The Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) (English language: Federal Basketball Organization), for sponsorship factors called easyCredit BBL, is the highest degree league of professional club basketball in Germany. The league consists of 18 groups. A BBL period is split into a league phase as well as a playoff stage. At the end of the league stage, the top eight teams get approved for the playoff stage, as well as the groups placed in the 17th as well as 18th places are delegated to a lower-tier organization. The playoffs are played in a Best of five format. The winning group of the last round are crowned the German Champions of that period. Along with the league competition, all BBL teams contend for the German Mug (BBL-Cup). Teams playing in the 2nd organization (ProA or ProB), or in a reduced level Regionalliga, are likewise eligible to take part in the German Cup. There are always 3 knock-out rounds that are bet the BBL-Cup. If more teams from the leagues listed below the BBL level make an a...