How Many Games Do You Have to Win in the NBA Finals?
For a professional basketball player, winning the NBA Finals is the pinnacle of the sport and separates you from the rest of the league if you are great enough to win it all.
Most people can tell you after each NBA season who is the champion of the league but some may not be able to tell you exactly how they became champion. How many games did they have to win in order to be crowned champ?
This article will break down the NBA playoff system for you and, more importantly, how many games a team has to win in the NBA Finals.
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The Playoff Structure
The NBA is broken down into 2 divisions – the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference. 8 teams from each conference make up the beginning of the playoffs which starts with 16 total teams from the NBA. The first round is a best-of-seven game series.
Up until 2003, the first round was a best-of-five series which led to some pretty big upsets in the past. The most notable two were in 1994 when the 8-seed Denver Nuggets knocked off the top-seeded Seattle Supersonics and in 1999 when the 8-seed New York Knicks beat the 1-seed Miami Heat. The Knicks would go all the way to the NBA Finals that year and ultimately lose to the San Antonio Spurs.
The second round is also a best-of-seven game series with the winners of each series advancing to their respective conference finals. The winners of the Conference Finals face off in the NBA Finals for a shot at the Larry O’Brien trophy and being named NBA Champions. So, what does the NBA Finals structure look like? Let’s dig a bit deeper about the history of the league’s ultimate finale.
NBA Finals: A History
The Finals have been a best-of-seven game series since the league changed its named to the National Basketball Association for the 1951 season. A team must win 4 out of 7 games in order to become champion. Even though they schedule 7 games, they will only play enough games that see a team win 4 games. In fact, out of the 73 Finals played, only 19 of them have gone 7 games.
Even though it has always been a 7 game series, there have been some key changes in the structure of the game schedule throughout the years.
1950-1985: 2-2-1-1-1 Format
From 1950 through the 1985 season the league structured the Finals in a way that saw the first 4 games of the series split between each team.
The team with the best record between the two would have what is called “home court advantage” and would host the first two games in their home arena. They would then travel to the lower-seeded team’s arena for games 3 and 4.
After that, if there was a need for more games, they would alternate between games 5-7, with the higher-seeded team hosting game 5, the lower-seeded team hosting game 6 and the final game of the series being played at the higher-seeded team’s home arena.
1985-2013: 2-3-2 Format
In 1985 the league was looking for ways to improve and one of the things they decided to change was the formatting of the Finals games. They thought it would ease the wear and tear of cross country flights on the players’ bodies and help improve the quality of the games being played.
In this structure, the team with the best record would host games 1 and 2, travel to the lower-seeded team’s arena for games 3-5 and then host games 6 and 7 if those were necessary.
2014-Present: Back to 2-2-1-1-1
The old formatting structure was restored in 2014. The thinking was that with modern technology and the luxurious way the teams travel in the modern era, there is no need to take cross country travel into account. The game schedule is also spread out giving the teams an extra day of rest between NBA Finals games.
In Conclusion
The NBA Finals is one of the most exciting sporting events held each calendar year, and something that I look forward to with bated breath at the end of each NBA season.
March Madness, college basketball’s season-ending tournament is a frantic whirlwind of a marathon across 3 weeks where upsets are guaranteed and you sometimes never know what to expect.
I definitely enjoy that tournament as well, but there is something more deliberate about the NBA Finals. Two teams play each other up to 7 games and it can turn into either a knockdown drag out or a chess match (or both) between the two teams. This format, to me, is every bit of exciting, and intriguing as the NCAA Tournament and I wouldn’t want to have my NBA Champion crowned any other way.
What do you think about the NBA Playoffs/Finals structure? Do you like the 2-2-1-1-1 method or the 2-3-2 method? Let us know below in the comments!
NBA Finals Champions - TicketCity Insider
Who Will Win the 2023 NBA Finals?
Which teams will play in the 2023 NBA Finals? First of all, congratulations to Steph Curry, who led the Golden State Warriors to a 4-2 series win in the 2022 NBA Finals. Now as we turn our attention the 2023 NBA season, the question every fan is asking is which teams will play their way into the ’23 NBA Finals. There are 82 regular-season games and three rounds of playoff games that every team must overcome first to earn a spot in the NBA Finals.
There are a large number of teams who could be in the 2023 NBA Finals, and a lot will depend on who plays best during the 2022-2023 NBA Regular Season. The top contenders to be in the upcoming NBA Finals include the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks could each make a return. Other top candidates are the Lakers, Clippers, Suns, and Mavericks from the Western Conference. In the East, the Nets, Bucks, Celtics, Heat, Sixers, and Raptors look the most promising. Tickets for the 2023 NBA Finals will be available very soon and regular-season NBA tickets for all 2022-2023 games are already available to purchase. NBA playoffs tickets will be posted for sale as soon as they are closer.
Past NBA Champions
Below is the full list of NBA Champions by Year, including their opponent and the series record. This full list of past NBA Finals Champions starts back in 1947 when the Philadelphia Warriors beat the Chicago Stags. It spans through the decades where powerful teams like the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls won for years in a row. It features the teams that were among the greatest dynasties in the history of the sport: the 60’s Celtics, 80’s Lakers, 90’s Bulls, 00’s Spurs and the recent Golden State Warriors. All of the best teams in the history of basketball are on the list of NBA Finals Champions here:
NBA Finals Champions (All-Time)
2023
TBD
0-0
TBD
2022
Golden State Warriors
4-2
Boston Celtics
2021
Milwaukee Bucks
4-2
Phoenix Suns
2020
Los Angeles Lakers
4-2
Miami Heat
2019
Toronto Raptors
4-2
Golden State Warriors
2018
Golden State Warriors
4-0 (sweep)
Cleveland Cavaliers
2017
Golden State Warriors
4-1
Cleveland Cavaliers
2016
Cleveland Cavaliers
4-3
Golden State Warriors
2015
Golden State Warriors
4-2
Cleveland Cavaliers
2014
San Antonio Spurs
4-1
Miami Heat
2013
Miami Heat
4-3
San Antonio Spurs
2012
Miami Heat
4-1
Oklahoma City Thunder
2011
Dallas Mavericks
4-2
Miami Heat
2010
Los Angeles Lakers
4-3
Boston Celtics
2009
Los Angeles Lakers
4-1
Orlando Magic
2008
Boston Celtics
4-2
Los Angeles Lakers
2007
San Antonio Spurs
4-0 (sweep)
Cleveland Cavaliers
2006
Miami Heat
4-2
Dallas Mavericks
2005
San Antonio Spurs
4-3
Detroit Pistons
2004
Detroit Pistons
4-1
Los Angeles Lakers
2003
San Antonio Spurs
4-2
New Jersey Nets
2002
Los Angeles Lakers
4-0 (sweep)
New Jersey Nets
2001
Los Angeles Lakers
4-1
Philadelphia 76ers
2000
Los Angeles Lakers
4-2
Indiana Pacers
1999
San Antonio Spurs
4-1
New York Knicks
1998
Chicago Bulls
4-2
Utah Jazz
1997
Chicago Bulls
4-2
Utah Jazz
1996
Chicago Bulls
4-2
Seattle SuperSonics
1995
Houston Rockets
4-0 (sweep)
Orlando Magic
1994
Houston Rockets
4-3
New York Knicks
1993
Chicago Bulls
4-2
Phoenix Suns
1992
Chicago Bulls
4-2
Portland Trail Blazers
1991
Chicago Bulls
4-1
Los Angeles Lakers
1990
Detroit Pistons
4-1
Portland Trail Blazers
1989
Detroit Pistons
4-0 (sweep)
Los Angeles Lakers
1988
Los Angeles Lakers
4-3
Detroit Pistons
1987
Los Angeles Lakers
4-2
Boston Celtics
1986
Boston Celtics
4-2
Houston Rockets
1985
Los Angeles Lakers
4-2
Boston Celtics
1984
Boston Celtics
4-3
Los Angeles Lakers
1983
Philadelphia 76ers
4-0 (sweep)
Los Angeles Lakers
1982
Los Angeles Lakers
4-2
Philadelphia 76ers
1981
Boston Celtics
4-2
Houston Rockets
1980
Los Angeles Lakers
4-2
Philadelphia 76ers
1979
Seattle SuperSonics
4-1
Washington Bullets
1978
Washington Bullets
4-3
Seattle SuperSonics
1977
Portland Trail Blazers
4-2
Philadelphia 76ers
1976
Boston Celtics
4-2
Phoenix Suns
1975
Golden State Warriors
4-0 (sweep)
Washington Bullets
1974
Boston Celtics
4-3
Milwaukee Bucks
1973
New York Knicks
4-1
Los Angeles Lakers
1972
Los Angeles Lakers
4-1
New York Knicks
1971
Milwaukee Bucks
4-0 (sweep)
Baltimore Bullets
1970
New York Knicks
4-3
Los Angeles Lakers
1969
Boston Celtics
4-3
Los Angeles Lakers
1968
Boston Celtics
4-2
Los Angeles Lakers
1967
Philadelphia 76ers
4-2
San Francisco Warriors
1966
Boston Celtics
4-3
Los Angeles Lakers
1965
Boston Celtics
4-1
Los Angeles Lakers
1964
Boston Celtics
4-1
San Francisco Warriors
1963
Boston Celtics
4-2
Los Angeles Lakers
1962
Boston Celtics
4-3
Los Angeles Lakers
1961
Boston Celtics
4-1
St. Louis Hawks
1960
Boston Celtics
4-3
St. Louis Hawks
1959
Boston Celtics
4-0 (sweep)
Minneapolis Lakers
1958
St. Louis Hawks
4-2
Boston Celtics
1957
Boston Celtics
4-3
St. Louis Hawks
1956
Philadelphia Warriors
4-1
Fort Wayne Pistons
1955
Syracuse Nationals
4-3
Fort Wayne Pistons
1954
Minneapolis Lakers
4-3
Syracuse Nationals
1953
Minneapolis Lakers
4-1
New York Knicks
1952
Minneapolis Lakers
4-3
New York Knicks
1951
Rochester Royals
4-3
New York Knicks
1950
Minneapolis Lakers
4-2
Syracuse Nationals
1949
Minneapolis Lakers
4-2
Washington Capitols
1948
Baltimore Bullets
4-2
Philadelphia Warriors
1947
Philadelphia Warriors
4-1
Chicago Stags
TicketCity has been a safe, reliable place to purchase NBA Tickets for over 30 years. Each year we have NBA playoffs tickets and NBA Finals tickets available to purchase. If you need help with NBA tickets, or anything else, please let us know.
30 Points Brittney Greiner Women's Olympic Finals Record - Basketball
US Team Center Brittney Griner scores 30 points in Tokyo Women's Olympic Finals against Japan (90:75)
Greiner Sets New Women's Olympic Finals Performance Record tournaments, surpassing the record of another American Lisa Leslie (29), which lasted a quarter of a century.
The US women's team won their seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Japan in the final of the Olympics. Where does the Land of the Rising Sun get such a team from?
DOMINANCE 🇺🇸
Brittney Griner’s 30 points is the most in a women’s Olympic gold medal game, breaking a record that has stood for a quarter of a century.@lisaleslie 2️⃣9️⃣ @ Atlanta 1996@brittneygriner 3️⃣0️⃣ @ Tokyo 2020#Tokyo2020 | #Basketball pic. twitter.com/vRzBEVtz1O
— FIBA | #Basketball #Tokyo2020 (@FIBA) August 8, 2021
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Basketball today » Online Results, Betting and Statistics
Basketball online on the Oddspedia portal - a community for basketball fans
Basketball is second only to football in terms of the number of competitions and the number of sports betting markets. We at Oddspedia are well aware of how important up-to-date information about basketball competitions, teams, predictions is for a huge number of our visitors. It is for this reason that we have created a page where fans of this sport can find the latest and most reliable information about the games.
We have set up a community of fans so that fans of the game can be the first to receive all updates on the sports betting market for games. Here you can follow the results of completed matches and the progress of current games in real time, receive automatically updated statistics for each match.
A convenient online basketball odds comparison service from different bookmakers will help you quickly navigate the forecasts and choose the most profitable betting sites.
Basketball - Results, LiveScore and Broadcasts
This page contains the results of all basketball matches played live today, as well as data for matches that were completed yesterday or any other day. To find the necessary data, it is enough to set the corresponding date in the calendar. This will allow you not to miss the results of important games for you!
Oddspedia constantly updates game results. This is the only way our users can always stay up to date on the basketball market. For example, if you are interested in data on completed matches of the FIBA World Cup, just open the corresponding category of games to view completed, current and scheduled matches. Similarly, you can get data on any basketball competition and even watch broadcasts of the Olympic Games. In addition, you can choose different countries and track competitions in the location you are interested in.
To see the situation of the games that are currently taking place, visit the Live section. Basketball by clicking the appropriate button at the top of the table. Updates on results and livescore happen automatically - this will help you not to miss a single result in real time.
Basketball calendar - Schedule, Tournament table and Ratings
In this section of the site, the user can view the basketball calendar, which is regularly updated. Use the calendar to select the date of interest and see which games are scheduled for a particular day. By default, the site always opens the page with today's basketball matches.
Please note that Oddspedia automatically determines the geolocation of the visitor. At the same time, the site displays interesting leagues and tournaments from all countries, regardless of where you are. That is, you will see the NBA standings, but you will also be able to view the schedule of competitions taking place in your country.
Tournament tables and ratings of all basketball teams are published on the site. With the help of this information, the user can choose the teams he plans to bet on, decide on the nature and amount of bets, taking into account possible risks. You won't miss a single detail about basketball if you learn how to use Oddspedia's tools!
NBA
The NBA League is the most popular basketball championship in the world! It is held in 82 rounds, in which 30 best teams of the Western and Eastern Conferences take part. 5 teams remain in the final stage of the competition. In the playoffs, teams play up to four wins in their group. In the final, the winner is determined in the game between representatives of different conferences. On our site you can find absolutely all the information about this league. Here you will find expert analysts' predictions, detailed NBA statistics, real-time updated match results and, of course, a betting comparison service.
Euroleague
The Euroleague is the most responsible basketball championship in Europe. On the Oddspedia portal, you can see the results of matches, team classifications, statistics of current and past games, profitable odds, highly accurate predictions and much more. And, of course, we will provide users with all the data about the Final Four - the decisive games of the Euroleague.
VTB United League
VTB United League is a popular basketball tournament that has been held since 2008. Club basketball teams from Northern and Eastern Europe take part in it. The competition received official status in FIBA. Its general sponsor is VTB Bank. In the ranking of European championships in 2018, the VTB League ranked second. You can also find the VTB United League standings, as well as all the information you need to bet on the games of this league, on Oddspedia.
LATEST BASKETBALL NEWS
In this section of Oddspedia you will find the latest basketball news from around the world. We help users stay up to date with what's happening in the sport. The page displays information from trusted media, well-known basketball journalists and experts. With our help, you will also be able to receive timely information about existing rumors about the departure of significant players from the teams you follow (or the arrival of new players from other clubs). We inform about upcoming approved transfers in time so that our visitors can “keep their finger on the pulse” and understand how the results of the game can change if a strong player appears in the opponent and not only. However, if you are a hockey fan, you will not be left without fresh information either. When selecting news, we use only trusted sources of information and cover more than 30 sports.
Basketball in social networks - what people are talking about today
Basketball is an incredibly dynamic game. This is what attracts the attention of a huge number of bettors all over the world. Without understanding the internal processes in basketball, it can be quite difficult to decide on the choice of bets. We provide our users with information about basketball, famous players and popular teams, obtained not only from official sources. Our portal conducts full monitoring of specialized groups, basketball pages, in various social networks. If your sport is tennis, then to stay up to date with the news, go to the appropriate tab. This allows us to report on the mood of betters and connoisseurs of this sport, to bring important unofficial information about various games. It is authentically known that the most accurate forecasts are made by those who know how to “cook” in the thick of basketball events! And we will teach you this art.
BASKETBALL BETTING
Basketball betting is incredibly popular in the betting industry. Hundreds of competitions are held every day in this sport, and betting opportunities are open to players in a large number of markets. Having data on basketball game statistics, current competition results, forecasts, Oddspedia users get a chance to place profitable bets.
In this section you will find a basketball odds comparison service. We will tell you which bookmaker available in your country is willing to pay more for a winning bet!
Odds for Eurocup, World Cup, Champions League and other big and small competitions are available on our portal. Using our site, when placing a bet, you definitely will not be left behind.
Odds comparison - win more, bet with the best!
See the best odds for various basketball games on Oddspedia in real time. First of all, we offer our clients the Moneyline or Match Winner markets - these markets are rightfully recognized as the most profitable for placing bets. If you open a specific competition, you can see a larger list of markets, as well as a list of basketball bookmakers that accept bets on the selected event. This will allow you to independently compare odds and make betting decisions.
Convenient filters will help you sort basketball matches of a certain category: by a specific market or championship, or only matches in Live. You can track the best odds for each market separately. After that, all that remains is to go to the bookmaker's website, place a bet and follow the game of the team you support.
Basketball Betting Guide - FAQ
What is the best bookmaker for basketball betting?
Basketball is very popular - it is well covered by a huge number of bookmakers. Especially if the user is interested in games from the NBA League or the Euroleague. Some sports betting operators also offer customers lucrative bonuses, the ability to watch live games for free, and other benefits. You can always choose an office with good conditions for betting according to Oddspedia ratings.
Where can I watch basketball for free?
You can watch basketball games for free on the official websites of BC, which provide services for live broadcasting of matches. When choosing a bookmaker to watch, keep in mind that a number of offices open access to the broadcast only after registration and replenishment of the account.
How long is a basketball game?
NBA match statistics show that the average duration of one basketball game with all pauses, official breaks and more is about 135-140 minutes.
What does a handicap mean in basketball betting?
When one basketball team has a clear lead over another, the stakes scale can be unbalanced. Such a tool as a handicap allows a weaker team to gain a few points advantage from the bookmaker. This makes betting more interesting and increases the chances of getting big wins. In basketball, it is allowed to bet with a three-way handicap (the possibility of a draw is taken into account).
How to bet on basketball and win?
There is no set strategy for betting in basketball. To achieve success, beginner batters are advised to carefully study the markets, get acquainted with the rules of the game, the statistics of past matches, examine in detail the history of the game of a particular team, monitor player transfers, and also focus on the forecasts of more experienced betters when placing bets.
What does "Over" or "Under" mean in basketball betting?
This type of bet provides that the user indicates the team that will score more than a certain number of points in the match or less. Not for a victory or a specific score, but for such an indicator. The most popular bet of this type in basketball is +162.5.
Are there special rules for betting on basketball?
Most bookmakers follow traditional basketball betting rules. But there are some nuances. For example, bets on extra time are considered valid unless otherwise stated. Bets are void if the game is interrupted for some reason. If the game from the NBA league was rescheduled for another day, trusted bookmakers will return your funds and cancel the bet. Overtime is not taken into account in HT/FT bets. It is better to get acquainted with other special rules directly on the bookmaker's website.
What is the best market for basketball betting?
In the basketball betting market, the most popular market is Moneyline (winning market). However, nothing prevents the user from betting on the victory of the team in one quarter or betting on the total number of points scored. You can bet on whether there will be extra time in the match, how many minutes, etc.
How does comparing odds help when betting on basketball?
Basketball odds comparison allows for potentially higher returns on funds invested in betting. In addition, the odds indicators of major bookmakers allow you to evaluate the chances of winning a particular bet, navigate the current market situation, not make a mistake in making a bet decision and make it on time on the site that offered the best conditions.
In what year did basketball as a game appear?
Basketball was invented by a gymnastics teacher in 1891 in the USA.
In fact, out of the 73 Finals played, only 19 of them have gone 7 games.
They thought it would ease the wear and tear of cross country flights on the players’ bodies and help improve the quality of the games being played.
It features the teams that were among the greatest dynasties in the history of the sport: the 60’s Celtics, 80’s Lakers, 90’s Bulls, 00’s Spurs and the recent Golden State Warriors. All of the best teams in the history of basketball are on the list of NBA Finals Champions here:
Louis Hawks
Each year we have NBA playoffs tickets and NBA Finals tickets available to purchase. If you need help with NBA tickets, or anything else, please let us know.
twitter.com/vRzBEVtz1O 
Mitchell's 33 points helped Cleveland beat Lakers, Utah beat Clippers and other results get the ball more often" 7 
It is for this reason that we have created a page where fans of this sport can find the latest and most reliable information about the games. 
This is the only way our users can always stay up to date on the basketball market. For example, if you are interested in data on completed matches of the FIBA World Cup, just open the corresponding category of games to view completed, current and scheduled matches. Similarly, you can get data on any basketball competition and even watch broadcasts of the Olympic Games. In addition, you can choose different countries and track competitions in the location you are interested in. 
By default, the site always opens the page with today's basketball matches. 
In the playoffs, teams play up to four wins in their group. In the final, the winner is determined in the game between representatives of different conferences. On our site you can find absolutely all the information about this league. Here you will find expert analysts' predictions, detailed NBA statistics, real-time updated match results and, of course, a betting comparison service. 
Its general sponsor is VTB Bank. In the ranking of European championships in 2018, the VTB League ranked second. You can also find the VTB United League standings, as well as all the information you need to bet on the games of this league, on Oddspedia. 
When selecting news, we use only trusted sources of information and cover more than 30 sports. 
If you open a specific competition, you can see a larger list of markets, as well as a list of basketball bookmakers that accept bets on the selected event. This will allow you to independently compare odds and make betting decisions. 
To achieve success, beginner batters are advised to carefully study the markets, get acquainted with the rules of the game, the statistics of past matches, examine in detail the history of the game of a particular team, monitor player transfers, and also focus on the forecasts of more experienced betters when placing bets. 
Overtime is not taken into account in HT/FT bets. It is better to get acquainted with other special rules directly on the bookmaker's website. 
