After a 2020/2021 season with a disrupted calendar (later recovery, fewer matches), the NBA is returning to its historic format, on the occasion of its 75th anniversary. Now that the regular season is over, it’s time to dive into the playoffs. Where to watch them? We will explain everything to you.
In life, it’s not just football and Formula 1. There’s also basketball, of which the NBA — the American professional league — is its best showcase. Stars do you want some, records constantly broken, surreal performances… Thanks to all these ingredients, the NBA becomes a television spectacle of the first choice. Today, there are many reasons to get started, starting with easier access to matches – if we put aside the time difference.
Like other sports, the NBA has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The 2020/2021 season has been shortened and started later. For 2021/2022, we are witnessing a return to normal, as the NBA celebrates its 75th anniversary.
The 2021/2022 financial year began on October 19 (on the night of the 20th in France), the date from which the Milwaukee Bucks of Giannis Antetokounmpo challenged their title obtained against the Phoenix Suns. The final stages, called playoffs, started on April 16, with a match between the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks.
There are two ways to enjoy the NBA legally in France. First there is the beIN Sports solution, which has renewed its broadcasting contract until 2024 and will continue for a tenth season in a row as an official broadcaster. But, above all, the league has its own streaming platform, called League Pass. Here’s how to subscribe and not miss anything from the future NBA season.
How is an NBA season?
An NBA season is divided into two phases. First there is the regular season, where the 30 teams, divided into two conferences, each play 82 games to determine the top 10 in each conference. The first six teams in each ranking are directly qualified for the playoffs, while those occupying places 7 to 10 compete for the last two accesses through a play-in tournament.
The play-in process:
- Team #7 meets Team #8 for a playoff spot;
- Team #9 meets Team #10;
- The winner of #9 versus #10 meets the loser of #7 versus #8 for a place in the playoffs.
Then come the playoffs, which begin in April and end with a clash at the top between the two champion teams of their conference. To triumph, a team must pass four rounds, each time best of seven games: quarterfinals, semifinals, conference finals and NBA finals. Note that the higher ranked team has home advantage: they play more home matches (2-2-1-1-1 format).
I want to see all
The NBA League Pass is an NBA fan’s best friend. It is designed for those who do not want to miss anything from their favorite sport. The different formulas allow you to watch all the matches live (mainly at night because of the time difference) or in replay – regular season and final stages included (i.e. more than 1,200 matches). The NBA application is available on a large number of devices (iOS, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Chromecast, PC/Mac, etc.) and offers ideal quality in HD.
In addition to the matches, you can find essential information there (statistics, latest news, rankings, NBA TV studio broadcasts, etc.). Note that the application, available in French, is geolocated (useful for knowing the exact times). On PC/Mac, it is possible to watch up to four matches at the same time. Don’t want to be spoiled? The previous day’s scores can be hidden to keep the surprise intact – practical for those who want to watch later (offline possible by downloading the match). Do you want to follow a single team? No problem.
The NBA League Pass regularly offers free days to enjoy its content. Another important point: the Premium option allows you to watch on two devices at the same time. You can therefore, as on other SVOD platforms, share the subscription with a friend (and halve the price). Please note that renewal is automatic.
There are annual formulas offered today at a reduced rate for the duration of the playoffs :
- Classic League Pass at €18.99 for all matches (including finals);
- League Pass Premium at €27.99 which adds dual screen.
or monthly (uninteresting during the playoffs):
Finally, there is a day pass for €5.99.
I want to see some matches
Do you prefer a more universal solution, with other sports broadcast? Note that beIN Sports is the NBA’s partner for broadcasting in France. However, there is a downside: not all matches are offered on the various media channels (there are two live per night, including during the playoffs). They are actually imposed by the League, which can keep the most beautiful posters for its League Pass. This limit is compensated by comments provided by French journalists (therefore in French) and a more editorialized approach (a summary program entitled NBA Extra is broadcast from Monday to Friday, at 12:45 p.m., another on Sunday evening at 9 p.m.). For 2021/2022, the big news is the arrival of a new weight consultant: Ian Mahinmi, NBA champion in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks.
Several subscription options are available for beIN Sports:
- I am a TV operator customer (Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Fransat, Canal, Free) : €15 per month, per offer, without commitment and excluding pack;
- I want to use beIN Sports Connect : 15 € per month, without commitment.
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