NBA-Brief profiles of Eastern Conference teams

Oct 23 (Reuters) - Following are brief profiles of the 15 teams in the National Basketball Association's Eastern Conference ahead of the 2015-16 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 2014-15 record: 40-42 (Celtics gelled tremendously after the midseason acquisition of Isaiah Thomas but their impressive run ended in first round of playoffs) Boston consider defense and depth among their greatest strengths but questions with the offense and the absence of a true standout player make winning playoff series a challenge. - - BROOKLYN NETS Founded: 1967 NBA titles: None Head coach: Lionel Hollins 2014-15 record: 38-44 (Earned the eighth and final playoff berth in the East before falling to the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks in the first round) Despite being one of the biggest spenders in the league in recent years, the Nets will be in a tough battle to make a fourth consecutive appearance in the postseason. - - NEW YORK KNICKS Founded: 1946 NBA titles: 2 (1973, 1970) Head coach: Derek Fisher 2014-15 record: 17-65 (Finished last in the conference and missed the playoffs for a second straight year) A healthy Carmelo Anthony and the acquisition of some underrated free agents should help the struggling Knicks dig their way out of the hole they fell into last season. - - PHILADELPHIA 76ERS Founded: 1946 NBA titles: 3 (1983, 1967, 1955) Head coach: Brett Brown 2014-15 record: 18-64 (Lost first 17 games of the season, one loss shy of equalling the worst start in NBA history) The 76ers have an improving defense but a lack of top talent and experience will likely see the team in a position to secure the best odds at landing the top pick in next year's draft. - - TORONTO RAPTORS Founded: 1995 NBA titles: None Head coach: Dwane Casey 2014-15 record: 49-33 (Cruised to their second consecutive division title but lost in the first round of the playoffs) Success for Canada's sole NBA team will be defined by nothing short of a playoff series victory. Thankfully for the Raptors, they play in the NBA's weakest division and are all but guaranteed another playoff berth. - - CENTRAL DIVISION CHICAGO BULLS Founded: 1966 NBA titles: 6 (1998, 1997, 1996, 1993, 1992, 1991) Head coach: Fred Hoiberg 2014-15 record: 50-32 (Hot start to the season gave way to inconsistent play before Chicago fell to Cleveland in the second round of the playoffs) Bulls possess a solid roster but will have to adjust to a new coach and hope oft-injured Derrick Rose, currently out with a left orbital fracture, can stay healthy. - - CLEVELAND CAVALIERS Founded: 1970 NBA titles: None Head coach: David Blatt 2014-15 record: 53-29 (Despite losing several key players, Cleveland reached the NBA Finals, where they fell in six games) If the LeBron James-led Cavs can stay healthy and get their defense to up their game a notch, they should be able to make a return trip to the NBA Finals - - DETROIT PISTONS Founded: 1941 NBA titles: 3 (2004, 1990, 1989) Head coach: Stan Van Gundy 2014-15 record: 32-50 (Detroit's horrendous 5-23 start to the campaign proved too much to overcome) The Pistons have added depth to their backcourt and boast a more cohesive squad that could have them competing for their first playoff spot since 2009. - - INDIANA PACERS Founded: 1967 NBA titles: None Head coach: Frank Vogel 2014-15 record: 38-44 (An offseason injury to Paul George suffered during a Team USA scrimmage kept the All-Star out of all but six of the team's games and ultimately cost Indiana a spot in the playoffs) After possibly the most dramatic makeover of any team during the offseason, the Pacers' biggest challenge could essentially boil down to getting all the players to develop chemistry. - - MILWAUKEE BUCKS Founded: 1968 NBA titles: 1 (1971) Head coach: Jason Kidd 2014-15 record: 41-41 (Young players developed and veterans flourished en route to a remarkable 26-win improvement over the previous campaign) The return of former first-round draft pick Jabari Parker, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, coupled with the addition of Greg Monroe, has instilled plenty of optimism in a team some feel could finish among the top four in the East. - - SOUTHEAST DIVISION ATLANTA HAWKS Founded: 1946 NBA titles: 1 (1958 as St. Louis Hawks) Head coach: Mike Budenholzer 2014-15 record: 60-22 (Set a franchise record in wins to secure the conference's top seed but fell in the penultimate round of the playoffs to Cleveland) The arrival of Brazilian Tiago Splitter should help the team improve in the rebounding department but, despite the return of all their key players from a year ago, repeating one of the best seasons in franchise history could prove tough. - - CHARLOTTE HORNETS Founded: 1988 NBA titles: None Head coach: Steve Clifford 2014-15 record: 33-49 (Took a step back after a playoff run the prior season due to injuries and the ill-fated signing of since-departed Lance Stephenson) An offseason shoulder injury that will likely keep Michael Kidd-Gilchrist out for the entire campaign is a huge blow as he is the anchor of what had the potential to be one of the NBA's top defenses. - - MIAMI HEAT Founded: 1988 NBA titles: 3 (2013, 2012, 2006) Head coach: Erik Spoelstra 2014-15 record: 37-45 (LeBron's James's departure took its toll as Miami missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008 following four straight trips to the NBA Finals) With Chris Bosh recovered from career-threatening blood clots in his lungs, and a core of talented players, Miami have the potential to be among the East's top teams if they can stay healthy. - - ORLANDO MAGIC Founded: 1989 NBA titles: None Head coach: Scott Skiles 2014-15 record: 25-57 (Head coach Jacque Vaughn was fired in the midst of a season that saw Orlando improve their win total by a mere two games) Orlando appear to have all the pieces to make a run at their first postseason berth since 2012 but with the top six seeds all but accounted for, the Magic could find themselves fighting with several teams for the remaining two spots. - - WASHINGTON WIZARDS Founded: 1961 NBA titles: 1 (1978 as the Washington Bullets) Head coach: Randy Wittman 2014-15 record: 46-36 (Most wins since their 1978-79 campaign but fell in the second round of the playoffs to top-seeded Atlanta) Boast one of the league's best defenses and most explosive backcourts but that upside may be limited given a lack of depth that could be exposed should the team get hit by injuries. (Compiled by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)