The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz offseason 2018: Checklist for the Jazz to become contenders

By John Keeffer

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MAY 6: a general view of the Utah Jazz flag during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets on May 6, 2018 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MAY 6: a general view of the Utah Jazz flag during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets on May 6, 2018 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Utah Jazz
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MAY 6: a general view of the Utah Jazz flag during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets on May 6, 2018 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The playoffs proved that the Utah Jazz are on the cusp of breaking through in the West. Nailing this offseason could propel them toward contender status.

By every definition, it was a roller coaster season for the Utah Jazz. Even with the departure of Gordon Hayward, expectations were high entering the year. The Jazz started off strong and looked like they may be able to live up to the hype they were receiving entering the year. However, injuries quickly altered the course of the season, and they fell to 19-28 by mid-January.

We all know what happened from there. The return of a healthy Rudy Gobert and the improved play of Ricky Rubio saved the season for the Jazz. They wouldn’t just turn the season around and make the postseason, but they won their first-round playoff series in convincing fashion against the Russell Westbrook-led Thunder.

They also put up a valiant fight against Houston and showed the league that they are one of the up-and-coming teams in the NBA. They have the youth, talent, coaching and organizational stability to be contenders for the foreseeable future.

As evidenced by their playoff loss to the Rockets, though, they aren’t quite there yet.

In order for the Jazz to reach their full potential, they’ll need to nail this offseason. They need to focus on accomplishing three things if they are to truly compete next season.

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