The National Basketball Association is the premier men’s professional basketball league in North America, featuring thirty teams. The league is a multibillion-dollar industry and is considered one of the most popular sports in the world. In recent years, the league has experienced increased popularity, with many fans tuning in for games on television.
The league is divided into two conferences and three divisions. Most teams play in the eastern half of the United States, with 13 in the Eastern Time Zone, nine in the Central Time Zone, and three in the Mountain Time Zone. The Western Conference has five teams. Each conference has a host city in the playoffs.
During the 2000s, the NBA faced financial problems. Its Western Division struggled and rumors of relocation were rampant. As a result, the league decided to look for new ways to attract fans and improve its financial situation. In the process, it added the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and Indiana Pacers. The New York Nets were also renamed to the Brooklyn Nets.
NBA Drafts can make or break teams’ seasons. Some great draft classes change the NBA’s landscape. The 1984 draft class, for example, produced John Stockton. At that time, he was the 16th pick. If he had known at that time, he might have been the fourth pick. Other great draft classes of modern times include the 1996 class and the 2003 draft class. The 2009 draft class may even rival these greats in the future.
Every year, the NBA holds its All-Star Game. The top vote-getters are named captains for their respective conferences. The rest of the All-Stars are chosen by the coaches. In each conference, the top vote-getter also drafts his own team from the player pool. The winner of the game is awarded the Game MVP award.
The NBA has grown to thirty-six teams today. The league is divided into two conferences, the western and eastern. The western conference is made up of teams from the western U.S. while the eastern conference is made up of teams from the east coast. During the 1960s, the league grew from nine teams to fourteen, including the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls. Four years later, the NBA added the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns to the league’s roster.
The NBA has experienced periods of great success and failure. In its early years, the Minneapolis Lakers dominated the league, winning five NBA titles in seven years. The Boston Celtics won 11 NBA titles during the 1960s. The Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls were the dominant teams in the 1980s and 1990s. However, after being sold to the Detroit Pistons, the Lakers began to turn around and win a championship.
After the regular season, the postseason begins. The top eight teams in each conference will advance to the postseason. Games are played in a best-of-seven format, with the top team in each conference playing the bottom seed. A tiebreaker system is used as necessary.