Who to Root For: 2021-22 NBA Playoffs

 

 Now, the NBA will tell you that the playoffs actually start after the play-in games, but this is Blog Town and I set the rules here.  NBA playoffs start now, and we can determine the teams that should win.

Now let's recap the Iowa Connections from the start of the season.  

Nick Nurse

3 - Toronto :             Nick Nurse (UNI), Trevor Gleeson (Iowa Energy), Nate Bjorkgren (Buena Vista)

2 - Chicago :     Tyler Cook (Iowa) , Matt Thomas (ISU)

2 - San Antonio:      Joe Wieskamp (Iowa),  Doug McDermott (Ames)

2 - Denver :         Monte Morris (ISU), Ryan Bowen (Iowa)

2 - Sacramento :     Harrison Barnes (Ames), Tyrese Haliburton (ISU)

1 - Philadelphia :    Georges Niang (ISU)

1 - Detroit :             Luka Garza (Iowa)

1 - Los Angeles Lakers :   Talen Horton-Tucker (ISU)

1 - Phoenix :     Abdel Nader (ISU)

1 - Houston :           Jeff Hornacek (ISU)

The East

New York, Washington and Orlando all failed to have an Iowa Connection and all missed the playoffs.

Indiana(1) added Tyrese Haliburton at the trade deadline, but not in time to make a playoff run.

Milwaukee (1) added Lindell Wigginton (Iowa State)

All four teams in the East play-ins (Brooklyn, Cleveland, Atlanta and Charlotte) remain Iowa Connectionless.

CORRECTION!!!!

A deeper dive into the coaching ranks has revealed a Northern Iowa Connection on three of those teams. 

Paul Jesperson - Atlanta

Josh Borghamer - Cleveland

Klint Carlson - Charlotte

1st Round:

1 Miami (0) vs. 8 Play-in (0-1)

2 Boston (0) vs. 7 Play-in (0-1)

3 Milwaukee (1) vs. 6 Chicago (2)

4 Philadelphia (1) vs. 5 Toronto (3)

We have up to 7 options for teams coming out of the East this year, with Toronto leading the way.  

The West

Portland and Oklahoma City all failed to have an Iowa Connection and all missed the playoffs.

San Antonio is the only play-in team with Iowa Connections. Minnesota, LA Clippers and New Orleans have none.

Dallas has an added Northern Iowa Connection, with Sean Sweeney on Dallas Mavericks staff.

1st Round:

1 Phoenix (1) vs 8 Play-in (0-1)

2 Memphis (0) vs 7 Minnesota (0)

3 Golden St (0) vs 6 Denver (2)

4 Dallas (1) vs 5 Utah (0)

Oof, if the Spurs don't make it, we are putting all our chips on Phoenix, Dallas and Denver, with Denver holding the edge.

Well, we are rooting for a Toronto/Denver final here at the blog!