If you ask any NBA fan, they will probably say that the playoffs are the most thrilling part of the NBA. Yes, this is the tournament where the NBA champion is selected. After the regular season ends, everyone is hyped up at the prospect of an NBA playoff. In fact, some people eagerly wait all year, counting days to witness the exciting games. But have you ever wondered how NBA playoffs work?
How many teams are included in the NBA playoffs?
There are 30 teams in the NBA and this is how NBA playoffs work. These teams are divided into two conferences – Eastern and Western. Each of these conferences includes 15 teams each. However, only the top 16 teams make it to the playoffs. The rest will have to say goodbye to the chance of winning the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy that year. The selected teams then get a seed that determines which team they will face in the playoffs.
How do they decide if an NBA team is included in the NBA Playoffs?
Out of the total of 30 teams in the league, the win percentage of each team is analyzed in both the conferences. The top 16 teams are selected based on their win percentage. The one with the highest percentage earns the first seed, the second one earns the second seed, and so on.
How do they decide a tie in seed rank for the NBA Playoffs?
In general, every team is seeded according to their record in the regular season. But sometimes it can tricky when it comes to how NBA playoffs work. So what happens when two or more teams share the same points? Instead of playing a tiebreaker game, the following tiebreaker rules are used to decide a tie in seed rank for the NBA Playoffs and determine the winner of the tie.
| Tiebreaker Rules for when Two Teams are Tied |
| Better win percentage in total games. |
| Better win percentage against the tied team. |
| The top-standing team in the division (applies even when both the teams share the same division.) |
| Better win percentage in the division games (provided they are from the same division.) |
| Better win percentage in its own conference games. |
| Better win percentage against the teams with playoff eligibility in its own conference (applies to even the tied playoff teams.) |
| Better win percentage against the teams with playoff eligibility in the opposite conference (applies to even the tied playoff teams.) |
| Better point differential in the regular season. |
| Tiebreaker Rules for when Three or more Teams are Tied |
| Better win percentage in total games. |
| Better win percentage against all the tied teams. |
| The top-standing team in the division (applies even when all the teams share the same division.) |
| Better win percentage in the division games (provided they are from the same division.) |
| Better win percentage in its own conference games. |
| Better win percentage against the teams with playoff eligibility in its own conference (applies to even the tied playoff teams.) |
| Better point differential in the regular season. |
What Teams Are in the Eastern/Western Conference in the NBA?
There are two conferences in the NBA. These two consists of 15 teams each. Under each conference, there are three divisions. The divisions consist of five teams each. The divisions are helpful in deciding both tiebreakers and playoff seeds.
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
| Atlantic division | Southwest division |
| Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks |
| Brooklyn Nets | Houston Rockets |
| New York Knicks | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Philadelphia 76ers | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Toronto Raptors | San Antonio Spurs |
| Central division | Pacific division |
| Chicago Bulls | Golden State Warriors |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Indiana Pacers | Phoenix Suns |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Sacramento Kings |
| Southeast division | Northwest division |
| Atlanta Hawks | Denver Nuggets |
| Charlotte Hornets | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Miami Heat | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Orlando Magic | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Washington Wizards | Utah Jazz |
How Many Games are in the NBA Playoffs?
Below is the game structure of the NBA playoffs.
| 1st Round | 2nd Round | Conf. Finals | NBA Finals |
In the NBA playoffs, both the conferences conduct their games in the conventional bracket format. The number of games played is given in the table below.
All of the rounds prevail with the best-of-seven series. That is how NBA playoffs how. The number of games will primarily depend on whether the NBA playoffs are a sweep or move on to game 7. The minimum number of games is 60 while the maximum stands at 105.
What is Home Court Advantage in the NBA Playoffs?
To know how NBA playoffs work, you should be aware of different terms including the Home Court Advantage. In the NBA playoffs, Home Court Advantage (HCA) refers to the advantages of the home team over the away team. Since 2018, the format of the game series is 2-2-1-1-1 with the best-of-seven series.
The team with the Home Court Advantage hosts the first two games while the third and fourth games are played away at the opponent’s home arena. The fifth and sixth games are played home and away respectively. The final game is played at the home arena of the team with the Home Court Advantage. The team with HCA gets to play the first two games as well as the final game in their home arena which is beneficial. One of the advantages of playing at home often gives the home team more confidence.
Some Changes made in NBA playoffs
Since its inception in 1946, many changes have been made to determine how NBA playoffs work. The NBA playoffs have been subjected to a series of changes all these years. The most recent change came in 2016 where we see a change in the qualifications criteria. There will be no more top-four spots for the division champions nor automatic berths. Only 8 teams from each conference with the best records will receive playoff berths. But we never know when new changes will come up. Because the game’s format is versatile, it is subject to change now and them.
Conclusion
The NBA playoffs are the total package that sums up the regular season’s games. Because the NBA playoffs bring all sorts of people under one interest, it is always better to know something about the game. Now that you know how NBA playoffs work, it will undoubtedly make the games more interesting and understandable. Only the best of the best will earn their place as the league’s champion. Join the excitement of the NBA playoffs tournament and cheer your team in its pursuit of the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy.
