Many people felt as though the 2011-12 (well at least 6 days of 2011) would ever be played as the lockout drama played out over the summer and fall! Thankfully the players and owners were able to work out their differences in time for a shortened NBA season (66 games) to take place this year. The 2011-12 NBA season starts on December 25th, 2011 and the end of the season is scheduled to take place on April 26th, 2012. The 2012 NBA Playoffs are scheduled to start on April 28th, 2012 with the last possible 2012 NBA Finals date scheduled for June 26th, 2012.
2011-12 NBA Calendar Dates
Key dates for the 2011-12 NBA Calendar are included below.
December 25, 2011: The 66-game, 2011-12 NBA season begins.
April 26, 2012: NBA regular season concludes.
April 28, 2012: 2012 NBA playoffs begin.
Amway Center, home of the 2012 NBA All Star Game
June 26, 2012: Last possible 2012 NBA Finals date.
How Does the NBA Playoff Seeding Work?
2012 NBA Playoffs seeding rewards the teams that have the best record. There are some caveats; however, as a divisional winner is guaranteed to be seeded no worse than #4. The other tiebreakers that are used to determine the seeding for the 2012 NBA Playoffs include (and are applied in sequential order):
A divisional leading team wins any head-to-head tie against a team not leading a division.
Head-to-head record(s) against the teams in question.
Division record if each team falls in the same division.
If still tied at this point then the conference record is used.
If still tied, then the record against other playoff teams in the same conference.
Then, record against playoff teams in the other conference.
Then, the point differential across all games played.
If there are multiple ties being settled, then as soon as one team wins a tiebreaker, the process starts over at the first tiebreaker rule between the remaining teams only.
2011 NBA Playoffs Summary
Surprising just about everyone last year, the Dallas Mavericks took the 2011 Western Conference Championship 4 games to 1 over the Oklahoma City Thunder. They would go on to meet the heavily favored Miami Heat and “The Big Three” in the 2011 NBA Finals. Dallas won game 4 on a buzzer beater and would go on to win the matchup 4 game to 2 to win the team’s first-ever NBA championship.
2011 NBA Championship Results
Game 1 — FINAL Miami 92, Dallas 84
Game 2 — FINAL Dallas 95, Miami 93
Game 3 — FINAL Miami 88, Dallas 86
Game 4 — FINAL Dallas 86, Miami 83
Game 5 — FINAL Dallas, 112, Miami 103
Game 6 — FINAL Dallas 105, Miami 95
Who Is Favored to Win the 2012 NBA Championship?
Now this will change a million times before we hit March, but prior to the season starting the majority of odds makers and pundits have the Miami Heat as the overall favorite to win the 2012 NBA Championship. The LA Lakers are next, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls, and Dallas Mavericks. Now, the Clippers have Chris Paul running the point this season; however, they are not expected to be a favorite to win the championship (this season). The shortened preseason is considered by many to heavily favor the Heat with their perceived overall higher level of all star talent on the team.
2011-12 NBA Coaching Changes
There were six coaching changes made prior to the start of the 2011-12 NBA season. Of note is the Laker’s coach, Phil Jackson, heading into retirement again after failing to make the NBA finals in his final season. He is succeeded by Mike Brown. Rick Adelman was out as the lead of the Rockets but has found a new home in Minnesota this season. No doubt that we’ll see a few coaching moves made during the shortened season as well.
Team 2010–11 coach 2011–12 coach
Los Angeles Lakers Phil Jackson Mike Brown
Houston Rockets Rick Adelman Kevin McHale
Detroit Pistons John Kuester Lawrence Frank
Minnesota Timberwolves Kurt Rambis Rick Adelman
Golden State Warriors Keith Smart Mark Jackson
Toronto Raptors Jay Triano Dwane Casey
2012 NBA Playoffs Schedule
Just like past years, the 2012 NBA Playoffs will feature 8 teams in each conference. Divisional winners earn automatic playoff spots and the five teams with the best records after the division champs earn the right to play in the post season. The teams are seeded based on record and matched up according to seed. For example, the #1 seed in each conference will play the #8 seed from that same conference. Each round of the playoffs consists of a best of 7 series with a total of four rounds in the tournament culminating with the 2012 NBA Championship.
2012 NBA Playoffs Schedule – Quarterfinals (First Round)
* Note specific dates, times, and television networks will be released on Thursday by the NBA after the conclusion of the 2010-11 NBA regular season April 26th, 2012.
Western Conference
#8 Seed vs #1 Seed
#4 Seed vs #5 Seed
#3 Seed vs #6 Seed
#2 Seed vs #7 Seed
Eastern Conference
#8 Seed vs #1 Seed
#4 Seed vs #5 Seed
#3 Seed vs #6 Seed
#2 Seed vs #7 Seed
2012 NBA Playoffs Schedule – Conference Semifinals
Western Conference
#8/#1 Winner vs #4/#5 Winner
#3/#6 Winner vs #2/#7 Winner
Eastern Conference
#8/#1 Winner vs #4/#5 Winner
#3/#6 Winner vs #2/#7 Winner
2012 NBA Playoffs Schedule – Conference Finals
Western Conference Finals
#8/#1/#4/#5 Winner vs #3/#6/#2/#7 Winner
Eastern Conference Finals
#8/#1/#4/#5 Winner vs #3/#6/#2/#7 Winner
2012 NBA Playoffs Schedule – NBA Championship
Western Conference Champion vs Eastern Conference Champion
