Overview of the NBA Playoff Structure

The NBA Playoffs are an annual tournament held after the conclusion of the NBA regular season to determine the league champion. Sixteen teams, eight from each conference (Eastern and Western), qualify for the playoffs. The playoffs follow a best-of-seven series in each round, where the first team to win four games advances to the next round.

Timeline and Key Dates

The NBA playoffs typically begin in mid-April, shortly after the regular season concludes. The first round usually spans two weeks, progressing through late April. Subsequent rounds are scheduled as follows:

1. **Conference Semifinals**: These take place in early to mid-May.
2. **Conference Finals**: Occurring in late May, these series decide the champions of the Eastern and Western conferences.
3. **NBA Finals**: The final series, where the conference champions face off, usually begins in early June and can extend into mid-June if a seventh game is necessary.

Understanding the Match-ups

Match-ups in the NBA playoffs are determined by regular-season records. Here’s a breakdown of how teams are seeded and matched:

1. **Seeding