Each team plays 82 games during the regular season. There are two conferences – Eastern and Western. The eight teams with the best records in each conference earns a spot in the playoffs, which begins in April.
Records matter when it comes to having an advantage in the playoffs. The team with the worst record faces the team with the best record in the first round. The second worst team plays the second best team. The third worst team plays the third best team. And then the fourth and fifth best teams square off in the first round.
Each series (round) is a best-of-seven format, meaning once a team wins four games, the series is over and the winner advances to the next round. There are three rounds before the NBA Finals in June. The winner from the East meets the champion of the West in one final best-of-seven series, with the winner being crowned champions of the world.