto teams also share divisions with Boston teams in Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, with the former also containing a team in New York City).
The division was created at the start of the 1970–71 season, when the league expanded from 14 to 17 teams with the addition of the Buffalo Braves, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail Blazers. The league realigned itself into two conferences, the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference, with two divisions in each conference. The Atlantic Division began with four inaugural members, the Celtics, the Braves, the Knicks and the 76ers.[1] The Celtics, the Knicks and the 76ers all joined from the Eastern Division.
The Celtics have won the most Atlantic Division titles with 21. The 76ers have won the second most titles with five. Eight NBA champions came from the Atlantic Division. The Celtics won six championships, while the Knicks and the 76ers won one championship each. All of them, except the 1972–73 Knicks, were division champions. In the 1983–84 season, all five teams from the division qualified for the playoffs. In the 1982–83 season, all teams in the division had winning percentages above 0.500 (50%). The current division champion is the Toronto Raptors.
Standings
Main article: 2016–17 NBA season
| Atlantic Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Raptors | 14 | 7 | .667 | 0.0 | 8–4 | 6–3 | 2–0 | 21 |
| Boston Celtics | 12 | 9 | .571 | 2.0 | 5–4 | 7–5 | 3–0 | 21 |
| New York Knicks | 12 | 9 | .571 | 2.0 | 9–3 | 3–6 | 1–2 | 21 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 5 | 15 | .250 | 8.5 | 4–7 | 1–8 | 0–3 | 20 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 4 | 18 | .182 | 10.5 | 4–11 | 0–7 | 0–1 | 22 |
Notes
- y – Clinched division title
- x – Clinched playoff spot
Teams
| Team | City | Year | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joined | |||
| Boston Celtics | Boston | 1970 | Eastern Division |
| Brooklyn Nets (2012–present) New Jersey Nets (1977–2012) New York Nets (1976–1977) |
Brooklyn, New York City Piscataway/East Rutherford/Newark, New Jersey Uniondale, New York |
1976 | ABA |
| New York Knicks | New York City | 1970 | Eastern Division |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Philadelphia | 1970 | Eastern Division |
| Toronto Raptors | Toronto, Ontario | 2004 | Central Division |
- Notes
- denotes a team that merged from the American Basketball Association (ABA).
Former teams
| Team | City | Year | From | Year | To | Current division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joined | Left | |||||
| Buffalo Braves (1970–1978, now Los Angeles Clippers) | Buffalo, New York | 1970 | — |
1978 | Pacific Division (as San Diego Clippers) |
Pacific Division |
| Charlotte Hornets (1988–2002; 2004–present, formerly Charlotte Bobcats) | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1988 | — |
1989 | Midwest Division | Southeast Division |
| Miami Heat | Miami | 1989 | Midwest Division | 2004 | Southeast Division | Southeast Division |
| Orlando Magic | Orlando, Florida | 1991 | Midwest Division | 2004 | Southeast Division | Southeast Division |
| Washington Wizards (1997–present) Washington Bullets (1974–1997) |
Washington, D.C. Landover, Maryland |
1978 | Central Division | 2004 | Southeast Division | Southeast Division |
- Notes
- denotes an expansion team.
Team timeline
| Denotes team that is currently in the division | |
| Denotes team that has left the division |
Division champions
| ^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
Titles by team
| ^ | Denotes team that has left the division |
| Team | Titles | Season(s) won |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 21 | 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1991–92, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 5 | 1976–77, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1989–90, 2000–01 |
| New York Knicks | 5 | 1970–71, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2012–13 |
| Miami Heat^ | 4 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00 |
| New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) | 4 | 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06 |
| Toronto Raptors | 4 | 2006–07, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16 |
| Orlando Magic^ | 2 | 1994–95, 1995–96 |
| Washington Bullets^ (now Washington Wizards) | 1 | 1978–79 |
Season results
| ^ | Denotes team that won the NBA championships |
| + | Denotes team that won the Conference Finals, but lost the NBA Finals |
| * | Denotes team that qualified for the NBA Playoffs |
| Season | Team (record) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | |
| |||||||
| 1970–71 | New York* (52–30) | Philadelphia* (47–35) | Boston (44–38) | Buffalo (22–60) | — | — | — |
| 1971–72 | Boston* (56–26) | New York+ (48–34) | Philadelphia (30–52) | Buffalo (22–60) | — | — | — |
| 1972–73 | Boston* (68–14) | New York^ (57–25) | Buffalo (21–61) | Philadelphia (9–73) | — | — | — |
| 1973–74 | Boston^ (56–26) | New York* (49–33) | Buffalo* (42–40) | Philadelphia (25–57) | — | — | — |
| 1974–75 | Boston* (60–22) | Buffalo* (49–33) | New York* (40–42) | Philadelphia (34–48) | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | Boston^ (54–28) | Philadelphia* (46–36) | Buffalo* (46–36) | New York (38–44) | — | — | — |
| |||||||
| 1976–77 | Philadelphia+ (50–32) | Boston* (44–38) | New York Knicks (40–42) | Buffalo (30–52) | New York Nets (22–60) | — | — |
| |||||||
| 1977–78 | Philadelphia* (55–27) | New York* (43–39) | Boston (32–50) | Buffalo (27–55) | New Jersey (24–58) | — | — |
| |||||||
| 1978–79 | Washington+ (54–28) | Philadelphia* (47–35) | New Jersey* (37–45) | New York (31–51) | Boston (29–53) | — | — |
| 1979–80 | Boston* (61–21) | Philadelphia+ (59–23) | Washington* (39–43) | New York (39–43) | New Jersey (34–48) | — | — |
| 1980–81 | Boston^ (62–20) | Philadelphia* (62–20) | New York* (50–32) | Washington (39–43) | New Jersey (24–58) | — | — |
| 1981–82 | Boston* (63–19) | Philadelphia+ (58–24) | New Jersey* (44–38) | Washington* (43–39) | New York (33–49) | — | — |
| 1982–83 | Philadelphia^ (65–17) | Boston* (56–26) | New Jersey* (49–33) | New York* (44–38) | Washington (42–40) | — | — |
| 1983–84 | Boston^ (62–20) | Philadelphia* (52–30) | New York* (47–35) | New Jersey* (45–37) | Washington* (35–47) | — | — |
| 1984–85 | Boston+ (63–19) | Philadelphia* (58–24) | New Jersey* (42–40) | Washington* (40–42) | New York (24–58) | — | — |
| 1985–86 | Boston^ (67–15) | Philadelphia* (54–28) | Washington* (39–43) | New Jersey* (39–43) | New York (23–59) | — | — |
| 1986–87 | Boston+ (59–23) | Philadelphia* (45–37) | Washington* (42–40) | New Jersey (24–58) | New York (24–58) | — | — |
| 1987–88 | Boston* (57–25) | Washington* (38–44) | New York* (38–44) | Philadelphia (36–46) | New Jersey (19–63) | — | — |
| |||||||
| 1988–89 | New York* (52–30) | Philadelphia* (46–36) | Boston* (42–40) | Washington (40–42) | New Jersey (26–56) | Charlotte (20–62) | — |
| |||||||
| 1989–90 | Philadelphia* (53–29) | Boston* (52–30) | New York* (45–37) | Washington (31–51) | Miami (18–64) | New Jersey (17–65) | — |
| 1990–91 | Boston* (56–26) | Philadelphia* (44–38) | New York* (39–43) | Washington (30–52) | New Jersey (26–56) | Miami (24–58) | — |
| |||||||
| 1991–92 | Boston* (51–31) | New York* (51–31) | New Jersey* (40–42) | Miami* (38–44) | Philadelphia (35–47) | Washington (25–57) | Orlando (21–61) |
| 1992–93 | New York* (60–22) | Boston* (48–34) | New Jersey* (43–39) | Orlando (41–41) | Miami (36–46) | Philadelphia (26–56) | Washington (22–60) |
| 1993–94 | New York+ (57–25) | Orlando* (50–32) | New Jersey* (45–37) | Miami* (42–40) | Boston (32–50) | Philadelphia (25–57) | Washington (24–58) |
| 1994–95 | Orlando+ (57–25) | New York* (55–27) | Boston* (35–47) | Miami (32–50) | New Jersey (30–52) | Philadelphia (24–58) | Washington (21–61) |
| 1995–96 | Orlando* (60–22) | New York* (47–35) | Miami* (42–40) | Washington (39–43) | Boston (33–49) | New Jersey (30–52) | Philadelphia (18–64) |
| 1996–97 | Miami* (61–21) | New York* (57–25) | Orlando* (45–37) | Washington* (44–38) | New Jersey (26–56) | Philadelphia (22–60) | Boston (15–67) |
| |||||||
| 1997–98 | Miami* (55–27) | New York* (43–39) | New Jersey* (43–39) | Washington (42–40) | Orlando (41–41) | Boston (36–46) | Philadelphia (31–51) |
| 1998–99[a] | Miami* (33–17) | Orlando* (33–17) | Philadelphia* (28–22) | New York+ (27–23) | Boston (19–31) | Washington (18–32) | New Jersey (16–34) |
| 1999–00 | Miami* (52–30) | New York* (50–32) | Philadelphia* (49–33) | Orlando (41–41) | Boston (35–47) | New Jersey (31–51) | Washington (29–53) |
| 2000–01 | Philadelphia+ (56–26) | Miami* (50–32) | New York* (48–34) | Orlando* (43–39) | Boston (36–46) | New Jersey (26–56) | Washington (19–63) |
| 2001–02 | New Jersey+ (52–30) | Boston* (49–33) | Orlando* (44–38) | Philadelphia* (43–39) | Washington (37–45) | Miami (36–46) | New York (30–52) |
| 2002–03 | New Jersey+ (49–33) | Philadelphia* (48–34) | Boston* (44–38) | Orlando* (42–40) | Washington (37–45) | New York (37–45) | Miami (25–57) |
| 2003–04 | New Jersey* (47–35) | Miami* (42–40) | New York* (39–43) | Boston* (36–46) | Philadelphia (33–49) | Washington (25–57) | Orlando (21–61) |
| |||||||
| 2004–05 | Boston* (45–37) | Philadelphia* (43–39) | New Jersey* (42–40) | Toronto (33–49) | New York (33–49) | — | — |
| 2005–06 | New Jersey* (49–33) | Philadelphia (38–44) | Boston (33–49) | Toronto (27–55) | New York (23–59) | — | — |
| 2006–07 | Toronto* (47–35) | New Jersey* (41–41) | Philadelphia (35–47) | New York (33–49) | Boston (24–58) | — | — |
| 2007–08 | Boston^ (66–16) | Toronto* (41–41) | Philadelphia* (40–42) | New Jersey (34–48) | New York (23–59) | — | — |
| 2008–09 | Boston* (62–20) | Philadelphia* (41–41) | New Jersey (34–48) | Toronto (33–49) | New York (32–50) | — | — |
| 2009–10 | Boston+ (50–32) | Toronto (40–42) | New York (29–53) | Philadelphia (27–55) | New Jersey (12–70) | — | — |
| 2010–11 | Boston* (56–26) | New York* (42–40) | Philadelphia* (41–41) | New Jersey (24–58) | Toronto (22–60) | — | — |
| 2011–12[b] | Boston* (39–27) | New York* (36–30) | Philadelphia* (35–31) | Toronto (23–43) | New Jersey (22–44) | — | — |
| |||||||
| 2012–13 | New York* (54–28) | Brooklyn* (49–33) | Boston* (41–40) | Philadelphia (34–48) | Toronto (34–48) | — | — |
| 2013–14 | Toronto* (48–34) | Brooklyn* (44–38) | New York (37–45) | Boston (25–57) | Philadelphia (19–63) | — | — |
| 2014–15 | Toronto* (49–33) | Boston* (40–42) | Brooklyn* (38–44) | Philadelphia (18–64) | New York (17–65) | — | — |
| 2015–16 | Toronto* (56–26) | Boston* (48–34) | New York (32–50) | Brooklyn (21–61) | Philadelphia (10–72) | — | — |
Rivalries
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
Main article: Celtics–Knicks rivalry
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Main article: Celtics–76ers rivalry
New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets
Main article: Knicks–Nets rivalry
New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers
Main article: Knicks–76ers rivalry
Notes
- a 1 2 Because of a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, and all 29 teams played a shortened 50-game regular season schedule.[2]
- b 1 2 Because of a lockout, the season did not start until December 25, 2011, and all 30 teams played a shortened 66-game regular season schedule.[3]
- In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, the NBA canceled the April 16 game scheduled in Boston between the Celtics and the Pacers; the game was not rescheduled because it would have had no impact on either team's playoff seedings.[4]
References
- General
- "NBA & ABA League Index". Basketball-Reference.com.
- "Atlantic Division Blog". NBAAtlanticTwine.com. Atlantic Twine. Archived from the original on 2012-06-18.
- Specific
- ↑ "1970–71 Season Overview: Kareem Rules the League". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
- ↑ Donovan, John (February 4, 1999). "Let the semi-season begin: Expect injuries, intensity and a new champion in '99". CNN Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
- ↑ Jenkins, Lee (December 5, 2011). "'tis The Season". CNN Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
- ↑
External links
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