The 2023/24 NBA season has begun. But how exactly does the season work? What’s the new In-Season Tournament all about? How do the playoffs work and which teams are in a division? ran explains it.
Last season, the Denver Nuggets led by superstar Nikola Jokic were crowned NBA champions, and in the finals the Miami Heat were defeated after just five games.
In the new season, the Nuggets are once again among the favorites for the big hit. However, there are also the Milwaukee Bucks, who are listed by bookmakers as a hot contender for the title thanks to the trade for point guard Damian Lillard.
The same applies to the Boston Celtics, who secured Jrue Holiday and thus have one of the best guards in the league in their own ranks.
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It will still be a few months before the finals are played. The final series will not take place until the beginning of June 2024. Before that, various regular season games and the playoffs await basketball fans (for the complete schedule overview for the 2023/24 NBA season).
But how many games do the teams play in the regular season, which teams compete against each other in the individual conferences, how does the newly introduced in-season tournament work and what is the playoff mode? ran gives you an overview.
the essentials in brief
NBA season 2023/24: How many teams play in the league and what do the divisions and conferences look like?
There are a total of 30 teams that compete against each other in the best basketball league in the world. These are divided into two conferences (Western and Eastern) with 15 teams each. Each conference also has three divisions that are home to five teams. Below is the breakdown.
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NBA: Western Conference teams and divisions
- Northwest Division: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz
- Pacific Division: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings
- Southwest Division: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs
NBA: Eastern Conference teams and divisions
- Atlantic Division: Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors
- Central Division: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks
- Southeast Division: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards
NBA: How many games do the teams play in the regular season?
Each team plays 82 games in the regular season. Of these, four against every other team from their own division, three to four against teams from their own conference (36 in total) and two against every team from the other conference.
NBA: How is the new in-season tournament going?
In the new season, the In-Season Tournament was held for the first time. This is a kind of cup competition, so two titles are up for grabs.
For the tournament, the teams were drawn into groups of five. Opponents were teams from their own conference, but not necessarily from their own division. Each team played two home and two away games. The six group winners and the best team in each conference that did not win their group advanced to the knockout rounds.
In the quarter-finals, which, unlike the playoffs, is only one game, the best-placed group winner met the wildcard team and had home advantage, the second-best group winner received the third-best group winner. The semifinals – also just one game – and the final were finally played on neutral ground in Las Vegas. With the exception of the final, all matches were also considered regular season games.
In the final, the Los Angeles Lakers led by superstar LeBron James beat the Indiana Pacers 123:109 (see highlights).
NBA playoffs: Which teams qualify for the postseason?
In total, 16 of the 30 teams make it to the playoffs, eight from each conference. Six per conference qualify immediately after the conclusion of the regular season, the four remaining tickets are awarded via the Play-In Tournament.
The teams in seventh to tenth place in each conference contest this. The seventh-placed team plays against the eighth-placed team, and the winner of the duel is certain to be there. The loser of this game will face the ninth or tenth place team in the conference – depending on who prevails in the previous showdown. Whoever wins this game will become the eighth team to advance to the postseason. Home advantage goes to the better placed team.
Mega talent Victor Wembanyama there? The greatest NBA players in history
This year’s number 1 pick in the NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama, is considered a huge talent and wants to become one of the greatest in basketball history. Physically he has already achieved it, as the Frenchman measures 2.24 meters. Does this make Wembanyama one of the top 15 greatest NBA professionals in history? ran takes a look at the basketball giants.© 2022 Getty Images
Platz 15: Peter John Ramos
• Size: 2.22 meters (US size: 7 feet 3 inches)
• Team: Washington Wizards (2004-2005)
• Nationality: Puerto Rico
• Stats: 11 points and 4 rebounds in 6 games
© 2009 Getty Images
10th place (shared): Priest Lauderdale
• Size: 2.24 meters (US size: 7 feet 4 inches)
• Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1996-1997), Denver Nuggets (1997-1998)
• Nationality: USA
• Stats: 255 points and 143 rebounds in 74 games
© getty
Platz 10 (geteilt): Boban Marjanovic
• Height: 2.24 meters (US height: 7 feet 4 inches – other sources such as “Sporting News” write 7 feet 3 inches)
• Teams: San Antonio Spurs (2015-2016), Detroit Pistons (2016-2018), Los Angeles Clippers (2018-2019), Philadelphia 76ers (2019), Dallas Mavericks (2019-2022), Houston Rockets (seit 2022)
• Nationality: Serbia
• Stats: 1,709 points and 1,107 rebounds in 296 games
© IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
10th place (shared): Ralph Sampson
• Size: 2.24 meters (US size: 7 feet 4 inches)
• Teams: Houston Rockets (1983-1987), Golden State Warriors (1987-1989), Sacramento Kings (1989-1991), Washington Bullets (1991-1992)
• Nationality: USA
• Stats: 7,039 points and 4,011 rebounds in 456 games
© getty
10th place (shared): Rik Smits
• Size: 2.24 meters (US size: 7 feet 4 inches)
• Team: Indiana Pacers (1988-2000)
• Nationality: Netherlands
• Stats: 12,871 points and 5,277 rebounds in 867 games
© image sports photo service
10th place (shared): Mark Eaton
• Size: 2.24 meters (US size: 7 feet 4 inches)
• Team: Utah Jazz (1982-1993)
• Nationality: USA
• Stats: 5,216 points and 6,939 rebounds in 875 games
© 1989 Getty Images
7th place (shared): Sim Bhullar
• Size: 2.26 meters (US size: 7 feet 5 inches)
• Team: Sacramento Kings (2015)
• Nationality: Canada
• Stats: 2 points and 1 rebound in 3 games
© IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
7th place (shared): Pavel Podkolzin
• Size: 2.26 meters (US size: 7 feet 5 inches)
• Team: Dallas Mavericks (2004-2006)
• Nationality: Russia
• Stats: 4 points and 9 rebounds in 6 games
© imago/getty
7th place (shared): Chuck Nevitt
• Size: 2.26 meters (US size: 7 feet 5 inches)
• Teams: Houston Rockets (1982-1983, 1988-1990), Los Angeles Lakers (1984-1985), Detroit Pistons (1985-1988), Chicago Bulls (1991), San Antonio Spurs (1993)
• Nationality: USA
• Stats: 251 points and 239 rebounds in 155 games
© IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
3rd place (shared): Shawn Bradley
• Size: 2.29 meters (US size: 7 feet 6 inches)
• Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1993-1995), New Jersey Nets (1995-1997), Dallas Mavericks (1997-2005)
• Nationalities: USA, Germany
• Stats: 6,752 points and 5,268 rebounds in 832 games
© imago images/Pius Koller
3rd place (shared): Yao Ming
• Size: 2.29 meters (US size: 7 feet 6 inches)
• Team: Houston Rockets (2002-2011)
• Nationality: China
• Stats: 9,196 points and 4,467 rebounds in 481 games
© image sports photo service
3rd place (shared): Slavko Vranes
• Height: 2.29 meters (US height: 7 feet 6 inches – other sources such as “Sporting News” write 7 feet 5 inches)
• Team: Portland Trail Blazers (2004)
• Nationality: Montenegro
• Stats: 0 points and 0 rebounds in 1 game
© imago
3rd place (shared): Tacko Fall
• Size: 2.29 meters (US size: 7 feet 6 inches)
• Teams: Boston Celtics (2019-2021), Cleveland Cavaliers (2021-2022)
• Nationality: Senegal
• Stats: 82 points and 90 rebounds in 37 games
© IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
1st place (shared): Manute Bol
• Height: 2.31 meters (US size: 7 feet 7 inches)
• Teams: Washington Bullets (1985-1988, 1994), Golden State Warriors (1988-1990, 1994), Philadelphia 76ers (1990-1993, 1994), Miami Heat (1993-1994)
• Nationalities: Sudan, USA
• Stats: 1,599 points and 2,647 rebounds in 625 games
© getty/imago
1st place (shared): Gheorghe Muresan
• Height: 2.31 meters (US size: 7 feet 7 inches)
• Teams: Washington Bullets (1993-1998), New Jersey Nets (1998-2000)
• Nationalities: Romania, USA
• Stats: 3,020 points and 1,957 rebounds in 307 games
© imago
NBA: How do playoffs and finals work?
If the playoff participants are confirmed, the first round takes place. In the “Best of Seven” mode – four wins are necessary to reach the next round – the Conference Semifinals take place first, then the Conference Finals and finally the NBA Finals.
The highest-ranked team in the regular season always meets the lowest-ranked team; the higher-ranked team also has home advantage in the first game and therefore also in a potentially decisive seventh game.
The new NBA champions will be determined between June 14th and 23rd, 2024 – depending on how many games are needed.
2024-01-15 14:33:00
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