The NBA has 30 teams in total with 15 in each conference. The top 8 teams from each conference, the West and East, are allowed into the playoffs. The top teams are determined by each team's record for the regular season. The term seed refers to the numeric order of the teams that have made it to the playoffs. For example, at this point the Miami Heat are the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference meaning they have the best record in their conference. The opponents are paired according to seeds, with the best first facing the worst from top to bottom. The 1st seed vs the 8th seed, the 2nd seed vs the 7th seed, the 3rd seed vs the 6th seed, and the 4th seed the 5th seed. The closer the match-ups come to the middle the less predictable a winner will be. Additionally, the higher seeded team always gets homecourt advantage.
The games are broken up into 7-game series meaning each team plays its opponent for a maximum of 7 games. The first to win 4 games is the winner of the series and moves on to the next round. The team with homecourt advantage will have 4 of the 7 games played in their building. A sweep is a term used to describe a team being beaten 4 games to 0 in a series. There are 4 rounds in the playoffs: the first round, second round or semifinals, third round or conference finals, and the fourth round which is the NBA finals. In each of the first 3 rounds teams only play against teams of their own conference. So it would be impossible to see the Heat and Lakers play in the playoffs unless they both made it to the NBA finals. If that was the case, that would mean that both teams were the last ones standing after their 3rd round conference championship. It takes 16 wins in the playoffs (postseason) to win a NBA World Championship.
As there are only about less than 20 games left for each team in the regular season, some teams have a great chance to still get themselves into the playoffs or move up a seed or two. For example, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz are going back and forth to hold down the 8th seed in the West. Both teams have similar records so each game left is essential. In the event that both teams end up with the same record, the Jazz have beaten the Lakers more times this season than the Lakers have beaten them so the Jazz would get the 8th seed spot over the Lakers. Keep up with your favorite team's status by going to NBA.com and checking the Standings tab "By conference". Pay most attention to the wins and losses columns to find out if your team is getting closer to the top or closer to the bottom.
Note: The NBA team with the best overall record of all 30 teams gets overall homecourt advantage which includes the each round of the playoffs and ultimately the NBA finals, assuming they make it to that point.
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