NBA DIVISIONAL ALIGNMENT& PLAYOFF FORMAT

Select NBA Directory NBA Directory Listing 2009-10 Season Key Dates Schedule NBA Divisional Alignment and Playoff Format

ATLANTIC DIVISION: Boston Celtics New Jersey 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 Bobcats Miami Heat Orlando Magic Washington Wizards		SOUTHWEST DIVISION: Dallas Mavericks Houston Rockets Memphis Grizzlies New Orleans Hornets San Antonio Spurs   NORTHWEST DIVISION: Denver Nuggets Minnesota Timerwolves Oklahoma City Thunder Portland Trail Blazers Utah Jazz   PACIFIC DIVISION: Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns Sacramento Kings
Teams will play divisional opponents four times each (two home games/two road games), conferene opponents outside the division three or four times each and opponents outside the conference two times each (one home game/one road game). The first four seeds in each conference will be given to the three division winners and the team with the next best regular season record, but these four teams will be seeded in order of their regular season records. The remaining four playoff berths for each conference will be based on regular season records with no regard to divisional alignment. Home court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs will be based solely on regular season record, not playoff seeding, thus a divisional winner that has a higher playoff seed than an opponent will not necessarily have home court advantage in the playoff series.
Two-Way Tie In order to break a tie for playoff positions at the close of the regular season, the following criteria will be utilized in the order set forth: 1. Better winning percentage in games against each other. 2. Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if tied teams are in the same division). 3. Better winning percentage within own conference. 4. Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position). 5. Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in opposite conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position.) 6. Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (’Point differen- tial’).		More tThan Two Teams Tied 1. Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teams. 2. Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if all tied teams are in same division). 3. Better winning percentage against teams in own conference. 4. Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position). 5. Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (’Point differential’).