Why are basketball teams called seeds?

Answer 1

Basketball teams are ranked according to their performance records during the season. When the final tournament schedule is initially set up, the teams are 'planted' into the schedule with their rankings in mind, which predict the final outcome of the tournament. The tournament schedule is arranged so that teams with higher rankings won't meet up until later in the schedule. So, if the tournament turns out as predicted, the teams will finish according to their initial rankings. For example, a No1 'seed' has a high probability of winning the tournament, while a #11 'seed' is less likely to finish in the top five.