The NBA playoffs represent the pinnacle of basketball competition, where the best teams from the regular season compete for the coveted championship. As we delve into the 2024 NBA playoff bracket, it’s essential to understand its structure and format to fully appreciate the journey each team undertakes. Whether you’re a seasoned basketball enthusiast or a newcomer to the sport, this breakdown will enhance your viewing experience and provide clarity on how the NBA playoffs are organized.

The Basics of the NBA Playoff Bracket

The NBA playoff bracket follows a traditional seeding system, where 16 teams – eight from the Eastern Conference and eight from the Western Conference – qualify for the postseason. These teams are seeded based on their regular-season records, with the higher-seeded teams enjoying home-court advantage in each round. The playoffs are divided into four rounds: the First Round, the Conference Semifinals, the Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals.

Seeding and Home-Court Advantage

In the 2024 format, the top eight teams from each conference are seeded 1 through 8. The team with the best record in the conference is awarded the first seed, and the team with the eighth-best record receives the eighth seed.