The moment all NBA fans were waiting for is finally here. We've reached the playoffs and the best 16 teams in the world will try to get that Larry O'Brien trophy. Is a Western Conference team ready to take the crown with the Lakers out of the picture? was the Nets' superteam the biggest disappointment of the playoffs?
That, and many more questions are yet to be answered, but it won't be long before we find out. At the end of the day, making picks on the playoffs isn't an easy task, as a couple of bad games can send you back home.
Giannis Antetokuonmpo, Chris Paul and some of the best players in the league are ready to take the silverware home. And in the following paragraphs, we'll let you know everything there is about the 2021 NBA playoffs.
2021 NBA Playoffs: Format
The 2021 NBA playoffs format will be the same as always but with a little twist. The 8 teams with the best record in each conference will play in a best-of-seven series, with the first to win 4 games moving on to the next round. There will be three rounds per conference and then, the NBA Finals, also with a best-of-seven format.
However, this time the league implemented a play-in tournament that gives the teams with the 9th and 10th best record in each conference a final chance to make the playoffs, meaning that those teams that finished 7th or 8th could miss the postseason.
2021 NBA Playoffs: When Will The Playoffs Start?
The 2021 NBA playoffs will start on Saturday, May 22, 2021. The NBA Finals Game 7 (if needed) will take place no further than July 22, according to the National Basketball Association's official website.
2021 NBA Playoffs: Bracket
Western Conference:
First Round
+ Utah Jazz (1) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8): Jazz win 4-1
+ Phoenix Suns (2) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7): Suns win 4-2
+ Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (6): Nuggets win 4-2
+ Los Angeles Clippers (4) vs. Dallas Mavericks (5): Clippers win 4-3
Second Round
+ Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers
+ Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets: Suns win 4-0
Eastern Conference:
+ Philadelphia 76ers (1) vs. Washington Wizards (8): Sixers win 4-1
+ Brooklyn Nets (2) vs. Boston Celtics (7): Nets win 4-1
+ Milwaukee Bucks (3) vs. Miami Heat (6): Bucks win 4-0
+ New York Knicks (4) vs. Atlanta Hawks (5): Hawks win 4-1
Second Round
+ Philadelphia 76ers vs. Atlanta Hawks: Hawks win 4-3
+ Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Bucks win 4-3
+ Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Clippers win 4-2
+ Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets: Suns win 4-0
Conference Finals
+ Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks: Bucks win 4-2
+ Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Suns win 4-2
2021 NBA Finals: Schedule:
Game 1: July 6
Game 2: July 8
Game 3: July 11
Game 4: July 14
Game 5*: July 17
Game 6*: July 20
Game 7*: July 22
* If needed
2021 NBA Finals: TV Schedule
The 2021 NBA Finals will be broadcasted and streamed in the United States by ABC,and NBA League Pass.
