NBA-Brief profiles of Eastern Conference teams
Oct 24 (Reuters) - Following are brief profiles of the 15 teams in the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Eastern Conference ahead of the 2013-14 season. 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: Brad Stevens 2012-13 record: 41-40 (Lost to New York in first round of playoffs) A massive exit has left the Celtics headed for a fall. Doc Rivers moved west, replaced by young college coach Brad Stevens. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry were shipped to the Nets and talented point guard Rajon Rondo is on the mend from a serious knee injury. Until Rondo returns, Avery Bradley will run the point with Jeff Green and Brandon Bass at the forwards, Courtney Lee likely at shooting guard and veteran Gerald Wallace and rookie Kelly Olynyk somewhere in the mix. - - BROOKLYN NETS Founded: 1967 NBA titles: None Head coach: Jason Kidd 2012-13 record: 49-33 (Made playoffs for first time in six seasons but lost to Chicago in first round) With new coach and former NBA player Jason Kidd at the controls, the Nets should contend with Miami, Indiana, Chicago and New York for a high place in the Eastern Conference. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry, all acquired from Boston, plus the returning Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez make the Nets the team to beat in the Atlantic Division if they stay healthy. There is plenty of depth too. - - NEW YORK KNICKS Founded: 1946 NBA titles: 2 (1973, 1970) Head coach: Mike Woodson 2012-13 record: 54-28 (Second seeds beat Boston in first round of playoffs before losing to Indiana in East semis) Reigning NBA scoring champion Carmelo Anthony, former All-Star Armar'e Stoudemire and new forward Andrea Bargnani have the Knicks looking to contend once again for Atlantic Division honors and a playoff spot. The acquisition of Metta World Peace should help bolster a solid defense that features former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler. - - PHILADELPHIA 76ERS Founded: 1946 NBA titles: 3 (1983, 1967, 1955) Head coach: Brett Brown 2012-13 record: 34-48 (Missed playoffs for first time in three seasons) After last year's failed experiment with Andrew Bynum, the Sixers sent the former All-Star to Cleveland and traded All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday to New Orleans for Pelicans first round draft choice forward Nerlens Noel, who is recovering from knee surgery and likely will miss the season. They also hired a new coach. That leaves a weak lineup with rookie Michael Carter-Williams running the point and the 76ers hoping to land a lottery pick in next year's draft. - - TORONTO RAPTORS Founded: 1995 NBA titles: None Head coach: Dwane Casey 2012-13 record: 34-48 (Missed playoffs for fifth consecutive season) The Raptors, with top scorer Rudy Gay and point guard Kyle Lowry, have enough talent to end their long absence from the playoffs. DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson and center Jonas Valanciunas also are expected to start with slam dunk champion and second year pro Terrence Ross the sixth man as the Raptors seek consistent scoring to trump their flaws on defense. - - CENTRAL DIVISION CHICAGO BULLS Founded: 1966 NBA titles: 6 (1998, 1997, 1996, 1993, 1992, 1991) Head coach: Tom Thibodeau 2012-13 record: 45-37 (Defeated Brooklyn in opening round of playoffs before being beaten by Miami in next round) With the return of former league most valuable player Derrick Rose, the Bulls will be looking to recreate some of their former magic. Rose, if completely recovered from knee surgery, makes Chicago a major threat with the help of Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Jimmy Butler. But the Bulls, who added Mike Dunleavy and may have their strongest lineup in coach Tim Thibodeau's tenure, will be hard pushed for division honors by the Indiana Pacers. - - CLEVELAND CAVALIERS Founded: 1970 NBA titles: None Head coach: Mike Brown 2012-13 record: 24-58 (One of worst defensive teams in league) Mike Brown is back after a short and unsuccessful stay with the Los Angeles Lakers to lead a team that showed some promise last season thanks to the play of All-Star Kyrie Irving, when healthy. The addition of former All-Star Andrew Bynum, first overall draft pick Anthony Bennett and playmaker Jarrett Jack has helped the Cavs build a roster that has depth at every position. Despite the progress, it may be too early for the Cavaliers to end their post-LeBron playoff doldrums. - - DETROIT PISTONS Founded: 1941 NBA titles: 3 (2004, 1990, 1989) Head coach: Maurice Cheeks 2012-13 record: 29-53 (Missed playoffs for fourth consecutive season) The Pistons added a new coach and spent the offseason acquiring players they believe can help them end their playoff slump. Forward Josh Smith and guard Brandon Jennings, along with returning big men Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, should help the Pistons win more games but they will need to work together if there is to be a postseason. - - INDIANA PACERS Founded: 1967 NBA titles: None Head coach: Frank Vogel 2012-13 record: 49-32 (Division winners beat Atlanta and New York in first two rounds of playoffs before losing to eventual champion Miami in seven games in conference finals) The Pacers took the NBA champion Miami Heat to seven games in the Eastern finals, and they may be even stronger with the return of forward Danny Granger from injury and a beefed-up bench that adds Luis Scola, C.J. Watson and Chris Copeland. With last year's standouts Paul George and David West back, the Pacers could go deep into the playoffs and possibly into the finals if they can find a way to defeat the Heat. This team plays sound defense and has standouts on the offensive side of the ball that can score. - - MILWAUKEE BUCKS Founded: 1968 NBA titles: 1 (1971) Head coach: Larry Drew 2012-13 record: 38-44 (Made playoffs despite losing record but swept by Miami in first round) Guards Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis are no longer with the team and have been replaced by youngsters Brandon Knight and O.J. Mayo, leaving a playoff appearance in doubt for new coach Larry Drew. Center Larry Sanders, second in the league in blocks per game last year, signed a multiyear extension and the team added free agents Garry Neal, Carlos Delfino to go with 18-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo from Greece, a first-round draft pick. - - SOUTHEAST DIVISION ATLANTA HAWKS Founded: 1946 NBA titles: 1 (1958 as St. Louis Hawks) Head coach: Mike Budenholzer 2012-13 record: 44-38 (Sixth seeds ousted by Indiana in first round of playoffs) The frontcourt tandem of Al Horford and new acquired Paul Millsap is where it starts and ends for the Atlanta Hawks this season. Guard Jeff Teague is the only notable name on a roster of unheralded players. The Hawks could still make the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season but the lack of height and a strong defense could be a problem for new coach Mike Budenholzer. - - CHARLOTTE BOBCATS Founded: 2004 NBA titles: None Head coach: Steve Clifford 2012-13 record: 21-61 (Had second worst winning percentage in league despite winning 14 more games than previous season) The addition of Al Jefferson and drafting Cody Zeller were good moves, but it will not turn Charlotte into a playoff team for new coach Steve Clifford. Youngsters Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist need to step up as the Bobcats prepare to regain their original nickname, the Hornets, with the 2014-15 season. - - MIAMI HEAT Founded: 1988 NBA titles: 3 (2013, 2012, 2006) Head coach: Erik Spoelstra 2012-13 record: 66-16 (Won division title and then beat Milwaukee, Chicago and Indiana in the playoffs before claiming second consecutive NBA crown of LeBron James era by defeating San Antonio in seven games in the finals) Can the Heat become the league's first three-peat team since the 2000-2002 Los Angeles Lakers? Four-time league most valuable player LeBron James and Big Three partners Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade remain the title favorites but they have shown vulnerability in their last two championship runs. The major players return with Mike Miller the most significant departure. Top newcomer Greg Oden will try to restart his career. - - ORLANDO MAGIC Founded: 1989 NBA titles: None Head coach: Jacque Vaughn 2012-13 record: 20-62 (Nightmare season ends with worst record in the league) Escaping the NBA cellar will be a challenge for the rebuilding Magic. Drafting Victor Oladipo was a smart move but the team does not feature any consistent scorers around him. Center Nikola Vucevic averaged 11.9 rebounds last year, second best in the NBA, but overall the Magic were among the league's worst defensive teams. - - WASHINGTON WIZARDS Founded: 1961 NBA titles: 1 (1978 as the Washington Bullets) Head coach: Randy Wittman 2012-13 record: 29-53 (Missed playoffs with one of lowest scoring teams in the league) Only 5-28 with standout John Wall injured, the Wizards looked like a different team after his January return, ending the season at 29-53 behind Wall and Bradley Beal. With first round draft pick Otto Porter and the re-emergence of center Nene, the Wizards could be a surprise playoff team this year. (Compiled by Lachlan Brunton and Gene Cherry; Editing by Frank Pingue)
