Changes

*Finally each team will play the 15 teams in the other conference twice (once at home and once away) for a total of 30 games.

*Finally each team will play the 15 teams in the other conference twice (once at home and once away) for a total of 30 games.

The playoff rounds consist of eight teams from each conference.  The top six teams from each conference automatically make the playoffs regardless of divisional success, while the next four teams from each conference enter a "play-in tournament" with the 7-8 seeds and 9-10 seeds playing each other in single games; the 7-8 winner gets the 7 seed, the 9-10 loser is eliminated, and the 7-8 loser plays the 9-10 winner for the 8 seed with the loser of that game being eliminated.<ref>The play-in tournament was introduced for the COVID-affected 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons due to players being unable to play during the season due to COVID infection or exposure, but the NBA chose to maintain it to allow a team who may have lost a key player due to injury a chance to make the playoffs, as well as to encourage teams to attempt to make the playoffs instead of "tanking" -- losing games on purposes for a better draft choice.</ref>  The higher-seeded team, whether in the play-in tournament or the playoffs, has home-court advantage, with the overall #1 seed keeping advantage through the NBA Finals should it make it that far.

The playoff rounds consist of eight teams from each conference.  The top six teams from each conference automatically make the playoffs regardless of divisional success, while the next four teams from each conference enter a "play-in tournament" with the 7-8 seeds and 9-10 seeds playing each other in single games; the 7-8 winner gets the 7 seed, the 9-10 loser is eliminated, and the 7-8 loser plays the 9-10 winner for the 8 seed with the loser of that game being eliminated.<ref>The play-in tournament was introduced for the COVID-affected 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons due to players being unable to play during the season due to COVID infection or exposure, but the NBA chose to maintain it to allow a team who may have lost a key player due to injury a chance to make the playoffs, as well as to encourage teams to attempt to make the playoffs instead of "tanking" -- losing games on purposes for a better draft choice.</ref>  The higher-seeded team, whether in the play-in tournament or the playoffs, has home-court advantage, with the conference champion having the best overall record keeping advantage through the NBA Finals should it make it that far.

After the play-in tournament, the playoff consists of four rounds, each series best-of-seven.  The first round is 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, and 4-5, the second round consists of the 1-8 winner playing the 4-5 winner and the 2-7 winner playing the 3-6 winner (there is not re-seeding as in the NFL or NHL playoffs), the third round is the conference finals, and the fourth round is the NBA Finals consisting of the conference champions.

After the play-in tournament, the playoff consists of four rounds, each series best-of-seven.  The first round is 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, and 4-5, the second round consists of the 1-8 winner playing the 4-5 winner and the 2-7 winner playing the 3-6 winner (there is not re-seeding as in the NFL or NHL playoffs), the third round is the conference finals, and the fourth round is the NBA Finals consisting of the conference champions.