👉 In sports, a "playoff" is a qualifying round or preliminary round of a competition where teams compete for a chance to advance into the next stage or final. The specific format and criteria can vary depending on the sport and tournament, but the primary goal is often to determine which teams are the best in their respective divisions or categories. Players may be selected based on their performances during regular season play, as well as other factors such as team size, player performance, and overall strength of the squad
