How Do the NBA Playoffs Work? A Step-by-Step Explanation
The NBA playoffs represent the culmination of the regular season, featuring a tournament-style competition among qualifying teams. Let me break down how this system works.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | Single-elimination tournament |
| Qualification | Top 8 teams from each conference |
| Series Length | Best-of-seven games |
| Conference Structure | Separate Eastern and Western Conference brackets |
| Final Round | NBA Finals: Conference winners meet |
The diagram above illustrates the playoff structure, where:
- Green boxes represent seeded teams (1-8) in each conference
- Pink boxes show series winners advancing through rounds
- Blue boxes indicate conference champions and NBA Finals
- Arrows demonstrate progression through playoff rounds
- Parallel structure shows identical format in both conferences
Playoff Rounds Explained
First Round
- Best-of-seven series
- Higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (if necessary)
- Matchups determined by regular season standings
- #1 vs #8, #2 vs #7, #3 vs #6, #4 vs #5 in each conference
Conference Semifinals
- Winners advance from First Round
- Maintain best-of-seven format
- Seeding still determines home court advantage
Conference Finals
- Last four teams compete
- Winners earn conference championships
- Still best-of-seven format
NBA Finals
- East champion vs West champion
- Final best-of-seven series
- Determines NBA championship
Notable Features
- Home court advantage goes to team with better record
- Series follows 2-2-1-1-1 format (when necessary)
- Teams must win four games to advance in each round
- Conference champions meet regardless of regular season record
This structured format ensures competitive balance while rewarding regular season performance through seeding advantages. The parallel conference structure maintains geographic rivalries and reduces travel demands during early rounds.