Watch NBA playoffs 2011 live stream on PC. The 2011 NBA Playoffs is the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2010–11 season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs, all seeded 1 to 8 in a tournament bracket, with all rounds in a best-of-seven format. The 2011 NBA Playoffs began on Saturday April 16, 2011.

The Chicago Bulls achieved several 'firsts' since the 1997-98 season: best record in the Eastern Conference, a Central Division title, and 60+ victories. They have also clinched the NBA's best record for the first time since the 1996-97 season, guaranteeing home-court advantage should they reach the NBA Finals. In addition, they will face the Indiana Pacers for the first time since that same year. The Pacers will appear in the playoffs for the first time since 2006, as well as the Memphis Grizzlies. The New York Knicks will make the playoffs for the first time since 2004, but this will be their first playoff appearance as an above .500 team since 2001. The Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Hornets will appear for the third time in four years. The other 11 teams were in the playoffs last year. The Oklahoma City Thunder will head to the playoffs with their first Northwest Division title under this incarnation; their last division title was in 2005 as the Seattle SuperSonics.

For the first time since the 16-team format was introduced in 1984, the top two seeds from the same conference (San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference) lost Game 1 of the First Round. The Spurs lost to the Grizzlies, who won their first playoff game in team history, while the Lakers fell to the Hornets. Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic tied a franchise record with 46 points (31 in the 1st half) in Game 1 of the 1st Round against the Atlanta Hawks, tying Tracy McGrady's total in Game 2 of the 2003 First Round against the Detroit Pistons.