

The Western conference includes some teams from the central part of the country, but the inspiration came from the Western half of the country. The Miami Heat are currently helmed by coach Erik Spoelstra. They won three championships off those as well, The Miami Heat used to have the NBA record of four straight division titles from 2011-14, which no other team had matched until 2018.

The Miami Heat are the most decorated team in the Southeast division, but not by far, with their interstate rivals, the Orlando Magic, looking to overtake them each season. The Atlanta Hawks are currently led by coach Nate McMillan. This also included the Charlotte Bobcats, which later became the Charlotte Hornets. The teams in the Southeast division (again part of the Eastern conference) are Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Washington Wizards.Īlthough the Atlanta Hawks started in the Central Division in the Eastern Conference, they were moved to the newly created Southeast division in the 2004-05 season. The Milwaukee Bucks have the most divisional titles with 11, but many are more familiar with the Bulls 6 NBA Titles Southeast Division This has changed over the years, and more recognizable names have left their stamp on the division.Ĭhicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, and the Milwaukee Bucks have all had successful eras since their inauguration. The first four teams were the Atlanta Hawks, Baltimore Bullets, Cincinnati Royals, and Cleveland Cavaliers. The teams in the Central division are Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, and Milwaukee Bucks. The Bulls, now led by coach Billy Donovan, are a legendary team in the Central division.

There is one team, the Toronto Raptors, that calls Canada home but is very close to all Eastern conference teams. Representing the teams in the Eastern half of the continent, they are not restricted to the USA.
#Western division nba free
Winning your division is not a free ride to the playoffs. They do not give a clear idea of what the playoff picture looks like. Not A Playoff Spotĭivisions organize the NBA teams more efficiently, so we can see how all of them are doing in different parts of the country. During the ’90s, these were two of the best teams in the league, and they were in the same division! You can imagine how exciting those games were. In the Eastern Conference, there was the Bulls against the Detroit Pistons. They faced each other five times in the playoffs over the last twenty years, and to add fuel to the fire, they are both in Texas! One of the biggest rivalries is in the Southwest division between the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs. This creates a very exciting basketball game because each team is so familiar with the other’s strategy. Teams have to play each other more often and split the home-court advantage. Some of the best NBA basketball games come from within the divisions. Having teams close by also means fans will be more willing to travel and support their team on the road Rivalries This also saves the team money in transportation costs because obviously the different teams play in different cities based on the division.įans want to see their favorite players at their best. It can be challenging to play your best after flying across time zones. Playing teams that are geographically close to each other means players will be well-rested. Scheduling games is easier when there is minimal travel involved. This unique setup stems from a colorful history, and once it’s explained, you’ll have a better understanding of the 6 NBA divisions. No other league applies the same rules that the NBA has implemented.
#Western division nba professional
Many of the popular professional leagues utilize a divisional setup but in a different way. Quick answer: The 6 NBA divisions are: Atlantic, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, Pacific, and Central. Winning your division feels great, and every team should be proud when it happens, but the rewards for doing so may not be as great as you think. But probably not in the way most people think. Splitting up teams serves the league and fans in many beneficial ways. But what does a ‘division’ mean, and what are the 6 NBA divisions? You may even know who the other teams are in your division. If you have a favorite team, then chances are you know what division they are in.
