NBA teams play 82 regular season games and participate in a number of ancillary events throughout the year. The regular season ends in February and is followed by the All-Star Game in which players from both conferences compete. After the All-Star game, teams enter the playoffs which last until the championship is decided. The nba is the most popular basketball league in the world and has featured some of the most famous athletes of all time, including Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, and Shaquille O’Neal.
The nba began in 1946 with eleven franchises. Over the years, the league experienced a series of expansions and reductions in size until it reached its current size of 29 teams. All of the teams are located in the United States except for one team in Canada. The Boston Celtics are the most successful franchise in nba history, winning a total of 17 titles. The Los Angeles Lakers are second with 16 wins, and the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs have each won six.
nba teams are divided into two conferences of three divisions with five teams each. This divisional alignment was introduced with the 2004–05 season. The top six teams in each conference, based on overall winning percentage, qualify for the playoffs. Teams ranked seventh through tenth compete in a play-in tournament for the final two playoff spots. Tiebreakers are used to determine final rankings when there is a tie. The criteria includes head-to-head record; better record against teams in the tied position; division record; and winning percentage in the conference.
In addition to the normal rules of nba, some additional rules apply during the playoffs and in-season tournaments. For example, a player can only miss a maximum of four games during the playoffs. This is meant to prevent injured stars from missing the entire postseason. However, the league does allow star players to sit out a few games due to injury or fatigue, provided that they are preapproved by their coaches.
Another aspect of the playoffs that is different from other sports is the use of role spots. This allows players to fill in areas of weakness and can help spark the team’s offense. For example, a defensive specialist could be added to a lineup or a player who can get to the basket and create offensive opportunities for teammates.
The nba is a global sport and its players come from all over the world. Consequently, the competition is fierce and fans can expect to see some of the best players in the world on the court each night. The league also encourages fan interaction by allowing fans to vote for their favorite players in each game.
Aside from a few exceptions, the nba requires that all players be healthy and available for all nationally televised regular season and in-season tournament games. This rule is not always respected, and star players often play in fewer than the required amount of games.