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SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Jazz have finally returned to the playoffs breaking that long-one-year drought. A team that almost no one had getting into the postseason stuck together and are making playoff plans.
With the Jazz's 100-88 victory over the Suns the rebuilding process ended and the Jazz are now ready to unload in the playoffs instead of looking to reload in the lottery. In light of the team win, the rest of this article will be written using inspiration from fans on Twitter.
The first thought will come from @ChestSports with a tweet about the team exceeding expectations, "Hey #sportsillustrated, good job picking the #Jazzto take last in the west in 2012. You were pretty close."
The Jazz were predicted nationally to finish low in the lottery by most major publications. NBA.com's power rankings had them at 23, ESPN's as well, Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick had them with the worst record in the league. Easy to see it now and mock, but this really just goes to show that the whole team is greater than the sum of the parts.
Even Jazz fans were surprised at their postseason fortunes, @klipperx tweeted "If you woulda told me I'd be watching the@utahjazz make playoffs back in Jan, I woulda called you insane. Yet, here we are #phxatuta"
They had every reason to not make the playoffs, from keeping a lottery pick, losing Raja Bell, Josh Howard, C.J. Miles and Earl Watson at the end of the season or just being too young, the Jazz fought through and made the postseason.
Expectations from @goskins76 were also small, "I said if they got .500 this season, I'd be happy. Absolute sensory overload now! #JazzNation#PHXatUTA #WEAREUTAHJAZZ"
The official Jazz Twitter account said, "We are going to the PLAYOFFS!!! #WeAreUtahJazz#PHXatUTA"
Instead of wondering what could have been, The Jazz are now looking back at what was and they can see the vision. David Locke, @Lockedonsports tweeted, "I guess Kevin O'Connor knew what he was talking about - amazing foresight and plan from Feb of 2011 to now !!!! #PHXatUTA"
Even Jazz players were talking about the chance to show off with extra basketball. News was released that Watson will miss the rest of the season, but he thanked the fans on his account, "This was for the fans! Congrats! The tradition is BACK!"
Watson said that the Jazz would make the playoffs mid- season while the Jazz were sliding down the standings. The tradition he is talking about is the postseason runs the Jazz have enjoyed.
KSL's Jeremiah Jensen, @JJSportsBeat, showed off the Jazz's tradition in this tweet, "The Utah Jazz defeat the Phoenix Suns 100-88 to clinch their 25th playoff appearance in the last 29 years. #PHXatUTA"
25 playoffs for their last 29 seasons is huge, but for players like Al Jefferson, Devin Harris, the rookies and sophomores this moment will be memorable because they either haven't made the playoffs or have experienced long lulls in their careers.
@McCheezy20 tweeted about the big man, "First playoff birth for Big Al since his rookie season!! It sure did show how much he wanted it#PHXatUTA #playoffs"
Jazz nation is talking about the playoffs. Jazz players are all talking about a playoff run. Gordon Hayward, Jefferson and Harris talked about making the playoffs as a step, not a goal. Hayward mentioned the title as the goal.
An NBA title seems a bit out of reach for the Jazz, but so did a .500 record to start the season or a playoff berth halfway through. The Jazz believe and more importantly they have the chance to make waves in the postseason.
