Atlantic Division (NBA)

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Atlantic Division
ConferenceEastern Conference
LeagueNational Basketball Association
SportBasketball
Inaugural season1970–71 season
Teams
No. of teams5
Championships
Most recent champion(s)Philadelphia 76ers
(6th title)
Most titlesBoston Celtics
(22 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 and New York teams in Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League.

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 22. Nine NBA champions have come from the Atlantic Division. The Celtics have won six championships, while the Knicks, the 76ers and the Raptors have 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%).


2020–21 standings[]

Main article: 2020–21 NBA season
Atlantic Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
c − Philadelphia 76ers 49 23 .681 0.0 29–7 20–16 10–2 72
x – Brooklyn Nets 48 24 .667 1.0 28–8 20–16 8–4 72
x – New York Knicks 41 31 .569 8.0 25–11 16–20 4–8 72
x – Boston Celtics 36 36 .500 13.0 21–15 15–21 4–8 72
Toronto Raptors 27 45 .375 22.0 16–20 11–25 4–8 72

Notes

  • c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
  • y – Clinched division title
  • x – Clinched playoff spot
  • pb – Clinched play-in spot
  • o – Eliminated from playoff contention

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 ABAdouble-dagger
New York Knicks New York City 1970 Eastern Division
Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 1970 Eastern Division
Toronto Raptors Toronto 2004 Central Division
Notes
  • double-dagger 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 —dagger 1978 Pacific Division
(as San Diego Clippers) 		Pacific Division
Charlotte Hornets (1988–2002; 2004–present, formerly Charlotte Bobcats) Charlotte, North Carolina 1988 —dagger 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
  • dagger denotes an expansion team.

Team timeline[]

Denotes team that is currently in the division
Denotes team that has left the division
Toronto RaptorsOrlando MagicMiami HeatCharlotte HornetsWashington WizardsBrooklyn NetsPhiladelphia 76ersNew York KnicksBuffalo BravesBoston Celtics

Division champions[]

^ Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season
Season Team Record Playoffs result
1970–71 New York Knicks 52–30 (.634) Lost Conference Finals
1971–72 Boston Celtics 56–26 (.683) Lost Conference Finals
1972–73 Boston Celtics^ 68–14 (.829) Lost Conference Finals
1973–74 Boston Celtics 56–26 (.683) Won NBA Finals
1974–75 Boston Celtics^ 60–22 (.732) Lost Conference Finals
1975–76 Boston Celtics 54–28 (.659) Won NBA Finals
1976–77 Philadelphia 76ers 50–32 (.610) Lost NBA Finals
1977–78 Philadelphia 76ers 55–27 (.671) Lost Conference Finals
1978–79 Washington Bullets^ 54–28 (.659) Lost NBA Finals
1979–80 Boston Celtics^ 61–21 (.744) Lost Conference Finals
1980–81 Boston Celtics^ 62–20 (.756) Won NBA Finals
1981–82 Boston Celtics^ 63–19 (.768) Lost Conference Finals
1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers^ 65–17 (.793) Won NBA Finals
1983–84 Boston Celtics^ 62–20 (.756) Won NBA Finals
1984–85 Boston Celtics^ 63–19 (.768) Lost NBA Finals
1985–86 Boston Celtics^ 67–15 (.817) Won NBA Finals
1986–87 Boston Celtics 59–23 (.720) Lost NBA Finals
1987–88 Boston Celtics 57–25 (.695) Lost Conference Finals
1988–89 New York Knicks 52–30 (.634) Lost Conference Semifinals
1989–90 Philadelphia 76ers 53–29 (.646) Lost Conference Semifinals
1990–91 Boston Celtics 56–26 (.683) Lost Conference Semifinals
1991–92 Boston Celtics 51–31 (.622) Lost Conference Semifinals
1992–93 New York Knicks 60–22 (.732) Lost Conference Finals
1993–94 New York Knicks 57–25 (.695) Lost NBA Finals
1994–95 Orlando Magic 57–25 (.695) Lost NBA Finals
1995–96 Orlando Magic 60–22 (.732) Lost Conference Finals
1996–97 Miami Heat 61–21 (.744) Lost Conference Finals
1997–98 Miami Heat 55–27 (.671) Lost First Round
1998–99[a] Miami Heat 33–17 (.660) Lost First Round
1999–00 Miami Heat 52–30 (.634) Lost Conference Semifinals
2000–01 Philadelphia 76ers 56–26 (.683) Lost NBA Finals
2001–02 New Jersey Nets 52–30 (.634) Lost NBA Finals
2002–03 New Jersey Nets 49–33 (.598) Lost NBA Finals
2003–04 New Jersey Nets 47–35 (.573) Lost Conference Semifinals
2004–05 Boston Celtics 45–37 (.549) Lost First Round
2005–06 New Jersey Nets 49–33 (.598) Lost Conference Semifinals
2006–07 Toronto Raptors 47–35 (.573) Lost First Round
2007–08 Boston Celtics^ 66–16 (.805) Won NBA Finals
2008–09 Boston Celtics 62–20 (.756) Lost Conference Semifinals
2009–10 Boston Celtics 50–32 (.610) Lost NBA Finals
2010–11 Boston Celtics 56–26 (.683) Lost Conference Semifinals
2011–12[b] Boston Celtics 39–27 (.591) Lost Conference Finals
2012–13 New York Knicks 54–28 (.659) Lost Conference Semifinals
2013–14 Toronto Raptors 48–34 (.585) Lost First Round
2014–15 Toronto Raptors 49–33 (.598) Lost First Round
2015–16 Toronto Raptors 56–26 (.683) Lost Conference Finals
2016–17 Boston Celtics 53–29 (.646) Lost Conference Finals
2017–18 Toronto Raptors 59–23 (.720) Lost Conference Semifinals
2018–19 Toronto Raptors 58–24 (.707) Won NBA Finals
2019–20 Toronto Raptors 53–19 (.736) Lost Conference Semifinals
2020–21 Philadelphia 76ers 49–23 (.681) Lost Conference Semifinals

Titles by team[]

^ Denotes team that has left the division
Team Titles Season(s) won
Boston Celtics 22 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, 2016–17
Toronto Raptors 7 2006–07, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
Philadelphia 76ers 6 1976–77, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1989–90, 2000–01, 2020–21
New York Knicks 5 1970–71, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2012–13
Brooklyn Nets 4 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06
Miami Heat^ 4 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00
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
× Denotes team that did not qualify for the 2020 NBA Bubble season restart
Season Team (record)
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
  • 1970: The Atlantic Division was formed with four inaugural members. An expansion team, the Buffalo Braves, joined the division. The Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers joined from the Eastern Division.
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: An American Basketball Association (ABA) team that merged with the NBA, the New York Nets, joined the division.
1976–77 Philadelphia+ (50–32) Boston* (44–38) NY Knicks (40–42) Buffalo (30–52) NY Nets (22–60)
  • 1977: The New York Nets relocated and became the New Jersey Nets.
1977–78 Philadelphia* (55–27) New York* (43–39) Boston (32–50) Buffalo (27–55) New Jersey (24–58)
  • 1979: The Washington Bullets joined from the Central Division. The Buffalo Braves, who relocated and became the San Diego Clippers, left to join the Pacific Division.
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: An expansion team, the Charlotte Hornets, joined the division temporarily for one season.
1988–89 New York* (52–30) Philadelphia* (46–36) Boston* (42–40) Washington (40–42) New Jersey (26–56) Charlotte (20–62)
  • 1989: The Miami Heat joined from the Midwest Division. The Charlotte Hornets left to join the Midwest Division temporarily for one season, then the Central Division permanently thereafter.
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: The Washington Bullets was renamed the Washington Wizards.
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: The New Jersey Nets relocated and became the Brooklyn Nets.
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)
2016–17 Boston* (53–29) Toronto* (51–31) New York (31–51) Philadelphia (28–54) Brooklyn (20–62)
2017–18 Toronto* (59–23) Boston* (55–27) Philadelphia* (52–30) New York (29–53) Brooklyn (28–54)
2018–19 Toronto^ (58–24) Philadelphia* (51–31) Boston* (49–33) Brooklyn* (42–40) New York (17–65)
2019–20 Toronto* (53–19) Boston* (48–24) Philadelphia* (43–30) Brooklyn* (35–37) New York× (21–45)
2020–21 Philadelphia* (49–23) Brooklyn* (48–24) New York* (41–31) Boston* (36–36) Toronto (27–45)

Rivalries[]

Main article: National Basketball Association rivalries § Atlantic Division

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]
  • daggerIn the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, 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.
Specific
  1. ^ "1970–71 Season Overview: Kareem Rules the League". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  2. ^ 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 June 22, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  3. ^ Jenkins, Lee (December 5, 2011). "'tis The Season". CNN Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[]

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