Eastern Conference (NBA)

Eastern Conference
	200px
League	National Basketball Association
Sport	Basketball
Formerly	Eastern Division (1946-1970)
Founded	1946
No. of teams	15
Most recent champion(s)	Cleveland Cavaliers (2 titles)
Most titles	Boston Celtics (21 titles)

The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of 15 teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.

The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all remaining non-division winners seeded 5 through 8. This leaves open the possibility that a #2 or #3 seed could be a non-division winner. Home-court advantage in a playoff series is decided by record, not by seeding, so if the #4 and #5 teams meet in a playoff series in which the #5 team has the better record, the #5 team would have home-court advantage.

The reasoning behind this seeding arrangement is that a non-division winner could have a better record than the winners of the two divisions other than the non-division winning team in question. If the three division winners were seeded 1 through 3 for the playoffs in order of their records, and all non-division winners seeded 4 through 8, it would be possible for the two best teams of the conference to meet in the Conference Semifinals. This actually happened in the 2006 NBA Playoffs when the two best teams in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks, both from the Southwest Division, faced one another in the Western Conference Semifinals while the 3rd seed, the Northwest Division-leading Denver Nuggets, had fewer wins than the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th seeds.The NBA proposed and approved of the current format to ensure that the best two teams of a conference can meet no earlier than the Conference Finals.

The Eastern Conference playoffs are divided into two preliminary rounds followed by the Eastern Conference Finals, with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference champion in the NBA Finals to determine the champion. All playoff series are best-of-seven.

The current divisional alignment was adopted at the start of the 2004–05 season, when the Charlotte Bobcats began play as the NBA's 30th franchise. This necessitated the move of the New Orleans Hornets from the Eastern Conference's Central Division to the newly created Southwest Division of the Western Conference.

Current Standings

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This page is a soft redirect. Eastern Conference

Teams

Team	Division	City	Year	From
Team	Division	City	Joined
Atlanta Hawks	Southeast	Atlanta, Georgia	1970–present	Western Division
Boston Celtics	Atlantic	Boston, Massachusetts	1946–present
Brooklyn Nets (2012–present) New Jersey Nets (1977–2012) New York Nets (1976–1977)	Atlantic	Brooklyn, New York, New York	1976–present	ABA File:Double-dagger-14-plain.png
Charlotte Hornets (1988–2002, 2014–present) Charlotte Bobcats (2004–2014)	Southeast	Charlotte, North Carolina	1988–1989, 1990–2002, 2004–present	—File:Dagger-14-plain.png
Chicago Bulls	Central	Chicago, Illinois	1980–present	Western Conference
Cleveland Cavaliers	Central	Cleveland, Ohio	1970–present	—File:Dagger-14-plain.png
Detroit Pistons	Central	Detroit, Michigan	1967–1970, 1978–present	Western Conference
Indiana Pacers	Central	Indianapolis, Indiana	1979–present	Western Conference
Miami Heat	Southeast	Miami, Florida	1989–present	Western Conference
Milwaukee Bucks	Central	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	1968–1970, 1980–present	Western Conference
New York Knicks	Atlantic	Manhattan, New York, New York	1946–present
Orlando Magic	Southeast	Orlando, Florida	1989–1990, 1991–present	—File:Dagger-14-plain.png
Philadelphia 76ers (1963–present) Syracuse Nationals (1949–1963)	Atlantic	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	1949–present	—Template:Asterisk
Toronto Raptors	Atlantic	Toronto, Ontario	1995–present	—File:Dagger-14-plain.png
Washington Wizards (1997–present) Washington Bullets (1974–1997) Capital Bullets (1973–1974) Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973)	Southeast	Washington, D.C.	1966–present	Western Division

Former teams

Team	City	Year	From	Year	To	Current conference
Team	City	Joined		Left		Current conference
Baltimore Bullets	Baltimore, Maryland	1948	Western Division	1954^[1]	defunct	defunct
Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers)	Buffalo, New York	1970	—File:Dagger-14-plain.png	1978	Western Conference	Western Conference
Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings)	Cincinnati, Ohio	1962	Western Division	1972	Western Conference	Western Conference
Houston Rockets	Houston, Texas	1972	Western Conference	1980	Western Conference	Western Conference
New Orleans Jazz (now the Utah Jazz)	New Orleans, Louisiana	1974	—File:Dagger-14-plain.png	1979	Western Conference	Western Conference
New Orleans Hornets (now the New Orleans Pelicans	New Orleans, Louisiana	2002	—File:Dagger-14-plain.png	2004	Western Conference	Western Conference
Philadelphia Warriors (now the Golden State Warriors)	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	1946		1962	Western Division	Western Conference
Providence Steamrollers	Providence, Rhode Island	1946		1949	defunct	defunct
San Antonio Spurs	San Antonio, Texas	1976	ABA File:Double-dagger-14-plain.png	1980	Western Conference	Western Conference
Toronto Huskies	Toronto, Ontario	1946		1947	defunct	defunct
Washington Capitols	Washington, D.C.	1946 1948	Western Division	1947 1951^[2]	Western Division defunct	defunct

Notes

founding BAA team
File:Dagger-14-plain.png denotes an expansion team.
File:Double-dagger-14-plain.png denotes a team that merged from the American Basketball Association (ABA).
Template:Asterisk denotes a team that merged from the National Basketball league

Team timeline

	Denotes team that currently in the conference
	Denotes team that has left the conference

<timeline> DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:25 Period = from:1946 till:2015 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:60 left:20 bottom:20 top:0

Colors = id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7)

        id:line value:black
        id:bg value:white

PlotData =

 width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s
 bar:1 color:tan1 from:1946 till:end text:Boston Celtics (1946–present)
 bar:2 color:tan1 from:1946 till:end text:New York Knicks (1946–present)
 bar:3 color:tan2 from:1946 till:1962 text:Philadelphia Warriors (1946–1962)
 bar:4 color:tan2 from:1946 till:1949 text:Providence Steamrollers (1946–1949)
 bar:5 color:tan2 from:1946 till:1947 text:Toronto Huskies (1946–1947)
 bar:6 color:tan2 from:1946 till:1947 text:Washington Capitols (1946–1947, 1948–1951)
 bar:6 color:tan2 from:1948 till:1951
 bar:7 color:tan2 from:1948 till:1954 text:Baltimore Bullets (1948–1954)
 bar:8 color:tan1 from:1949 till:end text:Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers (1949–present)
 bar:9 color:tan2 from:1962 till:1972 text:Cincinnati Royals (1962–1972)
 bar:10 color:tan1 from:1966 till:end text:Baltimore Bullets / Capital Bullets / Washington Bullets / Washington Wizards (1966–present)
 bar:11 color:tan1 from:1967 till:1970 text:Detroit Pistons (1967–1970, 1978–present)
 bar:11 color:tan1 from:1978 till:end
 bar:12 color:tan1 from:1968 till:1970 text:Milwaukee Bucks (1968–1970, 1980–present)
 bar:12 color:tan1 from:1980 till:end
 bar:13 color:tan1 from:1970 till:end text:Atlanta Hawks (1970–present)
 bar:14 color:tan2 from:1970 till:1978 text:Buffalo Braves (1970–1978)
 bar:15 color:tan1 from:1970 till:end text:Cleveland Cavaliers (1970–present)
 bar:16 color:tan2 from:1972 till:1980 text:Houston Rockets (1972–1980)
 bar:17 color:tan2 from:1974 till:1979 text:New Orleans Jazz (1974–1979)
 bar:18 color:tan1 from:1976 till:end text:New York Nets / New Jersey Nets / Brooklyn Nets (1976–present)
 bar:19 color:tan2 from:1976 till:1980 text:San Antonio Spurs (1976–1980)
 bar:20 color:tan1 from:1979 till:end text:Indiana Pacers (1979–present)
 bar:21 color:tan1 from:1980 till:end text:Chicago Bulls (1980–present)
 bar:22 color:tan1 from:1988 till:1989 text:Charlotte Hornets / Bobcats / Hornets (1988–1989, 1990–2002, 2004–present)
 bar:22 color:tan1 from:1990 till:2002
 bar:22 color:tan1 from:2004 till:end
 bar:23 color:tan1 from:1989 till:end text:Miami Heat (1989–present)
 bar:24 color:tan1 from:1989 till:1990 text:Orlando Magic (1989–1990, 1991–present)
 bar:24 color:tan1 from:1991 till:end
 bar:25 color:tan1 from:1995 till:end text:Toronto Raptors (1995–present)
 bar:26 color:tan2 from:2002 till:2004 text:New Orleans Hornets (2002–2004)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:3 start:1946 </timeline>

Eastern Conference champions

Eastern Conference was named Eastern Division until 1970

Bold indicates winning team of the BAA Finals or NBA Finals

Year	Team	Finals result
1947	Philadelphia Warriors	Won BAA Finals 4-1
1948	Philadelphia Warriors	Lost BAA Finals 2-4
1949	Washington Capitols	Lost BAA Finals 2-4
1950	Syracuse Nationals	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1951	New York Knicks	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1952	New York Knicks	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1953	New York Knicks	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
1954	Syracuse Nationals	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1955	Syracuse Nationals	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1956	Philadelphia Warriors	Won NBA Finals 4-1
1957	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1958	Boston Celtics	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1959	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-0
1960	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1961	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-1
1962	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1963	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1964	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-1
1965	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-1
1966	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1967	Philadelphia 76ers	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1968	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1969	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1970	New York Knicks	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1971	Baltimore Bullets	Lost NBA Finals 0-4
1972	New York Knicks	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
1973	New York Knicks	Won NBA Finals 4-1
1974	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1975	Washington Bullets	Lost NBA Finals 0-4
1976	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1977	Philadelphia 76ers	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1978	Washington Bullets	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1979	Washington Bullets	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
1980	Philadelphia 76ers	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1981	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1982	Philadelphia 76ers	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1983	Philadelphia 76ers	Won NBA Finals 4-0
1984	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1985	Boston Celtics	Lost NBA Finals 4-2
1986	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1987	Boston Celtics	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1988	Detroit Pistons	Lost NBA Finals 4-3
1989	Detroit Pistons	Won NBA Finals 4-0
1990	Detroit Pistons	Won NBA Finals 4-1
1991	Chicago Bulls	Won NBA Finals 4-1
1992	Chicago Bulls	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1993	Chicago Bulls	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1994	New York Knicks	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1995	Orlando Magic	Lost NBA Finals 0-4
1996	Chicago Bulls	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1997	Chicago Bulls	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1998	Chicago Bulls	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1999	New York Knicks	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
2000	Indiana Pacers	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
2001	Philadelphia 76ers	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
2002	New Jersey Nets	Lost NBA Finals 0-4
2003	New Jersey Nets	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
2004	Detroit Pistons	Won NBA Finals 4-1
2005	Detroit Pistons	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
2006	Miami Heat	Won NBA Finals 4-2
2007	Cleveland Cavaliers	Lost NBA Finals 0-4
2008	Boston Celtics	Won NBA Finals 4-2
2009	Orlando Magic	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
2010	Boston Celtics	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
2011	Miami Heat	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
2012	Miami Heat	Won NBA Finals 4-1
2013	Miami Heat	Won NBA Finals 4-3
2014	Miami Heat	Lost NBA Fnals 1-4
2015	Cleveland Cavaliers	TBD NBA Finals vs. Golden State Warriors

List of Eastern Conference teams with the most conference championships

21: Boston Celtics
9: Philadelphia 76ers – Syracuse Nationals
8: New York Knicks
6: Chicago Bulls
5: Miami Heat
5: Detroit Pistons
4: Washington/Baltimore Bullets
3: Philadelphia Warriors
2: Cleveland Cavaliers
2: New Jersey Nets
2: Orlando Magic
1: Indiana Pacers
1: Washington Capitols

Season results

Legend
^	Denotes team that won the NBA Finals
⁺	Denotes team that won the Conference Finals, but lost the NBA Finals
*	Denotes team that qualified for the NBA Playoffs

1946–1950 seasons

Season	Team (record)
Season	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
1946–47	WAS* (49–11)	PHI^ (35–25)	NYK* (33–27)	PRO (28–32)	BOS (22–38)	TOR (22–38)
1947–48	PHI⁺ (27–21)	NYK* (26–22)	BOS* (20–28)	PRO (6–42)	—	—
1948–49	WAS⁺ (38–22)	NYK* (32–28)	BAL* (29–31)	PHI* (28–32)	BOS (25–35)	PRO (12–48)
1949–50	SYR⁺ (51–13)	NYK* (40–28)	WAS* (32–36)	PHI* (26–42)	BAL (25–43)	BOS (22–46)

1950–1960 seasons

Season	Team (record)
Season	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
1950–51	PHI* (40–26)	BOS* (39–30)	NYK⁺ (36–30)	SYR* (32–34)	BAL (24–42)	WAS (10–25)
1951–52	SYR* (40–26)	BOS* (39–27)	NYK⁺ (37–29)	PHI* (33–33)	BAL (20–46)	—

1960–1970 seasons

Season	Team (record)
Season	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th

1970–1980 seasons

Season	Team (record)
Season	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th

1980–1990 seasons

Season	Team (record)
Season	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th	13th

1990–2000 seasons

Season	Team (record)
Season	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th	13th	14th	15th
1996–97	CHI^ (69–13)	MIA* (61–21)	NYK* (57–25)	ATL* (56–26)	DET* (54–28)	CHA* (54–28)	ORL* (45–37)	WAS* (44–38)	CLE (42–40)	IND (39–43)	MIL (33–49)	TOR (30–52)	NJN (26–56)	PHI (22–60)	TOR (15–67)
1997–98	CHI^ (62–20)	MIA* (55–27)	IND* (58–24)	CHA* (51–31)	ATL* (50–32)	CLE* (47–35)	NYK* (43–39)	NJN* (43–39)	WAS (42–40)	ORL (41–41)	DET (37–45)	BOS (36–46)	MIL (36–46)	PHI (31–51)	TOR (16–66)
1998–99	MIA* (33–17)	IND* (33–17)	ORL* (33–17)	ATL* (31–19)	DET* (29–21)	PHI* (28–22)	PHI* (28–22)	NYK⁺ (27–23)	CHA (26–24)	TOR (23–27)	CLE (22–28)	BOS (19–31)	WAS (18–32)	NJN (16–34)	CHI (13–37)
1999–00	IND⁺ (56–26)	MIA* (52–30)	NYK* (50–32)	CHA* (49–33)	PHI* (49–33)	TOR* (45–37)	DET* (42–40)	MIL* (42–40)	ORL (41–41)	BOS (35–47)	CLE (32–50)	NJN (31–51)	WAS (29–53)	ATL (28–54)	CHI (17–65)

2000–2010 seasons

Season	Team (record)
Season	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th	13th	14th	15th
2000–01	PHI⁺ (56–26)	MIL* (52–30)	MIA* (50–32)	NYK* (48–34)	TOR* (47–35)	CHA* (46–36)	ORL* (43–39)	IND* (41–41)	BOS (36–46)	DET (32–50)	CLE (30–52)	NJN (26–56)	ATL (25–57)	WAS (19–63)	CHI (15–67)
2001–02	NJN⁺ (52–30)	DET* (50–32)	BOS* (49–33)	CHA* (44–38)	ORL* (44–38)	PHI* (43–39)	TOR* (42–40)	IND* (42–40)	MIL (41–41)	WAS (37–45)	MIA (36–46)	ATL (33–49)	NYK (30–52)	CLE (29–53)	CHI (21–61)
2002–03	DET* (50–32)	NJN⁺ (49–33)	IND* (48–34)	PHI* (48–34)	NO* (47–35)	BOS* (44–38)	MIL* (42–40)	ORL* (42–40)	NYK (37–45)	WAS (37–45)	ATL (35–47)	CHI (30–52)	MIA (25–57)	TOR (24–58)	CLE (17–65)
2003–04	IND* (61–21)	NJN* (47–35)	DET^ (54–28)	MIA* (42–40)	NO* (41–41)	MIL* (41–41)	NYK* (39–43)	BOS* (36–46)	CLE (35–47)	TOR (33–49)	PHI (33–49)	ATL (28–54)	WAS (25–57)	CHI (23–59)	ORL (21–61)
2004–05	MIA* (59–23)	DET⁺ (54–28)	BOS* (45–37)	CHI* (47–35)	WAS* (45–37)	IND* (44–38)	PHI* (43–39)	NJN* (42–40)	CLE (42–40)	ORL (36–46)	NYK (33–49)	TOR (33–49)	MIL (30–52)	CHA (18–64)	ATL (13–69)
2005–06	DET* (64–18)	MIA^ (52–30)	NJN* (49–33)	CLE* (50–32)	WAS* (42–40)	IND* (41–41)	CHI* (41–41)	MIL* (40–42)	PHI (38–44)	ORL (36–46)	BOS (33–49)	TOR (27–55)	CHA (26–56)	ATL (26–56)	NYK (23–59)
2006–07	DET* (53–29)	CLE⁺ (50–32)	TOR* (47–35)	MIA* (44–38)	CHI* (49–33)	NJN* (41–41)	WAS* (41–41)	ORL* (40–42)	PHI (35–47)	IND (35–47)	NYK (33–49)	CHA (33–49)	ATL (30–52)	MIL (28–54)	BOS (24–58)
2007–08	BOS^ (66–16)	DET* (59–23)	ORL* (52–30)	CLE* (45–37)	WAS* (43–39)	TOR* (41–41)	PHI* (40–42)	ATL* (37–45)	IND (36–46)	NJN (34–48)	CHI (33–49)	CHA (32–50)	MIL (26–56)	NYK (23–59)	MIA (15–67)
2008–09	CLE* (66–16)	BOS* (62–20)	ORL⁺ (59–23)	ATL* (47–35)	MIA* (43–39)	PHI* (41–41)	CHI* (41–41)	DET* (39–43)	IND (36–46)	CHA (35–47)	NJN (34–48)	MIL (34–48)	TOR (33–49)	NYK (32–50)	WAS (19–63)
2009–10	CLE* (61–21)	ORL* (59–23)	ATL* (53–29)	BOS⁺ (50–32)	MIA* (47–35)	MIL* (46–36)	CHA* (44–38)	CHI* (41–41)	TOR (40–42)	IND (32–50)	NYK (29–53)	DET (27–55)	PHI (27–55)	WAS (26–56)	NJN (12–70)

2010–2020 seasons

Season	Team (record)
Season	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th	13th	14th	15th
2010–11	CHI* (62–20)	MIA⁺ (58–24)	BOS* (56–26)	ORL* (52–30)	ATL* (44–38)	NYK* (42–40)	PHI* (41–41)	IND* (37–45)	MIL (35–47)	CHA (34–48)	DET (30–52)	NJN (24–58)	WAS (23–59)	TOR (22–60)	CLE (19–63)
2011–12	CHI* (50–16)	MIA^ (46–20)	IND* (42–24)	ATL* (40–26)	BOS* (39–27)	ORL* (37–29)	NYK* (36–30)	PHI* (35–31)	MIL (31–35)	DET (25–41)	TOR (23–43)	NJN (22–44)	CLE (21–45)	WAS (20–46)	CHA (7–59)
2012–13	MIA^ (66–16)	NYK* (54–28)	IND* (49–32)	BKN* (49–33)	CHI* (45–37)	ATL* (44–38)	BOS* (41–40)	MIL* (38–44)	PHI (34–48)	TOR (34–48)	DET (29–53)	WAS (29–53)	CLE (24–58)	CHA (21–61)	ORL (20–62)
2013–14	IND* (56–26)	MIA⁺ (54–28)	TOR* (48–34)	CHI* (48–34)	WAS* (44–38)	BKN* (44–38)	CHA* (43–39)	ATL* (38–44)	NYK (37–45)	CLE (33–49)	DET (29–53)	BOS (25–57)	ORL (23–59)	PHI (19–63)	MIL (15–67)

References

^ The Bullets played 14 games during the 1954–55 season before becoming defunct.
^ The Capitols played 35 games during the 1950–51 season before becoming defunct.

[1] The Bullets played 14 games during the 1954–55 season before becoming defunct.

[2] The Capitols played 35 games during the 1950–51 season before becoming defunct.

[1]

[2]

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