Utah Jazz clinch a playoff spot with win over the Lakers

It’s been an incredible year for the Utah Jazz who needed one more win to clinch a playoff berth. They did that today against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Considering where the Utah Jazz came from before the season even started when they lost their two top scorers to free agency, it’s amazing. And when you think about where they were halfway through the year when they were 10 games below .500 and dealing with a myriad of disappointing injuries, it’s unprecedented.

There are so many things to be happy for:

Ricky Rubio making his first trip to the playoffs and proving he’s a playoff caliber point guard.

Rudy Gobert overcoming two big knee injuries to the playoffs and the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Donovan Mitchell receiving more publicity and national love than I’d ever have thought. He changed the franchise this season, and forever.

Derrick Favors returning to form and salvaging a career that looked like it’d be shortened by injury.

Joe Ingles proving his contract to be an incredible bargain.

Dante Exum overcoming another season ending injury.

Royce O’neale coming out of nowhere to be a major rotation player.

Jonas Jerebko, Jae Crowder, Thabo Sefolosha and Ekpe Udoh coming in and becoming fantastic contributors.

And Raul Neto being a the backup point guard that held things together when depth at guard was sparse.

Jazz fans, go ahead and celebrate because this has been an incredible ride and it’s only going to get better from here.