What Is PFSN’s NBA Playoff Predictor?
PFSN's NBA Playoff Predictor is a unique interactive tool designed to let you simulate the entire NBA regular season and postseason, all the way through the NBA Finals. See how every game's outcome changes the playoff picture and impacts your team's path to glory.
The NBA Playoff Machine updates within minutes of the final buzzer, allowing you to test unlimited postseason scenarios in real time. Whether you're tracking your favorite team or reshuffling the bracket, you can see instantly how your predictions and each day's results shift conference standings, Play-In Tournament positioning, and playoff matchups.
How Does PFSN’s NBA Playoff Machine Work?
The PFSN NBA Playoff Picture Predictor updates in near real time at the conclusion of every NBA game. From there, you can choose to predict the outcome of every remaining matchup on the schedule, or just focus on the games that matter most to you. Once you make your picks, you can simulate just that day's slate, the rest of the regular season, or even the entire postseason.
PFSN's NBA Playoff Predictor uses a proprietary, state-of-the-art algorithm to simulate and project the results of every game you haven't selected yourself. Based on your picks and the AI's simulations, the tool instantly updates conference standings, Play-In Tournament races, and the full NBA playoff bracket.
Once the playoff field is set, you can pick the winners of each matchup, from the Play-In Tournament through the NBA Finals, to see your custom path to the championship. Swap results, adjust matchups, and experiment with countless scenarios to explore every possible route your favorite team could take to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
FAQs
How Many Teams Make the NBA Postseason?
A total of 20 teams make it into the NBA postseason. The 20-team field consists of 10 teams from each conference (Eastern and Western). In each conference, the top six teams automatically qualify for the playoffs, while teams ranked 7th through 10th compete in the Play-In Tournament for the final two playoff spots. The Play-In Tournament determines the 7th and 8th seeds in each conference through a series of elimination games.
How Does the NBA Postseason Work?
The NBA regular season consists of 82 games for each of the 30 teams. At the conclusion of the regular season, the postseason bracket is set.
In each conference, teams are seeded 1 through 10 based on their regular-season records. The top six teams in each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs and are seeded accordingly. Teams ranked 7th through 10th participate in the Play-In Tournament to determine the final two playoff spots in each conference.
The Play-In Tournament works as follows: the 7th seed plays the 8th seed, with the winner earning the 7th playoff seed. The loser plays the winner of the 9th vs. 10th seed game, with that winner earning the 8th playoff seed. Both Play-In games are single elimination.
Once the 16-team playoff field is set (8 teams per conference), the playoffs proceed in a traditional bracket format. All playoff rounds are best-of-seven series. The first round features 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, and 4 vs. 5 in each conference. Winners advance to the Conference Semifinals, then Conference Finals, and finally the two conference champions meet in the best-of-seven NBA Finals to decide the NBA champion.
When Does the NBA Postseason Start?
The 2025-26 NBA Postseason begins with the Play-In Tournament in mid-April, running for approximately one week to determine the final playoff seedings. The first round of the playoffs is scheduled to start in late April and can run through early May. The Conference Semifinals typically run from early to mid-May, followed by the Conference Finals from mid to late May. The 2026 NBA Finals are set to start in early June and could run through late June if a Game 7 is needed.