In 1947, the Basketball Association of America, a league of eleven professional basketball teams including the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, presented the first professional basketball Finals, between its Western Division's Chicago Stags and its Eastern Division's Philadelphia Warriors. The Warriors won that first basketball Finals championship. In 1949, the Basketball Association of America officially merged with the National Basketball League to form today's professional basketball league, the National Basketball Association of America, then a league of seventeen teams after the merger. However, the first NBA Finals had taken place in 1947, with the Chicago Stags playing against the Philadelphia Warriors - the latter being the winners that year. Until 1949, the playoffs (then BAA Finals) took place as a three-stage tournament involving the two winners of the semi-finals rounds would compete against one another in a finals round. In 1950, the champions of the champions of the Western Division and the champions of the Central Division played against one another, and the winner between the two would then play against the champions of the Eastern Division. As of 1951, each year, the NBA Finals has taken place as a best of seven championship series between the champions of the Eastern Conference versus the champions of the Western Conference at the conclusion of basketball's postseason, with the winning team becoming the recipient of a Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy to display the sports award prominently in its home arena. Between the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, the Eastern Conference has won more play-off series in the history of the competition, with thirty-five wins compered to the Western Conference's twenty-eight. (During its time, the Central Division won one championship.) As of 1985, the finals have extended home court advantage to the team that enters the playoffs with a better season by having the first two games hosted at its home stadium, as well as the final two if those games are played. Prior to that, most years were played on the court of the team with the better season record at the start of the playoffs during the first to games, then the fifth and seventh games if needed. (The final playoff played with that hosting format was the legendary 1984 match-up between the rivaling Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers - the first time those teams had met on the court for the finals since 1969, with the Celtics emerging as the 1984 victors. And the 1985 Finals between them, which was won by the Lakers that year, marked the first time the current host format was employed.) Celtics coach Red Auerbach had made the suggestion for the new hosting format to NBA Commissioner David Stern, pointing out that it would reduce the frequency of such lengthy travel between East and West Coast cities - however, he later regretted making the suggestion, realizing that the change actually meant less of a home court advantage for the team starting with the first two home games, given that the format now causes them miss out on playing Game 5 at home, which is a crucial swing game in a series that carries out all seven games. The author of this article is 10 year veteran in the crystal awards and recognition gifts industry. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_McCarthy Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6339535

• published: 22 Jun 2015
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