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NBA Playoffs
Before 1949, when the NBA was called the BAA, the top three teams from the Western and Eastern divisions were invited to the playoffs. To enter the finals, the two division champions played a Semifinal “best of seven” series. The other four teams played two rounds of “best of three playoffs” to face the winner of the Semifinal match.
Then in 1949, the BAA merged with the NBL to create the NBA. Then from 1951 through 1953 the “best of five playoffs” was introduced. In 1954 the NBA Playoffs used a Round Robin for the only time in NBA history. Then it was from 1955 to 1966 that the league returned to the original six-team format, expanding the Division Finals to a “best of seven” in 1958 and the Semifinals to a “best of five” in 1961.
By 1967 the teams were expanded to eight teams, filling out the three-round bracket. Then in 1968, the Division Semifinals were changed to “best of seven” playoff. In 1975 and 1977, respectively, a fifth and sixth team were added to each Division, creating the necessity of an additional First Round of “best of three” series.
Finally by 1984, the tournament expanded to its present 16 team format and the First Round was changed to a “best of five” playoff. In 2003 the First Round was also changed to a “best of seven” format.
As of 2004 season, the NBA received its 30th NBA franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats, this forced the NBA to realign its divisions. The final result was that each conference would have three divisions of five teams each and the winner of each division was guaranteed a top-three playoff seed. This would change slightly after the 2005-06 season; while division winners still receive automatic playoff berths, they are guaranteed a top-four seed, as described above.
The line NBA fans clamor for is about to appear in sportsbooks around the world, and it is the hottest line since the Equator divided the hemispheres. Let the games begin!
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