The 2024 NBA playoffs are well underway after the close of the regular season. The best teams from each conference will battle it out in a four-round, best of seven format in order to be crowned NBA champion.
Excitement surrounds basketball particularly in 2024 in the build-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics after the announcement of the USA team’s star-studded line-up. A less developed sport in other countries, basketball is becoming a lot more popular here in the UK and Europe, but what are the NBA playoffs all about?
The NBA playoffs is a tournament that is played at the end of the regular season between the best teams from both the Western and Eastern Conference. It is a tournament that decides who is crowned champion of the NBA with the top 6 teams from each group automatically advancing to the tournament. The latter two spots are decided via the play-in tournament between teams placed 7th-10th in each conference.
Teams will battle it out for the famous Larry O’Brien Trophy using a best of seven series. The first team to win four games advances to the next round with the other team eliminated. The teams will advance to play another team from the same conference until all but one team from each conference are eliminated. The teams left from each conference will battle it out in the final for the Championship.
NBA Paris Hospitality
Who to look out for this year?
After the USA announced a stellar men’s team for the 2024 Olympics including Lebron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, there has been plenty of talent on show this year in the NBA. In the regular season it was Oklahoma City Thunder who topped the Western Conference while Boston Celtics topped the Eastern Conference. It’s the Boston Celtics who are the earliest favourites for the trophy while Denver Nuggets, last year’s champions, are second favourites.
The Celtics have made a strong start in their bid to overthrow the Nuggets. After a victory on Tuesday against last year’s runners-up, Miami Heat, they are 3-1 up with only one more victory needed to eliminate the Florida-based club. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are well on their way to defend their Championship title after defeating the Lakers 4 games to 1 in the first round. They will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the next round after they also defeated the Phoenix Suns in a whitewash.
Will it be a Celtics vs Nuggets final? Well the Thunder will have something to say about that. With the same amount of wins as the Nuggets, they have certainly made a strong case for a title challenge this year. A 4-0 whitewash of New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the playoffs suggest they are a team to be feared in 2024.
Runners up in the Eastern Conference, New York Nicks, will be keen to get their hands on the Larry O’Brien trophy. With three wins so far against the 76ers after 5 games, they will be looking for one more victory to advance to the next round of fixtures.
So who do you think will take the title? Plenty of teams will be gunning for victory in what is going to be a blockbuster final no matter who is taking part. A litter of talent on show is exciting basketball fans across the globe in the preparation for the 2024 Olympics.
As the NBA expands across the world, overseas matches are becoming more popular with games taking place in Europe. Check out NBA Paris and watch your favourite stars from the best seats in the house in 2025 with Engage Hospitality.