The NBA Playoffs start today, here’s everything you need to know.
The NBA Playoffs kick off today with the Nets taking on the Sixers in the first game of the day. Over the next two months, a lot of storylines will be developed in an effort to crown a new NBA champion.
How many teams make the NBA Playoffs?
In the current incarnation of the league, 16 teams make the playoffs with eight teams from each conference. The top six teams automatically qualify for the playoffs while two teams from the tournament, which ended yesterday evening, qualified.
What is the format of the NBA playoffs?
NBA Playoffs Bracket: The NBA Playoffs roster is divided into the Eastern and Western Conferences, and first-round matches are ranked No. 8 vs. No. 2, No. 2 vs. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5. In each series. Winner of match #1 vs. #8 Winner of match #4 vs. #5 in the second round.
NBA Playoffs Rounds: The bracket creates four rounds – First Round, Conference Finals, Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals. The NBA Finals is the first Finals that two teams from opposing conferences can face.
NBA Playoff Series: Since 2003, each series has been run in a best-of-seven format. Prior to this, the first round series was played in a best-of-five format.
NBA Playoffs Homecourt Feature: In each series, the higher seed is awarded home court advantage except for the NBA Finals, where home court advantage is determined by record, regardless of seeding. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, which means the hosts with the highest seeds are Games 1, 2, 5, and 7.
Teams in the 2022-23 NBA Playoffs
Here are the first-round matches in the 2022-23 NBA Playoffs:
Eastern Conference:
(1) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (8) Miami Heat
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Atlanta Hawks
(3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (6) Brooklyn Nets
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) New York Knicks
Western Conference:
(1) Denver Nuggets vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves
(2) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers
(3) Sacramento Kings vs. (6) Golden State Warriors
(4) Phoenix Suns vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
When does each round of the NBA Playoffs start?
The first round of the NBA Playoffs begins today. The schedule for consecutive rounds is as follows:
- Conference Semifinals play May 1-2, with a possible transfer date of April 28-29
- Conference Finals start May 16-17, with a possible move-in date May 14-15
When does the NBA Finals start?
The NBA Finals begins June 1, 2023. Game 7, if necessary, will take place on June 18. The schedule for the rest of the series is as follows:
NBA Finals Game 1 – June 1, 2023
NBA Finals Game June 2-4, 2023
NBA Finals Game 3 – June 7, 2023
NBA Finals Game June 4-9, 2023
NBA Finals Game 5 (if applicable) – June 12, 2023
NBA Finals Game 6 (if applicable) – June 15, 2023
NBA Finals Game 7 (if applicable) – June 18, 2023
NBA playoffs predictions
Subjective predictions are an imprecise art at best and largely random noise at worst. Hopefully, these choices are just a trend towards inaccuracy. Here’s how I see each playoff game played:
Eastern Conference:
first round:
(1) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (8) Miami Heat: Bucks in 4 games
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Atlanta Hawks: Celtics 4
(3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (6) Brooklyn Nets: 76 in 5
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) New York Knicks: Cavaliers at 6
Second round:
(1) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers: $5 in 5
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers: Celtics at 6
Conference Final:
(1) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (2) Boston Celtics: Celtics at 7
Western Conference:
first round:
(1) Denver Nuggets vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves: Nuggets at 5
(2) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers: Grizzlies at 6
(3) Sacramento Kings vs. (6) Golden State Warriors: Warriors at 7
(4) Phoenix Suns vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers: Suns at 6
Second round:
Denver Nuggets vs. (4) Phoenix Suns: Suns at 6
Memphis Grizzlies vs. (6) Golden State Warriors: Grizzlies at 7
Conference Final:
(2) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (4) Phoenix Suns: Suns at 6
Who will win the NBA Finals in 2022-23?
According to my predictions, the Finals will be held between the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns.
The star duo will lead the Celtics Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who will be surrounded by elite role players as part of one of the deepest teams in the league. Last year’s Finalists, the Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference and will bypass the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks, I predict. The Bucks have the home advantage over the Celtics but for the second year in a row the Celtics have beaten the Bucks in a 7-game series.
The Phoenix Suns, who played in the NBA Finals two years ago, have one of the best starting lineups with the likes of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton as part of the same squad. I expect this all-star team to go through a tough Western Conference that will include the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies.
In the NBA Finals, I would expect the Boston Celtics to prevail in a competitive 6-game series with Jason Tatum taking home the Finals MVP award.