<P> In September 2015 , the NBA announced changes to the formula used to determine the format of the 2016 NBA Playoffs . The top eight teams in each conference ( East and West ) , ranked in order by win - loss records , qualify for the playoffs . The tie - break criteria for playoff seeding and home - court advantage have also changed ; head - to - head results between the tied teams is the first tie - breaker , and whether a team won its division championship is the second tie - breaker . </P>
<P> In September 2015 , the NBA announced changes to the formula used to determine the format of the 2016 NBA Playoffs . The top eight teams in each conference ( East and West ) , ranked in order by win - loss records , qualify for the playoffs . The tie - break criteria for playoff seeding and home - court advantage have also changed ; head - to - head results between the tied teams is the first tie - breaker , and whether a team won its division championship is the second tie - breaker . </P>
when did the nba change the playoff series
when did the nba change the playoff series
2016
2016