NBA的三十支球隊分屬兩個聯(lián)盟:東部聯(lián)盟和西部聯(lián)盟,每個聯(lián)盟由三個賽區(qū)組成,每個賽區(qū)有五支球隊。
NBA比賽分為季前賽 常規(guī)賽和季后賽。常規(guī)賽比賽采取主、客場制,每支球隊在每個賽季中都要進行82場常規(guī)賽,各球隊相互間的比賽場數(shù)不等。同一賽區(qū)的球隊之間進行4場比賽;同一聯(lián)盟不同賽區(qū)的球隊之間進行3到4場比賽;不同聯(lián)盟的球隊之間進行2場比賽。當NBA出現(xiàn)勞資糾紛等特殊情況時比賽場次數(shù)會減少,稱為縮水賽季。
常規(guī)賽結(jié)束后,東、西聯(lián)盟排名前八的球隊進入季后賽。季后賽采取七戰(zhàn)四勝的淘汰賽制,常規(guī)賽勝率較高的球隊獲得多一個主場的優(yōu)勢。由東、西部聯(lián)盟的第一名對第八名,第二名對第七名,第三名對第六名,第四名對第五名,直到?jīng)Q出東、西部冠軍為止,然后由東、西部冠軍隊進行NBA總決賽,決出NBA總冠軍
The NBA (National Basketball Association) is the professional body that controls basketball in the U.S.A. and Canada. It consists of 30 franchised teams, of which 29 are in the U.S. and one is in Canada. It was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America and changed its name three years later. The NBA is now a multi-billion-dollar business and has spread its appeal to an international audience. Many players from outside North America play in it, helping basketball become more popular. Among recent players is Yao Ming, who has increased basketball’s fan base in his native China. The 2009–10 season had a record 83 international players. This internationalization means the NBA is televised in over 200 countries.