Shocking is the only word to describe my thoughts on the Jazz making it the Western Conference Finals. Who would have predicted this at the beginning of the season? The Jazz are going to be in the Finals of the toughest conference in the NBA. You could not have asked more of this team. It has already exceeded expectations and then some. Winning a game 7 on the road and finishing off Golden St. like veterans is something that is only done by the most experienced teams.
The amazing thing is it now has a realistic chance of making it to the Finals again. The Jazz split the season series with the Spurs and beat the Suns three out of four times. I do not actually believe the Jazz will make the Finals but I never thought it would make it this far. That makes it all the more exciting. Jerry Sloan mentioned in the post-game press conference when asked how this trip to the Western Finals compares to the others that this one was “not expected” of his team. His club was not supposed to get this far. Anything past the first round is just a bonus. When Stockton and Malone ran the show anything less than the finals was considered somewhat of a disappointment.
I hope the Jazz realize that it has a golden opportunity now to do something special. It jumped at the opportunity when Dallas lost to Golden St. and will now have multiple days of rest as the Spurs and Suns battle things out in an intense series. That series will most likely go the full 7 games which will give the Jazz a good rest before the Western Finals begin. This opportunity does not come easily; just ask Stockton and Malone. It took them years before they reached the conference finals.
The Jazz match up better against the Suns. I think the Suns run and gun style is vulnerable against a team like the Jazz. The Warriors just discovered that. The Spurs would wear the Jazz down by beating them at their own game. The Spurs just have too much experience. It is going to be fun regardless. Go Jazz!
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