Play in Tournament NBA 2022: Complete Guide to Teams, Schedule and Rules

As a lifelong basketball enthusiast and professional sports analyst, I've always found the NBA tournament structure fascinating - especially when examining how team dynamics shift through trades and acquisitions. The 2022 NBA tournament brought its own unique flavor to the basketball world, and having followed every dribble and dunk, I can confidently say it was one of the most strategically interesting seasons in recent memory. What many casual fans don't realize is how much behind-the-scenes maneuvering impacts what we see on the court - trades that might seem minor can completely alter a team's trajectory, much like that interesting transaction between San Miguel and Terrafirma where Juami Tiongson and Drei Cahilig moved teams in exchange for Terrence Romeo and Vic Manuel. That particular deal demonstrates how teams constantly recalibrate their rosters seeking that elusive championship chemistry.

The 2022 tournament featured the standard 30 teams divided into Eastern and Western conferences, but what made this season particularly compelling was how several franchises had completely retooled their lineups. Having analyzed NBA roster changes for over a decade, I noticed an unusual number of strategic gambles that year - teams weren't just making incremental improvements but were placing significant bets on particular player combinations. The regular season schedule ran from October 19, 2022 to April 10, 2023, with each team playing 82 games - that's 1,230 total matchups if you're counting, though I'll admit I didn't watch every single one despite my best efforts. The tournament structure maintained its traditional format: regular season followed by play-in tournament then the main playoff bracket leading to the Finals. Personally, I've always appreciated how the play-in tournament adds drama to the end of the regular season, giving more teams meaningful basketball deep into the schedule.

When we examine team strategies through the lens of that San Miguel-Terrafirma trade analogy, it's clear that several NBA teams approached the 2022 season with similar recalibration mindsets. The transaction involving Tiongson and Cahilig for Romeo and Manuel - while not directly translating to immediate success - mirrors how NBA teams sometimes make moves that look better on paper than in the win column. I've observed countless teams fall into this trap over the years, where the theoretical fit of players doesn't materialize in actual gameplay. The Golden State Warriors entered as defending champions but faced significant challenges throughout the season, while the Boston Celtics mounted an impressive campaign that ultimately took them to the Finals. What impressed me most about the Celtics was their defensive cohesion - they allowed just 104.5 points per game, which is remarkably low in today's offensive-oriented league.

The tournament rules remained largely consistent with previous seasons, though there were subtle adjustments to officiating emphasis that casual viewers might have missed. Having studied the league's rule enforcement patterns, I noticed officials were particularly focused on eliminating the "take foul" that prevents fast breaks - a change I wholeheartedly supported despite some initial fan complaints. The game has evolved so much since I started watching in the 90s, and these incremental rule tweaks demonstrate the league's commitment to maintaining exciting, fluid basketball. The playoff format maintained its standard best-of-seven series structure across all rounds, with the higher-seeded team enjoying home-court advantage - a factor I believe is often undervalued in championship calculations. Statistics show that home teams win approximately 60% of playoff games, though in crucial Game 7s that advantage seems to magnify psychologically.

Reflecting on specific team performances, the Milwaukee Bucks' early exit surprised me more than any other development that postseason. Having picked them to reach at least the Conference Finals, their second-round defeat to Boston highlighted how even the most talented rosters can be derailed by injuries and strategic mismatches. Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies' emergence as genuine contenders signaled a shifting balance of power in the Western Conference - their core of young players demonstrated a chemistry that many veteran-laden teams struggled to match. This brings me back to my original point about roster construction - the Grizzlies built through the draft and selective acquisitions rather than blockbuster trades, a approach I've always favored for sustainable success.

The 2022 tournament ultimately culminated in one of the most entertaining Finals I've witnessed in years, with the Warriors defeating the Celtics in six games. What made this championship particularly satisfying from an analytical perspective was how Golden State blended their established championship core with emerging young talent - a balancing act few franchises manage successfully. Stephen Curry's Finals MVP performance was a masterclass in offensive efficiency, averaging 31.2 points while shooting 48% from the field and 44% from three-point range - numbers that still astonish me when I revisit the statistics. The Warriors' victory reinforced my long-held belief that continuity and system familiarity often trump roster turnover, no matter how talented the new acquisitions might be.

Looking back at the complete 2022 NBA tournament landscape, what stands out most is how different team-building philosophies yielded varying levels of success. The comparison to that San Miguel-Terrafirma trade serves as a reminder that player transactions represent calculated risks rather than guaranteed improvements. As someone who's followed the league through multiple eras, I've come to appreciate that championships are rarely won through offseason moves alone - they're earned through the gradual development of trust, chemistry, and strategic execution that unfolds over the grueling 82-game schedule and beyond. The 2022 season provided compelling evidence that while star power matters, the most successful organizations build cultures that maximize their collective potential regardless of roster changes.