The J-Notes
Fansided

The 2017-18 Utah Jazz: An Unexpected Season

By Tyler Thorpe

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 23: The Utah Jazz huddle up during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 23: The Utah Jazz huddle up during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 10
Next
Donovan Mitchell Trevor Ariza
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 08: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives around Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets for a layup during Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 8, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Spida outscores Houston in third

The Jazz fought valiantly in Game 5 of their second-round series with the Houston Rockets. However, their season was ultimately ended in the worst way conceivable — at the hands of a Chris Paul banked three.

Still, with the season on the line, Mitchell again provided us with a gem to take into the offseason. Utah played Houston tight for the first two quarters, but the Rockets appeared to be pulling away in the second half. That was until the Spida made his presence felt in a BIG way.

Mitchell, who later left the game injured, rattled off 22 points in the third quarter alone. In contrast, Houston’s entire team put up 21 over the same period.

It begs the question, would Utah have won Game 5 if Mitchell finished the game?

No matter what the answer to that question might have been, Mitchell provided a nice bow to wrap up a fantastic season.

Less than 24 hours after Utah’s finale, I have never felt quite so optimistic about the future and direction of the Jazz. Sure, being eliminated at the hands of a foul-drawing, basketball-ruining man is lame, but Jazz fans have a lot to be happy about.

Keep your chins up, Jazz fans. This was a season and a team to celebrate.

Next: Has Derrick Favors played his last game as a member of the Utah Jazz?

What are your favorite memories from the ’17-’18 season? Let me know in the comments below or find me on Twitter @TylerDThorpe.

Home/Jazz News