Playing in the NBA and Playoffs: How exactly do they work and what teams play against each other? † NBA

In retrospect, it was simple: Numbers 1 through 8 in the Eastern and Western Conference were playoffs. That has changed since 2020. Due to the Corona pandemic, a system was created with gameplay and it turned out to be very successful.

Compared to the past, the big difference is that Numbers 9 and 10 can now also reach the playoffs after the regular season in the East and West.

Numbers 1 to 6 after the regular season in the Eastern and Western Conferences are sure of their place in the playoffs. Numbers 7 to 10 participate in play.

Teams that finish in seventh and eighth places in the regular season have two chances of playing to win one game and thus qualify for the play-off matches. No. 9 and 10 of the regular season must win twice in a row to reach the playoffs.

The regular competition ended on April 10. Play matches will be played from 12-15 April. A day later, on April 16, the play-off matches will begin. We’ll know the new champion on June 19 at the latest.

At the moment, 12 teams have already confirmed a place in the playoffs. In the east they are Miami, Boston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Toronto and Chicago. In the west, these are Phoenix, Memphis, the Golden State, Dallas, Utah and Denver.

In the Eastern Conference, the winner of the Brooklyn-Cleveland play-in will advance to the playoffs as the No. 7, against Boston in the first round. The loser of that match will face Atlanta or Charlotte for the eighth and final ticket to the playoffs.

In the Western Conference, the Minnesota or Los Angeles Clippers became the seventh seed in the playoffs. The loser of a play-off against San Antonio or New Orleans will compete for the eighth seed.

Playoff matches follow the usual pattern: two teams compete against each other in a series of better than 7, with the highest-ranked team having the ground advantage if it comes to 7 matches. Whoever wins 4 matches first will advance to the next round.

Ultimately, the East and West champions will play each other for the title in the NBA. The Milwaukee Bucks are the defending champions.