Five reasons why the Utah Jazz will make the playoffs in 2018-19

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Rudy Gobert #27 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz speak to the media after game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Rudy Gobert #27 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz speak to the media after game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 27: Rudy Gobert #27 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz speak to the media after game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 27: Rudy Gobert #27 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz speak to the media after game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

After a stunning conclusion to the 2017-18 regular season, the Utah Jazz are in great shape to return to the playoffs for a third consecutive year.

The Utah Jazz have exceeded expectations for two consecutive years by not only making the playoffs, but by advancing into the second round. With that being the case, and especially after bringing back nearly everybody from the 2017-18 season, expectations have risen for the Jazz this upcoming season. Making the playoffs is no longer just a hope, it’s a requirement.

Fortunately, while doing so will always be a hard task while playing in the incredible league that is the NBA, I’m quite confident that the Jazz will find themselves back in the playoff mix for the third year running.

Sure, there are doubters out there who state things such as, ‘the Jazz won’t be catching anyone off guard this year, so they won’t have as much success.’ Or, ‘the West has gotten so much better this offseason, the Jazz will almost certainly be one of last year’s playoff teams that falls out of the mix.’

To this, all I can do is shake my head. The Jazz are set to be leaps and bounds better than they were last year and I’m extremely confident that they’ll not only make the playoffs, but do so with flying colors. Here’s why–