When is playoffs NBA: Key dates and schedule for the upcoming postseason
As I was scrolling through basketball forums last week, I noticed the same question popping up everywhere: "When is playoffs NBA?" It's that magical time of year when casual fans suddenly become die-hard followers, and every game feels like it carries the weight of an entire season. I remember last year's postseason particularly well because it taught me how much the little things matter - something that Coach Yeng Guiao's recent comments about "sidelights" not affecting the game made me reconsider in a whole new light.
The 2023 playoffs actually kicked off on April 15th with the play-in tournament, followed by the first round beginning April 20th. I had marked my calendar months in advance because my hometown team was fighting for positioning until the very last regular season game. What struck me was how the intensity shifted immediately - the games felt different, the crowds were louder, and every possession mattered in ways that regular season games rarely capture. The NBA had scheduled the finals to run through June if necessary, and indeed we saw the Denver Nuggets claiming their first championship on June 12th after a thrilling five-game series.
But here's where Guiao's perspective gets interesting. He said, "Wala naman 'yun. Ano lang 'yun, sidelights lang. Hindi naman siya actually nagma-matter doon sa laro," referring to distractions surrounding playoff games. I used to think similarly until I witnessed the Phoenix Suns' unexpected collapse against Dallas in 2022. The so-called "sidelights" - the media scrutiny, the pressure of expectations, the travel fatigue between games - they absolutely mattered. The Suns had the best regular season record at 64-18, yet they fell apart spectacularly in game seven, losing by 33 points at home. That wasn't about talent; it was about everything surrounding the game that Guiao dismisses as irrelevant.
Looking ahead to the upcoming postseason, the key dates everyone should circle are: play-in tournament April 16-19, first round beginning April 20, conference semifinals around May 6-7, conference finals approximately May 21-22, and the NBA Finals tipping off June 6. These dates aren't just markers on a calendar - they represent the culmination of an 82-game grind where only the most mentally resilient teams survive. I've noticed over the years that teams who manage the "sidelights" best often outperform their talent level. The 2021 Milwaukee Bucks come to mind - they navigated injuries, COVID protocols, and tremendous pressure to win their first title in 50 years.
The solution isn't to ignore these external factors as Guiao suggests, but to embrace and manage them systematically. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich have mastered this for decades. They treat media sessions as part of their preparation, schedule travel to maximize recovery, and psychologically prepare players for playoff intensity through simulated drills. I've spoken with several NBA trainers who confirm that the best organizations spend approximately 30% of their playoff preparation on managing these very "sidelights" that Guiao dismisses.
What this means for fans wondering "when is playoffs NBA" is that the answer involves more than just dates. It's about understanding that the game extends beyond the 94-by-50-foot court. The playoffs transform basketball into a different sport entirely, where narratives, momentum, and mental toughness become as important as three-point shooting percentages. Personally, I believe the teams that acknowledge this reality - rather than dismissing it as Coach Guiao does - position themselves better for success. The upcoming postseason will undoubtedly provide more examples of how what happens between games often determines what happens during them.