The NBA is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the world. Its combination of top talent and thrilling gameplay has made it a worldwide phenomenon. The NBA has a strong global presence with games and shows broadcast in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages. It also has several international offices and has played a number of exhibition and regular season games outside the United States.
The top six teams in each conference, ranked by winning percentage, automatically advance to the playoffs. The next two highest teams, along with the division winners, are seeded according to their records and compete in a play-in tournament for the remaining spots in the playoffs. The top two teams in the tournament earn a higher seed for their conference championship series.
Each round of the playoffs is best-of-seven games. The first team to win four games wins the series and advances to the next round. The other team is eliminated, and the two runners-up play a best-of-three game to decide the second-place finisher in their respective conferences. The resulting two teams then meet in a best-of-seven series to determine the overall champion.
The playoffs are the climax of each NBA season and the ultimate test of wills between the best teams in the league. Whether it’s an epic battle between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks or a rematch of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the playoffs are a great time to watch NBA action.
With superstar players making hundreds of millions of dollars and choosing where they want to play after their rookie contracts end, the NBA has come a long way since the 1970s and 1980s when many stars were locked into archrivals’ arenas. The league has grown to 30 teams across the United States, with one in Canada. Its televised games are seen in more than 200 countries and territories and the NBA website is the most visited sports site in the world.
The trade deadline is the 16th Thursday of each season, at 3 pm Eastern Time. During this time, teams may only trade players they have signed to their rosters for the remainder of the year. This is an important date for general managers, as major trades are often completed in the days leading up to the deadline. The NBA’s trade rules allow for a maximum of five transactions per calendar year.