If you’ve ever watched an NBA game, you know that it’s not without drama. And if you’ve ever wanted to be the star of the show, you know that the NBA has its fair share of drama. This season, though, the NBA has a few new twists on the game’s scheduling that are sure to make viewers scream “Wow!”
In the 1950s, the NBA had seventeen teams. Then, in 1951, it was reduced to eleven. Then, in 1953-54, the league expanded to eight. Today, there are only eight teams in the league. During this time, the league has expanded from nine to fourteen teams, with the New York Knicks being the smallest of the eight. The NBA’s expansion also included the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards.
The NBA season is divided into two separate periods. The regular season is split into two conferences with three divisions. Each team plays 82 games and competes within its division and against teams from other conferences to earn a spot in the playoffs. Eight teams advance to the playoffs automatically, while four other teams qualify as a wildcard. In addition to the regular season, each team plays two games against 15 teams from the other conference. This helps ensure a competitive postseason and more exciting basketball games.
As the salary cap continues to rise, the NBA has begun taking extra precautions. The teams are also making the players more aware of their image, so they want to be as visible as possible on the court. The Miami Heat, for example, has a staff comprised of former assistant coach Ron Rothstein, Erik Spoelstra, and David Fizdale. The latest challenges facing the NBA’s scheduling have been addressed by Evan Wasch at the 2016 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.
In addition to the salary cap, the NBA schedule is more complicated than you might think. For example, it’s important to note that the NBA does not have a single player in the playoffs who can earn the MVP award. However, the top vote-getters in each conference are captains. The other 14 are selected by coaches. The league’s commissioner, Adam Silver, also plays a role in the process. This is how he ensures that the salary cap is fair and equitable.
The Finals are the pinnacle event of the NBA season. The winner receives the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy and championship rings. During the Finals, a best-of-seven series is played between the two top teams in each conference. Each team receives one berth in the championship round, while the other team gets one. The final series is contested every year. Its first matchup took place in 1947.
In addition to the playoffs, the NBA playoffs feature a lottery. Teams are ranked according to their regular season wins and losses. The six teams with the most wins will advance to the playoffs, while the seven to tenth-place teams in each conference will compete for the last two spots. There will also be a play-in tournament in 2021, with the bottom teams playing for home court advantage. The format of the playoffs is a mixture of single-elimination and double-elimination.