Who’s Playing in the NBA Playoffs?

The NBA playoffs are just around the corner and we can’t wait to see who’s going to come out on top! Stay up to date on all the latest news and information on who’s playing in the playoffs with our blog.

The Teams

The NBA playoffs are in full swing, and there are some great matchups this year. In the East, the Milwaukee Bucks are the top seed and they are up against the eighth-seeded Detroit Pistons. The Bucks are the heavy favorites in this series, but the Pistons have upset teams in the past.

The Western Conference

The Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of two conferences that makes up the league, the other being the Eastern Conference. Like the Eastern Conference, the Western Conference is made up of 15 teams, organized in three divisions.

The divisional and conference playoff formats used in the NBA today were first used in the 1970-1971 season. At that time, there were nine teams in each conference. The divisional playoff format was used first during the 1973-1974 season when four additional teams were added to each conference, giving each conference 12 teams total.

The current divisional alignment was introduced in the 2004-2005 season when the Charlotte Hornets began play as an expansion team, giving the Western Conference its current 15-team configuration. Under this format, 8 teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs.

The top seed in each division plays against the 8th seed wildcard team from their conference in what is known as a first-round series or opening round playoff series. The second seed in each division plays against the 7th seed wildcard team from their conference and so on down to the 5th and 6th seeds who play each other.

From there, each subsequent round sees the surviving teams paired off against one another until only one team remains standing in each conference. These two final remaining teams then compete against each other in a best-of-seven series to decide who will represent their respective conferences in The Finals (also best-of-seven).

The Eastern Conference

The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of two conferences that makes up the league, the other being the Western Conference. Like the Western Conference, the Eastern Conference is made up of 15 teams, organized in three divisions.

The basis for divisional alignment has changed several times throughout NBA history, most recently in 2008 when the Charlotte Bobcats joined the league as its 30th franchise. At that time, Commissioner David Stern announced that the Bobcats would play in the Eastern Conference’s Southeast Division, alignment that would last just two seasons before being revised once again.

As of the 2019–20 NBA season, these are the teams that make up each division:

The Schedule

The NBA playoffs are finally here! After a long regular season, the best teams in the league have advanced to the postseason. Here is a look at the schedule for the first round of the playoffs.

First Round

The First Round of the NBA Playoffs is a best-of-seven series between the third and sixth seeds in each conference. The higher remaining seed in each conference will face the lower remaining seed in a four vs. five matchup, while the other two teams will pair off in a three vs. six matchup.

Second Round

The second round of the NBA playoffs is where things really start to heat up. By the end of the first round, the eight remaining teams have been whittled down from 16, and each series is a best-of-seven. That means that every game counts and every possession matters. The second round is when things really start to get serious.

In the second round, the four winners from the first round face off against each other. The matchups are as follows:

(1) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (5) Miami Heat
(2) Toronto Raptors vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers
(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (5) Houston Rockets
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers

Conference Finals

The 2020 NBA playoffs are the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association’s 2019–20 season. The playoffs were originally scheduled to begin on April 18. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States caused the season to be suspended on March 11 after several players tested positive for the virus. The playoffs were rescheduled to begin on August 17, 2020 and will end no later than October 13, 2020.

Conference Finals:
-Eastern Conference: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat
-Western Conference: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

The Finals

The Finals are the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western conference champions play a best-of-seven game series to determine the league champion. The winners of the Finals receive the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, which replaced the Walter A. Brown Trophy in 1983.

The Players

The NBA Playoffs are just around the corner and fans are getting excited to see who will be playing. There are a lot of talented players in the playoffs this year. Some of the top players include LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry. These players are some of the best in the league and it will be exciting to see them compete against each other.

The Starters

When it comes to the NBA playoffs, there are some things that just can’t be argued. LeBron James is the best player in the world, for example, and the Golden State Warriors are head-and-shoulders above the competition.

But what about the other starters? Who are the best players in the playoffs that aren’t household names? We took a look at each position and compiled a list of the best players that you may not know about.

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
He may be one of the most famous players in the league, but Westbrook is also one of the best point guards in the playoffs. He’s averaging a triple-double for the season, and he’s been carrying his team on his back throughout the playoffs. If you’re looking for a star point guard to watch out for, Westbrook is your man.

Shooting Guard: Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
While he may not be as famous as his backcourt partner Stephen Curry, Thompson is still one of the best shooting guards in the league. He’s a knock-down shooter from three-point range, and he’s also a very good defender. If you’re looking for someone to keep an eye on during Golden State’s playoff run, make sure to keep an eye on Thompson.

Small Forward: Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
Butler is one of those players who does a little bit of everything on the court. He can score, he can rebound, and he’s an excellent defender. He’s also a leader for his team, and he always seems to come up big when it matters most. If you’re looking for someone to root for outside of LeBron James in the Eastern Conference, Butler is your man.

Power Forward: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Green is another player who does a little bit of everything for his team. He’s a great rebounder and defender, and he can also score when called upon. He doesn’t always get the credit he deserves because he plays alongside two superstars in Curry and Thompson, but make no mistake about it: Green is one of the best players in these playoffs.

The Reserves

The Reserves are the players who come off the bench to provide a spark or some relief for the starters. They’re usually the second- or third-best players on a team, and they often have specific roles. For example, a team might have a “sixth man” who specializes in coming off the bench and providing instant offense. Similarly, a team might have a “defensive specialist” who comes in to provide a spark on that end of the court.

In general, reserves are expected to provide energy and effort, and they often play fewer minutes than the starters. As such, they might not be as consistent as the starters, but they can be very important players nonetheless.

The Coaches

The Head Coaches

In the NBA, the head coach is the leader of the team on the court. They are responsible for developing and implementing the game plan, and they also have a significant impact on player development.

There are a few different types of coaches in the NBA. Some are former players who have gone into coaching, while others have come up through the ranks of assistant coaching. There are also some head coaches who have never played in the NBA, but have coached at other levels (such as college or internationally).

Below is a list of all the head coaches in the NBA playoffs:

-Boston Celtics: Brad Stevens
-Brooklyn Nets: Steve Nash
-Charlotte Hornets: James Borrego
-Chicago Bulls: Billy Donovan
-Cleveland Cavaliers: J.B. Bickerstaff
-Dallas Mavericks: Rick Carlisle
-Denver Nuggets: Michael Malone
-Detroit Pistons: Dwane Casey
-Golden State Warriors: Steve Kerr
-Houston Rockets: Stephen Silas
-Indiana Pacers: Nate McMillan
-Los Angeles Clippers: Tyronn Lue
-Los Angeles Lakers: Frank Vogel
– Memphis Grizzlies: Taylor Jenkins Miami Heat: Erik Spoelstra Milwaukee Bucks: Mike Budenholzer Minnesota Timberwolves: Chris Finch New Orleans Pelicans Stan Van Gundy New York Knicks Tom Thibodeau Oklahoma City ThunderMark Daigneault Orlando Magic Steve Clifford Philadelphia 76ers Doc Rivers Phoenix Suns Monty Williams Portland Trail Blazers Terry Stotts Sacramento Kings Luke Walton San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich Toronto Raptors Nick Nurse Utah Jazz Quin Snyder Washington Wizards Scott Brooks

The Assistant Coaches

The assistant coaches of an NBA team play an important role in the team’s success. They help the head coach plan practices, scout opponents, and develop game strategies. Some assistant coaches also have responsibilities for player development, such as working with young players to improve their skills.

In the playoffs, assistant coaches have even more responsibility, as they often have to fill in for the head coach if he is ejected from a game or suspended. This can be a daunting task, as assistant coaches are usually not as experienced as the head coach. However, many assistant coaches have risen to the challenge and led their teams to victory in the playoffs.