The J-Notes
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Three things the Utah Jazz can learn from the Toronto Raptors’ NBA Finals appearance

By Jared Woodcox

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 1: Norman Powell #24 of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball as Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz defends during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on January 1, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 1: Norman Powell #24 of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball as Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz defends during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on January 1, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 1: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on January 1, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 1: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on January 1, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

With the Toronto Raptors headed to the NBA Finals, the Utah Jazz should be taking notes so that they can swiftly follow in their footsteps.

Whether you were cheering for the Milwaukee Bucks or the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals, you have to admit that it was pretty cool to see a franchise finally earn its first ever NBA Finals appearance. Utah Jazz fans should remember all too well ‘The Shot’ in which John Stockton sent the Jazz to their first Finals by defeating the Houston Rockets. And while Toronto’s most iconic shot of this postseason came in the series prior as Kawhi Leonard rattled in a Game 7 game-winner over the Philadelphia 76ers, advancing to the Finals was just as big for them.

A franchise that has been known more for collapsing in the postseason than for thriving in it has finally arrived to the big event – the NBA Finals. And seeing the elation of the city of Toronto and the loyal Raptors fans was one that ought to bring a smile to the face of basketball fans everywhere, especially those who have found that Finals appearances are very much difficult to come by.

And while the Finals would certainly be more exciting for Utah Jazz fans if their own team were in it, the arrival of the Raptors to this level still presents some important lessons for the Jazz moving forward and provides some patterns they can follow.

The Raptors had been a mainstay among the Eastern Conference’s elite for many seasons but it wasn’t until this year that they finally turned a corner and made it further than even larger market teams such as the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers and the team with an MVP candidate in Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Toronto made it to a level that the Jazz have been dreaming of for several seasons now but simply haven’t been able to get over the hump. One may wonder, apart from petitioning to join the Eastern Conference (kidding), what can the Jazz do to follow the Raptors’ footsteps and make it in themselves? Well, mimicking the crafty choices and opportunities that came together in Toronto would be hard to do completely, but there are still plenty of lessons that can be learned from the Raptors’ success.

Here are three particular ones that the Jazz can glean from what the Raptors have been able to accomplish.

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