NBA Eastern Conference: Team Profiles
The delayed and abbreviated season of National Basketball Association (NBA) is swinging into action today on Christmas Day with 10 teams in action on the opening day.
We had provided our readers with an in-depth analysis and profiles of the Western Conference teams and now here are the list of the 15 teams who will fight it out for supremacy in the West.
ATLANTIC DIVISION
BOSTON CELTICS
Founded: 1946
NBA titles: 17 (2008, 1986, 1984, 1981, 1976, 1974, 1969, 1968, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960, 1959, 1957)
Head coach: Doc Rivers
2010-11 record: 56-26; Won the division and lost to the Miami Heat in the conference semi-finals
Mainstays Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo are back for the Celtics, who remain the division’s best. But lack of depth, especially with forward Jeff Green’s surgery sidelining him for the season, and a need for more offensive production could hurt the Celtics’ chances for a postseason run with both Miami and Chicago standing in the way.
NEW JERSEY NETS
Founded: 1967
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Avery Johnson
2010-11 record: 24-58; Have missed the playoffs and posted a losing record in each of the past four seasons.
Off-court activities may make a bigger splash than the Nets’ play this season as they pursue Orlando’s Dwight Howard. There could be improvement over last season with All-Star guard Deron Williams playing his first full season with the team. But the Nets are not likely to finish above .500 in their final year before moving to Brooklyn.
NEW YORK KNICKS
Founded: 1946
NBA titles: 2 (1973, 1970)
Head coach: Mike D’Antoni
2010-11 record: 42-40; Improved greatly from the 29-53 record in 2009-10 but came up short in an opening round playoff loss to Boston.
The scoring of Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire will take care of the offense, but the defense to play with the East’s elite will not be there even with the addition of much-needed center Tyson Chandler.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Founded: 1939
NBA titles: 3 (1983, 1967, 1955)
Head coach: Doug Collins
2010-11 record: 41-41; Lost to Miami in opening round of the playoffs.
The Sixers, with their harassing defense, could be back in the postseason after re-signing forward Thaddeus Young. Playmaker Jrue Holiday continues to improve but Philadelphia lacks a big-time scorer with aging forward Elton Brand’s productivity a question mark.
TORONTO RAPTORS
Founded: 1995
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Dwane Casey
2010-11 record: 22-60; Finished last in the division and with second-worst record in the conference.
Improvement, especially on defense, is likely but the Raptors remain the worst team in the Atlantic Division. Power forward Andrea Bargnani and swingman DeMar DeRozan can score. The Raptors’ top draft pick, center Jonas Valanciunas, is playing in Lithuania, leaving a hole in the middle.
CENTRAL DIVISION
CHICAGO BULLS
Founded: 1966
NBA titles: 6 (1998, 1997, 1996, 1993, 1992, 1991)
Head coach: Tom Thibodeau
2010-11 record: 62-20; Finished with best record in the NBA but fell to Miami in the conference finals.
The NBA’s best defensive team came up with a big catch on offense in guard Richard Hamilton, who should help ease the scoring burden thrust on league most valuable player Derrick Rose. Strong support is needed from frontline returnees Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah for the Bulls, to take the next step in the playoffs.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Founded: 1970
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Byron Scott
2010-11 record: 19-63; finished last in the conference.
Point guard Kyrie Irving and forward Tristan Thompson, both rookies, may provide the most excitement for the lowly Cavaliers this season but they will not be enough for Cleveland to escape the Central division cellar. Forward Anderson Varejao returns from an ankle injury, but the Cavaliers, still smarting from LeBron James’s departure in 2010, need help everywhere.
DETROIT PISTONS
Founded: 1941
NBA titles: 3 (2004, 1990, 1989)
Head coach: Lawrence Frank
2010-11 record: 30-52; Missed playoffs for second straight season.
The Pistons re-signed top-scorer Rodney Stuckey but there is a lot of work to be done with a team filled with dissention last season under former coach John Kuester. Center Greg Monroe played well as a rookie. Big games also will be needed from guard Ben Gordon and forward Charlie Villanueva. Still Detroit is likely to miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
INDIANA PACERS
Founded: 1967
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Frank Vogel
2010-11 record: 37-45; Squeaked into the playoffs and were dumped in the opening round in the first round by Chicago.
The arrival of free agents David West at power forward and George Hill at guard will bolster a Pacers team that made big strides last season. Point guard Darren Collison will help too after a solid 2010-11. Even if swingman Danny Granger produces a fourth-successive 20-point scoring average, though, the Pacers will find it difficult to make noise in the postseason.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Founded: 1968
NBA titles: 1 (1971)
Head coach: Scott Skiles
2010-11 record: 35-47; Missed playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.
There in s no problem with the defense, but the Bucks need to score a lot more if they want a playoff berth. They were last in the league in points per game in 2010-11. Playmaker Brandon Jennings and center Andrew Bogut have recovered from injuries. Now they need to crank up the offense. Newcomer Stephen Jackson could help.
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
ATLANTA HAWKS
Founded: 1947
NBA titles: 1 (1958 as St. Louis Hawks)
Head coach: Larry Drew
2010-11 record: 44-38; Finished third in division but lost to Chicago in the conference semi-finals.
Improvement on last season may be difficult for the Hawks, who look like a playoff team but will have trouble advancing deep in the postseason with teams like Miami, Boston and Chicago standing in the way. All-Star guard Joe Johnson and frontliners Al Horford and Josh Smith return as does emerging guard Jeff Teague. Adding swingman Tracy McGrady should help the offense.
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Founded: 2004
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Paul Silas
2010-11 record: 34-48; Finished fourth in the division and just missed out on a playoff spot.
The Bobcats need scoring to go with a competent defense. The acquisition of Corey Maggette should help fill the bill. First-round draft choice Bismack Biyombo and rookie guard Kemba Walker are in the fold, too. Overall, though, Charlotte does not have the talent needed to be a .500 ballclub.
MIAMI HEAT
Founded: 1988
NBA titles: 1 (2006)
Head coach: Erik Spoelstra
2010-11 record: 58-24; Won division title and then beat Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago in the playoffs before falling to Dallas in the NBA Finals.
Miami instantly became the team to beat last season when they signed LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade but they ran out of gas in the final. It might be a different story this season with Miami’s ‘Big Three’ more experienced at playing together and more determined. The signing of experienced forward Shane Battier should be a boost to a team that is already among the best in the NBA.
ORLANDO MAGIC
Founded: 1989
NBA titles: None
Head coach: Stan Van Gundy
2010-11 record: 52-30; Finished second in division and lost to Atlanta in opening round of playoffs.
Will Dwight Howard still be in Orlando when the season ends? The answer likely will determine how the Magic’s season goes. The All-Star and three-time NBA defensive player of the year may take his title hopes elsewhere if the supporting cast in Orlando does not figure to get him there. Orlando added Glen Davis to its frontline but it could be a tough year for the Magic with the Howard distractions. They likely will make the playoffs but do not count on the stay being very long.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Founded: 1961
NBA titles: 1 (1978 as the Washington Bullets)
Head coach: Flip Saunders
2010-11 record: 23-59; Have finished last in the division and missed playoffs in each of the last three seasons.
A healthy John Wall gives the Wizards hope but it will take a lot more for the Wizards to escape the division basement. New uniforms will not camouflage the inconsistency of big men Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee. The Wizards are loaded with young players but their record likely will be the same old story.
NBA Eastern Conference
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