NBA-Profiles of Eastern Conference teams in playoffs

Brief profiles of the eight Eastern Conference teams that have qualified for the 2011-12 National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs:

CHICAGO BULLS

Regular season record: 50-16

How they qualified: First overall; won Central division

Head coach: Tom Thibodeau

Top scorer: Derrick Rose (21.8 points per game)

Top rebounder: Joakim Noah (9.8 rebounds per game)

NBA titles: Six (1998, 1997, 1996, 1993, 1992, 1991)

(Looking to reach the NBA Finals after falling short last season with loss to Miami in Eastern Conference final)

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MIAMI HEAT

Regular season record: 46-20

How they qualified: Second in East; won Southeast division

Head coach: Erik Spoelstra

Top scorer: LeBron James (27.1 points per game)

Top rebounder: Lebron James, Chris Bosh (7.9 rebounds per game)

NBA titles: One (2006)

(Eastern Conference's top-scoring team eyeing return to NBA Finals after losing to the champion Dallas Mavericks in 2011)

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INDIANA PACERS

Regular season record: 42-24

How they qualified: Third in East

Head coach: Frank Vogel

Top scorer: Danny Granger (18.7 points per game)

Top rebounder: Roy Hibbert (8.8 rebounds per game)

NBA titles: None

(Expectations are raised after compiling their best regular-season record since the 2003-04)

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BOSTON CELTICS

Regular season record: 39-27

How they qualified: Fourth in East; won Atlantic division

Head coach: Doc Rivers

Top scorer: Paul Pierce (19.5 points per game)

Top rebounder: Kevin Garnett (8.3 rebounds per game)

NBA titles: 17 (2008, 1986, 1984, 1981, 1976, 1974, 1969, 1968, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960, 1959, 1957)

(A perennial contender, the Celtics open the postseason with home-court advantage for a fifth consecutive season)

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ATLANTA HAWKS

Regular season record: 40-26

How they qualified: Fifth in East

Head coach: Larry Drew

Top scorer: Joe Johnson, Josh Smith (18.8 points per game)

Top rebounder: Josh Smith (9.6 rebounds per game)

NBA titles: One (1958 as St. Louis Hawks)

(Team has yet to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs in their 44-year Atlanta existence)

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ORLANDO MAGIC

Regular season record: 37-29

How they qualified: Sixth in East

Head coach: Stan Van Gundy

Top scorer: Dwight Howard (20.6 points per game)

Top rebounder: Dwight Howard (14.5 rebounds per game)

NBA titles: None

(Magic will without injured Dwight Howard, their top scorer and the East's leading shot blocker in the regular season)

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NEW YORK KNICKS

Regular season record: 36-30

How they qualified: Seventh in East

Head coach: Mike Woodson

Top scorer: Carmelo Anthony (22.6 points per game)

Top rebounder: Tyson Chandler (9.9 rebounds per game)

NBA titles: Two (1973, 1970)

(Team has vastly improved since coaching change in mid-March and clinched first consecutive winning seasons in a decade)

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PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Regular season record: 35-31

How they qualified: Eighth in East

Head coach: Doug Collins

Top scorer: Louis Williams (14.9 points per game)

Top rebounder: Spencer Hawes (7.3 rebounds per game)

NBA titles: Three (1983, 1967, 1956)

(Clinched fourth playoff berth in last five years but missed out on a shot at the division crown after a mid-season slump)

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