Demystifying the NBA Playoffs Structure
In August of 2006 the National Basketball Association changed their playoff rules. The format was changed so that the two best teams in the league would not meet up before the conference finals.
The National Basketball Association playoffs follow the regular season of basketball. These playoff games lead to the championship and are played between eight teams in two conferences. A conference is made up of three divisions. The team that has the best season record in each division is that divisions champion. In addition to the three division champions, the team with the best record in each conference is added to the mix and those four teams are given a ranking, or seeding, of one to four. Then four more teams in each conference are assigned rankings of five through eight, according to their season records.
In the event a tie breaker is needed, sometimes teams will have identical records, six tiebreakers are employed. These are: 1) head to head record; 2) division records; 3) conference records; 4) team record against other playoff teams in that conference; 5) team record against all other playoff teams; and 6) highest seasonal net point total.
A teams seeding is used to determine which teams they will play and is therefore quite important. There are three rounds of playoffs, the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Conference Finals. During the quarterfinals, the team seeded first plays the eighth seed team, two plays seven, three plays six, and the fourth seed plays the fifth seed.. During the semifinal matches the winner of the first-eight quarterfinals plays the winner of the fourth-fifth and the winner of the second-seventh plays the third-sixth. The winners of these two games are the NBA Conference winners play each other in the Conference Finals. The winners of each of the two Conference Finals face each other in the NBA Finals.
During each playoff round (not including the finals) the teams must win a best-of-seven series. The format for these series is 2-2-1-1-1, meaning the team with home court advantage hosts games 1, 2, 5, and 7 if the series goes on that long. The other team will host games 3, 4, and six. Home court advantage is determined by overall season record rather than playoff seeding. This means it is possible for the six seed could have home court advantage over the three seed.
For the NBA finals, the series format changes. The NBA finals is played as a 2-3-2 format. So the team with home court advantage will host games one, two, six, and seven. The opposing team will host games three, four, and five. Games five, six, and seven are played only if needed.
The NBA Finals is held annually in June. The winning team is awarded the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. Each player and major contributor on the winning team, including coaches and the general manager, receives a championship ring. At this time, the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award is announced. The award is typically given to a member of the winning team, although there is no rule saying it must go to a member of the winning team. - 2361
The National Basketball Association playoffs follow the regular season of basketball. These playoff games lead to the championship and are played between eight teams in two conferences. A conference is made up of three divisions. The team that has the best season record in each division is that divisions champion. In addition to the three division champions, the team with the best record in each conference is added to the mix and those four teams are given a ranking, or seeding, of one to four. Then four more teams in each conference are assigned rankings of five through eight, according to their season records.
In the event a tie breaker is needed, sometimes teams will have identical records, six tiebreakers are employed. These are: 1) head to head record; 2) division records; 3) conference records; 4) team record against other playoff teams in that conference; 5) team record against all other playoff teams; and 6) highest seasonal net point total.
A teams seeding is used to determine which teams they will play and is therefore quite important. There are three rounds of playoffs, the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Conference Finals. During the quarterfinals, the team seeded first plays the eighth seed team, two plays seven, three plays six, and the fourth seed plays the fifth seed.. During the semifinal matches the winner of the first-eight quarterfinals plays the winner of the fourth-fifth and the winner of the second-seventh plays the third-sixth. The winners of these two games are the NBA Conference winners play each other in the Conference Finals. The winners of each of the two Conference Finals face each other in the NBA Finals.
During each playoff round (not including the finals) the teams must win a best-of-seven series. The format for these series is 2-2-1-1-1, meaning the team with home court advantage hosts games 1, 2, 5, and 7 if the series goes on that long. The other team will host games 3, 4, and six. Home court advantage is determined by overall season record rather than playoff seeding. This means it is possible for the six seed could have home court advantage over the three seed.
For the NBA finals, the series format changes. The NBA finals is played as a 2-3-2 format. So the team with home court advantage will host games one, two, six, and seven. The opposing team will host games three, four, and five. Games five, six, and seven are played only if needed.
The NBA Finals is held annually in June. The winning team is awarded the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. Each player and major contributor on the winning team, including coaches and the general manager, receives a championship ring. At this time, the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award is announced. The award is typically given to a member of the winning team, although there is no rule saying it must go to a member of the winning team. - 2361
About the Author:
Stephen Allmanson, who has been passionate about sports for his entire life and is an avid Los Angeles Lakers fan, has written an informative guide to buying Lakers playoff tickets. You can find more information about how to get the best prices on LA Lakers tickets, Dodgers tickets, and all other LA teams at his site.
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