The National Basketball Association changed their playoff rules after season in 2006. Basically, the format was changed to ensure that the two best teams in the league would not meet up until the conference finals, even if the teams are in the same division.

The National Basketball Association playoffs follow the regular season of basketball. These playoff games lead to the championship and are played between eight teams in two conferences. A conference is made up of three divisions. The team that has the best season record in each division is that divisions champion. In addition to the three division champions, the team with the best record in each conference is added to the mix and those four teams are given a ranking, or seeding, of one to four. Then four more teams in each conference are assigned rankings of five through eight, according to their season records.

If teams have even records, there are six tie breaks which can be employed to determine which team moves to the playoffs. These are: 1) the teams head-to-head record, 2) division records, 3) conference records, 4) team records within conference, 5) team record against other playoff teams, and 6) highest net points over the season.

The ranking, or seeding, of the teams is important and used to determine which team plays which team throughout the playoffs. During the first round of playoffs, also called the Conference Quarterfinals, there are four match-ups and these are based on seeding. The first seed plays the eighth, the second seed plays the seventh, the third seed plays the sixth, and the fourth seed plays the fifth. Four winners advance to the Conference Semifinals. During the semifinals, the winner of the first-eighth quarterfinal match plays the winner of the fourth-fifth quarterfinal match; and the winner of the second-seventh quarterfinal match plays the winner of the third-sixth quarterfinal match. The winners of these series are the NBA Conference winners and they advance to the NBA Conference Finals. The winners of each of the conference finals play against each other in the NBA Finals.

During each playoff round except for the NBA Finals, the teams must win a best-of-seven series, the format of which is 2-2-1-1-1. The team that earns home court advantage hosts games 1, 2, 5, and 7. The opposing team will host games 3, 4, and 6. Home court advantage during the playoffs is not determined by seeding, but rather by the teams season-long record. So the team that ranks sixth could have home court advantage over the third seed.

The best-of-seven changes format for the NBA finals, however. Instead of a 2-2-1-1-1 format, the NBA finals use a 2-3-2 format. This means the team with home court advantage hosts games one, two, SIX (as opposed to five in the playoffs), and seven. The opposing team hosts games three, four, and five. When one team has one four games, they are deemed the winner, so games five, six, and seven are only played if necessary.

The NBA Finals take place in June. The winning team earns the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. In addition to the trophy, each player and the coaches and the general manager, are given a championship ring. The NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award is also announced at this time. The award is usually given to a member of the winning team, but there is no explicit rule that says it must do so.

Before you begin playing basketball it is really important to stretch. You should stretch all the major muscle groups that you will be using when playing or practicing. Stretching is very beneficial to your body and helps protect you from injury.

Stretching helps to increase the range of motion in your joints and aids in flexibility. When you stretch, each move should be slow and focused. You should never force a stretch or bounce during a stretch.

The following 6 stretching exercises should be done after a quick warm up before you playa game or begin practice.

Stretch 1 - Hamstring

The hamstring is located on the back of the upper thigh. Stretching this muscle is important to help you run, jump and move properly.

To do this move, sit cross legged on the floor and straighten one leg out keeping the other leg bent. Lean forward and feel the stretch. Repeat on the other leg.

Stretch 2 - Back

Your back is also an essential muscle to stretch to allow you to move properly.

To do this move lie on your back with your legs flat on the floor. Hold your right leg at the knee and slowly bring to your chest, keeping the other leg straight. Feel the stretch, lower the leg and repeat with the other leg.

Stretch 3 - Calf

Your calf is important to stretch to help protect your shin as well.

To do this move you will need to lean against a wall with your forearms. Put your head on your hands and bring one knee towards the wall, keeping the other leg straight and the foot on the floor. Repeat with the other leg.

Stretch 4 - Groin

Groin stretches help protect you against some very painful strains.

To do this move sit on the floor with bottoms of feet together. Push your legs to the floor and feel the stretch.

Stretch 5 - Shoulder

Your arms get a big workout during playing basketball. You have to stretch them carefully.

To stretch your arms put one arm behind your head touching the back of your shoulder. Use your other arm to push the bent arm down and stretch. Repeat with the other arm. Another stretch to try involves taking both arms behind your back, clasping your hands together and pulling out slightly from your body.

Stretch 6 - Arms

You want to limber up your arms. This is not really a stretch in the way the others were, but you want to just circle your arms at your sides in both directions to help loosen them up and warm up the muscles. You can scissor them in front of your body as well.

These 6 stretches will help you to loosen up your joints and warm up your muscles so you are limber and ready to play. You should never skip stretching before playing or practicing. With proper stretching you will see you are more flexible and have the ability to move easier with fewer injuries.

Shoes are an important part of your basketball game. Without comfortable shoes you will soon lose focus on the game and be worrying more about your aching feet. You have to get the best shoes for your playing style and your feet so that you can focus on the game and not them.

You want shoes that work with your playing style so that you can move about freely on the court. The worst thing is having shoes that hinder your game play and do not allow you to move around as you want.

There are many factors you want to consider when you are choosing basketball shoes. Here is a list of things to consider so that you can get the best shoes for your feet and your game:

- Comfort. Comfort can be explained by choosing something that feels good on your feet. You want the size to be right and you want to choose a width that is not going to constrict your feet. Keep in mind that when you are playing your feet will expand slightly due to the heat. - Movement. You want shoes that let you move. You should try making a few of your common basketball moves with the shoes on to see if they restrict you in anyway. You do not want any rubbing on your foot because that means the shoe is restricting your movement. You should look at both high tops and lower topped shoes. - Durability. You want a pair of shoes that are going to last. You want something that will stand up to all the movement and the work it will get on the court. Choose good materials and good constructed shoes. - Support. Ankle injuries are prominent nit he game of basketball. You want a shoe that will offer you good ankle support. You have to find a balance here, though, between support and movement. - Flexibility. You want shoes that will move with you and allow your feet to move naturally. The last thing you want is a shoe that is stiff and hard. - Lightweight. You definitely do not want a shoe that will weigh you down. You want light shoes that will allow you to move and jump without feeling as if you are carrying around ten pounds on your feet. - Sturdy sole. The sole of the shoe has to be able to handle all the jumping and moving. It should be thick enough to absorb some shock from the jumps. It also needs to be able to keep you from slipping all over the court.

Choosing a good basketball shoe can be something that will take you a few tries. You will not likely go with the first shoe you try. You have to be discriminating if you want a shoe that will compliment your game.

The bottom line is your should stand out, not your shoes. You want a shoe that will help your game at best and just not hinder your game at least. Your shoes are an important factor in just how well you play the game.

Fundamental plays are the most basic moves that coaches use to build up their play book. A coach will take a fundamental play and add his or her own twist, or slightly change the play, to make it his own. In some cases, the play works out in the traditional sense so well that no change is needed.

One of the top fundamental plays in basketball is the cut through. This play is very popular and something you have probably done or seen on the court before. It is an important play for moving the players and the ball across the court to get into the ideal position by the basket.

The Basics of the Play

The cut through involves cutting a player across to the other side of the court. Cutting means basically going through the opposing team to the other side in a quick, sharp movement.

This play is used to attack the defense zone. It can really help to break up defense that is heavy or otherwise blocking the play.

Cutting helps to create a screen or open area where the defense is held off and the player can pass or shoot the ball. The cut through play opens up a wide screen that allows for good play.

Tips for the Cut Through Play

When performing the cut through play it is important that players remember the two step rule still applies. It can be easy for the player with the ball to forget this.

When cutting, the cutter and the screener should pass shoulder to shoulder with the screener opening up toward the ball. This play is best used when passing is blocked or the defensive blocking is really strong.

There are some different options coaches often use during this play. They involve different players depending on the action on the court. It is a play where the result is really dictated by what is happening now, and not a play that is planned out in advance.

The cut through play is a fundamental play because every team will encounter a time in the game when the defense is really on their game, making passing and even moving the ball difficult. This play allows for the court to be opened up and gives the player with the ball more options as to what to do.

It is a great saving grace type play that a coach can call in a last minute effort to beat the clock and get the ball to the basket. The cut through play is most likely to be found in every coach’s play book and something that every coach will use at one point or another.

This is why it is a fundamental play, because it is a reliable play that works. The cut through play is something that players are often taught when taught the fundamentals of basketball. Most coaches will run this play with their team on a regular basis just to ensure it is something they know well and will be able to pull off when needed on the court.

The beauty of basketball is that the action seldom stops. Fans of hockey and soccer (that’s football in Europe) can testify to the fact that games based on flow are never boring to watch. From the tip-off to the final buzzer basketball is a game of action, swift passing, and dramatic jump shots. Speed is key and so is accuracy — as a result, it is easy to see why basketball draws millions of fans worldwide. And though the regular season enjoys a share of the television ratings, nothing compares to the energy and drama of the playoffs.

To be sure, it’s hard to beat the NBA during the months of April and May. Founded in 1946, this post World War II game was the second most recent major league sport in the United States (Major League Soccer was founded in 1990) but is one of the top three advertising draws for television sponsors. The NBA playoffs are perhaps more popular than the actual NBA Final, as fans testify to the back-and-forth one-upmanship of the playoff structure.

Headquartered in New York City, the league overseas thirty teams, twenty-nine located in the United States and one in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Of these thirty teams, sixteen will make it to the playoffs, eight for each conference. In each conference, the lower four are pair respectively with the top four seeds. This is not unlike the NHL playoff structure and team play a best-of-seven series. This increases the drama and the respect for the stamina required to win. Games are hard fought and grueling.

As is the case with the NHL, the NBA finals are a testament to the perseverance and determination of the winning team. Getting there is half the battle and winning is truly a team effort. All these games result in the best-of-seven finale, usually held in June. At stake is the Larry OBrien Championship Trophy, named after the NBA Commissioner who served from 1975 to 1984.

The action never stops and getting NBA tickets without spending an arm and a leg is no small feat. The hardest part of celebrating the NBA playoffs is finding tickets to the games. The demand is high and the competition fierce. The excitement of courtside seats is unparalleled. Feel the heat, get spraying with sweat, and if you are lucky you just might get bowled over by an aggressive player trying to keep the ball alive. [I:http://mdiexplorer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/JamesGilbertPynn18.jpg]

Vince Carter is a professional basketball player in the NBA and he has produced some of the most memorable slam dunks ever in the history of professional basketball. Read on for those Vince Carter slam dunks which made him famous and also won him the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk contest against Tracy McGrady.

Year 2000 was definitely by far the best for Vince Carter. He was at his best in the dunk of death slam dunk at the 2000 Olympics.

While doing this dunk at the Olympics he flew over the 72 French center Frederic Weis. He took off with the ball with legs spread mid air and hit Weiss head to avoid the accident with Weis. The French media went ecstatic over the dunk and labeled that dunk as the le dunk de la mort or the the Dunk of death.

This is not all that he could do. In the year 2000 NBA slam dunk contest he showcased his slam dunks which have now become famous and these are 360 degree windmill, between the legs bounce and an elbow in the rim dunks. His elbow in the rim dunk is also known as the Honey Dip or the cookie jar dunk

He has several records to his credit for the NBA playoffs. Guess what is his record for most three point filed goals in one half? The number is eight and it is a NBA record.

Vince Carters athletic abilities have helped him pull off some of the most entertaining slam dunks.

He started playing basketball at the young age of two. His idol on the field at that time was Julius Erving.

Daytona Beach, Florida is an area where basketball culture has spread its tentacles. Vince Carter was influenced by it for sure. The basketball played there was free for all with a lot of slam dunks performed in the games.

The same way as Vince learnt his craft aspiring youngsters can also learn to play basketball. There are many avenues available to learn basketball. In todays internet world there are free courses available which can guide you via videos and step by step instructional material. Read and watch these and then practice your moves again and again till you have achieved perfection.

It always helps to have a good neighborhood where basketball is played.

NBA as a professional association has done a lot to make the game of basketball popular. NBA also initiated the All Star game and the Sprite Slam Dunk contest to pull in more and more and enthusiasts into the game.

Slam dunk is a surefire way to get the crowds all worked up as well as it is an instant recognition for the players talent.

NBA started the Sprite Slam Dunk competition at All Star Saturday Night where the best players compete for the tag of the Best Slam Dunker of the year.

The best slam dunk to remember is Michael Jordans Kiss-the-Rim. Another one to remember is Vince Carters reverse 360 degree slam dunk.

Vince Carter has done a few dunks over the course of his basketball career which is his signature style now. He introduced the now famous the cookie jar dunk or more commonly known as the Honey Dip dunk. He performed another one named the reverse 360 degree

Nobody can forget the 2000 Olympics when Vince Carter performed the dunk of death. This was labeled so by the French media.

What is a slam dunk? For those new to basketball, slam dunk or dunk is a basketball shot in which the player jumps over the basket and makes sure that ball goes right through the basket with one or both hands over the rim.

Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Spud Webb and Dominique Wilkins are all time great players who have also performed some memorable slam dunks.

Slam dunks are good for getting the points for sure and it also is a good crowd pleasing thing. A lot of players have become instantly famous because of the novelty of their slam dunks especially in the Sprite Slam Dunk contest.

If you need to learn a slam dunk then professional help and regular practice is the way to go.

For learning more about slam dunks and basketball in general there are a lot of videos and instructional material available online. Most of these provide step by step instructions for learning basketball and specifically on performing the slam dunks. You can definitely use them to enhance your skills and become a better player.

AND1 basketball has attained cult following in the last few years. If you have never heard of AND1 then you are missing something. AND1 basketball began as an alternative to the regular NBA season and coupled with the free spirit of the game, it has now attained mass popularity. Read ahead and find about the AND1 moves and tricks.

AND1 basketball started as a way to provide the basketball fans something to watch when the regular NBA season ended. AND1 basketball has a dedicated fan following with people even joining AND1 camps to learn the tricks from famous players.

Surprisingly, AND1 players do not look forward to play in NBA. But, someone did make it to NBA and has achieved success in both formats of the game. Have you heard the name Rafer Alston a.k.a Skip To My Lou? Named so because of his skipping while he dribbles the ball.

His other famous fellow AND1 player is Hot Sauce a.k.a. Philip Champion. A lot of AND1 moves such as The Windmill, The Hurricane are his creations.

AND1 moves have crazy names like Hurricane, Flintstone Shuffle, Dragon/Kat Walk, Hypnotizer, and Jack Knife with equally crazy fan following.

Flintstone shuffle is a move to watch. You need to start with the ball in your right hand driving to the left. You then throw the ball on your opponents left side such that he is not able to see it. While throwing the ball to his left make sure to flick your wrist in a way so that the ball goes in a backspin manner. All this while keep driving so that your opponent is still guarding you. After about 3 steps shuffle to his left (or to your right) and go for the ball. The opponent will stumble just to keep up with your moves. A clever move indeed.

Similarly another AND1 move is named Dragon or Katwalk. Catwalk on the ramp and on the basketball court using the ball. Yes, this is indeed catwalk with the ball. In this crazy move you should first let the ball roll on the ground. Now you have to do the catwalk over the ball.. With your right foot step over the ball so that you are on the left side of the ball. Then take the left foot and bring it over the ball to the right side of the ball. Keep doing this till you reach the D. Then slowly tap the ball through his legs and get the ball on the back side of the opponent.

Sauce2k is another AND1 cool move. Toss the ball up in the air with your hand. When the ball reaches your waist on the way down reach out with your opposite arm and grab the ball. The trick lies in bringing the ball back to the side from where you had caught the ball in a swift move leaving the opponents dazzled.

There are many more of such AND1 moves and you can learn these by watching a few how to videos as well as getting some free courses over the internet.

The best way to learn is of course getting some professional help. You can get this help on the internet. There are a lot of sites that have step by step guides and they also have free crash courses sent over to you via email.

Curiously enough, Kobe Bean Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard is named after the Japanese beef. Along with Shaquille O’Neal, this All-Star player led the Lakers to no less than three consecutive NBA Championships (in 2000, 2001 and 2002).

When Shaq left in 2003, Kobe Bryant became the star of the Lakers, leading the NBA in scoring in 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. Kobe is an 11 time NBA All-Star, 3 time NBA Champion and voted the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2008. This basketball hero won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics for the US Men’s Basketball team.

Bryant grew up around basketball; his father played on the Philadelphia 76′ers and was coach of the LA Sparks when he was a young child. However, the young Kobe Bryant developed an interest in soccer when his family moved to Italy.

When his family returned to the US in 1991, Bryant began playing on his high school basketball team, where he was a star player. He decided against college despite his good academic record, instead entering the NBA at 17. His parents had to co-sign his contract with the Lakers, since he was still a minor; Bryant became the youngest person ever to start in an NBA game.

He earned a place on the NBA Rookie all second team in his first season as a Laker and won the 1997 Slam Dunk competition. He was recognized as one of the best guards in the league by 1998, when he began to garner comparisons to Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

In the 2002-2003 season, he achieved a stunning 30 point per game average and even posted 40 or more points in nine consecutive games. This season saw Bryant being voted to the NBA All Defensive 1st Team and the ALL NBA Team. It seemed he was destined for ever greater things; however, an arrest for sexual assault before the beginning of the 2003-2004 season greatly damaged his reputation.

In the 2003-2004 season, Bryant was criticized by many, including his coach who complained in writing that he was becoming uncoachable. He suffered another hit to his reputation with the Lakers first failure to make it to the NBA playoffs in more than ten years.

His next two seasons were not among his best; however, this was until breaking a Lakers record by scoring 81 points in a single game and amassing the second highest point total in the history of the NBA. His jersey became the top selling jersey in the US and China during the 2006-2007 season. He became the youngest player to ever reach a career total of 20,000 points in December 2007, when he was 29.

Bryant’s appearance in the 2008 Olympics cemented his status as an international star. It was his first appearance in the Olympic Games, but Bryant was hardly a rookie when he became a gold medalist. Bryant has set and broken several records in his career.

Generally considered one of the best players in the NBA, Dallas Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd is known by teammates, opponents and fans as a formidable player. He led the New Jersey Nets to two consecutive NBA finals in 2003 and 2003 before joining up with the Mavericks.

He started his NBA Career with the Dallas Mavericks, went to play for Phoenix, and was traded to New Jersey before returning back to Dallas in February, 2008. In April, 2008, he achieved his 100th career triple-double in the final regular season game.

Born in San Francisco, the oldest of 6 children, Jason Kidd would often play on the public city basketball courts in the Oakland area and often against NBA All-Star Gary Payton. The two still talk about those early days.

During high school, Jason received the Naismith Award for the nation’s top high school player, and ended up going to college at University of California in Berkley. Jason Kidd was named a finalist for the Naismith and Wooden Awards as college basketball’s top player and decided to enter the NBA draft in 1994. Berkley retired his number 5 jersey when he left.

Kidd’s achievements are impressive: he was a member of the All-NBA First team from 1999 to 2002 and in 2004, is a one time NBA All-Star and won 2003’s NBA Skills Challenge Championship. As if this weren’t enough, he also was a member of the 1995 NBA All-Rookie First Team and made the All Defensive First and Second Teams from 1999 to 2007!

In 2008, Jason Kidd was on the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winning US Men’s Basketball team, along with other basketball greats, who went undefeated. In USA Basketball, he has an undefeated record of 56-0 including exhibition games. He has brought home a total of five gold medals, in his Olympic participations of 2000 and 2008 games.

As amazing as his basketball career has been, his personal life has been rocky at times. He was arrested and pled guilty to charges of domestic abuse in 2001. Kidd entered counseling, anger management courses and quit drinking; he later reconciled with his wife.

However, he filed for divorce in 2007, claiming his wife was insanely jealous, paranoid and had threatened to file false reports of abuse. His wife filed as well, claiming physical abuse. The two have three children together.

A year later, it was reported that Jason Kidd was expecting another child with girlfriend and model Hope Dworaczyk.

Despite personal problems, Kidd was one of two players in NBA history to record at lease 14,000 points, 6600 rebounds and 9,000 assists. He joined the ranks of Walt Chamberlin and Magic Johnson as one of three players to average a triple-double for multiple playoff series games. He was named the USA Basketball’s 2007 Male Athlete of the Year. He has been a consistent super-star and an all time triple-double leader with 101, behind Oscar Robertson with 181 and Magic Johnson with 138.

Jason Kidd is one of the most accomplished players in the NBA - he has achieved much already in his career and this NBA legend and Olympic athlete may have a lot of surprises left on his career. He is also active in social work, sponsoring a variety of programs for Dallas area young people.