This season’s NBA Playoffs, which include the NBA Finals, have finally arrived. Since its creation in 1947, the sports event has become one of the biggest cultural events in the country and, arguably, in the world.
At these events, not only can the public watch spectacular athletes compete, but they can also enjoy a pre-match performance by a famous singer or musician.
This is particularly true of the NBA finals during which a singer or musician will come to perform the U.S’ national anthem.
Celebrities such as political figures, actors and models also attend NBA matches on a regular basis which helps bring more media attention to these sports events.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) usually schedules the playoffs throughout May up until early June. Fans and experts tend to place their bets around that time depending on who they think will win the championship.
Many online sportsbooks allow fans to place their bets online and look at current statistics, data and predictions in order to make informed decisions. One example of this is the DraftKings NBA championship odds and their betting options.
But what exactly are the NBA playoffs? How are teams selected?
Which team is most likely to win this season’s NBA Finals?
This article will answer these questions and offer some predictions based on current statistics and the recent performance of the most popular basketball teams.
What are the NBA Playoffs?
The National Basketball Association hosts the NBA Playoffs, an annual championship series, between May and June. The Playoffs are made up of four rounds with the very last one being the big NBA Final.
This championship series is the most important sports event for many basketball athletes and sports coaches because it determines who the next league champion will be.
So, how are the teams in the NBA Playoffs selected?
The NBA Playoffs select the best teams of the Eastern and Western Conferences. These conferences are part of the NBA and help the association select the best possible teams.
The Eastern and Western Conferences each have 15 teams. These teams are then split into three subdivisions within their respective ‘conference’.
However, it is worth noting that the divisional alignment within a conference can change over time. The Western Conference’s current divisional alignment was implemented back in 2004-2005.
To get to the NBA playoffs, a basketball team must be in the top six of the Eastern or the Western Conference.
Teams are ranked according to their winning percentage. In other words, each team needs to win as many games as possible to increase their chances of qualifying for the NBA Playoffs.
The teams that did not make it into the top six but still made it into the top ten can take part in the NBA’s play-in tournament.
Up until the NBA Finals, teams play against other teams within their conference. During the finals, the winning team of the Eastern Conference and that of the Western Conference compete against each other for the championship title.
Which NBA team exceeded expectations?
The NBA Playoffs have now started, and the first results are in. The NBA Finals is currently scheduled for the 1st of June, giving fans and experts some time to place their bets and share their predictions.
On the Eastern Conference side, the Miami Heat has undoubtedly exceeded expectations. The team, which made its way out of the NBA’s play-in tournament, is now at the semifinals.
The team has won three NBA championships which is very impressive but far from the record-breaking 17 NBA championships that the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics secured.
The team’s first NBA title was won in 2006, which is relatively recent in comparison with other teams.
In other words, the Miami Heat team is a bit of an underdog in some ways and still a budding team. It has two famous all-star players at the moment, Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry, which could help bring the team to the NBA finals.
On the Western Conference side, the Los Angeles Lakers have surprised many by making it out of the play-in tournament and to the semifinals. But, after all, the team is known for its record-breaking number of NBA titles which makes it a bit less surprising.
