The National Basketball Association (NBA) is an American professional basketball league based in the United States. It has 30 teams throughout the United States and Canada. The league is headquartered in New York City. The NBA has been a prominent part of American culture since its inception in 1946, and it continues to be the premier men’s basketball league worldwide. The NBA has many famous players and coaches, and its championships are considered the most prestigious in the sport. The NBA has undergone several changes and expansion over the years. Some of the most significant changes occurred in the 1980s. During this time, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers dominated the league. These two teams won eight of the ten championships in that decade. The arrival of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls brought a new level of competition to the NBA.
The league has also seen some changes in rules. One of the most notable is the advent of the 24-second shot clock in 1979. This was designed to speed up the game and make it more entertaining for fans. The league has also changed its rules regarding free throws and zone defenses. Lastly, the NBA has clarified its rules on backcourt fouls to eliminate some confusion and make them more clear to fans.
Each year, the top six teams in each conference directly qualify for the playoffs. Teams ranked seventh through tenth compete in the NBA play-in tournament for the final two playoff spots. If there are tiebreakers between two or more teams, the following criteria is used to determine playoff rankings:
This season will see a number of challengers trying to dethrone the Boston Celtics from the top of the Eastern Conference. The Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks both loaded up this offseason to try to unseat the Celtics from their perch atop the division. The Oklahoma City Thunder should also be a force to reckoned with. This team has a ton of talent and is led by All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook. In addition to these teams, the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers could be in the mix again this season.
Despite these challenges, the Celtics should be a favorite to win the Eastern Conference once again. They have the best player in the league in Kyrie Irving, and they’re deep enough to withstand some pressure from lower tier teams. But they’ll still have to be on their A-game every night if they want to defend their title.