With the 2022-23 NBA regular season now in its final stretch, the 2023 NBA Playoffs are almost at hand, check out the expected dates, number of teams, new format changes and more
The NBA playoffs are a part of the NBA postseason featuring the best teams from each conference fighting for the coveted NBA title.
NBA Playoffs 2023 schedule, start date, new format, rules changes
NBA Playoff Bracket! ๐ฑ #NBApic.twitter.com/vtt70mWCmv
— NBA Playoffs 2023 (@PlayoffsGames) March 14, 2023
With a win over the Suns, the Bucks have officially clinched a spot in the 2023 NBA playoffs ๐ค pic.twitter.com/z9lSG3N2Zg
— ESPN (@espn) March 15, 2023
Every season, it is almost impossible to predict which team will win the NBA Finals. So many variables and factors exist, that could easily help or hurt a teamโs chances of winning.
NBA playoffs 2023 number of teams
The NBA currently consists of 30 teams with 15 franchises in each of the two conferences. Like every other season, the 2023 NBA playoffs will feature the top eight teams from the East and West conference.
NBA playoffs 2023 expected start date
Currently, most of the teams have played 67 to 69 games out the 82-game regular season. As such, most teams have only a little over a dozen games left to qualify for the playoffs. Keeping in mind the current progress of the league and previous other seasons, the 2023 NBA playoffs are expected to start on 15th April. The dates could however, vary based on postponements or other developments.
NBA Playoffs 2023 new format
This year, the NBA will introduce a change in the postseason format. The NBA have added a new feature called the play-in tournament, which will give a chance to the 9th and 10th-positioned teams to also qualify for the playoffs.
Following this new format, the 7th ย and 8th ย seeds will face off against one another. The winner of that fixture will claim the 7th ย spot for the postseason. Meanwhile, the loser will play against the winner between the 9th and 10th seeds. The winner of that fixture will qualify as the 8th seed.
This means that even a 10th-seeded team has a chance to qualify for the NBA postseason. They will however, have to win two back-to-back elimination games. Despite some criticisms against the new format, from stars like LeBron James, the new format will provide a great way for the great way for the NBA to improve its revenue and ratings.
Following the qualifications for the playoffs, the 8 teams will then play a best of 7 series against their matched teams, where they have to win four to qualify for the NBA Finals. The NBA Finals is expected to be held between June 1 and June 18.
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