<Ul> <Li> 1947 : The playoffs were instituted with a three - stage tournament , similar to the Stanley Cup playoffs of the 1930s ; the two first - place teams qualified directly to one semifinal where they played each other in a best - of - 7 series . Teams finishing second & third qualified for the best - of - 3 quarterfinals , where the two second - placed teams were paired in one quarterfinal , as were the two third - placed teams , and the two quarterfinal winners played each other in a best - of - three semifinal . The two semifinal winners played each other in the Basketball Association of America ( BAA ) best - of - 7 final series . </Li> </Ul>
<Ul> <Li> 1947 : The playoffs were instituted with a three - stage tournament , similar to the Stanley Cup playoffs of the 1930s ; the two first - place teams qualified directly to one semifinal where they played each other in a best - of - 7 series . Teams finishing second & third qualified for the best - of - 3 quarterfinals , where the two second - placed teams were paired in one quarterfinal , as were the two third - placed teams , and the two quarterfinal winners played each other in a best - of - three semifinal . The two semifinal winners played each other in the Basketball Association of America ( BAA ) best - of - 7 final series . </Li> </Ul>
when did nba playoffs change to 7 game series
when did nba playoffs change to 7 game series
1947
1947