This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Jazz certainly could have clinched an NBA playoff berth by now, and probably should have done so. Thanks to Houston's cooperation, the Jazz (40-40) will need 42 wins to qualify — and all that would have required was wins in two of three recent home games against Golden State, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Clippers after they were in good position in the last minute of regulation in each case.
But here's the thing: The Jazz are inside the cut line with two regular-season games left. They would have to lose their way out of the playoffs at this point, which is why I won't accept any rationalization from them about missing the postseason, if that's what happens.
Just to make it more interesting, Deron Williams and Kobe Bryant stand in their way this week.
If the Jazz beat Dallas at home Monday and the Los Angeles Lakers on the road Wednesday, they're in — regardless of what Houston does. If they lose one of those games, they would need more help from the Rockets, which is asking too much (Houston would advance, if the teams are tied in the standings). So the Jazz will have to do their part by overcoming two major figures in their history, including their own former star.
Six years after Williams helped the Jazz claim their most recent victory in a playoff contest, the clinching Game 6 of a 2010 first-round series vs. Denver, he's coming back to town for a big game. D-Will has returned to Dallas' lineup after recovering from an injury as the Mavericks (41-39) try to secure their own playoff spot.
When the Jazz traded for Shelvin Mack in February, coach Quin Snyder cited Williams among the opposing point guards whose size had caused problems for his team. Williams is a polarizing figure in Jazz history; I get that. Some fans will always blame him for coach Jerry Sloan's stepping away from his job after their locker-room dispute in February 2011.
Personally, I give Williams a lot of credit for everything he did in the previous six seasons, becoming an All-Star and leading Jazz teams that were much better than people seem to remember. The Jazz won an average of 51.5 games over four seasons from 2006-10, while losing in the playoffs to San Antonio or the Lakers (three times).
Which brings us to Kobe. If they get past Williams and the Mavs, the Jazz likely will have to beat the Lakers in Bryant's last game to make the playoffs. The Jazz would have done well to avoid that scenario, because who knows how the Lakers will respond in that atmosphere at the Staples Center. Then again, how much fun would it be for them to spoil Kobe's farewell, after all those times he knocked the Jazz out of the playoffs?
These angles converge to create the most interesting final week of a regular season in franchise history — potentially. I'm using that qualifier, because if the Jazz lose Monday, they may be out of the playoffs before they even take the court in Los Angeles.
Twitter: @tribkurt