The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Four moments to look forward to in 2018-19

By Jared Woodcox

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 2: Jae Crowder #99 of the Utah Jazz reacts after the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2018 at Toyota Center in Houston, TX. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 2: Jae Crowder #99 of the Utah Jazz reacts after the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2018 at Toyota Center in Houston, TX. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 8: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz and James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets after the game in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 8: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz and James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets after the game in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /

End of season playoff return

I absolutely love the NBA season and, especially during the dog days of summer, wish that it would ever end. So I’m not one to want to skip through the regular season and rush into the playoffs. However, I am looking forward to the season wrapping up for one moment in particular – the Jazz defying the odds once again and qualifying for the postseason.

Despite the way the Jazz concluded the season last year as one of the hottest teams in the league and how well they performed against the Oklahoma City Thunder, there are still fans and so-called experts alike that claim that the Jazz won’t make a return trip to the playoffs this year. Many claim that the Los Angeles Lakers and/or Denver Nuggets will rise and boot them out.

While I think there’s a legitimate argument for both of those teams to bust into the playoffs, to say that it will come at Utah’s expense is a complete fallacy in my mind. The Jazz proved they belonged in the top half of the Western Conference playoff mix this past season, and considering that they’re essentially returning their whole squad – a squad that should only improve this offseason – I’m confident in saying that they’ll be even better than last year.

But, lo and behold, the Jazz are once again being overlooked and counted out. Luckily, we’ve seen how that’s gone in the past and how I imagine it will go again. On that final day of the regular season when the Jazz have once again proved the doubters wrong and returned to the postseason, I, along with the entire Jazz roster I imagine, will be wearing a smug grin of satisfaction for them disproving popular belief yet again.

Next: Utah Jazz: Let’s not forget about Thabo Sefolosha’s impact

The Jazz have a lot to live up to if they hope to post as exciting of a season as they did this past year. But I think they’re absolutely capable of it. And if each of these four moments come to fruition as I believe they will, you can bet that 2018-19 will be quite the season to remember.

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