This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Rodney Hood knows what it feels like to be on the outside looking in, so the Utah Jazz shooting guard is glad to already have a spot in the playoffs secured.
But with two weeks left in the regular season, Hood and the Jazz still have a couple of goals left on their regular-season checklist.
"It would feel right to get to 50 wins, and hopefully win a couple series if we can," Hood said after shoot around Friday morning. "I think it would be special."
The Jazz own a 46-29 record with seven games remaining on their schedule, but have some tough tests ahead as they face off with the newly crowned Southeast Division champion Wizards, the juggernaut Golden State Warriors, the San Antonio Spurs (twice) and the suddenly surging Portland Trail Blazers (twice).
The 50-win milestone would be meaningful in more ways than one.
"I've never hit 50 wins, so that would be pretty cool," forward Gordon Hayward said.
Fifty may prove to be a magic number for some of the Jazz's other items on their wish-list, including a division title and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
"I'd like to win," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said simply when asked about the importance of those milestones. "More importantly, I'd like to go into the playoffs playing well. We're without two of our starters right now. We play some good teams down the stretch and if we don't get to 50 wins, I don't think it needs to be a reflection of how we're playing."
Snyder also said he would prefer to get his team healthy rather than earn the fourth-seed, if he had to make that choice.
If things break in Utah's favor, however, Snyder and the Jazz may be able to check all those items off over the next two weeks.
"It would mean a lot," Hood said of reaching 50 wins.
— Aaron Falk