The Conference Brackets Are Set - Now the Real Chase Begins

The postseason has shifted from warm-up act to full-on survival test, and every series now carries the kind of weight that makes front offices sweat. This primer lays out the road through each conference as contenders try to separate themselves from the pack without handing over any easy outs. The margin is thin, the stakes are high, and the teams that think they have time left are usually the ones that get punished first.