Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

					Per Game
	W	L	Pct	GB	For	Opp
*Miami	55	27	.671	—	95.0	90.0
†New Jersey	43	39	.524	12	99.6	98.1
†New York	43	39	.524	12	91.6	89.1
Washington	42	40	.512	13	97.2	96.6
Orlando	41	41	.500	14	90.1	91.2
Boston	36	46	.439	19	95.9	98.5
Philadelphia	31	51	.378	24	93.3	95.7

Head Coaches: Mia— Pat Riley (3rd season); NJ— John Calipari (2nd); NY— Jeff Van Gundy (3rd); Wash— Bernie Bickerstaff (2nd); Orl— Chuck Daly (1st); Bos— Rick Pitino (1st); Phi—Larry Brown (1st).

1996-97 Standings: 1. Miami (61-21); 2. New York (57-25); 3. Orlando (45-37); 4. Washington (44-38) 5. New Jersey (26-56); 6. Philadelphia (22-60); 7. Boston (15-67).

Central Division

					Per Game
	W	L	Pct	GB	For	Opp
*Chicago	62	20	.756	—	96.7	89.6
†Indiana	58	24	.707	4	96.0	89.9
†Charlotte	51	31	.622	11	96.6	94.6
†Atlanta	50	32	.610	12	95.8	92.3
†Cleveland	47	35	.573	15	92.5	89.8
Detroit	37	45	.451	25	94.2	92.6
Milwaukee	36	46	.439	26	94.5	96.4
Toronto	16	66	.195	46	94.9	104.2

Head Coaches: Chi— Phil Jackson (9th season); Ind— Larry Bird (1st); Char— Dave Cowens (2nd); Atl— Lenny Wilkens (5th); Det— Doug Collins (2nd, 21-24) was fired and replaced by assistant Alvin Gentry (16-21) on Feb. 2 on an interim basis; Cle— Mike Fratello (5th); Mil— Chris Ford (2nd); Tor— Darrell Walker (2nd, 11-38) resigned on Feb. 13 and was replaced by assistant Butch Carter (5-28).

1996-97 Standings: 1. Chicago (69-13); 2. Atlanta (56-26); 3. Charlotte (54-28); 4. Detroit (54-28); 5. Cleveland (42-40); 6. Indiana (39-43); 7. Milwaukee (33-49); 8. Toronto (30-52).

Western Conference

Final NBA Standings

Overall Conference Standings