<P> Initially , the BAA teams were aligned into two divisions , the Eastern Division and the Western Division . The Divisional Finals were first played in 1949 , the league 's third season . The first two seasons used a playoffs format where Eastern and Western Division teams would face each other before the BAA Finals , hence there were no divisional finals . In the 1949 -- 50 season , the league realigned itself to three divisions , with the addition of the Central Division . However , the arrangement was only used for one season and the league went back into two divisions format in 1951 . The two divisions format remained until 1970 , when the NBA realigned itself into two conferences with two divisions each , which led to the renaming to Conference Finals . The finals was a best - of - 3 series from 1949 to 1950 to ; a best - of - 5 series from 1951 -- 56 , and a best - of - 7 series since 1957 . Currently , the Conference Finals are played in a best - of - 7 series like the NBA Playoffs and Finals . The two series are played in late May each year after the first and second rounds of the Playoffs and before the Finals . At the conclusion of the Conference Finals , winners are presented with a silver trophy , caps , and T - shirts , and advance to the NBA Finals . </P>
<P> Initially , the BAA teams were aligned into two divisions , the Eastern Division and the Western Division . The Divisional Finals were first played in 1949 , the league 's third season . The first two seasons used a playoffs format where Eastern and Western Division teams would face each other before the BAA Finals , hence there were no divisional finals . In the 1949 -- 50 season , the league realigned itself to three divisions , with the addition of the Central Division . However , the arrangement was only used for one season and the league went back into two divisions format in 1951 . The two divisions format remained until 1970 , when the NBA realigned itself into two conferences with two divisions each , which led to the renaming to Conference Finals . The finals was a best - of - 3 series from 1949 to 1950 to ; a best - of - 5 series from 1951 -- 56 , and a best - of - 7 series since 1957 . Currently , the Conference Finals are played in a best - of - 7 series like the NBA Playoffs and Finals . The two series are played in late May each year after the first and second rounds of the Playoffs and before the Finals . At the conclusion of the Conference Finals , winners are presented with a silver trophy , caps , and T - shirts , and advance to the NBA Finals . </P>
how many games are in the eastern conference finals
how many games are in the eastern conference finals
7
7