The Atlantic Division has been around since the 1970-71 NBA expansion when the league broke into Eastern and Western Conferences. Unlike some other divisions, the Atlantic features a cluster of teams in very close proximity to one another. This has fermented longstanding rivalries between Atlantic Division foes, particularly among the Boston Celtics, who have historically reigned supreme. With 17 total NBA Championships, the Boston Celtics have set the standard for the Atlantic Division, but have struggled to be the dominant force that they once were since the 1980s. The door is open for a team like the 76ers or the Nets to begin their own quest for championship glory, but will they be able to capitalize on their opportunities? 

Boston Celtics

When you think Boston Celtics, you think championships. The Celtics are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA and are part of one of the most bitter rivalries in sports with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics were regular title contenders for nearly three straight decades from the late 1950s through the mid 1980s. In that time, they won 16 of their 17 championships with legends like Bill Russell and Larry Bird. Since 1986, though, the Celtics have only been able to capture one title in 2008 behind a team led by Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. While the Celtics have not been regular title contenders like they once were, they have still been a competitive force in the Atlantic and the East, making the playoffs in 19 of the last 22 seasons. The Celtics current core, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, look for some extra support in 2022 to help push the Celtics into another playoff run.

Boston Celtics Facts:

Division Titles: 22

Conference Titles: 9

NBA Championships: 17

Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have been migrants of the New York/New Jersey area for most of their existence. Initially founded in New Jersey in 1967, the team moved to Long Island for a spell, but eventually made its way back to New Jersey in 1977 following the ABA-NBA merger. The Nets saw their highest levels of success to date in the NBA in the early 2000s. Led by Jason Kidd and Dikembe Mutombo, the Nets advanced to two consecutive NBA Finals from 2001-03. The Nets were swept by the Lakers in their first appearance and lost in six games to the Spurs in the next. Since then, the Nets have been a fairly consistent playoff team, but without many series wins. The organization was relocated to Brooklyn under new ownership in 2012. Since then, the team has gone after big name free agents like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and others to try to lead the franchise to its first ever NBA Championship. 

Brooklyn Nets Facts:

Division Titles: 4

Conference Titles: 2

NBA Championships: 0

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are iconic in the sport of basketball. Playing in the famed Madison Square Garden, the Knicks transcend sports in many regards, and like the Lakers, can be seen as a cultural staple with celebrities and influential socialites flocking to sit court-side at games. On the court, though, the Knicks are a franchise with mixed results. The team found success early on, winning its only two titles in the 1970s. The 1990s saw a sustained period of success led by Patrick Ewing. The team made the playoffs in consecutive seasons from 1987-2001 with two failed trips to the NBA Finals. Perhaps most notable about this New York Knicks era was the seemingly endless amount of feuds they found themselves in due to their hard nosed play. The Knicks frequently had bad blood with other Eastern Conference teams like the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and Miami Heat. The Knicks have not been an Eastern Conference power since 2001, only making the playoffs five times and with minimal success. Many believe that the Knicks are beginning to put the pieces together in New York with a young group of players that can compete for the Atlantic Division in a few years' time. 

New York Knicks Facts:

Division Titles: 5

Conference Titles: 4

NBA Championships: 2

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers uniform has been donned by some of the most well known players in NBA history including the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, and Moses Malone among many others. The 76ers found their championship form intermittently behind the play of some of their great legends. Chamberlain led the team to glory in 1967 followed later by Erving and Malone in 1983. The Sixers were still playoff regulars after the 1983 season for several years, but dropped off significantly in the 1990s, missing the postseason for seven years in a row. Allen Iverson arrived on the scene in 1996 to slowly rebuild the franchise into a title contender. In 2001, the team advanced to the NBA Finals, but was beat 4-1 by the powerhouse Lakers. Philadelphia has been a semi-regular playoff participant since 2001, but they have not been able to reach the Eastern Conference Finals since. Many believe that the 76ers title window is open again behind Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, but a few disappointing playoff runs in a row have people questioning if they can get it done. Will 2022 prove to be their year?

Philadelphia 76ers Facts:

Division Titles: 12

Conference Titles: 5

NBA Championships: 3

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are the only geographical 'outlier' in the Atlantic Division being based in Canada. That has not stopped them, though, from developing strong rivalries with its Atlantic counterparts. The Raptors were founded in 1995 as part of a league expansion. The team made a quick splash drafting Vince Carter in 1998. Alongside Tracy McGrady, Carter and the Raptors won their first playoff series in 2001, but eventually lost to the 76ers in the semifinals. It would be a little over a decade before the Raptors were consistent playoff participants once again. From 2013-20, the Raptors made the playoffs and won the 2019 NBA Finals behind a series of magical performances by Kawhi Leonard. Much of the core championship team from 2019 has left Toronto, and the team is trying to rebuild around a young core. A few strong free agency moves or draft picks could elevate the Raptors back to Atlantic Division elite in the near future.

Toronto Raptors Facts:

Division Titles: 7

Conference Titles: 1

NBA Championships: 1