The NBA Playoffs

The 2010 NBA Playoffs are three rounds of competitions between sixteen teams divided into the East Conference, the West Conference and the winners go to the NBA Finals. This year the playoffs are going to start on April 17, 2010.

This competition mode started back in 1947 as a three game eliminatory process. The best two teams, winning two of three games were able to go to the final that was played in 7 games. Generally the Playoffs start at the end of April with eight teams in each conference. The first three places in every conference are determined for the top ones on each division following the balance between win and lose.

This rule (Win-Lose) have created lots of controversy because it lets teams with a bad record, get in the playoffs easily. (For Example, if in the same division there are the best two records of the conference, the second place regarding the record, ends in the fourth place in the positions table. In fact, in case of reaching the first round, is almost sure that will be playing against the first place, while the second and third place will have better options to keep going even though they don’t have good records.

Following the logic of the playoffs, the five teams left are determined based in the record of victories among the non-winning teams of the conference. Nevertheless, being the champion of the division, does not guarantee to have an advantage at the Playoffs, eliminatory. Another detail to keep an eye on, is that the advantage in this matter is given by the balance of the win-lose count during the regular season, without respecting the winners of each division.

This is one of the most criticized rule ever in this sport. Having a high record offers many advantages. The first rank will play always against the eighth one (which is the lowest one on the seed), the second will play against the seventh, the third against the sixth and the fourth against the fifth. So, having a good balance in this count means that the team will play against a team that is weaker. In fact, the one with the best balance will have the best advantage in the first playoff series, including the first round.

In fact, having a good balance in the win-lose count for a team that is ranked sixth, means that it has better opportunities to win against the third despite the ranking of the other team. Having a good place in the ranking does not mean that you are the winner if you don’t have a good record.

Here we can see some of the teams that are performing the best way from each conference. As we can see the East Conference is lead by the Lakers which have up to now more than 4 victories on top of the second spot which is Dallas.

East Conference

The West Conference is being lead by Cleveland Cavaliers which as the last year also performed well at the tournament.

West Conference

Conference Semifinals

Conference Finals

Final Series Results

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
Game #1: 102-89
Game #2: 94-103
Game #3: 91-84
Game #4: 89-96
Game #5:  86-92
Game #6:89-67
Game #7: 83-79

The Final game wasn't the exception. It was a really interesting game that showed who is the best after all. As a team, the Lakers shot 32.5 percent from the field to the Celtics' 40.8. Only Fisher shot over 50 percent from the field (4-for-6). They struggled from the line, making 25-for-37, but they made up for it by pulling down 23 offensive rebounds and turning the ball over 11 times to the Celtics' 15.

The Lakers played from behind for virtually the entire game. They fought back from nine down at the end of the first quarter. Then they scratched back from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter.

And when it came down to the fourth quarter, the game was filled with pressure-packed moments.

"I was nervous as a mother," Artest said.

Down six with 1:30 left, the Celtics answered with Rasheed Wallace draining a 3-pointer. Then Artest responded with a three. After the make, he blew kisses to the crowd and pointed to the Celtics bench.

"What a perfect time to blow kisses at the crowd," he said. "What a shot. What a shot. I always wanted to hit a shot like that. That's why I took that shot."

Seconds later Ray Allen, who had 13 points on 14 shots, answered from the left corner to cut Los Angeles' lead to 79-76. Off a Bryant missed 3-pointer, Gasol recorded his ninth -- and quite possibly biggest -- offensive rebound of the season. The extra opportunity led to Bryant getting fouled, which was Wallace's sixth of the game. Bryant hit a pair of free throws to give the Lakers an 81-76 lead with 25.7 seconds left in the game.

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