OUGD505 - Studio Brief 2: NBA Research

Website: http://www.nba.com

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America, and is widely considered to be the premier men's professional basketball league in the world. 
The NBA originated in 1946 with 11 teams, and through a sequence of team expansions, reductions, and relocations currently consists of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada).
The current league organization divides thirty teams into two conferences of three divisions with five teams each. The current divisional alignment was introduced in the 2004–05 season. Reflecting the population distribution of the United States and Canada as a whole, most teams are in the eastern half of the country: thirteen teams are in the Eastern Time Zone, nine in the Central, three in the Mountain, and five in the Pacific.
It is an active member of USA Basketball (USAB), which is recognised by FIBA(also known as the International Basketball Federation) as the national governing body for basketball in the United States. 
The NBA is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues. 
NBA players are the world's best paid sportsmen, by average annual salary per player.
The league was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946, as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). 
The league adopted the name National Basketball Association on August 3, 1949, after absorbing the rival National Basketball League(NBL). 
The league's several international as well as individual team offices are directed out of its head offices located in the Olympic Tower at 645 Fifth Avenue in New York City. 
NBA Entertainment and NBA TV studios are directed out of offices located in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Teams:
Atlantic:
Boston Celtics

Brooklyn Nets

New York Knicks

Philadelphia 76ers

Toronto Raptors

Central:
Chicago Bulls

Cleveland Cavaliers

Detroit Pistons

Indiana Pacers

Milwaukee Bucks

South East:
Atlanta Hawks

Charlotte Bobcats

Miami Heat

Orlando Magic

Washington Wizards

South West:
Dallas Mavericks

Houston Rockets

Memphis Grizzlies

New Orleans Pelicans

San Antonio Spurs

North West:
Denver Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves

Oklahoma City Thunder

Portland Trail Blazers

Utah Jazz

Pacific:
Golden State Warriors

Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Lakers

Phoenix Suns

Sacramento Kings

The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA Finals, standing at 17 wins. They have been in 21 Finals, losing 4. Their most recent win was 2008, with their most recent loss in 2010.

This is followed by the LA Lakers with 16 wins in the NBA Finals. They have been in the finals a total of 31 times. Their more recent win was 2010 against Boston Celtics,  and their most recent loss was in 2008, one again against Boston Celtics.

Chicago Bulls follow with 6 wins at the NBA finals. Interestingly, they have never lost a match in the finals, however they haven't been in a final since 1998. Their success spanned over eight years, from 1991 - 1998.

San Antonio Spurs are fourth with 4 wins at the finals. Their most recent loss was 2013 against Miami Heat. Their most recent win was 2007.

In fifth is the Philadelphia 76ers with 3 wins. However they have not been in a final since 2001, in which they lost. Their three wins are from 1955, 1967 & 1983.

There are seven teams which have never made it to an NBA final: Charlotte Bobcats, Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans & Toronto Raptors.